Quick Takes: Barring Undocumented Students, HR Chief Fired Over Anti-Gay Column, IPO for Grand Canyon U., Apollo in Canada, More Anger Over Schlafly Honor, Inappropriate Influence on Ratings, Surge at Teach for America, Arizona State Drops 3 Sports

North Carolina Community College System

The NCCCS must be applauded. Tax payer dollars are funding education for citizens, not illegal aliens who continue their assault on the economic and social system in the USA—and are committing theft by attending classes they do not pay for. No illegal has a right to an education, health care, a job, or housing, as those are privileges reserved for citizens who have contributed to society through work and patriotism in its various forms. An illegal alien is nothing more than a common criminal and those schools who admit illegal aliens and the children of illegal aliens who are also illegal aliens are committing crimes against their society and nation and their administrators and the teachers who educate the children of illegal aliens should be fired.

Dr Arthur Frederick Ide, at 8:20 am EDT on May 14, 2008

“The North Carolina Community College System announced Tuesday that, based on an advisory letter from the state Attorney General’s office — which cited federal law — it would no longer admit illegal immigrants into degree programs.”

LOSERS! The state just wanted an excuse to exercise their political opinion at the expense of the younger generations who need education more than ever.

“only 112 degree-seeking students, out of 296,540, lacked proof of legal residency.”

So they barely save anything. Obviously, this is just a punitive and mean statement.

Re: Dixon. Did they give her the opportunity to resign first?

kgotthardt, at 10:35 am EDT on May 14, 2008

Illegal immigrants deserve the rights of all immigrants

Dr. Ide’s bigotry against illegal immigrants is the same kind of “blame-the-victim” bigotry as Hitler’s antisemitism, or Strom Thurmond-type white supremacy.

Illegal immigrants are the “salt of the earth.” They want only the chance to work hard to make a modest living for their families. Their illegal status makes them easy prey for super-exploitative employers who can pay them less than the minimum wage with no benefits, then call La Migra on pay day and get them all deported.

Dr. Ide and bigots like him want to misdirect our anger against these super-exploited workers and away from the real problem: the illegal status.

To understand the truth about illegal immigrants, you need to understand slavery. What made slavery profitable was the legal status of slaves. Slaves had no rights. Therefore, they could be exploited to the maximum possible extent.

So-called “illegal aliens” are workers who have almost no legal rights. Therefore, they are super-exploited by employers. They do very hard work for very low wages. They pay taxes — employers have to deduct them — but they get few benefits.

They exploit no one. They are super-exploited. They are like other workers, except for one thing: their legal status.All workers should have the same legal rights and as many rights as we can get. That is the only way one group of workers can be not super-exploited with their cheaper labor dragging down wage rates for all workers. There is no other way.

Today, the United Bosses of America are doing all they can to encourage “legal” workers to think that “illegal” workers are our enemies. Build walls, patrol the borders, or call “La migra” (Immigration)!

Get the workers fighting each other, but make sure they do not recognize the truth.Here’s the truth: We have got to do away with the category of “illegal” workers. “Illegal” workers have almost no rights. That’s why they can be super-exploited. That’s why their cheap labor pulls down wage rates for all other workers.

And that’s why employers love “illegal” workers — because they work cheap, cannot organize a union and cannot strike for better pay and conditions. They are as close to slaves as a boss can get, in these “enlightened” times.

So we need a workers’ campaign. Full rights for everybody on American soil! If your feet hit dry ground, you have the same rights as everybody else. (See http://tinyurl.com/wszpp)

Opposing those who, like Dr. Ide and his ilk, attack illegal workers is a good start to building this kind of movement.

Grover Furr, at 10:45 am EDT on May 14, 2008

Inconvenient fact

” .. And that’s why employers love “illegal” workers — because they work cheap ..”

Inconvenient fact: many of the anti-illegal movement members are working-class craftspersons (carpenters, roofers) who have been LAID-OFF due to the flood of illegals into the U.S. To think otherwise would be as absurd as an English professor trying to convince an educated public that Stalinism was politically-maligned by the CIA.

There is a solution to this. Illegal immigrants should return to their country of origin with their families. And get in line behind the 1,000,000+ who are following the rules.

Buzz, at 11:15 am EDT on May 14, 2008

Ms. Schlafly

Seems to me that we have heard quite a bit of “tacky whining from a bitter Ms. Schlafly” over the years. By the way, why don’t we ever hear men’s discourse described as “whining?”

Jack S., at 11:20 am EDT on May 14, 2008

Illegal immigation is illegal

We must stop using the excuse that in the 1800’s, there were no regulations on immigration. In the 1800’s there were no building regulations, tax laws, or motor vehicle laws. But they are put into place as needed. The U.S. has immigration laws, and regardless of whether you agree with them or not, they are law. You must stop at a red light whether you feel like it or not. You cannot rob another person, even if you feel like you deserve what they have. In our history, land was given freely to those wishing to settle in new areas, but this doesn’t happen anymore. Why? Times change. Laws happen.

Aothervoice, at 11:31 am EDT on May 14, 2008

Grover is actually correct; exploitation must be stopped

Grover, You actually have some sense behind what you are saying. Yes, illegal immigrants are exploited by big business. And yes, big (especially big-agra) business wants to keep them illegal. They want this because they cost a lot less than citizens do.

this argument is the strongest one I know of to follow US law very, very strictly in this area. Any type of law that provides a benefit to an illegal, makes it easier for them to stay in this country.. as an illegal. These laws (driving licenses, schooling, hospitals, etc) are major enablers for exploitation of these workers.

I am always saddened that so many progressives ignore this fact and instead push for tax-payer paid or sanctioned means to encourage their exploitation.

Personally, I do all I can not to use illegal (aka exploited labor). For example, I made sure my roofers where legal. And I have no qualms in looking for resturants which don’t exploit. If I have to eat out less in order to support living wages (which at a minumum require US citizenship) then I will, and I do.

The way to a meaningful immigration law is not through making it easier for big business to exploit workers, but to make it harder. If illegal grape pickers are kept off the vineyards, then the wine companies will lobby, and get, permits and visas to allow for legal pickers — at a decent wage monitored by the DOL. However, since the illegals are available, then they are happy with the status quo.

It may be nice and latte-liberal fashionable to support these short sighted policies for making it easier for illegals to stay in the US as an illegal, but it merely supports exploitation.

Harold K., at 12:10 pm EDT on May 14, 2008

Schlafly & ERA

Schlafly fought the ERA because it vested Congress with extra power. She was against bigger government, not feminists. Remember, this was during the Vietnam war era, a time of aggressive public protest. Congress was not held in high esteem. Had the one sentence of the ERA regarding Congress been eliminated, the amendment likely would have passed.

Redbud, at 5:35 am EDT on May 15, 2008