A Misto Spot in surfing occurs very rarely when the convergence of a number of factors creates some awesome waves where there is usually nothing but pancake. American Samoa normally gets about as much attention from Capitol Hill as a swimming pool gets from surfers. But there is now a Misto Spot on normally quiet shores of American Samoa. Democrats should ride the new swell of GOP enthusiasm for the rights those living in American Samoa to end an historic injustice and make those born in American Samoa full US citizens.
Republicans smelt something fishy when House Democrats apparently attempted to exempt American Samoa out of their bill to increase the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour. The previous minimum wage hikes applied to every state as well as to each of the non-state entities that are part of the United States (D.C., US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands and America Samoa).
Oddly, there is a reason to treat American Samoa differently than people living in the 50 states and the other non-state entities, but there is certainly no reason to exempt them from a federal wage hike. American Samoans are the only US nationals that are also not US citizens. People born in American Samoa carry US passports, but if they move to a state or other non-state entity that is part of the US, like DC, they would have to apply for citizenship and pass a test as if they were "permanent resident aliens" born in a foreign country. This is so old school. We are in need of action in epic proportions and the dudes and dudettes examining the House and Senate versions of the bill should play a major role.
Congress long ago granted US citizenship to those individuals born in our other non-state entities. The distinction between nationality and citizenship is outdated, useless and in a country that celebrates the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. as a national holiday, a shameful remnant of racism. In fact, maintaining the distinction for the approximately 60,000 people that inhabit American Samoa costs money bureaucratically to maintain and exposes our collective ugly hangover from the US foray into the dubious practice of colonialism.
Thankfully, the Democrats quickly retreated from a position that would undermine theoretical and political support for the minimum wage anywhere, given the reason to have a minimum wage is to insure everyone employed in the US receives sufficient compensation for their work to avoid living in poverty. Additionally, the theory in support of a minimum wage expounds that an increase can help stimulate the economy, given those in the lower income brackets spend a higher percentage of their income than those who may profit from keeping wages low. One exemption would lead to many as such a policy would mean buying into the vision of the benefits of the race to the bottom economy.
But now that both the GOP and Democrats have shown great interest in the well-being of US nationals living in American Samoa, it is time to test the waters that this interest is real and not simply a product of sewer surfing (someone who drives around with a board on top of their car, but never goes to the beach). As the Senate and House versions are now stuck in conference, Congress should not miss this massive opportunity to amend the bill increasing the federal minimum wage to include citizenship for those born in American Samoa.
American Samoa has been part of the US since 1900. It is not going anywhere. It is overdue to end this racist distinction that actually costs taxpayers money and undermines the reputation of this country as a diverse and fair one. Such a bipartisan swell of interest related to American Samoa is a rarity on Capitol Hill. The Democratic leadership should notice that the surf's up and paddle quickly to catch this unusual wave if it is serious about promoting a diverse and fair country, before the wave of interest breaks; for it could be years before we could see such a bipartisan swell headed toward American Samoa again.