I saw a clip of this “event” in Minneapolis with some yahoo teabagger saying, “This is not racism. It’s about the rule of law.” They still think that shit flies, like some 1950’s sheriff in Southern Ole Miss. When you hear “the rule of law,” you better protect your gonads, hold on to your wallet and hide the kids. Spewing fake christian platitudes means somebody gonna get crucified and it’s usually one of a darker hue.
I read about “Robert Erickson” and his “speech” and immediately thought of John Brown and Richard Pryor. That’s how my brain malfunctions. This “performance” is high larry us. Downtown Freddie Brown, Snooky Pryor, anybody with Brown skin or anybody with priors would laugh.
This “current wave of immigrant bashing…” I always like that “current wave” idea. This “wave” is going on half a millenium. No shit it’s current, cuz it ain’t never abated. “Erickson” ain’t Frederick Douglass 1852 throwing down about the 4th of July or Thoreau defending John Brown’s honor 1859, but we in the age of diminishing vocabulary, and while pranking a “crowd” of “European immigrants,” he did fine (despite the bad recording). The lack of cheers when fools realize they’ve been duped is invigorating, especially when dealing with a bunch of clowns. Cheers from those who, when not referring to an athletic competition, see “race” as a verb and not a noun. “Columbus Go Home.” Resistance is Fertile!
Here is the end of his speech:
I say it’s time for us to say enough is enough! Are you with me? Are you with me? Let’s send these European immigrants back where they came from! I don’t care if they are Polish, Irish, English, Italian, or Norwegian! European immigrants are responsible for the most violent and heinous crimes in the history of the world, including genocide and slavery! It’s time to restore the sovereignty of people native to this land!
I want more workplace raids, starting with the big banks downtown. There are thousands of illegals working in those buildings, hiding in their offices, and taking Dakota jobs. Let’s round them up and ship them out. Then we need to hit them at home where they sleep. I don’t care if we separate families, they should have known better when they came here illegally! (editor note: i think i pissed my pants!)
If we aren’t able to stand up to these European immigrants, who can we stand up to? We need to send every one of them back home, right now.
Thank you very much, and we’ll see you in the streets!
Columbus Go Home! Columbus Go Home! Columbus Go Home!
Here is the complete text of his “speech.”
brilliant.
Well, there’s basically two types of immigration. The first is when the home country taxes a person of high-skill to the point where, if they moved here, they would make more money because of our lower taxes. These are mainly European countries where income inequality is low because the rich lose half their money to the government that fund generous social services. Brain drain results when the best and the brightest move to the U.S. This kind of immigration is of the legal variety.
The second type is when the home country has a very large income inequality, to the point where, if the person moved here, they would be covered under more robust social safety nets while they find their way, learn skills and attempt to earn a higher wage than in the home country. This type of immigration is sometimes of the legal variety, but it’s often the illegal kind.
If one’s goal was to discourage immigration of the second type, whether legal or illegal, you don’t want to simply physically stop people by coming over here through intimidation or fences because clearly that doesn’t work. It would be more productive to figure out a way to invest in the host country so that high-wealth individuals are taxed enough to fund robust social safety nets and public services like the United States has (though how long those services will last here is often in doubt).
There are several difficulties with this idea though. For example, politicians in corrupt countries who advocate increasing taxes on the rich to fund social programs my find themselves intimidated to reverse their decisions, or face assassination. The United States could help fund investment in troubled nations, but there’s no guarantee that the money will go where it’s needed. Personally, I think the legalization of drugs would bring some stability to the countries where reforms are needed.
It’s a tricky situation that may be unsolvable, at least by our generation. In the meantime, anti-immigration folks should put themselves in the shoes of immigrants. They’d do the same exact shit when faced with a hopeless situation. I’d also hope that immigration supporters realize that there is a burden to be borne by unrestricted immigration, and that it would probably be better for everyone if the home countries were better places to live. Not just because we want people to “Go back where they came from!” but so the people who are left behind in those countries have a good quality of life too.
What a fun topic!
Some additions to the above.
There is likely to be less immigration of the first type I mentioned than the second type. In the first type, the United States government and the individual are winners because the US benefits from the taxes that person will provide beyond the benefits they receive, and the individual will benefit from the relatively lower tax rate. The home country loses.
There is likely to be more immigration of the second type. The individual wins almost every time as long as no deportation takes place. They usually benefit from higher wages.
Which country loses is tricky. If the person doesn’t earn a wage sufficient enough so that the taxes collected from them outweigh the benefits they receive, the United States loses and the home country wins. However, if the individual ends up making money, the United States wins and the home country loses. The home country loses because it did not provide the social services necessary to make that individual a success (which is why it’s important for the home countries to grow and develop robust services).
