Some politicians are so predictable that, well, you can predict what they will do. Such is the case with LA's embattled mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa. He is calling for a boycott of the state of Arizona because of its new immigration law. He calls it, according to the Los Angeles Times, both "unpatriotic" as well as "unconstitutional."
His words are, of course, custom made for pithy soundbites for television and radio, simplistic in the extreme. Federal law has for more than half a century mandated that non-U.S. citizens carry on their person identification and produce it upon request. He hasn't called that law "unpatriotic." And, as for the new Arizona law being "unconstitutional" -- we will have to wait for the U.S. Supreme Court to pass judgment on that one. I have read good arguments both for and against that notion.
Besides, even U.S. citizens, since 9/11, must produce a government-issued picture ID in order to board an airliner -- something that before the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon would have been considered probably both unpatriotic as well as unconstitutional. But in the name of national security, it is now considered standard operating procedure.
Having said all this, it seems to me the central problem with the Arizona law is that we musn't get ourselves, as a nation, into a situation where each state decides how to enforce immigration flow (both legal and illegal) or a situation where one state (let alone a city!) boycotts another.
I'm not even sure what that means or how it would be implemented and I am certain neither does Mayor Villaraigosa or any other local politician here.
While, sometimes, boycotts do work, one only has to look at this country's experience with Iran or, going much farther back in time, Cuba, to realize that boycotts often do not work and can even prove counter-productive.
The real solution here is clearly federal legislation. The only reason Arizona has taken the action it has taken is because the federal government has proven totally inept at dealing with the situation in a fair and effective manner.
But this must now change.
Clearly, President Obama has to take a leadership position on this one, something he has yet to do.
And, Congress must pass immigration reform that both protects our borders but also deals realistically with the millions of undocumented (illegal) foreigners now in this country. Most are here to stay and, in fact, needed in California, Arizona and elsewhere to keep the economy rolling -- especially at a time when the nation's economic engine is still not exactly humming.
Federal legislation that offers a roadmap for these people to become legal citizens is the only answer that makes sense and not childish calls for boycotting other states.
Charles Feldman is a journalist, media consultant and co-author of the book, "No Time To Think-The Menace of Media Speed and the 24-hour News Cycle." He has covered politics and police in Los Angeles since 1995 and is a regular contributor of investigative reports to KNX1070 Newsradio.
Follow Charles Feldman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cfeldman1
but..aside from errors..I stand by what I wrote...basically a perfect world..would fix everything.
#1..legalize pot (and I don't smoke or use pot)...wouldn't end cartels..but weaken them
#2..a truly viable immigration policy out of Obama...but another OMG...financial meltdown, healthcare reform, a facebook paged dedicated to his death..AND a war he didn't start..but continues to fund...what a figgin mess...
I'm not SO sure he understands the law.
BUT BUT BUT Why are the Americans always being bullied by the illegal immigrants and their friends?
Darn! Why don't they protest in MEXICO and SHOUT. "GET RID OF CORRUPTION. We need jobs! We need a good life in MEXICO. JOBS for us. FREE EDUCATION for our children in MEXICO! JOBS, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, HOUSING in MEXICO. Stop the Corruption!!"
Instead in the US, it is "We are illegal immigrants and we HAVE RIGHTS! My illegal immigrant parents and friends have RIGHTS in the USA. You cannot look for us and ask us for papers. Boycott this and that."
I don't get it. The USA always has to provide for everyone while its own citizens are suffering. Look at all the budget deficits supporting every illegal and legal person. Scratching head.
Just make them all legal and open up the borders. They are going to win anyway. The USA loses every time. The USA always loses to the illegal immigrants. The illegal immigrants will always RULE and they are always right. The illegal immigrants will always play victim and will get what they want from the USA. They will win!!! It is a 100% guarantee. That is why they keep coming.