The high and mighty pontificators (elected officials aka the bootlicking, rockstar wannabe, steppin’ fetchit lapdogs of the oligarchs---think Texas and Kentucky, and etc are scared to death they might have to get a real job if they don’t get re-elected) relish finding what are termed “wedge” issues. These “wedge” issues are more at exploiting conditions that rile, misinform, misguide, prejudice and bias the folk and otherwise get the folk all worked up (usually because they are told someone else is getting something they are not).
Filling the air and their respective constituencies with disinformation is as old a “tradition” as any in America. (See: Profiles in Courage) Those most willing to do the bidding of the oligarchs are the first to participate in this “tradition.”
Truth be told many of those who rail against “illegals” (how can anyone be illegal?) themselves have benefitted from them and or exploited them or both.
Those migrating here are usually from nations long exploited by the foreign policy of this nation and its American- based transnational corporations. These transnational corporations have (in league with our governmental agencies and oligarchs) raped, pillaged and plundered “third world” countries almost from day one. This was often facilitated by the exploited nation’s opportunistic sell-outs. The result has been that as a direct result of our foreign policy there are large numbers of able-bodied young men who cannot feed their families in these exploited nations. They come here looking for what was taken from them by our own. That surprises you?
Those young men who are here looking for what was taken from them pay taxes all day long. It is almost impossible to buy, use or rent anything in this country without paying taxes.
Some people foolishly, ludicrously believe that renters, for example, don’t pay the same taxes “home-owners” pay. Do you really think the amount of rent paid on a condo or apartment doesn’t factor or take into account what the property owner has to pay in taxes? Or do you simply think these landlords are that philanthropic or altrustic? Spare me.
What should annoy supporters of immigration (by any means) is that---that ready supply of labor keeps prices for almost everything (especially salaries for everyone documented or not) artificially low even as the top one percent pads its accounts exponentially by doing so.
Then again consider that one in four doctors in this country today is foreign born.
Foreign Doctors—A Question of Equity
http://www.healthbeatblog.org/2007/10/foreign-doctors.html
From Farmhand to Brain Surgeon
Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa's first step towards becoming a renowned brain surgeon was more like a leap—at 19 years old, he hopped the border fence from Mexico to become a migrant farmworker in southern California.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/brain-surgeon.html
Wedge issues also distract from important matters. For example:
Texas ranks 48th in teen birth rate.
In Texas girls 14 to 19 gave birth to 54,000 children in 2007 this is third highest in the nation.
Texas ranks 34 over all wellbeing of children. Yes, I can see there’s lots for our “elected representatives” have to be proud of. Where are our “elected representatives?”
http://lubbockonline.com/stories/072810/tex_686877707.shtml
Texas ranks 48th in teen birth rate
The report, conducted by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, found that 64 babies are born for every 1,000 girls between the ages of 15 and 19 in Texas, earning the state a ranking of 48. The national rate is 43 births per 1,000 teens. Overall, the study...
http://topics.npr.org/article/04ZK6M97LB57Z?q=Texas
Texas ranks 34 over all wellbeing of children. Yes, I can see there’s lots for our “elected representatives” have to be proud of. Where are our “elected representatives?”
http://lubbockonline.com/stories/072810/tex_686877707.shtml
Not coincidentally of the 50 states Texas ranks second worst in health care coverage behind number one New Mexico. Additionally six of the 10 counties providing the lowest health coverage for “all age groups” in the entire nation are also located in Texas. Bexar County — where about one in five people go without health insurance — is doing somewhat better, but still rates 231st in uninsured children and 433rd overall out of 3,140 U.S. counties. http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/MYSA072305_1B_census_uninsured_f9d178_html32409.html
Texans sorely lacking health care insurance
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/MYSA072305_1B_census_uninsured_f9d178_html32409.html
More than 1 in 4 in Texas lack health insurance
http://www.kens5.com/latestnews/stories/KENS20090910_dns_tx_uninsured-cb.1684433cc.html
It is a sad commentary on the immigration issue that our well paid “elected representatives” are more concerned with making certain the Disclose Act doesn’t see the light of day than in providing for the “general welfare.”
Hasta Siempre,
More:
Public Policy: Immigration? (Part Three)
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-18764-San-Antonio-Public-Policy-Examiner~y2010m7d28-Public-Policy-Immigration-Part-Three
Profits before patients (Healthcare insurance reform)
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-18764-San-Antonio-Public-Policy-Examiner~y2009m9d2-Profits-before-patients-Healthcare-insurance-reform
Political News Alert: DISCLOSE Act fails to clear Senate filibuster, but may return
Senate Democrats failed Tuesday in their initial attempt to move ahead with campaign-finance legislation backed by President Obama, but vowed to try again to overcome a GOP-led filibuster in coming days.
The Disclose Act would force corporations, unions and other groups to reveal political donations to the public and would bar major federal contractors, bailout recipients and foreign-controlled corporations from participating in U.S. elections.
http://link.email.washingtonpost.com/r/JDFA9Q/V1U0J2/BYWN7M/EPLFRP/6YBR1/GX/t
For more information, visit washingtonpost.com:
http://link.email.washingtonpost.com/r/JDFA9Q/V1U0J2/BYWN7M/EPLFRP/6YBR1/GX/t
Corporate profits before patients? (part two)
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-18764-San-Antonio-Public-Policy-Examiner~y2009m8d17-Corporate-profits-before-patients-part-two
PBS Bill Moyers and Mitch McConnell
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/04162010/transcript1.html
Profiles in Courage
Profiles in Courage is a 1955 Pulitzer Prize-winning biography written by John F. Kennedy, describing acts of bravery and integrity by eight United States Senators throughout the Senate's history. The book profiles senators who crossed party lines and/or defied the public opinion of their constituents to do what they felt was right and suffered severe criticism and losses in popularity because of their actions. The book was widely celebrated and became a best seller, but there are credible allegations that most of it was the work of his speechwriter, Theodore Sorensen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profiles_in_Courage
Profiles in Courage
http://books.google.com/books?id=sk1Hr9ny46gC&printsec=frontcover&dq=profiles+in+courage&source=bl&ots=SkqexgVV4v&sig=tOOJPFo9i6TIDTH4bvpFWeq4GiQ&hl=en&ei=pBFQTJKXMoL78AbD0JjDAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false
Just what do mcconnell and the gopers want to hide?
Bill on political ad disclosures falls a little short in Senate
Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked legislation requiring fuller disclosure of the money behind political advertising, derailing a major White House initiative and virtually ensuring an onslaught of attack ads during this year's midterm election season.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/27/AR2010072704656.html?wpisrc=nl_politics
Census data reveal broad differences among states in rates of uninsured
The disparities are even greater at the county level, where Henry County, Iowa, and Plymouth County, Mass., tied for the lowest rate of uninsured in the country, about 6.6 percent of people under 65, with a margin of error of about 1 percent. By comparison, the 14 counties with the highest rates of uninsured were in Texas, with a nearly 50 percent uninsured rate in Kenedy County.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/27/AR2010072705835.html?wpisrc=nl_fed
Crazy Right Wing Reaction To Arizona Immigration Law
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEl501ZzzW4
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