Comments on: Lies, damn lies and Internet hoaxes

By: Jeff Blakley

Jeff Blakley — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 02:59:10 +0000

Something that is very often not considered when the topic of illegal immigrants comes up is this: who is providing these illegal immigrants with jobs? Neo-liberals and conservatives who think that it is their right to get rich at the expense of the larger society, that’s who. By hiring illegal immigrants who live in fear of being deported by the INS, they can pay sub-standard wages and provide no benefits, thus fattening their wallets. Those underpaid illegal immigrants cannot afford decent housing, so they pool their resources and ten or more of them rent a house in a decent neighborhood owned by a landlord who charges an exorbitant rent that is affordable when it is split ten ways. Neighbors, fearing a decline in property values, sell their property to other “investors” and the neighborhood, once healthy, goes into decline. That declining neighborhood is then a source of crime that the local police (paid for by the larger society) have to deal with. The landlords laugh all the way to the bank. It is called privatizing the gain and socializing the loss – just ask Blankfein and the Lords of Wall Street about that. The other thing that is never considered is why the immigrants make the hazardous journey to this country. Most often, it is because there are no opportunities to make a living in the country they came from and that is often because of NAFTA or similar trade agreements that stack the deck in favor of the financial elite that runs this country and punishes the citizens of the countries victimized by those agreements. Those who rail against illegal immigrants should instead be railing against the financial elite that runs this country but since they listen to Limbaugh, Palin, Beck and other talking heads bought and paid for by that same financial elite their brains are so poisoned by hatred that they can’t think clearly any longer. That is, if they ever could think. Anyone care to guess what Limbaugh’s salary is? In 2008, Limbaugh signed an eight year contract for $400 million dollars. Hatred sure pays well in this country, doesn’t it??

By: Yvonne

Yvonne — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 01:31:44 +0000

I don’t know about your ancestors, Bob, but my ancestors were de facto “illegal” immigrants — uninvited and unwanted by the flourishing indigenous population. They arrived in 1609 in Virginia and 1620 in Massachusetts. I guess they believed the propaganda that this was a sparsely settled continent.

By: Awareness Fan

Awareness Fan — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 01:15:49 +0000

Folks don’t pass-on unverified information that degrades certain others, unless they are ignorant and/or full of hate; they may want to spread fear.

Folks that hold fear and/or hate often research and lessen or worsen their woes, according to their beliefs as associated with facts that are well-founded.

It’s not a ‘leftist’ or ‘rightist’ viewpoint, it’s just the way its, I think.

I guess the ‘ole ‘chain letter feardom’ may have permiated society in electronic form.

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:14:47 +0000

“Hate”? Perhaps a better term is “Fear” Fear causes people to react extremely forcibly and without thinking. Fear is much more accurate in my opinion than hate. People fear the unknown. I too read the email rounds and frequently have my wife check them out on snopes and other of the “fact-finding” sites. True, most are bogus. But due to their incindiary topics, immediately fear jumps to the fore, causing otherwise rational beings to suddenly become raging lunatics. Granted, those bogus messages may have been started by those with hate, but fear is what causes the messages to be accepted and spread like wildfire.

In this day and age, it is so easy to label everyone who is scared or fearful a “hater” a “bigot” a “racist”. In my opinion, that, in and of itself is something I think is spread by the left and is, in its own way “hate”.

By: Awareness Fan

Awareness Fan — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:38:39 +0000

Thanks, Mr. Thompson. A ‘reality check’ is appropriate now, more than ever.

Folks need to be informed with authenticity; it’s ‘ok’ to question important reports.

Hate-mongers should resist temptation. They should take responsibility to check the facts, at least as well as many check their grocery list..

By: Morris Fleischer

Morris Fleischer — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:25:35 +0000

Well said, Doug…and Carol! A great read on 21 myths that are being perpetuated about immigration is “They Take Our Jobs!” by Aviva Chomsky.

By: carol phelps

carol phelps — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:15:56 +0000

Thanks for this reality check, Doug. Hatred is usually built on false premises, and is fed by ignorance.