http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/rockridge/005We were recently asked how progressives can reframe the immigration debate, moving it away from the conservative mantra of "illegal immigrants" to larger, more substantive issues.
We agree — the issue must be re-framed. Talking about "illegal immigrants" distracts us and even makes us afraid to face the real issue here: We have an economic system that creates economic insecurity and promotes the exploitation of most American workers for the benefit of a few elites. When we re-frame the issue as one of economic exploitation, we can begin to address the underlying problems that face all workers in America -- the need for jobs that are safe, secure, and pay a living wage, combined with health care for everyone.
When the issue becomes an economic one, we can start talking about progressive values, which make it immoral to exploit workers. We can also start talking about why economic exploitation is prevalent in America: Conservative policies have weakened unions and drastically restricted workers' rights, redistributed money through tax cuts from the middle class to the wealthiest 1%, and promoted trade policies like NAFTA that have reduced the wages and job security of workers on both sides of the border. In effect, people fleeing the economic hardship of their home country and coming to the U.S. in search of work are "economic refugees." Americans, too, can be "economic refugees" inside the U.S., leaving their hometowns due to factory closings, for example, in search of a job wherever they can find it.
DBunn, writing on DailyKos, succinctly presents the economic frame and the progressive solution: (1) make good working conditions a requirement and there will be no advantage in hiring foreign workers without papers and (2) make it easy to report those who cheat and fine those who knowingly exploit workers.
<1> If every American job paid a decent wage and offered safe and humane conditions, and if we had a real national health care system that is not connected to employment, then there would be no "jobs Americans won't do", no market of jobs that only an "illegal" immigrant would take. And there would be no incentive for employers to seek out "illegal" immigrants, who don't have rights or leverage, in preference to American workers, who do. If we eliminate the unfair advantage that employers seek when they hire easily exploitable "illegal" immigrants, we also eliminate 90% of the "illegal" immigrant problem. . .
<2> The big penalties should not be for employers who hire "illegal" immigrants, but for employers who try to cheat on the rules governing living wage and decent working conditions regardless of the legal status of their workers.
If our government did this, every worker in America would benefit. That's the progressive frame.
So, what are the practical steps needed to implement this re-framing? We see three related elements.
LONG AND MEATY ARTICLE CONTINUES....AUTHORED BY:
Eric Haas