Arizona: State’s rights in Action?
For the benefit of those folks who have spent the last month in a remote cabin with no access to media, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed into law a bill that allows authorities to ask anyone lawfully stopped for any violation about their immigration status and if in doubt require that person to produce a document showing that they are lawfully in the U.S. To those of us not living in a border state this may seem authoritarian and an affront to our libertarian sensibilities, but to citizens in Arizona, drug trafficking and other directly related crimes across a porous border are a stark reminder of the immense U.S. market that exists for drugs even during a long recession.
In addition, the Arizona taxpayer has been subsidizing the education and medical care of many folks here illegally, but the problem is really an unwillingness by the federal government to assist with control of the border and enforcement of laws already in place to deal with illegal immigration.
This is a no win situation for Gov. Brewer. Arizona made certain that their law closely mirrored the federal regulations on illegal entry and residence in the U.S., yet the screams are echoing far and wide with protest rallies and relentless media scrutiny. Among the many efforts to force repeal of this new law is a call for everyone to boycott visiting or doing business of any kind with Arizona. Some cities have already cancelled planned conventions.
PJTV commentator and Cincinnati Tax Day speaker Sonja Schmidt along with Radio host Tony Katz are taking a different tack. They are promoting an “Arizona Buycott.” They want America to visit and to buy goods and services from Arizona to offset the boycott efforts. Please follow this link to learn more:
General agreement on a perfect immigration bill may be impossible at this time, but the hard working citizens of Arizona have endured the same recession as the rest of us. They need the business. Let’s give it to them.
May 17th, 2010 at 6:51 pm
“To those of us not living in a border state this may seem authoritarian and an affront to our libertarian sensibilities, but to those in Arizona, daily life has been disrupted by increased drug trafficking and a commensurate rise in the crime rate.”
Tell us, Ed… According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, what was the violent crime rate per 100,000 residents in Arizona in 2005?
In 2006?
In 2007?
In 2008?
Is the crime rate in Arizona actually rising?
Did you bother to check your facts?
I didn’t think so. Stop spreading falsehoods, Ed. Stop lying to your readers.
May 18th, 2010 at 10:46 am
The Arizona law regarding immigration is discriminatory and legalized profiling and should not be allowed. Profiling and discrimination is the use of specific human characteristics to make a decision about someone. This is america and supposedly we are american’s and discrimination is illegal. No-one should be singled out for observation or determination based on specific human characteristics. We are to be judged by the content of our character not the color of our skin, lest we forget. Anything else is discrimination. What color does content of one’s character have, what type of hair does content of one’s character have, what kind of name does content of one’s character have, we are american’s and to single out our hispanic brothers for special treatment in an attempt to determine weather they are legal american’s discriminatory and as such illegal.
All the clamor over illegal immigrants is hypocritical. On the one hand business wants cheap labor but on the other hand business doesn’t want to pay for it. Free labor or labor not paid a fair wage and benefits is slavery and I know no-one is suggesting that we institute slavery.
Our immigration problems begin with business. If no-one hired illegal immigrants there would be no reason for people to come here. We talk about man’s yearning to be free and to pursue life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But we want to prevent people from seeking work, work that we are happy to give them as long as it doesn’t cost us anything. Business screens applicants for all sorts of qualifications even credit ratings. They are also required to screen for citizenship. They need to do their jobs or if they are caught hiring illegal immigrants, they need to be fined $50,000 dollars per day, per person, with consequences like that, there would be no illegal workers and there would be no reason for anyone to come here illegally. If they could not work, they wouldn’t come here. But it seems easier to discriminate and profile american’s or talk about putting the army on the boarder, than to make business hire legal american’s.
May 20th, 2010 at 12:16 am
The Arizona law should be constantly monitored for abuse and it will be. It is unappealing and gives more authority to police; there is nothing pleasant about giving more power to any police agency. But it is necessary.
Sefu Binta says the problem begins with business because they want cheap labor; equating the low wages with slavery. Well, illegal immigrants take great risks to come here and work for these slave wages. If every company were required to pay the “fair wages and benefits” to any worker as you suggest(by the way, who decides this wage), then unemployed Americans would eagerly take the jobs, assuming companies could afford to pay the higher wages and stay in business. Phoenix April 2010 unemployment is 13.5%. It is doubtful any company is in a position to raise wages. So, why has no one seriously cracked down on the employers who hire illegals? The federal govt. and a powerful political constituency don’t want to see immigration curtailed, they simply play the game of pretend enforcement and investigation of selected companies. So, blame businesses if you must, but be sure to include all the culprits.
May 20th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
In response to Meatbrain’s comments. I refer bloggers to this article in the Arizona Republic from April 20.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2010/04/19/20100419arizona-drug-trafficking-cases.html
According to TRAC, based at Syracuse University in New York, nearly one out of five federal drug prosecutions in the United States occurred in Arizona during 2010. Drug routes run across the border and through Arizona for distribution across the country. Only now is serious money and enforcement being devoted to prosecuting drug related crimes and the immigration law.
