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.
