The white, elite politicians of Arizona who passed the immigration bill are all liars and racists

Tim Wise pretty much explains why:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o13Lr6Sr_cU

Even if the several hundred thousand "illegals" were locked up and kicked back across the border, it wouldn't make life better for the poor, the black, and the brown people of that state.

It's not as if the rich, white elites would all the sudden share the privilege of rich, white elitism to all the other citizens who are left behind.

Reason: obvious.

:yourock:

Please. They don't even have college degrees and make $24,000. The Governor doesn't have a college degree. They are stupid but hardly "elite".And BTW, not all without degrees are stupid ,but I know these folks and they are.

... I understood your response to my reply.

Maybe you got your websites mixed-up, and thought you were posting a response to fellow echo-chamber residents - all twelve of them.

I was unaware that you were familiar with the folks in the Arizona legislature and state senate. Anyone who know them could not possibly agree that they are "elite".

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She has inside information concerning the AZ state legislature, and it was erroneous of Tim Wise to say that they were elitists ..



Those whose salary caps out at 24,000 and that the majority don't have a college education would not make them elite, merely bigots.

assessment.

You're trying to say that the people who make the laws are not part of an elite? Seriously?

Warren Buffett, the Waltons, and the Larry Ellison's in this country?

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/54/richlist07_The-400-Richest-Americans_Rank.html

No, the members of the AZ state legislature are not elite, merely bigots.

because a bunch of asshole bigots don't fit your definition.

Actually I'm not sorry.

policemen, dog catcher, social worker, IRS worker .. they are all elites? I think you need to rethink your stance - it's the premise that because they wrote and passed an extremely unpopular and potentially dangerous bill, all of a sudden they are considered elites? They don't have the insane amounts of money that can be thrown about to change more than one law in AZ - Bill Gates is changing education in this country and doing it in a grand scale - I would not for one moment put the two together on the same plane.

On edit - prior to this bill, I would wage that the general feeling in AZ was that their state legislature was not part of the elite.

No. So your argument is as specious as it is idiotic.

They have the power, they passed the law that makes them the elites. Not on a national level no but state wise? You're damn right they're elites and no amount of twisting can make them otherwise. You don't get to change the definition to suit your argument.

from you - your freedom, your dog, your children .. so by your brush, all politicians are elitist, including Obama.

not?

And the policeman, dog catcher, and social worker are front line workers. They don't make policy they implement it. THAT is the difference between being one of the elite and working for them. Your argument is idiotic and bears no resemblance to what I actually said. Once again you cannot change the definition of words to suit your rather ill thought out argument.

The low salary can reflect a part time nature to it - likely they could have jobs elsewhere too. Or be retired.

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elitist. Elections are not until November. Maybe you better have a breather and an enchilada. :D

is Aug.24th . Endorsements are beuing already made. We have a special election on May 18th .This will effect outcomes and not in a desirable way.The May election is for a special 1 % temporary sales tax to help keep our services running and prevent yet further cutbacks. If we lose that election, the poor will have no services. We are fighting to restore healthcare to children. Boycotting Arizona will only entrench the conservatives,and get out their vote. It won't do anything to repeal the law.

doesn't have an education. One of the majority leaders who opposes education has a degree in air conditioning maintenance. Our Governor doesn't have a college degree, and we pay these the legislators only $24,000 a year and wonder why we can't attract better. Gimme a break "elite" my butt. Most of the GOP are idiots a but they aren't "elite" anything.

Not sure if that makes someone part of the 'elite', but it does elevate them to positions where they can effect the lives of others.

More money won't make better politicians, imho. We only have to look at DC where there are many millionaires in Congress, including many with college degrees, doctors, lawyers etc. to see how little effect an education and/or money makes when it comes to representing the people.

What we need in office are people of principle. That's what we seem to have so little of.

bribes and abuse of power as we know from the legislative sting operation of a dozen years ago, AZ SCAM. When we force folks to scramble for a living while representing us,bad stuff happens. The legislature and state senate should be full time jobs paying decent salaries.

