The Arizona situation

[allisnow]

I have to admit, I literally do not understand the rabid opposition to Arizona's SB1070. I can't decide if the most fervent opposition is spurred by concerns that the law will be abused by police or if it's a knee-jerk reaction to something seen as targeting a certain ethniity (i.e. would the Jesse Jacksons of the world be so up in arms if we had Canadians pouring across the border instead?)

Anyway, I found a really good piece on the whole issue over at PJM.

As I understand the opposition to the recent Arizona law, it boils down to something like the following: the federal government’s past decision not to enforce its own law should always trump the state’s right to honor it. That raises interesting questions: Does the state contravene federal authority by exercising it? If the federal government does not protect the borders of a state, does the state have a right to do it itself?

Read the whole thing. This isn't about race.

ETA: What a headline: Illegal immigrants plan to leave over Ariz. law

Of course, not so great news for those of us in neighboring states.

Comments

[madjm.livejournal.com]

I really don't get it, either. They're breaking the law, they shouldn't be. The end. It's not like they're just going to randomly stop people; they have to have a reasonable suspicion.

Someone pointed out (maybe Beck?) that the health care law is going to make it OK for Uncle Sam to demand proof of our health insurance at any time or we'll face a penalty. And that's OK, but requiring people to show that they're legally in this country is not?? Whatever, peeps.

[allisnow.livejournal.com]

It's not like they're just going to randomly stop people; they have to have a reasonable suspicion.

All I can figure is that, because of the anti-establishment attitude prevalent among many liberal groups, people just assume that the cops in Phoenix can't wait to start running around checking the 'papers' of 70% of the state's population. And it doesn't help when the President himself is out there SAYING that the cops acted stupidly are going to harass people who are out taking their kids for ice cream. I mean, WTF?

And that's OK, but requiring people to show that they're legally in this country is not?? Whatever, peeps.

Rush made a point (I saw the clip on Greta) that we have to show our 'papers' all the time. Ironically, one of the few times we don't have to show proof of ID is when we vote.

[madjm.livejournal.com]

Ironically, one of the few times we don't have to show proof of ID is when we vote.

Actually, I do have to show ID here in Kentucky. And I didn't realize until other states were trying to do that, what a horrible imposition it was on me to pull out my driver's license before I could vote! I totally didn't understand how much they hated minorities and poor people in my state! I just thought they were, you know, trying to prevent voter fraud. Silly me.

[allisnow.livejournal.com]

Well we enlightened Californians knew you were all racist bigoted nativists down there in Kentucky.

[andveryginger.livejournal.com]

Interestingly, the Houston Manifesto Chronicle ran an article yesterday, discussing how a few Texas conservatives were going to introduce something similar in the next session. Given that, under the previous chief and mayoral administration, ICE received little-to-no local support from Houston PD, I have to wonder how something like that would play out in this town.

And what part of illegal immigrants don't these people understand? And, if the federal government isn't fulfilling its requirement to protect the national borders, how else do we call them on the carpet for it, other than invoking federalism?

[allisnow.livejournal.com]

Good for Texas.