[Peace-discuss] [Peace] spread the news

Sun Nov 3 16:55:14 UTC 2019

Absolutely !

David J.

From: David Green [mailto:davidgreen50 at gmail.com] 
Sent: Sunday, November 03, 2019 9:49 AM
To: David Johnson
Cc: Debra Schrishuhn; peace-discuss
Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] [Peace] spread the news

David, I was probably the one who raised the issue of xenophobia, in the context of critiquing the manner in which it is assumed (by Thomas Garza) that xenophobia is what's driving immigration policy. And it's true of course that Trump manipulates whatever xenophobia there is, and provides people like Garza with a convenient target. Nevertheless (as I know you know) xenophobia, like racism, doesn't explain the material and class dynamics that drive are behind the manner in which so many people try to explain why their lives have gotten worse. And the further irony behind all of this is that over the 4 decades of neoliberalism, Americans in general have become more civilized and tolerant regarding cultural differences, not less.

DG

On Sun, Nov 3, 2019 at 8:00 AM David Johnson <davidjohnson1451 at comcast.net> wrote:

Deb,

I saw no references to xenophobia, either in the article, David Green’s comments or my comments.

Can you explain why you mentioned xenophobia ?

Unless you meant that Trump’s wall is a response to xenophobia in general ?

Just curious.

David J.

From: Debra Schrishuhn [mailto:deb.pdamerica at gmail.com] 
Sent: Sunday, November 03, 2019 4:02 AM
To: David Johnson
Cc: David Green; peace-discuss
Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] [Peace] spread the news

Geez, I was not trying to solve the entire existential problem and history of immigration and deep-seated xenophobia. Rather, my intent was to show how ineffectual and wasteful (aside from being destructive and counter-productive on so many levels) the Trumpian wall solution as constructed is with a concrete--er, commercially available power tool--example, one that is easily understood even by those who may not be "the sharpest tool in anyone's shed." 

If you don't find the article useful, ignore it, delete it, and don't spread it around. It really is as simple as that.

Debra

On Sat, Nov 2, 2019 at 3:38 PM David Johnson <davidjohnson1451 at comcast.net> wrote:

Very well stated David !

I have also had run ins with these neo liberal “ pro “ immigrant rights groups. 

I had one of them tell me once that it didn’t matter if employers of undocumented workers were exploiting them, that at least they were “ giving them a job “. And that was after I told them a horror story I thought they would be sympathetic to, which involved a construction / landscaping contractor in Texas who would consistently hire 10 to 20 undocumented workers and tell them they would be paid in two weeks and then come pay day immigration officers showed up to arrest the workers. 

When I stated that my solution to the current undocumented immigrant “ problem “ was to give everyone a Green Card, they just scoffed and said that it wasn’t “ feasible “. That they had to work with Democrats in Congress. The same Democrats who went nowhere with immigration reform. 

These same people when I approached them 10-15 years ago about seeing if they would assist in organizing undocumented workers into the IWW Union so that they could collectively demand more money for their labor replied – “ They are not interested in Unions “. End of discussion.

Your characterization of them as Neo Liberals is spot on. I would go even further and call them “ poverty pimps “.

Also, leaving Israel – Palestine aside, groups like Bend the Arc refuse to even acknowledge much less discuss the economic and foreign policy of the U.S. government CREATING  the undocumented immigration problem in the Western Hemisphere. ESPECIALLY Honduras where the 2009 Obama-Clinton State Dept. encouraged and supported a violent military coup to oust a progressive democratically elected President, and turned Honduras into a brutal narco state,  where medical services and all education has been privatized and dead bodies in the streets is a common sight. I know this not just from independent journalist reports but also from a friend of mine who is married to a Honduran woman. And then in addition there is ; Haiti, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, and El Salvador, though not as bad as Honduras ( even though Haiti and Colombia comes close ) they nevertheless have been economically devastated by U.S. government neo liberal economic austerity policies. And it is U.S. military aid and TRAINING to their respective police and military that also contributes to repressive actions against Unions, Cooperatives, environmental activism, etc.. in these other countries.

A good book that documents the above is : “ Drug War Capitalism “ by Dawn Paley. 

David J.

From: Peace-discuss [mailto:peace-discuss-bounces at lists.chambana.net] On Behalf Of David Green via Peace-discuss
Sent: Saturday, November 02, 2019 12:15 PM
To: Debra Schrishuhn; Peace-discuss
Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] [Peace] spread the news

Spread what news?

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/10/us-immigration-laws-unconstitutional-double-standards/599140/ 

The above article was extensively quoted by Thomas Garza, head of the CU Immigration Forum, in the his most recent appearance on UPTV (youtube).

This article is from George Mason University, one of the homes of Koch Brothers-style libertarianism, which includes, I guess, "open borders." It also, of course, includes rights to desecrate the land.

Sometimes strange political bedfellows are to be desired--apparently even the Koch Brothers, or the remaining non-deceased Brother, is not happy with U.S. troops around the world. That's fine, I guess, if they actually want to do something about that, of which I haven't seen any evidence, although maybe they have Trump's ear.

But what does anyone think that the sort of libertarian capitalism advocated by the KBs, and by George Mason, will get us?

