I have been thinking about the new Arizona immigration law and checking out comments related to this law. Let me say it is a joke that people believe that this is a great way to start a crackdown on illegal immigration. This law will have a minimal effect on the problem. By the time these folks are arrested processed and sent back to Mexico Arizona’s financial problems will only get worse and these immigrants will be back in time for their next pay period. This law is largely symbolic in my opinion. As usual it is nothing more than a public relations move by the Arizona legislature. I am sure they have plenty of laws on the books to deal with this situation. Now if you want to make an issue about states rights vs. federal law I can understand that, but I believe this immigration law will have little impact on illegal immigration in the state of Arizona.
The illegal immigration problem will not be legislated out of existence. The only way to control it is by stopping the disparity between what workers in Mexico can make and what these same workers can make in the USA. We need to stop pumping up the Mexican economy until their government is prepared to make the opportunities in their country closer to what we have here. From what I remember NAFTA was suppose to help accomplish this but in reality all that has happened is our wages have come down to compete in this global market. Our government needs to slow down this competing in the global market nonsense. We as individuals need to be more aware of what we are buying and what affect buying these goods are having on our economy.
Another way we can help with the immigration problem is to enforce laws aimed at businesses who use illegal immigrants. Crackdown on those hiring illegals so they can pay substandard wages. When people go out and decide to build a block wall for example do they use union scale labor. I venture to say no. They find someone who can do it cheaper and get them to do the job. As usual this Arizona immigration law is focused on the immigrants and lets those that hire the individuals continue to exploit them. If it is not profitable for business or the immigrants that come here to work, immigration will become less of a problem plain and simple.
So we as consumers and voters can protest with our wallets and hopefully we will not get sucked into quick fix laws and rhetoric. This problem will continue unless we take a look at the real underlying causes and work to mitigate some of the disparities between the American and the Mexican labor market. Mexican workers need an opportunity to succeed on their on turf then they will be less likely to immigrate to the US.
One last thought, I want to give a shout out to those that were not sucked into the Ken Mettler election strategy business. I was very glad that voters turned him away in favor of Shannon Grove because to be frank that guy seemed to have a tough time telling the truth.
