Immigration is an issue that cuts both parties in half. As such, it may be the first to demand a consensus solution, and a new kind of politics.
To see this in action this week you had to visit the blogosphere. Bloggers write as they feel, and most aren’t strategic. They are the grassroots of both parties.
Both sides were angry.
Liberals mainly embraced the protestors, and attacked the right, after a week where they tried to hide from the issue. Conservatives railed against the protestors, and attacked the left, after a week spent condemning Senate Republicans for compromise on the issue.
In the short run the issue actually works for Republicans, energizing a base dispirited by scandal and Iraq. (It is certainly playing that way in Georgia, where the picture above was taken.) In the longer run the issue works for Democrats, helping them create a new base (which is why Democrats jumped up-and-down after seeing how many protestors there were) and a potential long-term majority.
A real solution to the problem, of course, would please no one:
- Employer sanctions have to be at the heart of enforcement, extending down to even small employers.
- Some process for dealing with the illegals already here, leading to citizenship for many, must be found.
- Mexico has to be part of the solution. NAFTA is not working for Mexico, and that country might be best-served as part of a free trade group based in South America.
You can see how this cuts both ways:
- Republicans won’t like employer sanctions, but Democrats must support them, because otherwise this problem recurs, and wages are kept permanently low.
- Tamper-resistant Identity cards with serious biometric back-up have to be part of the solution. This means a universal database Democrats will hate.
- Enabling the real growth of the Mexican economy won’t be really popular with anyone. But a First World border demands a First World partner.
Immigration is an issue that is pulling America apart. It’s also a great opportunity to pull Americans together, and to energize them against demagoguery from all sides.
I think NAFTA is only not working for Mexico thanks to some criminal activity on the part of American employers. Taking advantage of illegals and paying them substandard wages and benefits is hurting the US, Mexico, and even the perpetrators in the long run. Like everything else, you get what you pay for, and if you build your business through substandard compensation to employees you will deliver substandard service to customers.
I think NAFTA is only not working for Mexico thanks to some criminal activity on the part of American employers. Taking advantage of illegals and paying them substandard wages and benefits is hurting the US, Mexico, and even the perpetrators in the long run. Like everything else, you get what you pay for, and if you build your business through substandard compensation to employees you will deliver substandard service to customers.