May 22nd, 2010 at 12:21 am
Sefu Binta – what section of the law, SB 1070, “allows” profiling and discrimination? This AZ law mirrors a federal law passed in the 1940’s and specifically prohibits profiling. Any country has a right and a duty to defend it’s borders and to allow or disallow entry. Mexico, for example, has some of the most stringent requirments for persons wanting to enter Mexico – including requirements that any person entering have a verified means of support for themselves and their dependents, that they have no record of violence, that they be healthy [mentally and physically] to name just a few.
In England you must have your entry permit and work permit available to show any official on demand; the same is true in France and Italy.
It is not at all discriminatory to monitor who enters a country or why they are here and what they are doing.
May 22nd, 2010 at 9:07 am
The law allows law enforcement to ask for ID only after being stopped for breaking another law.
I give you the risk for abuse exists, but it seems safeguards are in place.
May 27th, 2010 at 8:09 pm
Maggi, no section of SB1070 allows profiling but then again no section of the law allows excessive force but it happens. And as any black person can tell you no law allows profiling but it happens and too much I might add, all under the guise of law enforcement officers “doing their job”. And Maggi I could care less what Mexico, England, France or Italy does. This is america and we are “supposed” to be free. And discrimination is supposed to be illegal in any form by anyone. The police have shown a propensity to overstep their authority and giving them another reason to stop someone is adding to that. When you break the law, the law will deal with you. And it is not discriminatory to monitor someone, or check on what they are doing or why they are here, but it is against the freedoms guaranteed by the constitution. And I don’t want to be monitored in any way because the police are looking for illegal Mexicans, Canadians, Chinese or Eskimo’s. I want to be free to live my life and persue my happiness without police or govt intrusion. Who said “he who gives up his freedom for safety deserves neither, freedom nor safety”.
May 30th, 2010 at 10:32 pm
“In response to Meatbrain’s comments…”
In response? Really?
What Ed Bell has provided isn’t a response. It’s an attempt at diversion, and a particularly clumsy one at that.
I asked Ed to provide data about the violent crime rate in Arizona, because Ed claims that “daily life has been disrupted by [a] rise in the crime rate”. Now, this can only be true if the crime rate has actually gone up.
Why didn’t Ed Bell even try to answer my question? Because if he answered it honestly, he would have to admit that he is lying to his readers. Let’s examine the data regarding violent crime in Arizona. The numbers below are the occurrence of violent crime per 100,000 population in the state of Arizona:
2005 512.0
2006 501.4
2007 482.7
2008 447.0
Hmmm… the crime rate in Arizona dropped 12.7 percent in the four years from 2004 to 2008. Ed Bell’s claim is provably false.
So, Ed… can you explain why you chose to help spread this lie?
June 6th, 2010 at 9:17 am
Still waiting, Ed. Please explain to us why you chose to lie about the crime rate in Arizona.
June 6th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
People living in Arizona know the specific crime issues that are at the core of the decision to pass SB 1070: such as kidnapping or that the majority of homicide warrants are for illegals.
2/2009: “(Phoenix) police received 366 kidnapping-for-ransom reports in 2008, and 359 in 2007. Police estimate twice that number go unreported.
“Much of the kidnapping activity revolved around homes that were involved in smuggling humans or drugs,” said ATF spokesman Tom Mangan in an Arizona Republic article from Jan. 2010.
Governor Brewer made no secret of exactly what her crime concerns are for Arizona in her signing comments: “We cannot sacrifice our safety to the murderous greed of drug cartels. We cannot stand idly by as drop houses, kidnappings and violence compromise our quality of life.”
We hear non-stop criticism about the lack of political will on the part of our leaders. Well, here we see a Governor stand up for the sovereignty of her state and the safety of it’s citizens. If someone has not endured harsh criticism they have not made the tough decisions.
June 9th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
“People living in Arizona know the specific crime issues that are at the core of the decision to pass SB 1070…”
Note that Ed Bell absolutely refuses to directly address the fact that he lied about the fact that the violent crime rate in Arizona is decreasing, not increasing.
Why do you continue to make your lie so painfully obvious, Ed?
“…such as kidnapping or that the majority of homicide warrants are for illegals.”
And where will we find that facts that back up this conveniently unsourced claim, Ed?
“2/2009: “(Phoenix) police received 366 kidnapping-for-ransom reports in 2008, and 359 in 2007. Police estimate twice that number go unreported.”
Irrelevant. The violent crime rate in Arizona is decreasing, not increasing. Explain why you continue to ignore that simple fact, Ed.
“”Much of the kidnapping activity revolved around homes that were involved in smuggling humans or drugs,” said ATF spokesman Tom Mangan in an Arizona Republic article from Jan. 2010.”
Irrelevant. The violent crime rate in Arizona is decreasing, not increasing. Explain why you continue to ignore that simple fact, Ed.
“Governor Brewer made no secret of exactly what her crime concerns are for Arizona in her signing comments: “We cannot sacrifice our safety to the murderous greed of drug cartels. We cannot stand idly by as drop houses, kidnappings and violence compromise our quality of life.”"
