Immi(de)gration
Okay, from the start I want you to know this one may be a little harder to follow. I’m not known for being extra bright, and I’m kind of a scatter brain. You know what, just, just stick with me until the end.
To understand my thought process on this I need to give you a history lesson. For the seven people who read my articles this may be a review.
War hero Andrew Jackson formed the Democratic Party with three main planks. The first plank was to continue taking the land from the American Indians. These people had three options: Go west, become farmers, or be killed. The second plank was the continuation and expansion of slavery. The third plank would now be called an “expansionary monetary policy.” This policy allowed white settlers to borrow money to buy “newly acquired” Indian land and with the work of slaves raise profitable crops for market: tobacco, cotton, etc. The policies of cheap land and cheap labor made Jackson very popular in the South. As President he destroyed the National Bank and started a “spoils system.”
In many history books Jackson’s victory is presented as a triumph for democracy over elitism. And to be honest, if you overlook the very real issues of slavery and genocide, there is some truth to this view.
The Whig party was started in direct opposition to everything Jackson and the Democrats stood for. The Republican Party emerged from the Whigs when the Whigs went “Pro-choice” on slavery.
For more information on this part of history go see the movie Lincoln (which totally should have won the Academy Award for best picture. I thought Argo was a good movie. Lincoln was way better).
Republicans then started fighting for civil rights, despite intense Democratic opposition. (See Civil Rights acts of 1866, 1871, 1875, 1957, 1960) The Democrats started the KKK, they opposed military desegregation, and were generally all-around jackasses. (Fun fact: Andrew Jackson’s opponents started calling him “Andrew Jackass.” He embraced this in his campaigning, making the jackass his symbol. Later the donkey came to represent the Democratic Party.) Most people will tell you the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the only Civil Rights Act EVER. It’s true if you consider it is the only one the Democrats supported.
Normally, right about now, I would have a cute little phrase or humorous one-liner that I would add. For the past twenty minutes I’ve been trying to think of a clever way to weave “a reptile dysfunction” into the article, but can’t…sooooooo just laugh, okay?
Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy changed the face of the Democratic Party when he made a two minute phone call to the wife of imprisoned Dr. Martin Luther King.
I think Kennedy was sincere in his desire for Civil Rights. Judging by his record as a Senator, his running mate Lyndon B. Johnson, was not. (Ronald Kessler, “Inside The White House” quotes a USAF crewman on Air Force One, Robert N. MacMillan, who heard LBJ justifying his wanting the 1964 civil rights bill by saying, “I’ll have them ni@@ers voting Democratic for two hundred years.”)
I don’t mean to totally get off the subject here. I think Dr. King was a great man. His “I have a dream” speech and his letter from Birmingham jail are extraordinary. That being said, I believe Thurgood Marshall did waaaaaaaaay more for Civil Rights than Dr. King. He won case after case in front of the Supreme Court.
In 1965 Teddy Kennedy took a much needed break from drowning women in his car to change America’s immigration policy from one that was similar to every other country in the world “What benefit can you provide for our country?” to “Do you have a pulse, and what can we do for you?”
Now for those of you who think I’m drawing a link between racism and immigration, I wanna put your mind at ease. That is exactly what I’m doing.
Racism is ugly in any form. The “in your face” kind makes the news, but I think the subtle kind is the worst. Making laws and policies that stifle creativity and human ingenuity is wrong. Saying things like, “there-there (person of color), you don’t have to learn English. It’s really hard. You just sit right here and let the state take care of you” just isn’t right. It’s soft bigotry of low expectations.
Isn’t it better to hope for every individual to reach their full potential? Can you do that while knowingly transferring the burden of your support onto society? I’ll give you a hint, ya can’t. I don’t know how they did it, but somehow the Democratic Party put the “rad” in degrading.
Before you get your panties in a wad, I’m not saying all Democrats are racist. There are some, just like there are in any large group. I’m also not saying many Democrats aren’t sincerely caring. They are. I’m just saying many of the policies implemented by the Democratic Party, though well intentioned, are misguided. Taking care of someone by giving them “free stuff” is economic slavery. Freedom is economic opportunity.
I disagree with Marco Rubio’s amnesty idea. All that will do is flood the market with a bunch of low-skilled workers. This will enable employers to pay minimum wage for years. It will stifle people’s growth more.
Does something need to be done about immigration? Absolutely. I especially think the “Dreamers” group is something we should discuss. But nothing should be done until we put a fence up. Stop the flow. Then discuss.
