Are All Those "Seal-the-border" People Racist or Just Stupid?

Question

Open borders throughout the world coupled with a global labor movement is the only way that U.S. jobs, wages and the standard of living for the working class can be maintained. The working conditions and living standards of Americans depend not only upon our protecting Mexican workers but all of the world's workers. The old American union battle cry from several decades ago is now an international battle cry. "An injury to one is an injury to all." If they can screw over the workers in one part of the world, no worker's living standards are safe in any nation.

Global capital combined with provincial labor is a recipe for the impoverishment of the entire world's workforce. It is what rests at the foundation of the concept made famous by Ralph Nader of "the race to the bottom." That race cannot be contained politically as we have seen and labor unions have proven themselves impotent globally as they are national capitalisit institutions.

From Albert Einstein's essay, "Why Socialism"

"Private capital tends to become concentrated in few hands, partly because of competition among the capitalists, and partly because technological development and the increasing division of labor encourage the formation of larger units of production at the expense of the smaller ones. The result of these developments is an oligarchy of private capital the enormous power of which cannot be effectively checked even by a democratically organized political society. This is true since the members of legislative bodies are selected by political parties, largely financed or otherwise influenced by private capitalists who, for all practical purposes, separate the electorate from the legislature. The consequence is that the representatives of the people do not in fact sufficiently protect the interests of the underprivileged sections of the population. "

Einstein continued:

"Moreover, under existing conditions, private capitalists inevitably control, directly or indirectly, the main sources of information (press, radio, education). It is thus extremely difficult, and indeed in most cases quite impossible, for the individual citizen to come to objective conclusions and to make intelligent use of his political rights."

Published on Saturday, April 8, 2006 by CommonDreams.org
The Debate You're Not Hearing: Immigration and Trade
by Andrew Christie

Excerpt:

Or as environmental legend and past Sierra Club President David Brower succinctly put it as he cast his sharp eye on the fallout from the North American Free Trade Agreement: "Rather than complaining about immigration from Mexico, the U.S. could stop causing it."

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0408-24.htm

Historian and political analyst Michael Parenti on Globalization:

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article11635.htm

Answer 1

They don't understand because they lack a correct historical perspective and an accurate analysis on this issue and there aren't very many people out there offering one to the public. The only people that are offering a perspective on this topic to the public, and that have any access to the mainstream media, are those who are attempting to scapegoat immigrants in place of a critical analysis of the failures of capitalism to provide for the world's people.

Answer 2

Neither, dude! We are intellegent, informed citizens that looked at the issues. We use FACTS, not emotion, to draw a conclusion to an emotionally charged topic.

This is NOT a racist issue. I don't care where they come from. If they are ILLEGAL, they must leave. THAT IS THE LAW! So put away your race card because it doesn't apply here! All it does is show that you have no legitimate argument so you start name calling.

Criminal illegal aliens are destroying our country (Criminals because they are breaking the law.) This destruction is with our schools, health care system, stealing jobs Americans want, stealing identities, increased crime/drugs/gangs, diseases that had been eliminated due to immunizations, etc...

This doesn't even count the financial disaster they are causing. An estimated $50 BILLION is spent each year on illigals. $9 BILLION in CA alone. This money should go to citizens!

They don't pay income taxes because they don't have a SS#. Whatever minimal taxes they may pay is dwarfed by the amount we spend on them. The Heritage Foundation estimates this at over $22,400 each year per family.

We must fine/jail the employers of illegals. Jail and/or deport all illegals. Use the 14th amendment like it was intended - that means that children of illegal parents are not citizens - the 14th amendment was about the children of SLAVES, not criminals. Build the wall AND seal the borders. Sealing the borders isn't stupid. It is just part of the solution.

Answer 3

I am not quite sure what you are getting at:
Do you want the American working man's wages to compete with the wages South of the border or would India be more to your liking? So that Americans can be living like the working men in Mexico and in India. How do you feel about $300.00or less a month to live on.
Or are you expecting the employers South of the border and employers in India to raise their wages to that of the American worker?

Maybe you had better put some more thought into your posts.

Answer 4

I think most people are not "Seal the border" people. They are just sick of hearing about illegal immigration and one quick way to settle that would be to seal the border. Many of them though I'm guessing are more into securing the border and allowing immigration through legal channels to proceed.

