No matter how I look at this coming Monday’s planned boycotts, they strike me as a very bad idea (Houston Chronicle).
Organizers of a May 1 immigrant boycott of businesses nationwide said Thursday they intend to proceed despite signs that the plan has divided immigrant rights groups and could produce a backlash.
Could? They must be kidding, because the backlash seems to have already begun.
The bizarre agenda of splinter groups like Aztlan or la Reconquista — who (imho) are out of their minds — has given rise to hostility and resentment against all of the illegal immigrants, solidifying resistance to discussion, debate, or compromise. This hardening position is reflected all over the blogosphere, and any mass demonstration or walkout at this juncture that harms the US economy in any way will only widen the gap.
It’s a shame, actually. A month or so ago, when I first heard about the planned “A Day without an Immigrant”, Polimom thought it was an interesting, if not particularly brilliant, idea. Just what would the impact be, I wondered? How many industries and businesses do depend on this enormous pool of “cheaper” workers. It’s all been a big “fun with numbers” guessing game, since by their very status in the country, nobody’s really sure how many folks are here illegally. I hoped that perhaps we - America - would be able to see, finally, what their presence actually does or does not contribute.
I’m sure that’s what the California State Senate is hoping to show with their support of Monday’s boycott (cbs5.com)…
California’s state senators on Thursday endorsed Monday’s boycott of schools, jobs and stores by illegal immigrants and their allies as supporters equated the protest with great social movements in American history.
By a 24-13 vote that split along party lines, the California Senate approved a resolution that calls the one-day protest the Great American Boycott 2006 and describes it as an attempt to educate Americans “about the tremendous contribution immigrants make on a daily basis to our society and economy.”
…but Polimom thinks folks on the right have had about as much education as they’re able to handle just at the moment.
Unfortunately, not proceeding on Monday doesn’t appear to be an option, since the “full amnesty”, “open borders”, and other hard-left folks are evidently as inflexible as their opposites.
It feels as if we’re farther from a solution today than we were a month ago… but not nearly as far apart as we’ll be Tuesday morning.
Is it still a boycott if it wins official state approval? Sounds more like a day off to me …
Incidentally, would love to hear your thoughts on this.
Isnt it ironic that the very people who do not want these people here working illegally are up in arms when these people decide not to come to work for a day?
Threats and boycotts don’t lead to good public policy. There is a vast middle of good ideas between laughable open borders and a nutty wall. Time for both extremes to take a few days off from work and let the grownups work out a solution.
Mash,
Sadly, I can’t tell how “vast” that middle ground is anymore. A month ago, I had such hopes…
its vast but its empty
Walk out or no, left right or middle, something has to change. I agree with Mash let them take a day off so the grown ups can work something out.
Taking 10 years to work throught the current process is a little extreme. I personally know people who are here now, working through the system and just keep getting the run aournd that it makes me sick. Maybe they should make the process more resonable. This probably wouldn’t be a problem now if process would of been re-worked with 9-11 instead of bloated.
Just my $0.02.
if they are here with illegal papers, how likely are the to show there hand and participate….thats insane….can’t imagine you will see alot come monday
[…] Of course I suspect, as Polimom suspects, the situation may already be completely out of control. In that case, the only thing left to do is to let the lunatics run the asylum. […]