The Republican Party began as the anti-slavery party. They believed that “All men are created equal” (and it took the deaths of nearly 600,000 primarily white men to prove it). Today’s Republican Party stands for: Limited Government, Life, Personal Responsibility and a Strong National Defense. We believe people aren’t property; they are not wards of the state. In my little brain, I believe today’s Democratic Party stands for: Getting as many people dependent on the Government so we can keep winning elections, and the right for women to have unprotected sex with men they don’t necessarily care for, without consequences.
But still, “today’s Republicans” are painted as racist and uncaring. Even with stalwart men and women like Tim Scott, Clarence Thomas, Condoleezza Rice, Marco Rubio, Mia Love, Allen West, Dr. Alveda King and Bobby Jindal on the fronts lines.
Un-be-freakin-lievable.
LIFEZILLA: I hate being Bi-polar. It’s awesome.
Well said, my friend. I agree that taking care of someone by giving them “free stuff” is a form of economic slavery, the best example right down the road from me at the reservation. But only to an extent. We pay taxes and therefore are afforded certain benefits as citizens of this country. Should my husband lose his job, I am grateful that we might get a little help if we absolutely needed it, especially after all the years we’ve aided in that help to others. I would not want to abolish such programs completely, and I don’t think you are suggesting that (as a libertarian might). There are some people in this country who truly do need the help, but in most cases, that help should be temporary. For years the federal govt. has studied the Mormon welfare program. I wish they would finally act on it, and reform the welfare program so that people were required to put in service in order to receive aid. It seems so simple. Yes, it requires more money to hire employees to oversee the service, etc., but I say we reform and simplify the tax code, and then we can redirect all the IRS workers to oversee welfare. 🙂
……….look far enough back in your own personal ancestry and anyone will find opression from the govornment over “one’s own” people @ some time. I love that you’re now on the new current Repub bandwagon to emit the penitent, “Hey, we’re no longer white elite-ists because historically…. we used to not be the jackass party which has morphed into the 2013 elephant in the room.” LOL!!(come on 2016, let’s get some more people of color on our side). More amusing is WENDY’s above comment that she’s annoyed w/ the reservation down the road. Hey Wendy, the US govornment used to be annoyed with the Mormons out west and sent American troops to wipe them out. Luckily, those defenders faired better than the defenders of the ancestors of those moochin’ indians on the reservation down the street. Wow!! Way to show steller humility for all your many blessings. (Careful, your whiteness is showing, girl.) Attention everyone: neediness is colorblind. Bilking the system is also colorblind. People of all races and backgrounds can find themselves in poverty and opression @ anytime just as any people of any color can lack character & try to work the system in their own selfish favor. There’s a current tv show that illustrate’s this beautifully. It’s called “American Greed.” Remember folks, the raping and pilaging of this North American nation was MANIFEST DESTINY and is justified because well… It’s what God wanted.
……….look far enough back in your own personal ancestry and anyone will find opression from the govornment over “one’s own” people @ some time. I love that you’re now on the new current Repub bandwagon to emit the penitent, “Hey, we’re no longer white elite-ists because historically…. we used to not be the jackass party which has morphed into the 2013 elephant in the room.” LOL!!(come on 2016, let’s get some more people of color on our side). More amusing is WENDY’s above comment that she’s annoyed w/ the reservation down the road. Hey Wendy, the US govornment used to be annoyed with the Mormons out west and sent American troops to wipe them out. Luckily, those defenders faired better than the defenders of the ancestors of those moochin’ indians on the reservation down the street. Wow!! Way to show steller humility for all your many blessings. (Careful, your whiteness is showing, girl.) Attention everyone: neediness is colorblind. Bilking the system is also colorblind. People of all races and backgrounds can find themselves in poverty and opression @ anytime just as any people of any color can lack character & try to work the system in their own selfish favor. There’s a current tv show that illustrate’s this beautifully. It’s called “American Greed.” Remember folks, the raping and pilaging of this North American nation was MANIFEST DESTINY and is justified because well… It’s what God wanted. Nice.
I never said I was annoyed with the reservation down the road!! Not even close!! Russ, you are WAAAAYYYY off and totally putting words in my mouth. Go back and read what I said. I did not mention any kind of annoyance, distaste, dislike, or anything like it concerning my native American neighbors. I said that handouts can lead to economic slavery, and the reservation down the road is the example. I know these people. My girls have good friends that live on “the res.” I’ve seen first hand how hard their lives are. The US government became an enabler for unemployment and substance abuse, so I was just agreeing with Danny. I have always been a critic of the US govt.’s role in the demise of our native populations and culture, and absolutely despise Andrew Jackson for his major role in that. I think you owe me a serious apology for making an assumption that I am racist in any way, shape or form. Read more carefully next time. And I am very aware every moment of every day of my blessings and I don’t take them for granted for one second. But I don’t appreciate you attacking me like you think you know anything about me.
