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Political Rant: Arizona's new law and more!
15 years ago
Really, Arizona? You're gonna give more power to police officers in hopes of curbing illegal immigration? Doesn't anyone else see the hilarity in this? I admit that we desperately need to overhaul immigration in the United States... But this law is far too over the top. Here's why I think this is a terrible idea:
1. Illegal immigrants in Arizona account for nearly 10% of the economy in the state. Yes, you want them gone and heading back to Mexico, but the vast majority of them are just going to migrate to other states. "Good riddance" you say? If 90% of them leave, you're losing out on nearly 9% of your economy.
2. Another positive aspect that was pushed is that the law will make it so Americans can pick up these jobs that the immigrants are going to be vacating. But the fact of the matter is that Americans feel entitled to everything. If we wanted these jobs, many of them WOULD be in the hands of Americans. Americans don't want many of those jobs and if the amount of jobs available suddenly increases, be prepared to learn that we'll skip out on shitty jobs for better paying ones... Leaving a nice hole at the bottom of the totem pole for your economy.
3. Ever heard of racial profiling? It's a very ugly thing that can cause these little things called "lawsuits" to pop up. Now if citizens (legal ones) get pulled over and harassed for being latino, there's a slim, but real, chance that they can sue the state. Now what happens when people sue states? That's right! The state has to use TAXPAYER MONEY to fight these lawsuits. What's more is that if the plaintiff wins in cases like these, the defendant MUST pay for court costs of the plaintiff... Yes, more taxpayer money.
4. It's going to affect MORE than latinos. While the majority of cases will be about Mexicans being here illegal (see point 3), what's stopping the police from pulling white people over? Or Asians? Or Arabs? What about foreign tourists? I'm sure tourism is a huge part of your economy and you're potentially damaging that sector as well by investing the police with this power. This conveniently brings me to the most aggravating and mind numbingly horrible part of this...
5. You're giving the police to pull ANY of your citizens over... Legally. You look at one wrong and they can pull you over. Yes, they may not be able to charge you with anything, but the fact remains that you can still get pulled over.
Point 5 is what boggles my mind the most. Why are conservatives so against the government (they are, face it: they want smaller government and no that doesn't mean ONLY small FEDERAL government... State and local governments too) yet they're in favor of giving far more power to them with this law?
My theory is that conservatives honestly like a big government as long as it's "their" government. A government that agrees only with them and only works on behalf of them. This, of course, will never be a reality. Yes... I too would love a government that'd enact policies I agree with 100% on... But I don't live in this made up planet... I live in this fucked up dream we call "reality." In reality, people disagree with you and people should try to find common ground. But fuck that, it's my way or no way... Amirite? (I'm right.)
Another beef I have with conservatives is that they often DO have good ideas. I embrace ideas from the far right wing and even the tea party movement. A few of their ideas are definitely good... The sad thing is that to adopt these ideas, we basically have to adopt ALL of the other ideas... Which seems unfair.
I'm of the belief that the vast majority of Americans can actually come together on many ideas and strive together for common goals. Unfortunately we've all been whipped into a frothing "us-against-them" mentality. That if you don't agree completely with us, we're against you. This is true with all parts of the political philosophical spectrum... The left is just as guilty as the right about it.
Instead of arguing how the other side is wrong on a number of issues, we should spend our time finding common ground, things that we can simply agree on. If you can build a relationship of respect and prove that you're willing to work with others; things will get done.
The antithesis of togetherness at this juncture is the United States' Congress. Nowadays the left is refusing to work with the right and the right is refusing to work with the left. The left is now passing bills with as little insight as possible from the right. And the right, during the Bush administration, frequently passed partisan bills with no bipartisan effort.
History has frequently taught us that one party rule doesn't work. The fall of the USSR is proof of that. One party rule creates a nation of fear. Fear is one of the most powerful emotions a person can feel and thus makes us the most rash. We don't have time to think, it's fight-or-flight. In the world of politics, the politicians have long since learned to play on our fears. Fear limits progress, fear limits potential... Fear kills.
Don't believe me that we're more partisan than ever in congress? Let's look at the use of filibusters:
1800 - 1899: Filibusters < 24
2009 - 2010: Filibusters > 150
Enjoy the career politicians, don't you? Enjoy the lack of progress at the time we need it the most, don't you?
And Republicans, remember this: Democrats are taking tips from you guys. Democratic senators are just as likely as Republican ones to use filibusters graciously now.
That's why we need to get rid of the 60-vote super majority. In times when the "other" party is in control, it may seem scary. But what's worse? The "other" party easily passing bills? Or NEITHER party passing bills? It's the cold reality of it, but if we don't abolish that rule, we're heading towards a complete stagnation of our nation.
All-in-all, here's the tl;dr version:
1. Fuck you Arizona. I'm not saying that JUST because of the immigration bill. I'm doing it to preempt the Portland Trail Blazers likely 4th loss in the playoffs to Phoenix. Never REALLY been a fan of Phoenix and Arizona anyways.