The immigrant rights movement is motivated by basic human decency, at least from the more casual observer. But in its more public expressions, it is also motivated by liberal political expedience, see Bend the Arc etc., as I have noted in past letters to the editor, regarding their Zionism and their liberal hypocrisy, not to mention their obnoxious claim to represent the "Jewish community."

It is also motivated by good old-fashioned capitalist greed, and a desire to think that "markets," including the "market" for immigrants to move to the U.S., well seriously address our economic problems. Capital is free to move, labor is free to move, welcome to Koch Brothers utopia. See these recent article from the News-Gazette:

https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/guest-commentary-building-a-welcoming-economy/article_859ff35b-cbd6-546f-97c5-1862fc43ab4c.html 

https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/university-illinois/ui-business-school-dean-among-who-signed-letter-to-trump/article_41e30891-7403-57fa-aaf6-5914f59e7684.html

It would appear that immigration is the solution to all of our economic problems, according to these neoliberal perspectives, subscribed to by both the Campus YMCA and the Gies School of Business (Dean Jeffrey Brown, arch Zionist). Disgusting. (Why isn't he proposing that we bring a few million stateless, well-educated Palestinians to our country in order to solve our labor problems?)

There is, of course, an implicit disregard of and disrespect for American citizens, especially including the African-American ones in our own working class community, who have no voice and no representatives in these matters, including from anyone named Ammons. Not to mention the notorious "white working class." But then again, if they opened their mouths and asked a few obvious questions, like: "Why can't African-American children be the future skilled workforce?", they risk being called xenophobic.

Thomas Garza, Ricardo Diaz, and the CU Immigration Forum (constituted by the two of them) honored the Zionist, racist Bend the Arc group in a recent ceremony at the Urbana Free Library. The UFL seemed to endorse this event, not just host it. Isn't this crossing the line from the civic to the political, just as they did when they allowed the "trans-rights" activists to demonstrate upstairs while Nina Paley was hosting a panel downstairs? Does the UFL think that anything it does is automatically good and true and beautiful?

Thomas Garza honors Koch Brothers libertarianism on his WRFU/UPTV program, without saying so, or even clearly referencing the article from which he is reading, although he didn't give himself time to finish it.

When I ran for Congress in 2014 and attended (was on the panel at) a "forum" sponsored by Garza and his group at CPL, my impression was that Garza was judging people up or down depending on whether or not they agree with his rather shallow and de-contextualized view of the immigration issue. Over the years, that impression has been nothing but reinforced. 

My impression is that Garza's analytical skills are sorely lacking; he is far from being the sharpest tool in anyone's shed, and he is arrogant to boot. He goes on about "playing politics with people" on show after show, but he doesn't address how economic interests are always "playing politics with people." Garza and his allies are, in fact, "playing politics with people," whatever the hell that means. He talks about xenophobic bigotry, and then describes entire unnamed groups of people in clearly generalized, stereotypical, bigoted terms; classic projection: "deplorables." Indeed, it's probably the only clearly bigoted speech that is allowed on UPTV.

I think Garza is a "pro-immigrant" neoliberal, and that he is not in any way antiwar. He allies himself, generally speaking, with corporate forces at this university and in this community; they want their fancy, highly-educated immigrant friends; and they want someone to cheaply clean their houses and take care of their children. Who needs a higher minimum wage?

Something to think about as we "spread the word."

As we're doing so, it might be worth noting that we are assuring the re-election of Donald Trump. Hooray!

People aren't stupid. They know that "open borders" doesn't address their economic issues; it's a thumb in their eye. They know that the exploitation of immigrant labor on top of the exploitation of citizen labor is not the answer to our problems, it is just more corporate neoliberalism, supported by both parties.

But at least the immigrant issue gives some people plenty of chance to virtue signal and feel really good about themselves and feel that their being "welcoming" while they get on with their privileged lives; I will say that much for it.

DG

On Sat, Nov 2, 2019 at 7:03 AM Debra Schrishuhn via Peace <peace at lists.chambana.net> wrote:

Smugglers Cut Through Sections of Trump’s Border Wall <https://politicalwire.com/2019/11/02/smugglers-saw-through-new-sections-of-border-wall/> 

November 2, 2019 at 7:23 am EDT By Taegan Goddard <https://politicalwire.com/author/tdg/>  29 Comments <https://politicalwire.com/2019/11/02/smugglers-saw-through-new-sections-of-border-wall/#disqus_thread>  

“Smuggling gangs in Mexico have repeatedly sawed through new sections of President Trump’s border wall in recent months by using commercially available power tools, opening gaps large enough for people and drug loads to pass through, according to U.S. agents and officials with knowledge of the damage,” the Washington Post <https://wapo.st/2qjWC9V>  reports.

“The breaches have been made using a popular cordless household tool known as a reciprocating saw that retails at hardware stores for as little as $100. When fitted with specialized blades, the saws can slice through one of the barrier’s steel-and-concrete bollards in a matter of minutes,.”

“After cutting through the base of a single bollard, smugglers can push the steel out of the way, allowing an adult to fit through the gap. Because the bollards are so tall — and are attached only to a panel at the very top — their length makes them easier to push aside once they have been cut and are left dangling.”

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