That’s why I encourage illegal immigrants to attend school by any means necessary. That’s why I encourage schools to allow illegal immigrants to attend classes and even offer financial aid to them. Make an affordable education a road to citizenship. Having just an AA degree would put immigrants ahead by quite a bit. You want them to be more successful and pay more taxes. It’s a win-win.
Studies have shown that in the long run, the only real losers among natives when it comes to immigration are high school drop outs, who see wages drop. High school and college grads don’t aren’t really affected.
Immigration is a boogeyman.
I saw that at another blog. He set it up perfectly. Came right out with all of the usual red meat, then just flipped the script and talked about European immigration. Extreme right wingers have always said that if you don’t like the country, you should leave. Well, a lot of these same people have been acting as if they don’t like the country since Obama won. So…maybe they should be deported?
He proved them to be racists, too. He was saying all of those cruel things about immigrants, and they were cheering loudly. Soon as he said European immigrants, they go quiet. At that point, he hadn’t even started the “Columbus” sarcasm yet. He just segued from Mexican to European immigrants, and as far as anyone knew, he was talking about modern day European immigrants, and talking about illegal immigrants in both instances. This stunt proved that at least this group of righties have no problem with illegal immigration coming from Europe, and whatever ills come with it. They only have a problem with illegal Mexican immigrants. Just a beautiful stunt. Hook, line, and sinker.
I sure am having trouble with Conchita’s analogy of America becoming like Nazi Germany after Obama’s election. Granted he did little or nothing to restructure the repressive Homeland Security Bill, and all signs are he’ll be going after private gun ownership like the Nazis did in ’35. He’s begun to nationalize private enterprise and has back pedaled on most if not all of his campaign promises, but heck you have to like the guy. He gives a helluva speech teleprompter or no. It looks like Gitmo may close by at least the next Election, and the futile conflict in Afghanistan surely can be resolved with some modicum of face saving. It all takes time.
Conchita – open your eyes. The country drifted toward fascism when Bush declared the War on Terrorism. It’s been a police state for Arab and Muslim people since 2001. When the tide turned against Latinos (again) around 2005, the police apparatus and inter-agency cooperation deals set up to round up Arabs and Muslims was turned toward Latinos, and Mexicans specifically. All the Dept of Homeland Security think tank stuff about data mining is now going to be used against immigrants.
This isn’t to say things weren’t done to defend them. There was, but, it was tough to make an impact. If larger communities would have mobilized to protest, maybe things wouldn’t have been so bad.
Well put spokker!
Conchita,
Whose view do you honestly think you’re going to change with your mockery and sarcasm? What a fruitless mission you’re on.
While I understand why Conchita is angry and makes this comparison, please everyone understand that making facile comparisons to the Nazis is neither accurate or productive. There is no repression anywhere on earth at the moment that was as brutal, systematic, ideologically driven and deliberate as Nazism. George Bush or Barack Obama do not and have never sat down with their advisors and created a deliberate policy of mass extermination of peoples. To insinuate such is both nonsense and a complete disregard for the victims of that terror and the heroism that stopped it.
Yes, there is a lot of injustice in the world, and yes, we must fight it and fight to prevent it from happening again, but get your battles right.
Well, let’s face it. Bush came closer to Nazism in his presidency than Obama has thus far in his.
Oh come on! Neither President, No President in our history has invoked the blind hysteria that Hitler did with National Socialism. For Rob Thomas to even suggest that one of our duly elected leaders is closer to Hitler than the other is pure folly. As a subject of debate it’s a non-starter.
Bush doesn’t have to be AS BAD as Hitler in order to be closer to Hitler than Obama is. I stand by what I said. Bush was closer to Hitler than Obama has shown any indication of being. And I don’t care about economic policies, I’m referring to civil rights violations.
It’s good that Rob Thomas “doesn’t care about economic policies”. It’s a great time in our history NOT to care. With CA’s unemployment rate at better than 10%, real estate foreclosures through the roof, and Wall Street’s major players getting busted at every juncture it’s a prudent move to cease “caring” about financial policies and the resultant woes. I’d also submit that civil rights, human rights, and personal freedom’s violations and intrusions are the direct result of failed financial policies in this Administration AND in the prior one. So please make your silly Hitler comparisons, but don’t lose sight of what’s before your very eyes.
I dig the cajones on this guy. Counting major coup for his victorious speech. Reminds me of Colbert’s mockery of Bush & others @ that one roast he did. Fascism is on the rise in america. It takes many forms. These “tea baggers” (my huevos feel offended) must be called out for what they are, nazis incarnate.
RobThomas Says:
November 18th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Joking, about the LAPD being similar to the Nazis? Not hardly, Mavis. Study the history of Los Angeles.
RobThomas Says:
November 18th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
How many auto fatalities and injuries where there in Los Angeles last year? Bet you a significantly higher number than gang related murders or injuries. And I’ll bet you Beck pulls resources from traffic patrol to increase the size of gang units. And people mock Obama for making empty promises of “changeâ€.
