Listening to Washington Journal re: immigration?

[Skidmore]

Calls from both sides wanting some serious curtailment of illegal immigration, and only one or two calls would I consider racist. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Our party needs to once again be a party for workers.

[KharmaTrain]

1. Then There Should Be Action Against Those That Make The Profits

Any discussion of this topic without discussing who profits from the cheap labor is a dishonest dicsussion of this topic. Wanna be tge oarty for the workers? Then how about fining any and all who hire undocummented workers (not only Mexicans or someone who speaks with a Spanish accent) $1,000 per worker per day. Also, tax the large corporations that have outsourced labor across the borders the difference between the labor costs in the third world country they exploit and that of a minimum wage American worker. Of course this means you'll be paying more for all sorts of goods and services...but then what's more iportant, cheap products or really discussing this issue objectively?

[Skidmore]

2. I'm inclined to agree with the one caller who suggested

yanking business licenses also.

[KharmaTrain]

5. And How Many Have Been Yanked???

This issue is like gun control...where the problem is always shifted away from those responsible for breaking the laws. It's easier to blame someone who looks different or dosen't sound the way one does...it's more the ignorance of these people and what brings them here that make this "issue" a red herring.

There's been little to no enforcement against the companies that hire undocumented workers...but this isn't a new problem...I saw widespread problems with this as far back as 1986...it's just that Lou Doobies and others found a way to turn this into a political issue and meal ticket and that's turned any who is Mexican or even has a Mexican heritage into some "terrorist" or "outcast".

This regime wants the cheap labor and they haven't enforced immigration laws...and not just at the southern borders. Forcing companies to pay living wages by fining 'em here and making it less profitable to take their labor to a non-union countries would solve this "problem" quickly. So would taking the money from those fines and taxes and dedicated them to better social, health and educational services for all.

[Ganja Ninja]

3. If they stop shipping all the decent paying jobs overseas then ...

immigration won't be a problem. More people only expands our economy. When Clinton was President I remember we were actively recruiting people to come here because we couldn't fill all the jobs. It's only under Bush that immigration has become a problem. Everyone's fighting for fewer and fewer jobs because the Republican's have "fixed" our economy.

[Skidmore]

7. It is a two-pronged attack on the American worker.

1. Ship decent paying jobs overseas.
2. Refuse to pay living wages for manual and unskilled labor.

AND the Democrats we have representing us in Congress continue to underwrite the corporate agenda that the Republics have implemented over the past six years. Of course, we have egg on our own faces in that NAFTA was signed by a Democrat.

[mmonk]

4. I think it's time America had someone debate the rightwing.

That would be the greatest start in trying to turn this country back into a more peaceful, tolerant, and sober representative democracy. No more pandering by any of our top candidates and party leaders in search of an imaginary nonexistent center. All we've got in America as far as political discussion goes is hard right.

[salin]

6. bob and weave bob and weave.

[Skidmore]

8. Let's see.

Will I need entrails of a goat or tea leaves to decipher your post?

[salin]

9. its a phrase meaning dodging questions weaving

around to dodge more questions. Her initial responses when the Iglesia questions came were rather dodging (hence bob and weave) - I think the allusion is to fishing and the floating thing (is it called a Bobb? I can't recall) bouncing around on the top of the water.

[Robson]

11. Different segment

Now I get it. You are referring to the segment with the Congress lady from NM. The OP was on the previous segment discussing call-ins on immgration..

[salin]

13. jinx

just figured that out as well.... made me laugh how nonsensical my comments must read :D

[FormerDittoHead]

14. It's a boxing term. Bob up and down, weave in and out.

But I don't know where "bob" came from for a fishing float.

[Skidmore]

15. Thanks for the clarification.

[Robson]

10. Substantive debate

Edited after clarification.

LOL....I agree that bob and weave is very applicable to the NM Congressperson in the second segment, but not the immigration discussion.

BTW you and I were apparently watching the same program where America spoke on this. Too bad our elected officials are marching to a different drummer. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x906596

[salin]

12. bwaahaha (at myself)

I am watching cspan now - and was referring to current programming.... had nothing to do with the show being referred to and I didn't catch that til just now.

I need coffee.

Sorry forthe confusion~