This is one of those times...
I recall hearing on one of the many business shows I watch, that because of illegal immigrants, real wages for American workers have gone down 5% overall.
And as I just posted on concerning the USCCB decrying *GASP* illegals actually being arrested, we have this rather thought provoking comment from Jack over at A Few Random Thoughts. Every Union member and "Catholic Democrat" needs to read this;
An interesting position.
It used to be the Church actively supported unionization of workers as part of the effort for social justice. As illegal immigration is pretty well documented as having adverse impact on unions, it's interesting that the Church has taken this position. Also, as illegal immigration breeds major violations of worker beneficial laws and regulations (including but not limited to child labor), the Church consistently fails to condemn those practices.
The cynic in me thinks that, with the native population disapproving of bishop performance during the recent scandals, the bishops are looking at boosting their power base another way. They look at the illegal migrants (most of whom are at least nominally Catholic) as a potential for regaining their status.
I wonder is they would be as supportive to the detriment of the American worker if the migrants were Druids.
Umnnnhhhh..."Jack" doesn't know jack.
ReplyDeleteSEIU has been working for illegal immigration (in effect) for years. So has UFCW and some AFL/CIO elements.
It's their position that the illegals will immediately join unions--which will reverse the unions' declining membership.
Dad,
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jack's basic premise: thye USCCB has abandoned the American Worker in their efforts toweards Pew Pandering.
And if the SEIU and the AFL/CIO have joined in with the USCCB.... shame on them as well.
The USCCB hasn't only abandoned the American worker, but also the American unborn, the American moral and most of all The Catholic Faith.
ReplyDeleteWith God, nothing is impossible, not even the development of spinal fortitude among the USCCB:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.catholicexchange.com/2008/09/15/113755/
OK, here's a clarification:
ReplyDeleteThe USCCB position contradicts the explicit wording of JPII on the question of illegal immigration.
I agree that the USCCB doesn't really give a rip about the US worker, either.
Notice the USCC never talks about the H-1B scams? That's because they are just as stupid as they are un-faithful to JPII.
The funny thing is that a good chunk of the immigrants aren't Catholic at all. The number of Evangelical and Pentacostal Hispanic churches in Northern Virginia is amazing. And then of course theres the Santeria folks.
ReplyDeletedad29 is correct about the efforts of some unions, especially SEIU. I have noted their activities up this way and have always wondered: If they're really concerned for their workers, how come they're taking their money when they know the workers might be removed from the country at any time? I know we can all figure that out.
ReplyDeleteMy argument, probably not well made, was for the American union worker, not unions themselves. A couple of points of information here http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Aug27/0,4670,ImmigrationRaid,00.html, and here http://www.numbersusa.com/interests/unions.html can give an idea of the issue. There are others out there in addition. I have union friends in the construction trades that are very bitter about being undercut for jobs.
Be that as it may, the point of my commentary was about the USCCB actions rather than a strict discussion of employment economics. It seems to fly in the face of traditional Catholic social teaching, as well as common sense.
Further, the bishops ask law enforcement officers to violate their oath of office, and possibly the 14th Amendment. As a retired LE officer I can tell out that the vast majority of us labor everyday to insure equal protection under the law, and that the law is uniformly enforced regardless of personal opinion. There are too many countries in this world where this is not the case. If the bishops are that concerned they need to do one of two things. 1. Declare US Immigration Laws immoral, and require Catholic officers to resign their appointments, or 2. Declare US Immigration Laws are inadequate, provide reasonable suggestions for improvements, and work with the policy makers and the People's representatives in Congress to fix the perceived problem. Anything less is inappropriate.