Wetback Strike

[xoxoxoBruce]

Hope your Valetine's Day plans don't require the services of illegals because they're on strike today.

Group will wait for press conference at the Cathedral to end 12:15pm Cultural performances by Aztec Dance Group Ollin Yoliztli Calecac 12:30pm Reading of “Proclamation for Responsible Immigration Reform” 12:45pm Speakers/Testimonies 1:45pm Call to Action – Chanting 2:00pm Closing Remarks March of delegation to Senator Arlen Specter’s Office and admonition to enjoy the day at the sites at the national park.

Seems they are upset about the Sensenbrenner-King (pdf) in congress.

H.R. 4437 will end the “catch and release” practice, an obvious gap in our nation’s
homeland security efforts. This year alone, some 120,000 illegal aliens from countries other than Mexico (OTMs) have been apprehended by the Border Patrol, only to be released due to a lack of detention space. H.R. 4437 incorporates H.R. 4312, legislation that was originally passed by the Committee on Homeland Security, requiring mandatory detention for all aliens who are apprehended at U.S. land borders attempting to cross illegally, by Oct. 1, 2006, and requiring all illegal immigrants apprehended at U.S. borders to remain in custody until removal from the country.

And the problem is?

[Elspode]

When I saw the thread title, I thought perhaps Fernando Valenzuela was making a comeback as a pitcher...

[BigV]

I loved how he looked to the heavens in the middle of his windup. I think he spent too much time watching Bull Durham.

[mrnoodle]

Does going on strike mean that they will stop flooding over the border, or that they will just carry signs while they do it?

[xoxoxoBruce]

It means the same ones won't be crossing three times a day.

[Tonchi]

Well, at least there aren't many lawns that need mowing in Philladelphia today

[MaggieL]

translation table:

"undocumented immigrant American" --> illegal alien
"jobs nobody wants" --> jobs currently underpriced out of legal market by illegal labor supply (see: "onshore offshoring")
"criminalize"--> leaning on the users as well as the dealers

The strike was designed to give undocumented "shadow workers," a population typically on tiptoe, an opportunity to show their faces, their numbers, and their economic contributions to the region.

Economic contribution to the region? Speaking of "offshoring"...

"I came here only to work," said Garcia, the factory worker. He sends at least a fifth of his $1,000 in monthly wages to his family, sugar-cane farmers in Veracruz.

[tw]

Originally Posted by MaggieL

"I came here only to work," said Garcia, the factory worker. He sends at least a fifth of his $1,000 in monthly wages to his family, sugar-cane farmers in Veracruz.

So why is Garcia not growing sugar cane, instead, in Veracruz? American laws designed to stifle free trade - especially sugar. Laws intended to enrich American sugar companies with higher profits - and at the expense of sugar farmers in South America, Central America, and Africa.

What I want to know is who is going to pay for all the new detention facilities that will have to be built if that law is passed. Since its a federal law, will they be detained in federal prisons? And how long will these folks be detained for? Will they have the right to legal representation? If so, who will pay for that? Are they going to do background checks or something on the detainees? Won't that take a while? Sounds like another congressional boondoggle to me.

[Happy Monkey]

Halliburton already has a contract to build massive detention facilities.

Please tell me you're joking.

[Happy Monkey]

No.

[tw]

Originally Posted by marichiko

Please tell me you're joking.

Once upon a time, this nation believed torture was something that Americans don't do.

Once upon a time, we believed government would not wiretap without judicial review. Once upon a time, we believed only evil nations would 'Pearl Harbor' another country - and lie about it.

Once upon a time, the president declared "Mission Accomplished" only long after the mission had been defined.

Once upon a time, we put major military assets into the Reserves and National Guard so that American would never go to war without good reason.

Once upon a time, when a nuclear power plant had severe safety problems and when the NRC said it must shutdown immediately, then it happened - so as to not risk an entire American city.

Once upon a time, when massive numbers of American were at risk from storm damage and massive flooding, then a president did not go off somewhere on campaigns fund raiser - and then deny that the levees would be breached.

Once upon a time, religious extremism had no place in government.

Once upon a time, when an enemy of America killed thousands of Americans, then America did not stop until that man was brought to justice.

Once upon a time, when American patriots detected an attack on the United States and wrote a PDB warning of this attack, then the president read that memo and ordered the Federal government to find and stop that attack.

Once upon a time, when numerous federal law enforcement agents were on the trail of terrorism, then lawyers did not subvert every investigation.

Once upon a time, a president spent money on science based in science - and not based upon religious agendas.

Once upon a time, when aircraft were slamming into American buildings, then Administration senior officials ordered fighters to protect American - shoot down any further attackers if necessary.

What's a little corruption when $hundreds of millions have disappeared and are unaccounted for in Iraq. Clearly this is acceptable because god choose this president.

Clearly those tsunami victims died because god decided they did not need American help for ten days.

Clearly those evil people in New Orleans deserved to die which is why god kept the USS Bataan out of New Orleans.

Clearly god intended that massive government protection help keep American drug prices 40% and higher than everywhere else in the world.

Clearly god gave us Democrats so that his chosen incompetents would remain in power.

Who's joking? I'm not. Above is called reality. When did reality become funny?

Shit, I feel sorry for you young 'uns who have an ounce of integrity or principles. At least when my generation was young, we still had something to believe in. The US is not going to the dogs, its going to Halliburten. And not a whimper of protest is raised anywhere. Cheney was hunting on the ranch belonging to a former Halliburten exec when he shot that man in the face. We have a government of the rich and religous right by the rich and religous right for Halliburten - which is owned by the rich, and probably the religous right, as well.

As UT always advises, get yourself a dog.

Wag the dog, folks. Wag the dog.

[Elspode]

Everyone keeps forgetting the Trickle Down theory of Republican economics. Money pumped into Haliburton will eventually trickle down, thus enriching others.

Shoot, I'll be right now a lot of that has trickled down and collected as pools of Mercedes, Hummers, Cessna Citations and boob job for trophy wives in some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Texas.