It's Time to Boycott Arizona

[SuperFemme]

Arizona immigration law backer politician Barry Wong wants to cut power from illegal immigrant homes

One Arizona politician has made a vow to make illegal immigrants powerless -- literally.

Republican Barry Wong, a candidate for the Arizona Corporation Commission, an elected body that decides public utility issues, says he would require the utilities to check the immigration status of customers, he told the Arizona Republic.

"I'm sure there will be criticism about human-rights violations," said Wong, who held a temporary spot on the five-person Commission in 2006. "Is power or natural gas or any type of utility we regulate, is that a right that people have? It is not a right. It is a service."

Cutting electricity, water, natural gas, even telephone lines at the homes of illegal immigrants, he said, would lower costs for the rest of the state's customers. He believes the population spike caused by illegal immigrants forces the state to build new power plants and then raise rates for customers.

Since 2000, Arizona's population has jumped nearly 29% to almost 6.6 million people. In roughly that same time, the number of the state's Hispanic residents increased and now composes more than 30% of Arizona's population, according to the U.S. Census.

This isn't the first time electricity surged into the immigration debate.
In May, after Los Angeles' City Council voted to boycott Arizona over its controversial anti-illegal immigration law, SB 1070, Gary Pierce, who sits on the Commission, suggested L.A. stop using his state's power.
Pierce, also a Republican, dismissed Wong's idea.

"That's not an argument I think we'll involve ourselves in," he said.
Critics, however, charge Wong with simply using a hot-button issue to gain notoriety and votes.

"Everyone is seeing the polls that are so anti-immigrant, and everyone is jumping on the bandwagon to target immigrants," said Julie Pace, a lawyer currently suing the state over a law punishing businesses that hire illegal immigrant help.

"They all are coming up with novel ideas how they can get elected. They say, 'Target immigrants, and it helps me win an election.'"
Wong believes his idea deserves further study.

"The question is: Is it the right thing to do in terms of rates?" Wong, a former four-term member of the state's House of Representatives, told the paper.

Arizona has come under fire for months for its efforts to battle illegal immigration, which was put under the national spotlight with the passage of SB 1070, which would allow law enforcement to ask suspects about their immigration status. However, the law which goes into effect July 29, has its supporters.

According to a recent Rasmussen poll, 71% of Arizona backs it, an increase from when Gov. Jan Brewer signed the bill in April.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nati..._from_ill.html

[Dylan]

WTF is up with people over there?


Jesus H Christ,
Dylan

And where's the feds? What the fuck is Obama doing between this and the oil spill?

[SuperFemme]

Originally Posted by Dylan

WTF is up with people over there?


Jesus H Christ,
Dylan

And where's the feds? What the fuck is Obama doing between this and the oil spill?

here is the latest: http://www.fox11az.com/news/local/Ob...-97400129.html

eta: CA, AZ, TX and NM are all getting National Guard Troops. Oh goody. I can't wait to see how this pans out.

[Linus]

SF, thanks for the articles. It does make me wonder how long, given the increased support/drive towards anti-immigration stance, before we see mob mentality and rule happening. As the frothing continues to increase to demonize the undocumented worker it won't be long until we see the worst results on the front page. Some may say this is defense and just action for the US and other nations to discourage others from coming into a nation illegally but it's the ripple effect that can happen as society sees this.

Politicians often forget the power and impact of their words -- what is said, what is not said but heard, how it's said, when it's said -- has on society and those listening in. We don't speak in a vacuum nor do we live in one. Removing simple and basic human rights -- and finding it acceptable to do so -- is not, IMO, the sign of a nation that has evolved.

This whole exercise strikes me not as solving the true issue but just attempting to win brownie points in a time when one cannot provide real answers to economic challenges (i.e., don't spend money we don't have but don't find ways to create jobs either). As I read a variety of news sources about this issue I cannot help but wonder if this is a class sleight of hand (e.g., Ignore the man in the background and just watch the shiny balls in the front) to focus us away from problems that we really need to face and address with harsh reality.

[Apocalipstic]

Originally Posted by Linus

SF, thanks for the articles. It does make me wonder how long, given the increased support/drive towards anti-immigration stance, before we see mob mentality and rule happening. As the frothing continues to increase to demonize the undocumented worker it won't be long until we see the worst results on the front page. Some may say this is defense and just action for the US and other nations to discourage others from coming into a nation illegally but it's the ripple effect that can happen as society sees this.

Politicians often forget the power and impact of their words -- what is said, what is not said but heard, how it's said, when it's said -- has on society and those listening in. We don't speak in a vacuum nor do we live in one. Removing simple and basic human rights -- and finding it acceptable to do so -- is not, IMO, the sign of a nation that has evolved.

This whole exercise strikes me not as solving the true issue but just attempting to win brownie points in a time when one cannot provide real answers to economic challenges (i.e., don't spend money we don't have but don't find ways to create jobs either). As I read a variety of news sources about this issue I cannot help but wonder if this is a class sleight of hand (e.g., Ignore the man in the background and just watch the shiny balls in the front) to focus us away from problems that we really need to face and address with harsh reality.

I would so love to see politicians do the right thing, not the politically expedient for themselves thing. Sigh.

[The_Lady_Snow]

If we honestly think that gang mentality is not going to happen we are all wrong. Allow me to share some information that happened to migrant worker Luis Ramirez in Pennsylvania

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/05/02/...grant.beating/

How the parents reacted

The whole story:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/10/22/lia...ref=newssearch

Kobi's reactions aren't surprising to me, they kicked me in the gut as always when it comes from one of my queer peers. So Linus the mob mentality you speak of is out there, it will, it is happening NOW.

It breaks my heart.

[Corkey]

Ignorance is everywhere.

[SuperFemme]

oh my god that scares me.
because they are right, the message they are sending is clear:
there are no consequences for killing those of us on the fringe of society.

a fact already evident by the killings/beatings of trans people and gays all over the country.

[The_Lady_Snow]

[Apocalipstic]

I don't understand why US citizens want the US to be a Fascist country where our papers (papeles) have to be shown.

I grew up like that, in Argentina and it makes me crazy to think that anyone would want another human being to have to live like that.

[The_Lady_Snow]