Lou Dobbs & his xenophobia...

[Ben]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqKvSxmUoVQ&feature=player_embedded

[Ben]

http://www.bastadobbs.com/

[hippifried]

He's just selling a book.

[DaveinBoston]

I dont know about Lou Dobbs other than what I just watched in that link. Not to defend him, but it seems like he's attacking "illegal" immigrants by what he's saying. Key word is illegal. If they are illegal... send em back!

[raybbaby]

Just another right wing nut job. He keeps his rhettoric turned down a notch or two lower than Rush or Beck so he comes off as more credible. But he's pushing the same "be afraid, be very afraid" type of garbage.

[notdrunk]

Just another right wing nut job. He keeps his rhettoric turned down a notch or two lower than Rush or Beck so he comes off as more credible. But he's pushing the same "be afraid, be very afraid" type of garbage.

Dobbs tries to present himself as a populist. He isn't another right wing nut job.

@Ben:

Illegal immigration is a problem for this country. It just happens to be that a disproportionate of them are Hispanic (Latin America). It is not racism or bigotry but a fact. An illegal immigrant is more likely to speak Spanish than Swahili.

Of course, bastadobbs.com does not mention he is only going after illegal immigrants because the site owners probably believe in open borders.

[nitron]

Hello , I think a few things should be pointed out about this topic that at first blush seem unrelated but are in fact quite tied together. They are ,decline in population, standard of living, band-aid solutions.
The American population is on the decline, women aren't having as many kids to maintain the average replacement levels, therefore immigration props up the numbers. The left and the right don't care about this decline in numbers, but for different ideological reasons. The left(Democrats) simply accepts foreign migration as a stop gap measure that will allow more minority votes for themselves and a tacit acceptance that there social and economic policies have failed to increase the general prosperity of the populace. For example, no universal health care, no descent minimum wage, maintaining low taxes, poorly funded education programs, supporting radical feminist agenda without a balanced perspective, and generally caving into corporate , military and special moneyed interests. The right(Republicans) same as the democrats (social and economic ) but even more favoring the ruling classes. And ,in particular, are perfectly happy to allow illegals because they can get cheap surplus labor, no benefits need be given . I'm sure if they decided to act on there rhetoric the number of illegals would plummet.
The standard of living when compared to other developed countries around the world is laughably low, look at where the UN, OECD, EU stats place America. Why ? Because both parties are not interested in average America. Only as much as it benefits there own interests (and those of the super rich ). So they will continue to let the country slide. Let's not forget , that even when illegals or immigrants become naturalized they to will face the same acid bath the rest of us face. The standard of living also reflects the declining population numbers, since women now are working outside of the home (Feminist revolution which both parties support) , the numbers of potential workers has drastically increased from say the 1950's , thereby allowing employers to lower wages. Consequently more couples have to maintain two incomes just to stay afloat, have fewer expenses, kids.
Band aid solutions is what we have now to deal with the realities. If we suddenly stopped legal/illegal immigration ,prices would rise because the cost of things reflects the cheap labor that is used to make it. The economy would crawl even more than it is now. We'd have to radically adjust our society. If we did the opposite and let everyone in prices would fall , wages would fall, and peoples life's would be atavistic , third world nightmare. No simple answers.

[Ben]

Well, we've Free Trade with Mexico and, too, Canada.
And the core of Free Trade is the free circulation of labor. Meaning you can go anywhere ya like. Much like the EU. Labor doesn't have that fundamental right. But artificial persons/corporations have that right. American companies can go ANYWHERE they want.
Why the double standard? Why corporate rights but not labor rights?

[notdrunk]

Well, we've Free Trade with Mexico and, too, Canada.
And the core of Free Trade is the free circulation of labor. Meaning you can go anywhere ya like. Much like the EU. Labor doesn't have that fundamental right. But artificial persons/corporations have that right. American companies can go ANYWHERE they want.
Why the double standard? Why corporate rights but not labor rights?

The EU is a different beast from free trade. The United States is not in a economic and political union with Central America. The United States has a process in which foreigners can become citizens. There is no double standard.

[loren]

I dont know about Lou Dobbs other than what I just watched in that link. Not to defend him, but it seems like he's attacking "illegal" immigrants by what he's saying. Key word is illegal. If they are illegal... send em back!I agree 100%. Some illegals just want to come here and try to better their lives and the lives of their families. Other illegals just want to "milk" the system, many of these feel it is their mission to "reconquista" the Southwest(BTW the Spanish took the land from the Indians and the Mexicans took it from the Spanish). IMHO, if they're illegal they should be sent back to where they came from.

[Ben]

Again, we've Free Trade with Mexico.
And, according to Adam Smith (the so-called Father of Capitalism) the very core of Free Trade is the free circulation of labor. Meaning you can go anywhere ya like.
It, of course, doesn't happen.
What happens is that corporations have that "core" right. American companies can go ANYWHERE they want! People can't. Companies can. So, corporations have the right to move freely and capital can move freely. People can't. Labor can't.
We know how the system works: politicians placate the investor class. And NOT the working and middle class. Corporate interests are met. NOT labor interests. Hence Free... I mean, corporate trade!

[Ben]

Wikipedia page on NAFTA:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Free_Trade_Agreement

[notdrunk]

NATFA is just a gimmicky name. The state interferes too much in the market. So, the market isn't exactly what Adam Smith talks about. Illegal immigrants are not coming here to just work; however, s/he comes here to gain the benefits. For example, more money and subsidized health care.

[Beagle]

We live in a society where if you criticize ILLEGAL immigration you're called a racist or a xenophobe.

If you criticize Obama's POLICIES (not the man) you're often labeled a racist as well.

It's just the latest tactic employed by people who should know better - but place "winning" over morals and ethics.

[Ben]

We live in a society where if you criticize ILLEGAL immigration you're called a racist or a xenophobe.

If you criticize Obama's POLICIES (not the man) you're often labeled a racist as well.

It's just the latest tactic employed by people who should know better - but place "winning" over morals and ethics.

Both the left and right are criticizing Obama. For good reason(s). On the right, of course, is Limbaugh. On the left: John Pilger, Jeremy Scahill, Naomi Klein etc.
A politician's policies -- whether it be Bush's or Obama's -- need to be critiqued.
Critiquing power and questioning authority is about dissent, is about being American.

[Beagle]

Well, Ben... I don't have a problem with the critique side of things. Fair and open criticism is a good thing.

However, I do have a problem with those who would label someone a racist or a xenophobe for being concerned about ILLEGAL immigration.