As for your part about unions and the like, unions are outdated and overused in this country (USA). There was a time when they were needed here. When people were working 18 hours a day and kids were working alongside adults. When working conditions were poor to put it nicely. Now though, in the US, this is hardly the case anymore. Places like China and Taiwan and other Asian countries who can produce goods at such incredibly cheap prices, who use child labor and sweatshop tactics need unions and people in those countries should look into doing something like that. Its not necessarily for us to say as we do not have the authority to mandate working conditions in other countries. We do however, have the buying power to not support those countries and the products they make, but lets be honest with ourselves...If we really cared about the working conditions in China or any other country, we wouldn't buy the goods that come from there. Instead, we as Americans are all about finding the cheapest way to do business, be it the companies that buy from the sweatshops or the consumers that buy from the companies. It is all intertwined and Americans don't really care who builds their sneakers as long as they are affordable.

To continue with your Einstein quotes, it is obviously very hard to argue with Einstein. His talk of political parties being basically the governmental form of corporations (which is exactly right) is exactly the reason people should heed the advice of the first President of this country. In George Washington's farewell address, he warned of the onset of political parties and how detrimental they would be to society as a whole. Obviously there are those who profit greatly from political parties, especially the whacked-out political parties we have today, and thus leaves the voice of the common people echoing through empty streets.

As a country, we need to rid ourselves of the political party and the bogus platforms they claim to stand for. We need to put the power back in the hands of those who work day in and day out to make this country great. Once we do these things, then we can tackle issues such as illegal immigration without empty rhetoric coming from career politicians whose main goal is to ensure re-election.

Answer 5

It seems to me that the people of any country have the right to define by what rights other people may enter their country, establish residency and receive benefits.

If people of other countries want an open border policy with the United States, would they consider having their own country enter into a treaty to extend reciprocal residency rights to U.S. citizens? I suspect there are many people in the United States, especially retired people, who would like to buy ocean-view property in Mexico or villas in Cuernavaca. People here might also like to work in Mexico or establish businesses there. Would the people of Mexico be willing to tax their citizens at the same rate as their northern neighbors so they could support public schools, heathcare facilities and a full array of benefits on par with those available in the United States? Would the "open border" policy work both ways? If so, I think you could get support for your cause.

Answer 6

I don't think that legal Mexican workers need any more protection here in the U.S. The problem is the illegal workers and maybe those who talk about sealing the borders are speaking only about people coming to this country illegally. We have an immigration process and if the "seal the borders" people want to do away with any immigration then I believe it comes more from fear than anything else.

Answer 7

Spoken like a true Communist.
Yeah sure we could have everything fair and equal.
But where does it stop?
Think about waiting in line to have an operation or getting food.
How about intelligence, we could hook up a device and make everyone stupid or smart depending on the status quo.
Look the system works, you know why? huh huh do ya?
Because anyone with a brain can do what ever they want in life.
No it is not always fair, and who said it should be? Life isn't fair.
You know I don't see the future being the way it is now.
Soon we will genetically discriminate people (won't that be fun) and we will engineer people to fit certain needs.
Till one day we won't have wants or needs, it will be every-ones job to serve mankind... whatever it turns out to be or look like.

Answer 8

They are a little of both. Each of those people are different in their concerns. I think we need to listen to their concerns because they have some solid points if you get beyond the ranting. I think they have a point but it is a bit misdirected. The concern should be with Bush's programs and with the guest worker program. I think there are real issues of environmental concerns with so many people flooding up to the states. And, there are also real issues with communities resources being stretched to the breaking point in small towns, cities and rurals areas. To say that they should just get amnesty and citizenship is far too simplistic. And, an open border is far far too simplistic as well. Even Ralph Nader knows this and BTW, he is also concerned about the flooding of people from the south to the U.S. It's funny that you cry socialism is the answer, but it is the global capitalists that are pushing for open borders and more cheap labor to drive down the American labor cost. The middle class is being superceded by a rising underclass coming up from the other side of the border.

http://www.splcenter.org/legal/guestreport/index.jsp

http://www.cis.org/articles/2005/mskoped123105.html

Answer 9

Nither. Those who do not study history are ignorant and bound to repeat the mistakes. Study history and then come back with a statement like that. Can you go to Mexico and march in their streets and get private tutors for your kids because they don't speak fluent Spanish?

Answer 10

Neither. Last I checked, "illegal" is not a race. We as a soverign nation have the right to control our borders. Our government like all governments have the duty to control our borders. I am in favor of LEGAL immigration. my 3 point program (which I'm sure no politicians would ever consider) is:
1) Secure our borders.
2) Crack down on those who hire illegal immigrants.
3) Set realistic quotas for legal immigration.