Why I am Unpopular at Cocktail Parties

The topic du jour around most glasses of wine and fine cheeses over the last few weeks has been Arizona’s “controversial” immigration law.

Needless to say I have never seen Godwin’s Law invoked as quickly as I have in these last few weeks. Everyone in Arizona’s government are evil, they are passing a law that “everyone” is against…

The problem is that over 50% of Arizona voters are in favor of the legislation, so even if it was made a ballot issue it would most likely pass.

Damn that Democracy! It’s getting in the way of the minority acting as though it’s the clear 90% majority.

I have heard both sides of this debate (as usual) give me the most ridiculous examples that they try to pass off as the “norm”.

The Democrats would lead me to believe that the police will walk up to tables in food courts around Arizona pull aside the girl lunching with her friends with the brown skin and demand she supply proof of citizenship.

Whereas the Republicans are paining a Mad Max sort of situation of illegal’s pouring in over the border with heavy artillery.

As per usual the reality falls somewhere in the middle.

As I understand the situation, it’s already illegal to be in the United States illegally.
The problem seems to be that only ICE agents are able to stop people and demand proof of citizenship.

The trouble is there are only something like 2000 ICE agents for 3169 km of border.

I have watched the Democrats defend the “need” for illegal workers as they do jobs that Americans “Don’t want”. Perhaps that can be sold to folks in Washington, they are about 1500 miles away from the border, but if the voters of Arizona are in favor of this legislation then perhaps the people in the state where illegal workers are doing jobs that “Americans don’t want” don’t agree that they are jobs that are unwanted?

This is typical of the political landscape of large nations,
If it’s not happening in my backyard then what do I care?

Regardless of your stance on this legislation, this is what happens when a nation’s government starts to tolerate “acceptable crimes”.

Washington in general, and the Democrats in particular don’t want to lose the support they have in Latino vote rich areas, at the same time they don’t want to further push some Southern border states away, especially not with the midterms looming in November.

This legislation is a product of frustration, the people of Arizona rightly or wrongly so are in favor of this rather harsh measure, but with that said are they not simply asking for the enforcement of a law that is already?

This has become a situation where Washington has allowed a law that is popular with some and unpopular with others to go unenforced so they could secure support from both sides.

Now the issue has been forced,
And I have to wonder what the solution is?

The people in Arizona are not “racist” they just want a law enforced, and if Washington feels that law is unjust then they need to address it rather then painting the people of Arizona as being backward.