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Martin Luther King not the answer on immigration reform

Economics, not emotions, is key to winning hearts and minds in immigration battle

By
NIALL O'DOWD,
IrishCentral.com
Published Thursday, January 14, 2010, 3:45 PM
Updated Thursday, January 14, 2010, 5:06 PM

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Martin Luther King; Human rights argument is not the answer for immigration reform advocates
Martin Luther King; Human rights argument is not the answer for immigration reform advocates


I see lots of immigrant rights groups saying Martin Luther King and his advocacy on human rights is the way to go with immigration reform.

Sorry I don't agree. On the eve of Martin Luther King Day the way forward is not to take his message of mass rallies but rather to make the economic and pocketbook argument on immigration reform.

Two years ago massive rallies all over the country had the net effect of rousing an hysterical anti-immigrant lobby that spelt the death knell for any hope of reform in the Bush era.

That was not the fault of the protesters, it was the clever manipulation of the message of the marchers by right-wing critics who portrayed them a somehow un-American in their demands and
by scare mongering that they would cost Americans jobs.

The most American way to do this is to stress the economic benefits of legalizing the undocumented. Americans understand the bottom line and surveys show this argument works far better than the moral suasion one.

There is ample evidence of a positive economic impact that that can be used.

The Center for American Progress just released a report that has powerful facts and figures in favor of reform.

The report points out that immigration reform, legalizing the undocumented and having them pay taxes adds an incredible $1.5 trillion dollars in GDP over 10 years.

Extra tax revenue would earn $5.4 billion for the federal government.

Newly legalized workers would earn more money and lead to increase spending - generating 750,000 to 900,00 jobs

As the report says, "Experience shows that legalized workers open bank accounts, buy homes, and start businesses, further stimulating the U.S. economy.“

Putting these argument in a skilled fashion with the pitch that legalizing undocumented actually helps American pocketbooks is the way to go.

The Dr. King emotional argument that it is the right thing to do morally has not worked.

It is time to speak to people's self interest especially in hard times.

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6 Comments

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IrishAndProud | Mar 31, 2010, 02:59 PM EDT
ritmomente, I'm proudly pro-life, and I OPPOSE illegal aliens entering the USA. You cannot just stick those two unrelated things together like that in a neat, little one-sentence package, and then stamp it "Back Illegals or you'r Not Pro-Life!" I am not making those illegals try to cross the desert, ritmomente -- they are choosing to, on their own. And yet, it's ME who's supposed to just shut up and back their illegal entry into my country, because I don't want them dying in the desert whilst trying? COME...ON.

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MAGHNUS | Jan 24, 2010, 06:54 AM EST
Totally agree with you RebelForce, if they're not legal, kick em out, and protect the welfare of the legal inhabitants.

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ritmomente | Jan 15, 2010, 09:33 AM EST
Niall, as a marcher on 3 different occasions, I didn't just march. We made clear to the politicians we met what economic benefit earned citizenship would bring. Under the McCain-Kennedy bill, the $3000 fine for overstaying multiplied by the 14,000,000 undocumented immigrants would bring in $42,000,000,000! Not to mention all that you stated above, which we also reiterated to the politicians. At issue for most of us is the Pro-Life stance. One cannot be pro-life and allow an immigrant to die in the Arizona desert. I would also caution you of your unwavering support of Pro-Abortion politicians. Praying for a solution this year! Kevin Shannon Fishtown, Philadelphia

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plasticpaddy | Jan 14, 2010, 06:53 PM EST
your generosity knows way too many bounds rebelforce.

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McNabb1966 | Jan 14, 2010, 05:50 PM EST
Niall, you left out a key aspect of the illegal immigration issue and it is this: the vast majority of the "immigrant rights groups" you refer to view this as a RACIAL issue and they couldn't care less about illegal Irish immigrants, who they dismiss as merely "white people." That's why they always point fingers at Irish American efforts and tell stories about "separate deals" and such. Also, they seek to marginalize the Irish by complaining that as white immigrants they wield influence far out of proportion to their numbers. While it is true that any reforms that occur would probably help the undocumented Irish, it is also true that they would be incidental benefits (rising tide lifts all boats) and NOT the result of goodwill and mutual support. It's sad to say that the majority of "immigrant rights groups" are RACIALIZED, first and foremost (even though, of course, "Hispanic" is NOT actually a "race"). Nydia Velázquez is no friend of the Irish.

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Rebelforce | Jan 14, 2010, 05:22 PM EST
The issue here is neither emotion or economics. It's whether the American government is going to secure America's borders and have respect for American immigration laws already on the books. We don't need yet another immigration "reform" bill. We need our government to stand up and protect our American people and borders. Americans know very well that no other country on earth is as generous to immigrants as the USA. We take in more new immigrants each year then the entire rest of the world combined. But there is a limit to how generous any people can be. Any country that can't control its own borders is doomed.

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