The Big Picture of Illegal Immigration

crossposted at: Someone Took in These Pants...

This is somewhat of a wedge issue among Democrats and Republicans as it crosses party lines. Racist Republicans don't want people of other races flocking across the border into "their" country, and liberals believe that anyone of any nationality or race should have the chance at a good life in America. Meanwhile, corporatist conservatives enjoy the cheap labor that lines their pockets with green, and Democratic leaning unions oppose the labor-busting effects of letting in cheap immigrant workers who will work for under the minimum wage.

But despite the politics of the illegal immigration issue, the practical effects are undeniable: Illegal immigration is leading to the economic segregation of American society. There are important issues to consider here. In a totally free market, the American economy cannot compete with China, Mexico, India and the likes due to the lower living standards for the working class in those countries. There are two ways the American economy will be able to survive this disparity in a free market. The first is by encouraging civil rights, fair pay, and labor unions in China, and stimulating economic growth in countries like Mexico. The second is to turn the United States economy into one resembling India. The obvious solution, as far as I am concerned, is to encourage higher labor standards in other countries, and not to make labor standards in the United States lower.

But there is no effort from our government to accomplish the former. Civil rights is not an issue with China anymore. We pretend China's massive abuses of human rights don't exist as they continue to supply our nation with an endlessly increasing credit line. The US has undermined economic development in South America for decades, sometimes violently. Hugo Chavez's recent attempts to diversify the Venezuelan economy and educate his people have Republicans frothing at the mouth. The Bush administration's position on this issue is clear. More cheap labor, not only in other parts of the world, but here in the US as well. And this means eliminating the middle class. Bush's plan means broadening the gap between the rich and poor everywhere to level the playing field across countries, not closing the income gap across the world to do the same. This means ignoring China's human rights violations, instead of linking trade with China to improved civil rights.

But don't take my word for it. The following segment on Lou Dobbs, with guests Randi Rhodes, Jim McIntyre, and Mark Simone discuss this issue. The commentary is very, very intriguing. Might I remind you that McIntyre considers himself a Republican, which will tell you that if Democratic leaders in congress wanted to grab hold of a wedge issue that ties in the national debt, illegal immigration and Bush's corporatism and disdain for middle class America, they most certainly could. All without upsetting the liberal base. Do congressional Democrats have the balls to go against the corporations that they too often play nanny to? We will find out soon enough.

The videos(Thanks to CanOFun for the original link to the videos!):

Part 1

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6NbtdO1mEZ0

Part 2

http://youtube.com/watch?v=1Pq5RtrD-aU

How can Democrats address this issue? What policies can they advocate for to solve this in a reasonable way? How about a global minimum wage implemented by the UN? What about tying trade more strictly to human rights conditions in other countries? Any suggestions?

I'm glad I was wrong when I thought this topic might start a flame war :)