…I agree that taking care of someone by giving them “free stuff” is a form of economic slavery, the best example right down the road from me at the reservation. THOSE ARE YOUR EXACT WORDS. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I COPIED IT FROM YOUR ORIGINAL POSTING & PASTED IT HERE. THEREFORE, DON’T ACCUSE ME OF PUTTING WORDS INTO YOUR MOUTH. Now, imagine you aren’t white. Imagine for a moment that you are one of those reservation folks and you were to read what Wendy wrote on this blog (the above copied & pasted part). If you still don’t get how arrogant & condescending those words are to the Native American, than I encourage you to print what you wrote, take it to the tribe leadership and ask them what they think of your statement. I believe you’ll have an enlightening experience. I would be very interested in the transscripts of your discussion w/them. I also believe the apologies would & should be coming from you to them… not me to you.
I’m not following. How is the government responsible for substance abuse? I think? I understand your logic on the economic slavery, although I don’t agree, I follow the logic. I’m lost on the substance abuse.
From the US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health:
“Roots of the epidemic of alcohol-related problems among many Native North Americans are sought in cultural responses to European arrival, the role of alcohol in frontier society, and colonial and postcolonial policies. Evidence from the historical record is considered within the framework of current social science. Initially, Native American’s responses to alcohol were heavily influenced by the example of White frontiersmen, who drank immoderately and engaged in otherwise unacceptable behavior while drunk. Whites also deliberately pressed alcohol upon the natives because it was an immensely profitable trade good; in addition, alcohol was used as a tool of “diplomacy” in official dealings between authorities and natives. The authors argue that further research into the origins of modern indigenous people’s problems with alcohol would benefit from an interdisciplinary “determinants of health” approach in which biological influences on alcohol problems are investigated in the context of the cultural, social, and economic forces that have shaped individual and group drinking patterns.”
Why is everyone questioning my argument, anyway, and not Danny’s? Why do I always get attacked for agreeing with you, Danny?
Because Danny’s smart & wise enough to let a political FART & vacate the scene watching from a distance whilst Libs like myself get a whiff & respond w/ the metaphorical words such as OMG! Who farted?!? You, on the other hand, enter the metaphorical ass-cloud & methaphorically say: Mmmm, Yummy. Did someone spray some GLADE? …That’s why.
Wendy,
You “always get attacked for agreeing with” me because YOU are right.
Welcome to the “ass-cloud.”
I didn’t mean to attack you, Wendy. Really. I was just curious as to the relation between alcoholism among Native Americans was relayed to government . Agreed, alcohol was introduced to Native Americans, but I still don’t see a link between alcohol abuse and the government. Just my opinion. Certainly not upset if you have yours. I do have to agree with Russ, somewhat about the reservation comment. It threw me the first time, but I know you are a nice person and had to tell myself that you probably didn’t mean that the way it came across. I do think it would offend if it were to be read by anyone on a reservation. I don’t think you meant it to sound the way it did. So, I didn’t comment.
And, the only reason I asked about your argument was sheer curiosity. I have never heard the argument that the govt enables alcoholism on reservations. Danny’s stuff….heard it. And, I have a word limit on his blog. 😉 There is no way I can possibly attempt to refute his claims without a small novel.
Tish, I asked that you not go over the number of words I use. You still have 886 words to go.
Danny said that giving things away is a form of economic slavery. I said that I agreed, and proof is at the reservation. Do they not get free things??? Are they not living difficult lives riddled with alcoholism and rampant unemployment? Therefore, free stuff does not equal happiness and/or prosperity. THAT was all I was saying. How is that racist? Someone please explain this to me? I have had native American students in my classes who have basically said the same. But if I relay that, it is racist because it is coming from my mouth instead of theirs??!!! I even clarified and said that it is the government’s fault, not theirs!! Holy Hell, I will not argue with a psycho hell-bent on trying to find fault with one tiny little thing I said that was so non-offensive and was meant only to be an example. I was just trying to support Danny. I’m a total non-confrontational person and exhanges like yours, Russ, are extremely hurtful and upsetting to me, but you probably don’t care because you just want to find fault and belittle. I meant no offense to anyone and people who know me know that I would never knowingly offend anyone, of any race, religion, belief system, etc. So thank you very much for judging me. You seem to relish passing judgement and slinging insults, and look for reasons to do it.
And I’m done getting on here for a while. Danny, I’m not tough like you. I really do get upset when people say things to me like Russ did. Like… ruin-my-day, bring-me-to-tears kind of upset. So I’m taking a break from the mean comments for a while. Sorry.
