In what-in-the-hell-took-Washington-so-long news: The Obama administration is starting to go after the businesses that hire undocumented workers.
Why we didn’t start the immigration reform brouhaha with those who hire undocumented workers is beyond me. Though, the American government does have a long history of staying out of businesses’ business as they do all they can to reduce costs and turn a buck.
But in this situation, we’re not talking about using a cheaper ingredient — we’re talking about humans who leave their lives in their homeland for an opportunity to improve their lot … exactly what immigrants in America have been doing since the land was “discovered.” And, as many have in the past, they get here and frequently find themselves working in sub-par conditions, being villainized, discriminated against, living in impoverished conditions all for little pay. Then, historically, the government goes after the immigrants and makes them pay for seeking a better life for their family in the land of the American Dream … unless, of course, the immigrants’ vote is desired, then the game changes a bit.
What we should have been doing all along was removing the incentives for immigrants to cross our borders illegally, and that includes doing what our government is doing now: Holding companies accountable for attracting undocumented workers.
And, let’s get this straight once and for all: Humans can’t be “illegal,” though actions can be illegal. While crossing the border without proper documentation is a crime, so too should be enticing people to do so; so too should be mistreating those undocumented humans once they arrive.
Our society seems to be always looking for some “other” person — often with brown skin — to pick on in this country, someone to blame for our collective failings and problems. When will we look in the mirror and realize that we — with our demands that everything to be cheap and profitable — create the problems ourselves then perpetuate them with our spending habit, i.e. our economic votes, i.e. economic demand?
I’m glad to see that our brown-skinned, “other”-looking president has shifted his focus in immigration reform, even if it is just before a major national election. If anyone knows what it’s like to be demonized for being different, it should be him. My concern, however, is this move is a political ploy aimed at increasing voter turnout by those documented immigrants who are now well papered and tired of being demonized themselves.
Further, while I’m on this topic let me point this out: My lily-white immigrant friends (the ones from Europe, Northern Asia and South Africa) don’t encounter anything close to the troubles my non-white immigrant friends (from Central and South America, Southern Asia and Africa) do. No. People are more likely to compliment the lily-white immigrants on their accents than to ask for their papers, even though at least two of them lived and worked in this country illegally for more than a decade. What’s that all about? Never mind. I think we know. Dark-skinned others are scarier than light-skinned others.
Here’s an example, from the movie Food, Inc., of businesses attracting undocumented workers only to over-work them in sub-par conditions while making deals with immigration officials:
This article appears in May 31 – Jun 6, 2011.
We have heard all the harp music about these people just wanting to have a better life. When that doesn’t work, look for the ugly nastiness that is just beneath the surface of this arrogant, self-entitled mob.
Thank you so much for posting this. great article and video! it’s all a vicious cycle of greed and profit, and the big businesses aren’t who pays for it. it is the immigrant families that are torn apart and the tax dollars spent to detain the illegal immigrants. these businesses entice them and convince them all will be well, then the immigrants work their butts of for barely anything so that we can have “what we want when we want it.” it is our faults, too. if we weren’t a consumerist nation- if there wasn’t demand- then these companies wouldn’t have to produce so much for so cheap so quickly.
The only arrogant, “self-entitled” (lol) mob in this country is the legion of uneducated whites (Ironweed) that think the country owes them a living because their skin’s the right color.
I liked this movie! It blends film noir with Stardust Memories, The Purple Rose of Cairo, and some of Annie Hall. The scenes of Paris were enough to make one fall madly in love. The music was excellent! Having all the artists and writers show up was the ultimate name dropping contest! Their caricatures were hysterical! Casting Adrien Brody as Salvatore Dali was mind blowing, along with the surreal discussion about a rhino. I think Owen Wilson is the best Woody Allen by far. He has a kind of naivete that seems to fit perfectly with who Woody seems to be and the combination of Owen’s good looks with Woody’s humor is riveting!