2008 Woodie Awards
Do not sign on to nativism
Because the natives suffer
CLAUDIO BEAGARIE
Opinion Writer
Issue date: 3/8/07 Section: Opinion
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His assumption that these “non taxpaying” undocumented workers (read Hispanic), should not be allowed to take advantage of “routine health care services” paid for by “our” taxpayers flies in the face of human rights and simple logic. So whose side is this guy on?
Can Senator McGee prove that a worker who pays rent to a taxpaying landlord and whose boss also pays taxes is not he or herself a de facto taxpayer?
Is Senator McGee simply blind to these realities? Or does he have another axe to grind?
Call it guilt by association or call it Idaho provincialism.
By any yardstick Senator McGee of Caldwell exhibits all the qualities of a nativist.
Nativism is a philosophy that assumes the natural rights and goodness of the dominant social group in a given country versus the “undesirability” of newcomers and in this case something worse if they come from Mexico.
This is a thinly disguised racist attack against Mexican immigrants whose only crime is their poverty.
To use the sanctity of the “law” to promote hatred against these people is unconscionable but the Achilles heel of people like Senator McGee and other conservative republicans is their lack of compassion for their fellow human beings, their hatred of the poor no matter where they come from.
Senator McGee presents a money issue in the guise of a moral issue when he speaks of “illegal aliens,” in effect, stealing benefits from the state of Idaho.
Since when has it been fashionable to discuss needed medical assistance from a purely monetary point of view?
This guy has no moral leg to stand on, he would pit the poor taxpayers of southern Idaho against poor Mexican immigrants, this is an outrage.
Senator McGee then cites a “Center for Immigration” report, that states, “California, which shares the problem on a much larger scale…”
The CIS is a group identified as nativist by pro immigration groups, this group has consistently vilified immigrants of Mexican ancestry since it’s inception some 20 years ago.
This is not the first time people from Mexico have been subject to attack in this country.
No other immigrant group in the past 150 years has endured the same level of discrimination in this country.
To be sure all non-white immigrants in this state, Mexicans included, are accorded inferior status, this facilitates their use as menial throw away type labor.
To be sure there are Idaho bosses that take good care of “their” Mexican workers even escorting them to the airport as they depart for home wishing them well and please do come back when we need you next year.
I’ll bet these are the same bosses that would object to paying tax monies to cover medical and social services needed by these workers and their families should they choose to stay in Idaho.
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 10
Unimpressed
posted 3/08/07 @ 9:17 AM MST
Actually, the "only crime" of illegal aliens is breaking federal law by entering this country without permission, exploiting our social service programs, and working without legal authorization. (Continued…)
Brown Surprise
posted 3/08/07 @ 9:28 AM MST
Illegal aliens do not pay taxes, period. Whatever peripherial taxes might be absorbed by the state through retail purchases and rents doesn't begin to make up for the drain on our government resources. (Continued…)
Richard
posted 3/08/07 @ 9:30 AM MST
Kudos to Senator McGee for taking a stand on this nonsense. It's time to crack down on illegal aliens' exploitation of our health care, education, and other social services!
Hillary
posted 3/08/07 @ 9:38 AM MST
John McGee is stalward statesman who is taking a noble stand to an issue that serious affects the people of his constituency. I'm from Canyon County and illegal immigration is a very serious problem there. (Continued…)
Law Abiding Citizen
posted 3/08/07 @ 9:41 AM MST
I voted for McGee!
Koss
posted 3/08/07 @ 9:51 AM MST
Beagarie, health care is a commodity, not a "right." There is nothing in the constitution or in nature that suggests all human beings have a "right" to free prescriptions, medical examinations, surgery, check-ups and cable television at the cost of American taxpayers. (Continued…)
A. Hernandez
posted 3/08/07 @ 10:02 AM MST
NATIVISM? Are you kidding me?
The most vehement opposition to illegal immigration comes from other Hispanics in Canyon County who came to this country legally and have worked their asses off to make a living while illegals come in and undercut their wages. (Continued…)
Sawmiller--- Brown Surprise
posted 3/09/07 @ 2:35 PM MST
I think what's great about this forum is that it gives people the ability to post anonymously... you can use you're name... and you can use somebody else's name as I have above. (Continued…)
brownsurprise
posted 3/09/07 @ 2:40 PM MST
hernandez are you kidding me ... just because you're relatives had to jump through hoops to become a citizen you expect everyone else to do the shame. (Continued…)
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