Here's an Idea

One thing on which the Democrats and Republicans can (marginally) agree is that it's A Good Time to talk about immigration reform. (Their proposed policies differ, but at least they can agree we need to talk about it!) I have an idea: Let's make part of that conversation about exactly what role undocumented workers play in the United States, particularly in our economy and food supply, because whoooooooooops "more than half of US citizens believe that most or all of the country's 11 million [undocumented] immigrants should be deported, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday."

Which says to me, among other things, that more than half of US citizens have no fucking idea the integral role that most of the country's 11 million undocumented immigrants actually play in US society.

Understandable, I suppose, given the alarmist rhetoric about how "illegals" (nope) come to the States to steal jobs (nope) and commit crimes (nope) and are fundamentally different somehow from Real Americans (really, really nope).

This is another toxic example of projection: Undocumented workers in the US are exploited, often treated poorly, cruelly, and illegally. They are paid far below a living wage in the US, and on the backs of that exploitation, we keep the prices of raspberries low. For example.

And in exchange, half the country wants to deport undocumented workers, instead of giving amnesty (to those who want it) and a living wage (to all).

Guess what? Either way, the price of raspberries will go up.

[Related Reading: "What Makes an American?"]

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