2. Fuck you, partisanship.
I'll have a new journal up soon, so get your kicks in now while you can. I'm always interested in learning about other people's views; provided they offer them in a polite and compromising way.
Thanks for letting me rant!
1. Illegal immigrants in Arizona account for nearly 10% of the economy in the state. Yes, you want them gone and heading back to Mexico, but the vast majority of them are just going to migrate to other states. "Good riddance" you say? If 90% of them leave, you're losing out on nearly 9% of your economy.
2. Another positive aspect that was pushed is that the law will make it so Americans can pick up these jobs that the immigrants are going to be vacating. But the fact of the matter is that Americans feel entitled to everything. If we wanted these jobs, many of them WOULD be in the hands of Americans. Americans don't want many of those jobs and if the amount of jobs available suddenly increases, be prepared to learn that we'll skip out on shitty jobs for better paying ones... Leaving a nice hole at the bottom of the totem pole for your economy.
3. Ever heard of racial profiling? It's a very ugly thing that can cause these little things called "lawsuits" to pop up. Now if citizens (legal ones) get pulled over and harassed for being latino, there's a slim, but real, chance that they can sue the state. Now what happens when people sue states? That's right! The state has to use TAXPAYER MONEY to fight these lawsuits. What's more is that if the plaintiff wins in cases like these, the defendant MUST pay for court costs of the plaintiff... Yes, more taxpayer money.
4. It's going to affect MORE than latinos. While the majority of cases will be about Mexicans being here illegal (see point 3), what's stopping the police from pulling white people over? Or Asians? Or Arabs? What about foreign tourists? I'm sure tourism is a huge part of your economy and you're potentially damaging that sector as well by investing the police with this power. This conveniently brings me to the most aggravating and mind numbingly horrible part of this...
5. You're giving the police to pull ANY of your citizens over... Legally. You look at one wrong and they can pull you over. Yes, they may not be able to charge you with anything, but the fact remains that you can still get pulled over.
Point 5 is what boggles my mind the most. Why are conservatives so against the government (they are, face it: they want smaller government and no that doesn't mean ONLY small FEDERAL government... State and local governments too) yet they're in favor of giving far more power to them with this law?
My theory is that conservatives honestly like a big government as long as it's "their" government. A government that agrees only with them and only works on behalf of them. This, of course, will never be a reality. Yes... I too would love a government that'd enact policies I agree with 100% on... But I don't live in this made up planet... I live in this fucked up dream we call "reality." In reality, people disagree with you and people should try to find common ground. But fuck that, it's my way or no way... Amirite? (I'm right.)
Another beef I have with conservatives is that they often DO have good ideas. I embrace ideas from the far right wing and even the tea party movement. A few of their ideas are definitely good... The sad thing is that to adopt these ideas, we basically have to adopt ALL of the other ideas... Which seems unfair.
I'm of the belief that the vast majority of Americans can actually come together on many ideas and strive together for common goals. Unfortunately we've all been whipped into a frothing "us-against-them" mentality. That if you don't agree completely with us, we're against you. This is true with all parts of the political philosophical spectrum... The left is just as guilty as the right about it.
Instead of arguing how the other side is wrong on a number of issues, we should spend our time finding common ground, things that we can simply agree on. If you can build a relationship of respect and prove that you're willing to work with others; things will get done.
The antithesis of togetherness at this juncture is the United States' Congress. Nowadays the left is refusing to work with the right and the right is refusing to work with the left. The left is now passing bills with as little insight as possible from the right. And the right, during the Bush administration, frequently passed partisan bills with no bipartisan effort.
History has frequently taught us that one party rule doesn't work. The fall of the USSR is proof of that. One party rule creates a nation of fear. Fear is one of the most powerful emotions a person can feel and thus makes us the most rash. We don't have time to think, it's fight-or-flight. In the world of politics, the politicians have long since learned to play on our fears. Fear limits progress, fear limits potential... Fear kills.
Don't believe me that we're more partisan than ever in congress? Let's look at the use of filibusters:
1800 - 1899: Filibusters < 24
2009 - 2010: Filibusters > 150
Enjoy the career politicians, don't you? Enjoy the lack of progress at the time we need it the most, don't you?
And Republicans, remember this: Democrats are taking tips from you guys. Democratic senators are just as likely as Republican ones to use filibusters graciously now.
That's why we need to get rid of the 60-vote super majority. In times when the "other" party is in control, it may seem scary. But what's worse? The "other" party easily passing bills? Or NEITHER party passing bills? It's the cold reality of it, but if we don't abolish that rule, we're heading towards a complete stagnation of our nation.
All-in-all, here's the tl;dr version:
1. Fuck you Arizona. I'm not saying that JUST because of the immigration bill. I'm doing it to preempt the Portland Trail Blazers likely 4th loss in the playoffs to Phoenix. Never REALLY been a fan of Phoenix and Arizona anyways.
2. Fuck you, partisanship.
I'll have a new journal up soon, so get your kicks in now while you can. I'm always interested in learning about other people's views; provided they offer them in a polite and compromising way.
Thanks for letting me rant!