RobThomas Says:
November 18th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
The smog will kill more people than gang members (respiratory illness, asthma, etc). Will Chief Beck crack down on pollution in his city? Will he add resourced to traffic patrol? Cops are put on traffic patrol as a punishment. It’s not even considered law enforcement. They all want to bust gang members and drug dealers. Tell me how they’re interested in public safety when they’re not even interested in going after the things that make the public the least safe? They want to lock up poor minorities. That’s all they ever wanted to do. And that includes minority cops.
RobThomas Says:
November 18th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
OK, I’ll be fair. There’s one difference between the LAPD and the Nazis: The LAPD doesn’t target Jews. Blacks and Latinos, instead.
Gustavo, when I said I didn’t care about economic policies, I meant for the sake of this discussion. My point about Bush being closer to Hitler was regarding privacy issues, civil rights, etc. And, I’ll say it again, Bush was closer to Hitler than Obama has given any indication of being. And considering how extreme the Bush white house was with their post 9/11 national security policies, I don’t believe Obama’s more liberal economic policies come nearly as close to resembling Hitler as Bush’s national security policies did.
Hector, I stand by everything I’ve ever said at any other blog. If you disagree with any of it, I’m all ears. I don’t see the need to disrupt this blog by smothering its comments sections with comments from other blogs.
The Jews are not the only people that have suffered or are currently suffering. Don’t get all mad when people make Nazi comparisons. If there are inacurate comparisons, point them out. But to say, no one should ever compare the suffering of the Jews to any other people is ridiculess. No one race is that special in proportion to others that genecide should only be discussed when when talking about the Jews. The world does not revolve around you and you are not “the chossen ones.”
We are one, and we should unmask hate everywhere.
How about just not bringing up Hitler or Nazis? That might work too.
Spokker,
Sure…, one could just not bring them up. That will solve all our problems. Limited topics for critical thinking, analysis, comparison, and most importantly to learn from.
Seriously-
No topic should ever be off limits. Ristricting your mind from growth is never healthy.
offtopic: There was an awesome Eastside sunset today.
I’m not sure how comparing an American president to Hitler solves any problems.
I’m not trying to solve any problems, Spokker. Just responding to someone’s comment. I don’t see why someone can’t express their opinion that a certain president reminds them of Hitler, as long as they’re not personally insulting anyone in the forum.
To tack on to Caxcan’s response to you, let me ask, how does censorship solve any problems? I think anyone here who disagrees that any American president is similar to Hitler can make their case without asking those who made the comparison to stop doing so. Or, if they don’t feel the discussion is worth it, are perfectly capable of moving on and ignoring it. But telling others what they should or should not discuss?
Genius! Fucking genius!
My appologies for not making clear that my first paragraph was sarcastic. I in no way support political censorship.
Oh, say whatever you want, Hitler this and Hitler that, but be ready for flame wars and arguments, and don’t blame the other person for it 🙂
Spokker, with that comment you reveal a change of tone in which you’ve gone from wishing others would not compare people to Hitler to discouraging them with the prospect of “flame wars” if they do. It sounds to me like you have a real problem with people speaking their minds.
And you Sir Thomas are a paragon of argumentative discourse, a “last word” fanatic of great note. You’d argue the tonal quality of frog farts if the subject were raised or smelt.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law
Godwins Law. If, they are not the laws of science then they are open to interpretation because they are man made.
Spokker, are you trying to win by a technicality. The tought that one could say a word or bring up a subject…and then you loose the arguement. That is dumb. And is a dumbing of our community.
You bring up “flame wars”. Give a monkey enough time and aventually it will endup posting something on the internet.
Constructive discussions involve strong opinions, and comparisons.
If the subject is too touchy for you, don’t join. But, I incourage that you do. Contingent that you do not tell people what they can and can not say.
Peace
I never said Bush was the devil, or that he actually wanted to be like Hitler, intentionally. I said he was more like Hitler than Obama has shown any indication of being. Far more. Obama’s economic policies don’t come nearly as close to Hitler’s ideology as Bush’s post 9/11 national security policies did. And, not just his post 9/11 actions, but the manner in which he “won” the white house in 2000 to begin with. Bush’s similarities to Hitler started the minute he was selected president.
Altogether now, in unison please acknowledge to Rob that Bush is certainly more Hitleresque than Obama. Also it should be noted that as First Ladies are concerned Laura is much more Eva Braunesque than Michelle. Can everyone just move on and let Rob win this idiotic debate? He needs this worse than any of us. Apparently.
I’d say Laura Bush is more like Eva Braun in the sense that she’s a throwback to the 1940s. She seemed like a nice, intelligent woman, when the Bush administration let her talk.