Just as Arizona is no longer able to attract businesses because it has no education and health care, principled legislators are not encouraged to stay and make Az a better place. Just like everyone else, they have to provide for their families and possible candidates frequently move out of state.

decent salary, if the wrong people run for office, there is still the reality that they will take bribes etc. But I see your point that decent people cannot afford to live on the salaries currently being offered.

even consider running for office. We already had one of our most qualified Representatives step down once he was reelected, Steve Gallegos because he realized he couldn't "afford" to be in the legislature. And even decent folks can be tempted when they are desperate.

The point is that the pols are working in behalf of their rich, white elite constituents, who will not share their position of privilege, merely because there are fewer Mexicans in AZ.

I mean, why is that so freaking controversial?

Their ability to wield power makes them elite by proxy, despite their apparent lack pedigrees and bank accounts.

It's an extension of rich, white elitism to the political class, in order to divide and conquer.

This is an age old story of Americana, only if you care to see it.

"elites", it makes them wanna bees.They may function on behalf of the wealthy but only because they hope to be themselves. And what makes you think there are "fewer" Mexicans in Arizona? There may be fewer citizens of Mexican ancestry who vote but I doubt very much there are fewer Mexicans. If all citizens of Mexican decent voted and voted Democrat( and many of them are NOT Democrat) we wouldn't be facing this. Hopefully this may get many non voters out to the polls. And for information you may not know we had the first Hispanic governor ,a Democrat named Raul Castro.

First, by "Mexicans", I'm talking about Mexican citizens, not American citizens of Mexican ancestry.

Second, don't just offhandedly dismiss the power of wannabe-ism. It's a powerful motivational tool.

Thirdly, it's quite interesting that you've noted that so many of those Americans of Mexican ancestry have voted to elect Republican politicians, of whom I'm sure that you're quite aware, mostly serve the interests of their rich, white elite constituents.

If that isn't the use of wannabe-ism to divide and conquer, I don't know what is.

"elites" themselves. That was my point. They are motivated to think they can be. But they won't.

decribing them as "elite". Dumbasses, and corrupt but not "elite".

to bribe and turn and whatever methods they have to get their way.

so saying elite is actually correct even tho the elected may not be rich or powerful - the so called elites know how to buy and sell and blackmail people.

run around the state and try to act like she's somebody with sense?

:scared:

145 in Arizona and 90 in Maricopa County alone. It is very worrisome.

It seems to me that in 2010 we should have moved beyond that shit.

Faux News, McCain/Palin, Teabaggers- you name it.

Fear porn & hate porn is fed to people 24/7.

Easier to give into it than think for yourself and, god forbid, go dig up some FACTS.

I see it as being due to job loss and overall decrease in quality of life due to lack of money.

for their low positions in society. they are the ones always complaining about liberal elitists , new york, san francisco, hollywood etc.

The Teabaggers present one strong example. And the fruits of their labor in "taking their country back" is being shown in Arizona to a sickening degree.

That's why we, as a country, truly need to discuss the meaning of equality, white privilege and who are truly second class citizens in this country.

But the sad thing is that there are some white folks who don't even want to approach the subject because it will finally "make them see race and racism" for the first time of their lives. It is more convenient to "ignore it" and "pretend race and racism doesn't exist". As a result, terrible politicians are put in office who blatantly insert racism into law without much quarreling from the white status quo while a whole bunch of others suffer.

That's why I hope that the Dems finally see that America is at the point in which the straw is breaking the camel's back and putting the poor thing in traction.

and you are absolutely correct in your assessment

You put a very important point for not only us folks of color to discuss, but for everyone else.

This country is getting to the point that all of this has to be put on the table--unless the American citizens want Arizona's travesty to happen elsewhere.

now considered red? And do you really think it can't happen in your state?

Think again.

Now, do we have people strong enough to fight it? Or will privilege seduce some of the populace to take the easiest road possible? That's another question to ponder.

Who's privileged? Most people are trying to survive in this economy.

Mr. Wise spoke very strongly about it in the You Tube snippet. Furthermore, the Teabaggers are a very present example of the use of "white skin privilege" not only in their protests, but also in the coverage that they get in the media.

Furthermore, one could argue that white privilege also went into the passage of Arizona's bill. After all, who do you think is going to get stopped and checked by the police in Arizona? That has nothing to do with class and a lot to do with race.

