Managing the Issues - The Immigration Hype

I'm about ready to declare a unilateral moratorium on the subject of immigration. It is hard for me to fathom that people and the media can be so taken in by the introduction of a single subject debate that it becomes the top priority of our country.

There is a lot of press on the new AP-Ipsos poll AP-Ipsos poll, but I can't find anyone who reads it right. Let's start here:

"When people were asked this past week to name the top national problem that came to mind, 13 percent said immigration -– four times the number who said that in January."

"Only 14 percent now say the economy and related issues are their top concern, compared with 24 percent in October."

Incredible. Since January, this issue has overtaken the economy on what we are concerned about? This has got to make the politicians and demagogues spinning this issue really happy.

Now while it's possible for an issue to rise in importance that fast, what amazes me is what it overtook - namely the economy. The entire immigration debate has been an economic argument about whether illegal immigrants take our jobs, use our resources, and don't pay taxes or provide the backbone to our economy. Those are the sides people are taking. The visibility has brought out the fringe element that either wants to close the borders to immigration, legal or otherwise, or feel we should be a pluralistic nation - but those are distractions.

Somehow we've found a way, however mistaken, to put a face on our economic concerns. We don't have a problem with our economy - we have an immigration problem. Give me a break!

I find it hard to believe that so many people are being drawn into these spurious arguments! And yet, according to a recent Rasmussen Report:

"Fifty percent (50%) of Americans say the immigration issue is very important."

"The survey found that a majority (54%) oppose the current U.S. law that grants automatic citizenship to children of illegal aliens born in the United States. Thirty-six percent (36%) favor this policy."

"Just 27% of Americans believe the U.S. should provide foreign aid to help create jobs in Mexico."

Incredible. How can the hype over this issue turn us from the Land of Opportunity into Xenophobic Nationalists. The vast majority of us came here as immigrants - not all of them legally.

Native Americans must be shaking their heads in disbelief. I'm sure they'd love to deport all of the immigrants from about 1400 AD on.....

But the politicians and demagogues have done a great job on building this up. This was the premise of the Rasmussen Report survey:

"A Rasmussen Reports national opinion survey asked Americans to choose between two hypothetical candidates with differing positions on the immigration issue.
One candidate favors building a barrier along the Mexican border and forcing illegal aliens to leave the United States. The other candidate favors expanding the ways that foreign workers can legally get jobs in the United States.
Forty-six percent (46%) of Americans said that they prefer the candidate with the harder line on illegal aliens while 38% opt for the candidate who wants to expand legal opportunities for foreign workers to find jobs.
However, those who say the immigration issue is very important in determining their vote prefer the pro-enforcement candidate by a much larger margin, 67% to 23%. This suggests that the short-term political advantage on the immigration issue lies with those who want a tougher enforcement policy."

So poll-minded politicos now have the strategic information they need to create their election campaign. At the same time, the more people who start to see immigration as an important issue, the more certain their voting habit will be, and the more certain politicos can be about the best strategic position to take.

I'm begging everyone - put away the hype. Look at how you are being manipulated. Please don't fall down the path of letting the election determine what you think is important. Don't confuse economic issues with immigration issues. Don't confuse war issues with patriotic issues. Don't confuse politics with morals.

And most of all - Don't forget that no issue has only two sides.

Peace,

Matt


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