Showing posts with label undocumented workers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label undocumented workers. Show all posts

Thursday, January 20, 2011

What Is The GOP Thinking? Politicians Offend Hispanics

After the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Arizona, many people of both parties suggested the political rhetoric which may have fueled the immagination of a mentally ill man had gotten out of hand.  For a long time, there has been concern the natural battles between the parties would be misunderstood and someone might take matters into their own hands.



The Dream Army set up camp for weeks in the Arizona sun outside the office of Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) who promised to support immigration reform.  After turning his back on the Dream Act, he refused to even meet with students.


The cold bodies of those who died in the Tucson attack were not even laid to rest in their graves before conservative Rush Limbaugh and the mega dittos crowd were on the attack.  Talk show hosts know how to make millions of dollars riling up the masses.  They are clueless when it comes to making peace.

It is sad to say, the racist rhetoric of the right is rising to a level of insanity.  One must wonder what the heck is going on with GOP leadership.  It is a well documented fact the Latino voting block will be the largest single voting block in the U.S. within 15 years.  With each new racist proclamation, Latinos are souring on the Grand Old Party in favor of more progressive and friendly leadership.

GOP leaders know this.  They also know the way to get their names in big print is to announce yet another anti-immigrant law.  After passage of Arizona SB 1070, the most vicious anti-immigrant law in the history of the U.S., some Arizona senators have acquired a fierce reputation with conservative voters.  They have also cost their state over $150 million in revenue due to boycotts over a four month period alone and millions of dollars in legal fees to defend laws they know have been declared unconstitutional.  None of that matters.  They are willing to sacrifice the best interests of the tax payers and the GOP itself in order to gain a little fame.



A racist slogan in Phoenix, Arizona, home to SB 1070


In the meantime, the GOP insisted on a tax cut that puts $139K in the pocket of every millionaire in the country.  The party wishes to deny the poorest of the poor basic education and health care while funneling millions to the super-rich.   They are not even doing it nicely.  Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-GA) mocked the Dream Activist after defeating a law that would allow immigrant youth to attend college and serve in the military. 

In recent actions, Gov. Susana Martinez  (R-NM) announced she would advocate for the revocation of drivers liceneses issued to undocumented workers.  GOP leaders announced their plan to pass an Arizona SB 1070 style law in the Rocky Mountain State of Colorado.  Arizona rolled out a series of proposed laws aimed at denying children of undocumented workers the chance at education as well as measures to raise money to pay for the huge legal bills the state is incurring defending SB 1070.  Surprisingly, even Hollywood stars try to get in on the fame, including Steven Segal who allied himself with a hunt-for-Mexican party along with a GOP favorite, Maricopa County's Sheriff Joe Arpaio.



A child of an undocumented immigrant, brought to the US by his parents, seeks to serve in the Military.  Current law prohibits it.  The US wants to deport this youth who is willing to put his life on the line to defend freedom.


In the old days, the GOP was a pro business party.  Today, with conservative law makers at the helm, businessmen are losing their shirts with anti-Hispanic rhetoric.  While it works today, the strategy will lead to a dead end street for future GOP leaders.  Those who the party openly offends will not soon forget who turned their backs when the need was greatest.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Private Prison Pushes for SB 1070 Arizona Fruad

 PRIVATE PRISON ADVOCATES FOR PASSAGE OF SB 1070

RUSSELL PEARCE IN BED WITH CORPORATE JAILER


SB 1070, the most vicious anti-immigrant law in the history of the nation, was supported by a private company which makes money by jailing undocumented workers.  The conflicts of interest in passing a law which puts people in prison for money is an assault to the freedom of every person.

An Arizona law targeting illegal immigration had its roots in a business venture proposed by prison companies, according to a report by National Public Radio .

NPR reported they found a "quiet, behind-the-scenes effort to help draft and pass Arizona SB 1070 by an industry that stands to benefit from it: the private prison industry."

GEO is one of the largest private prison companies in the world.  They have facilities in Colorado, Arizona and many other locations.  They are constantly seeking approval for new sites.  Their record of human rights is abysmal!



"The law could send hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants to prison, meaning hundreds of millions of dollars in profits to private prison companies responsible for housing them," according to NPR.
The law was proposed by Arizona state Senator Russell Pierce and passed in April. Governor Jan Brewer signed it into law.  It became law in July, with protests and support.

There were massive protests in Phoenix as a result of the law.  

NPR says Pierce made a presentation in Washington, D.C. last December with a "membership organization of state legislators and powerful corporations and associations, such as the tobacco company Reynolds American Inc., Exxon Mobil and the National Rifle Association. Another member is the billion-dollar Corrections Corporation of America — the largest private prison company in the country."

"In the conference room, the group decided they would turn the immigration idea into a model bill. They discussed and debated language. Then, they voted on it," according to NPR.


Meanwhile, Proposition 200 was declared illegal.

This is the Arizona law which required extra I.D. in order for voters to register.

As the right wing seeks to keep immigrants from voting, Promise Arizona, a membership organization has been working to register new voters.  They registered 13,000 new voters this season alone.  Promise Arizona will change the political landscape in Arizona.

The fanatical right is manipulating voter conscience while placing pressure on undocumented workers.  The injustice is beyond the pale.



Read and listen to the full NPR report