Note that Ed Bell absolutely refuses to directly address the fact that he lied about the fact that the violent crime rate in Arizona is decreasing, not increasing.
“We hear non-stop criticism about the lack of political will on the part of our leaders. Well, here we see a Governor stand up for the sovereignty of her state and the safety of it’s citizens. If someone has not endured harsh criticism they have not made the tough decisions.”
When the lies of a wingnut are exposed, as Ed Bell’s have been, one favorite tactic is to start tossing as much random crap against the wall and hope something sticks. Ed is trying mightily to divert this discussion from the truth: Ed Bell is a liar.
June 11th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Ahh, I suppose wingnut refers to this radical notion of allowing states to protect the safety of citizens and assert their sovereignty. FBI crime stats don’t adequately reflect the crime issues,kidnapping, human and drug trafficking through the conduit that is Arizona into every other state. I addressed those issues in the previous post and have listened to Gov. Brewer talking about these crime issues on Fox news and some of my favorite “wingnut” radio shows. I guess we should let the Governor and the citizens of Arizona know that we don’t consider their concerns or fears valid.
The long-winded dialogue about crime has delayed noting one simple fact. Enforcing our borders is a matter of principle. Those who have followed the legal process to enter this country are cheated by the millions who come and go illegally and no country can remain a sovereign nation without a secure border.
June 12th, 2010 at 12:06 am
Oh, lookie. Ed Bell has decided that the best way to deal with his lie is to stuff it down the memory hole.
The original version of Ed’s post said:
“To those of us not living in a border state this may seem authoritarian and an affront to our libertarian sensibilities, but to those in Arizona, daily life has been disrupted by increased drug trafficking and a commensurate rise in the crime rate.”
Now he has changed it to read as follows:
“To those of us not living in a border state this may seem authoritarian and an affront to our libertarian sensibilities, but to citizens in Arizona, drug trafficking and other directly related crimes across a porous border are a stark reminder of the immense U.S. market that exists for drugs even during a long recession.”
Why did you do that, Ed? Did you get tired of having the fact that you are a liar rubbed in your face? Did you decide that taking responsibility for your lie and apologizing for your blatant dishonesty was just more humiliation than you could bear?
You’re a coward AND a liar, Ed. I’ll be back to shove THAT fact in your face, as well.
“I suppose wingnut refers to this radical notion of allowing states to protect the safety of citizens and assert their sovereignty.”
No, Ed. “Wingnut” refers to your being a far-right extremist who lies to his fellow citizens in order to advance your incoherent political aims, and who lacks the balls to admit what he has done.
June 20th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
To all readers of this comment string; please take the time to read this short article about Arizona’s current situation and draw your own conclusions.
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=37557
June 27th, 2010 at 9:39 am
To all readers of Ed Bell’s lies, ask yourself this:
Why did Ed Bell surreptitiously change the text of his post to hide what he had said, if he was telling the truth all along?
Why does Ed Bell refuse to directly address the fact that the crime rate in Arizona has actually declined in recent years?
June 28th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Using my name in every sentence is a poor substitute for dealing with the irrefutable truth presented in my previous comments, #14 (readers,judge for yourself).
Now, leftist blogger just spews venom; how tiresome.
June 30th, 2010 at 11:05 pm
“Using my name in every sentence is a poor substitute for dealing with the irrefutable truth presented in my previous comments, #14 (readers,judge for yourself).”
Using lies, deleting those lies when they are called out, and then refusing to take responsibility for telling the lies in the first place is a poor substitute for being a man. But it seems to be good enough for Ed Bell.
Let’s have a look at that article from Human Events, shall we? Hmmm… uh huh… hmmm. Nope, read the whole thing, and guess what? It doesn’t say one word about the violent crime rate in Arizona. Not a one.
What does that make it, class? That’s right — it’s a diversion on Ed Bell’s part, and a particularly clumsy one at that.
“Now, leftist blogger just spews venom; how tiresome.”
Now, wingnut liar just pretends it never told its lies; how typical.
Let’s go over it again, shall we? I’m certain that Ed Bell will appreciate yet another opportunity to demonstrate his moral and intellectual cowardice:
In the article as originally posted, Ed Bell said:
“To those of us not living in a border state this may seem authoritarian and an affront to our libertarian sensibilities, but to those in Arizona, daily life has been disrupted by increased drug trafficking and a commensurate rise in the crime rate.”
Let’s examine the data regarding violent crime in Arizona. The numbers below are the occurrence of violent crime per 100,000 population in the state of Arizona:
2005 512.0
2006 501.4
2007 482.7
2008 447.0
Hmmm… the crime rate in Arizona dropped 12.7 percent in the four years from 2004 to 2008. Ed Bell’s claim is provably false.
So, Ed… can you explain why you chose to help spread this lie?
July 6th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
I am very proud of what the AZ Governor is doing and I 100% agree with her actions and I hope that our Governor has the back bone to do the same thing here in Ohio…
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