An hour south of Tucson you'll find deserted silver mines used to make Confederate bullets in the latter days of the Civil War. The settlers of the region tried and failed to gain the federal government's protection for their business interests. They were at war with the Apache tribe and desperate to have federal troops present so they could excavate in a place named after the Aztec word for "silver-bearing." The feds ignore them.
The then-residents, numbering in the thousands, probably by counting everyone twice, decided to secede from the Union. So when Arizona cries foul at the federal government's shortcomings, this time it's not new territory.
In fact, everything about SB 1070, Arizona's new ruthless immigration law signed last week seems refried. It's the same bill Governor Janet Napolitano vetoed twice. It's a three-peat of a bad idea. And it's a political cliché: when the economy is struggling, scapegoat "illegals." In 1994 California's then-Governor Pete Wilson knew the drill: His notorious re-election commercials showed immigrants running over the border like invading pathogens and he got to appear responsive to voters' fears.
What happens to illegal immigrants when the economy is thriving? Business owners adore them. They don't have to pay them the whopping federally mandated minimum wage. Undocumented workers will never unionize. They will never sue. They are the perfect employees from a business owner's perspective and that is why they continue to be employed in this country. They increase profit. They're an endless resource -- an exploitable subclass. Their legality is only an issue when attention needs to be drawn away from something else. Then "illegals" are a moral outrage. A sudden threat to national security! Why haven't we had immigration reform since Ronald Reagan's 1986 amnesty? Because in the boom times we love all the cheap labor.
But now it's lean for Arizona. The recently appointed Governor Jan Brewer needs to (gulp) raise taxes. So in a cowardly kowtowing act of desperation she gave the rabid of her base what they want -- a dramatic crackdown on the-people-easy-to-point-a-finger-at.
So the same people whose sweat and sacrifice assists the booms are going to get busted after the bust!?
Using vague and coded terms like "reasonable suspicion" the law enables police to pick up people who don't look a certain way. What way? Governor Brewer told reporters after the signing ceremony she doesn't know what an illegal immigrant looks like. Of course, she's federally obligated to say she's against racial profiling, which she offered like a disclaimer before realizing the opposite.
The next time you need a definition for the word "disingenuous" use the example of a governor of a state bordering Mexico creating a law to arrest those without proper identification being coy about what Mexicans without papers look like. The kicker was the Governor stating, "We have to trust our law enforcement." The signing was spineless as it was witless. It's like writing a law to ban teenagers but not having the cojones to define who they are. They wear different shoes. We'll let the police just sort it out.
This isn't leadership. It's pandering. It's vilifying the voiceless while setting up the police to catch blame for implementing an ambiguous decree -- all the while terrorizing a third of Arizonians who are Latino. Weak. Cheap. Sniveling. Sycophantic.
As a state Arizona has always been a little kooky. It's all personality: From Barry Goldwater to John McCain from Wyatt Earp to Sylvestor Mowry. The state is infamous for being the backdrop of the most romantic of American lore -- the outlaw, the cowboy. It's a state of unprecedented beauty with goofy politics and sun-baked passions. It's all woven through with this defiant libertarian-leaning credo of letting people do their own thing.
Arizona hasn't been a police state since the California Column confiscated all the land from the Confederate sympathizers. Way to break that run.
Unlike most who are calling for a boycott, I had two trips to Arizona planned this year. Regretfully, I've canceled them both. I would happily have paid the one percent increase in sales tax but I won't give my tourist dollars to state sanctioned harassment. I hope the voters get better leadership but until that time, I'll vote with my pocketbook.
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Salena Tramel: Not the Arizona I Knew
Today I couldn't be more ashamed of where I'm from. The racist immigration bill signed into law by Gov. Jan Brewer more or less turns my childhood home into a xenophobic police state.
No towels either....not unless they're Egyptian, Turkish or Italian....but watch it....Pima cotton is from Arizona. Named for the Pima Indians....a good deal is grown on reservations by Native Americans. G
Guess you folks will be boycotting towels too and hurting reservations too.
You must really be proud of yourselves. Approx one third of Arizona land mass is Reservation.
That's right....go after the casinos and tribes here too...never mind the revenue helps fund clinics, schools and other social services......don't give them a dime....
Watch where your citrus came from too. And Sunkist juice....no orange juice if you can't verify it's origin....
And take off that Navajo belt buckle and bracelet...how dare you support our law....
And if you're even thinking of a visit to honor Lori Piestewa....forget it....
And don't forget.... go see the North Rim in Utah....you'll love the gun culture there.
You really must be proud of yourselves for the failure to read our bill.
HAHAHAHA...I can't even begin to fathom this non sequitor.....
It's like having Sarah Palin's stupid sister for governor.
I'm moving back to Denver; I've had it with this place. Let the bank have the damn house.
This could have been more easily addressed at the twin root of the problem -- those employers who prefer a cheap and frightened workforce of "illegals", and the "war on drugs" which causes most of the violence. But the repubs don't see either of these issues as problems, as usual, they are not living in a reality-based world.
Or you might believe Greg Palast's surmise that this is yet another pathetic Roveian attempt at voter suppression: http://www.gregpalast.com/behind-the-arizona-immigration-lawgop-game-to-swipe-the-november-election/#more-3592
You don't seem to understand the law is exactly the same....the same lawful stops....the same reasonable suspicion and specifically rules out profiling. Try reading the whole thing...including the ARS amendments. Don't believe every op-ed you read. Research it...you'll find this is much over much disinformation. I kid you not. I have read it all...including the amendments and Border Patrol isn't a stranger to me.
BTW, change your pic-- looks like you have a smirk on your face.
What I love about Arizona are the wide open spaces, and the cultural diversity that is the legacy of our history. Many Arizonans are deeply concerned about the grip of fear and doubt that entangles our government and has us legalizing concealed weapons and alienating key contributors to our economy because they have brown skin.
You are awfully transparent, Shayla..
But they love that 2 dollar and a taco lawn mow.
So what is the solution?
Prevent illegal immigration which would cause wages and prices to rise?
Say anyone can come to the US and be an instant citizen?
Unions....Cesar Chavez said they would suffer if illegal immigration was not curtailed....he was very anti illegal worker you know.
While I'm against illegal immigration from any group (including my Irish relatives) racial profiling of Latinos is not the way to go. It's just downright criminal. As a country, we need to adopt a policy that addresses immigration and quotas from all countries of people who seek immigrant status.
How in the world does Border Patrol operate?
The same way this law prescribes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj401GDlxKU&feature=related
But as for the new law signed last Friday, it's despicable and a blot on the state.
From http://www.stjohnsaz.com/ghosttowns.html: "The small town (Mowry) grew up around the silver, lead, zinc mine US Army Lt Mowry purchased. The operations were cut short in 1862 when Lt. Mowry was charged with supplying lead for Confederate bullets. He was jailed at Fort Yuma and his mine was confiscated by Uncle Sam."