I don't know who Mr. Wise is and could not possibly care less what he has to say given what you're reflecting.

And as far as who do I think is going to get stopped and checked by police in Arizona? Eventually, I think everyone will find themselves in that position irregardless of skin color which is why it should be opposed now. For the moment, its racial profiling. That's wrong. A year from now, who knows what reason they'll use and who they'll be stopping.

Educate yourself.

Tim Wise and pretends to not understand white privilege.

You really should care who Mr. Wise is and what he has to say because obstinate ignorance of divide-and-conquer-by-race only perpetuates the cycle.

man has to say.

Mr. Wise lays out a clear-cut case on why racism is very prominent in this country. He especially traces its history and what it has to do with the modern age in America. He didn't mince words about how race is used to divide the working class. Furthermore, white skin privilege is the carrot the elites dangle so that people with common interests (especially when it has to do with access for everyday folks opposed to those with money)will sell out others in the name of race to get ahead without even caring what happens as they climb that social ladder.

Because it is the way things work in America, it is relevant to care about why and how white skin privilege is implemented in this country. Jim Crow was employed in this fashion until the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Voting was run similarly until the 1965 Voting Act.

For people of color, we see it every minute every day. It affects us, our friends and our loved ones in everything that we do. It has burdened our relatives, especially the older ones who had to live their younger years under the yoke of Jim Crow. In that light, one cannot have the luxury to "not care" what Tim Wise has professed so eloquently in that small snippet of his speech. We have to learn why this is so in America in order to make things better for everyone in terms of equal accessibility to all institutions within our country.

Even though Arizona's law does affect everyone, I seriously think that it will especially affect those who are of color more than those who aren't simply because of the racism behind the bill.

Believe me, no one is shooting or trying to capture people who illegally cross the border of Canada. The Minutemen did not form because of all that rampant border crossing from the country above us. This was done because of the happenings around the South of the Border.

This is aimed at those who cross the border between Mexico and the Southwest (i.e. Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and California). And what is worse is that this bill was backed by White Supremacists who did what they could to make sure this piece of filth legislation went through.

As a result, the cops will stop people based on skin color rather than just anyone. "White privilege" will cause some authorities to "ignore" those who don't look like they've "crossed the border"--that is if one could tell who are recent immigrants and who aren't.

So, we'll have to agree to disagree.

P.S. thank you blogslut, RoyGBiv and CBR for your input into this issue. :)

Do you think he would have a chance in hell of getting elected?

I would suggest you educate yourself. Wallowing in ignorance doesn't really help you make your point which by the way is well, wrong.

Everyone will NOT be finding themselves in that position and to even make such an assertion belies some serious ignorance about how things tend to go in this country especially when it comes to race.

"I don't know who Mr. Wise is and could not possibly care less what he has to say given what you're reflecting" and sneering. In other words....

in his book, A People's History of the United States?

Or will you insist on continuing to blind yourself to truths that make you uncomfortable?

Too bad so many people stick their fingers in their ears and yell "la la la I can't hear you" as to avoid having to actually do anything about what he talks about.

To me, this is the face of the Teabaggers and the wingnuts. A beady-eyed, dumb looking, angry old white guy. We've got a million of them.

which is why mass deportations will never happen. This is just throwing a bone to their base. The rich elite of all colors want that cheap, undocumented labor. It gives them much bigger profits. Even if Arizona police go crazy with racial profiling, which they won't, you'd see maybe a couple hundred more deportations due to this law. This isn't meant to be a solution of any sort, just a part of the culture war. As long as the base thinks it's a solution, the Republicans can do whatever they want.

I guess, if the illegals were all deported, it may actually help those citizens who are the poorest, considering they would not have to compete with illegal migrants for labor and wages, a battle they will always lose. They could even form unions. Of course, then the companies might go overseas, but at least the labor laws would be being upheld, and there are a lot of jobs that can't be exported that are being done by illegal immigrants that could be much better paid if it was American citizens doing the work. The product would cost more, but I'd be fine with that.

Thanks ..

"The rich elite of all colors want that cheap, undocumented labor. It gives them much bigger profits."

Making the AZ state legislature the enemy is not going to solve this problem.