Actually, I changed my mind. I have one more thing to say to Russ, and then you, Russ, can sling your insults at me all you want. Because that’s all you have are insults. YOU are the problem with this country today. Rather than rational and civil discussion, you go right for the throat. A very intelligent friend of mine (who happens to be very liberal) pointed out that the arguments that most lack intellectual substance will resort to insults and accusations of racism and/or calling someone Hitler. It’s the ultimate low-blow that leaves people simply in defensive mode and diverts from the actual topic at hand. You are very skilled at that technique, apparently. So I realized that I was just wasting my time getting upset. You are simply one of those people that does not care for reason or civil and respectable discussion of differences. I totally respect people of different ideologies, as long as they are respectful, calm, and fair in their arguments. In fact, I welcome it. I WANT to know how others view the world. I have always tried to stay independent politically because I refused to believe that nearly half the population is just bad or wrong or whatever (whichever half that may be). I have tried to find the good in both parties and all along the spectrum of liberalism and conservatism. But more often than not, lately, I encounter nothing but insults from the liberal side. You are a fine example of that. Honestly, that behavior keeps pushing me farther and farther to the right. Even so, I will never disrespect my liberal friends the way you have me. Now sling away…. I decided I will not read and I will only discuss politics with those who can stay rational and leave the insults out of it. It’s too bad. I remembered you to be a pretty nice guy.
No slinging from me. I stand corrected. What you said isn’t and never would be offensive to the Native American Nation. And you’re correct… I am the problem w/this country today. It’s 100% all my fault.
…and I’m not a nice guy. I’m a big JERK!! Ask anyone.
So…moving on, I would like to ask Danny a few questions. I think he has caused enough turmoil and it is time we put him back in the HOT seat.
Thank you for the History lesson. As one of your seven followers, I will concur with you about a few things. I am trying to find common ground here. So, yes, we can all agree, Andrew Jackson was an a$$. Not a fan. Period. Secondly, Marshall was a great man who did much for this country and changed the Civil Rights Movement in this country greatly. I admire his work and always have. Lastly, I have to admit I loved the Chappaquiddick joke. That was funny. I love the Kennedys and that still made me laugh out loud. Nice.
We can split hairs all night long about which party is better for this country. We can make a list of every cause each party did or did not champion from the beginning of time. It gets us nowhere. It just doesn’t. Parties are made up of men. Men are imperfect and flawed. I only stand to reason that parties would be as flawed. Every party wants to claim Lincoln. Why? Because he was a good man.
So, Lincoln starts the Republican party. Great. He was an amazing man and I can see any party being proud of his example. That said, if you champion Lincoln for distancing himself from the Whig party and starting the Republican party, it would stand to reason that you would not be as impressed with other Presidents who owned slaves. Right? Twelve other Presidents owned slaves, including Washington, Jefferson and Madison. All pro slavery. So, if you want to claim your love for Honest Abe because he was anti slavery, make sure you don’t contradict yourself and proclaim love for all those before him that owned slaves, like those founding Fathers we hear so much about. ( : And by slavery, I mean they purchased other human beings because they were a different skin color and owned them as property. Just in case we are confused.
So, when you say by giving people free things, it creates economic slavery, I am confused. What things sre considered free? Do this only apply to governments or does it also apply to churches and personal gratituities? Is anything and everything a person receives “free” detrimental? It begs the question. What and who exactly are you referring to when you say people get free things?
It is hard to say that Marshall did more for Civil Rights that MLK considering MLK was killed so young. It is impossible to know what he could have done, what he would have done. Both great men. I don’t know that it is fair to say one was more important than the other.
About that fence? I am not sure what the answer is, but personally I think there are other ways to deal with problems besides building a wall around our borders. Correct me if I am wrong, but last time I checked this wasn’t East Germany or China? Illegal immigration is a problem. I don’t think amnesty for those already here is a bad idea. But, there also needs to be new policies as we go forward. I am not sure I feel we need to tell immigrants they must speak English? What’s next, we tell them where to worship?
And about that the Republican rarity thinking all men are created equal line and the 600,000 white men that died to prove it, I have to ask…huh? Te Civil War was fought to preserve the Union, not because Men suddenly realized that those slaves they owned were people and equal in the eyes of God. Certainly not. Had that been the case, the Civil Rights Movement that took place 100 years later would have not happened. And of those 600,000 men that died, I am certain half were fighting or lost their lives to keep those slaves captive. I would like to think we were so noble…alas, we were not. Afterall, we are men, perfectly flawed. There were good men among them make no mistake, there were also many who fought for other reasons. Black men were not allowed to vote following the War, they were simply emancipated. There is a big difference between seeing someone as equal and not owning them. And it took another 100 years to see women earn the right to even vote.
I aimed for brevity. Truly.