America Faces It’s Greatest Threat Since It’s Founding Tomorrow
Can the republic survive the “National Day Without Labor”?
OK I know that is a bit over the top, but with any legislative effort at immigration reform stalled in congress and sensible discussion hijacked by the pundits we are facing the potential of mass walkouts from school and work tomorrow. The question is what does that mean to you, (and by that I mean me, because deep down inside I am really pretty self centered)? My gut feeling is not much.
When you think about the situation it seems to me that this boycott is really an empty threat. What happens if the illegals do go on strike? Well we have to wait longer at restaurants, no biggie I can cook. I can’t get my car hand washed, I usually go brushless anyway. I need a house built or roofed, it is either going to be delayed or the contractor needs to hire American workers. It’s only May so I don’t think the agriculture industry is going to experience a great deal of disruption by this walkout . The final inconvenience is going to be the traffic disruption. To address that I think we should be able to run over protesters and get a free pass tomorrow only. On the other hand the immigrants have a great deal to lose through their tactics.
Lets start with the traffic issue first. We all know that the way to get the American people on your side is to mess with their commute. Nothing says “love me” like making people sit in traffic breathing in exhaust for an extra hour. Next there is the entire “who are they to demand anything” side of things. People are already turned off by all the Mexican flags that have been flying, the Star Spangled Banner being rewritten in Spanish, and the rhetoric equating illegal immigrants with slaves. It makes people seriously doubt whether the protesters are really that committed to America. Couple that with them not being able to get a McDonalds hamburger at lunch and suddenly the hatred level doubles. Finally how do you think employers are going to feel about this? I doubt they really want to be held hostage by their employees, especially when it is the cheap labor demanding the right to be expensive labor. If I was an employer I would fire everyone and call INS, but then I believe that you really shouldn’t bring a knife to a gun fight.
I know that my analysis of this situation is simplistic and I meant it to be that way. As I said it is a gut feeling. In reality any labor stoppage is going to have an economic impact, but it is going to hit the strikers harder than the general population. I can live without the conveniences that will be impacted for an indefinite period of time. Can the strikers live without their paychecks? More importantly can the families back in their home countries? As I have pointed out before Mexico receives $20,000,000,000 per year from illegal immigrants in the US, it’s largest source of foreign revenue. You think a work stoppage isn’t causing some sweat down there. We are in the driver’s seat we just have to have some intestinal fortitude.
(Note: I know that in previous posts I have made the argument that economically it isn’t feasible to deport all the illegal immigrants. I still believe that to be true, there is a difference between a short term work stoppage and a permanent removal from the workforce).
I have laid out my plan for dealing with this issue before, but in short it is:
It really all comes down to a simple economic question of supply and demand. If we reduce demand while at the same time driving up the cost of the supply the problem resolves itself.
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April 30th, 2006 at 4:45 pm
America Faces It’s Greatest Threat Since Hitler Tomorrow Posted in News and Politics on April 30th, 2006
May 1st, 2006 at 4:51 pm
Chad,
Nice post - a humorous and insightful read. Based on what you’ve layed out here; I am more or less of the same opinion as you regarding a plan to address immigration issues. If legalization / amnesty - whatever people want to label it, ultimately means that labor costs become to high to support competive industries in certain areas, well maybe that’s an industry that was due to fall by the way of natural selection in America. This potential trade off / evolution / de-evolution (again, depending on your perspective) is a reality of the “global economy” that developed countries are being forced to face in an age of global trade. This is a condition that “developed countries” will be forced to face in an age of global trade. It may seem a tough pill to swallow but, as arguably the most “developed country” on this world’s block, it may be a pill we have to take to set the right example. I venture to guess that all American’s would rather be viewed as the cool kid on the block who set a trend rather then the bully who wouldn’t let new people into a game of kickball. No matter the degree in variance in our proposed mean, I would like to believe as a nation we are searching for the same end.
As a “free trader”, I for one hope that this issue / crisis / embarrassment (again whatever someone wants to call it based on their perspective) may finally spur on some rational debate enroute to sound decisions for policy in the years to come. Most importantly - it is imperative to have everyone working in this country on the books, documented and sharing responsibilty for the sustenance of social programs that they currently or may one day depend upon.
This particular issue also provides an opportunity for true bi-partisanship to take the stage; as for once we’re looking at something where purely politically motivated choices will lead us to a lose / lose situation. There is a great deal at stake here; econonmically, polictically and socially, and I for one am optimistic about what we may come with if we can quiet the pundits who consistantly take the cheap shot at an easy laugh long enough to let policy makers govern in addition to, rather then solely, playcate idelogical movements.
Holding my breath….
-Gunny
May 1st, 2006 at 5:06 pm
sorry bout the typos and repitition in the last comment - that’s what I get for commenting while at work… -I think you can all guess what it was supposed to say though.
May 1st, 2006 at 6:20 pm
Thanks,
I appreciate the feedback. While I agree there is an oppurtunity for bipartisanship to achieve something here I don’t think there is much possibility. Personally I find that distressing because to me it shows that a number of people whose opinion I would normally respect have become so fixated on one particular portion of a very large and important issue that hey are not willing to let any progress be made.
Personally I can think of at least three potential compromises on the “amnesty” issue that I think would be fair, but anytime I bring thme up with anyone from the hardline “no amnesty” crowd they won’t even discuss them. If that is indicitive of the state of the debate then very little progress can be made.
May 2nd, 2006 at 9:32 am
Chad,
I hear you. Hardliners have that tendency. If ever there was an issue with such an obvious and abundant overlap of implications across an economic, political and social spectrum, this is it. I’d like to think that here, we have a chance for hardliners from both right and left to see it may not be so wrong to adopt “centrist” ideals from time to time. I am always perplexed at the notion of compromise being viewed as a gentlemenly recourse in everything from business to art with one exception - the political arena! In “politics” comprimise seems to be the cause of the death of careers more than a tool of progress.
As this policy debate unfolds, let’s hope calmer heads and intellect can find a way to rule the day over emotion.
-Gunny