Latinos Call for Strike Over California Drive Ban

[kskiska]

Millions of Latinos in California are being asked not to work, shop or attend school next Friday in protest at the new governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's repeal this week of a bill that would have allowed illegal immigrants to obtain driving licenses.

Latino organisations are calling for support for the strike, and are warning of more to come.

In September the former governor Gray Davis hurriedly signed a bill that would have allowed illegal immigrants to get driving licences. The move was seen as an attempt by him to win votes in his unsuccessful poll battle last month.

The vast majority of the state's illegal immigrants are from Mexico and Central America. Schwarzenegger campaigned strongly against the bill, which had angered conservative voters because it seemed to endorse illegal immigration. One of his first acts after taking office was to repeal it, and he received cross-party support for the move.

more…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1101315,00.html

[aquart]

1. This should be VERY interesting.

The illegals HAVE to work, and green card Latinos won't want to mess with it, and Latino-Americans, do they care?

If the Latino vote is a cohesive force, this should indeed be an indicator.

[Semi_subversive]

2. Unfortunately, I partially agree with Ahnold on this one

Illegal means illegal. They are not supposed to be here. Let's see what we can do to make these illegal persons legal. They are a valuable part of CA and are contributors to our economy.

[JorgeTheGood]

3. got toast?

I'm down with this one.

If we want Arnold to be toast we have to chip in.

My blue-eyes will be on strike too.

Arnold es tostada ~ viva la democracia

Jorge

[Name removed]

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[Guaranteed]

15. Every time people complain about illegals

they always end up getting around to the fact that they don't have driver's licenses or car insurance, that they take no financial or personal responsibility for anything and they're impossible to keep track of.

Yet, here's a good start at incorporating them into the system, to keep track of them and maybe get them to take some financial responsibility for their actions, but it gets an immediate rejection because of people's inherent racism.

It's stories like this that make me lose faith in humanity, because it's clear that people don't put any thought into things. It's extremely disheartening. This is the crap that we're going up against.

[jiacinto]

5. I feel conflicted

They aren't citizens or legal immigrants. Why should they be allowed a benefit that is only available to citizens and those who are legal? Is it fair to them?

[depakid]

8. It's not exactly a "benefit" to them

although it might keep them from getting a ticket or having their car impounded. However, it IS a benefit to the citizens of California, because to get a license, you have to pass tests, pay fees and show proof of financial responsibility.

Since you can't get insurance coverage without a license- and there are exclusions in coverage for damn near every category of unlicensed individual, it makes sense allow people- wherever they are from, legally documented or not- to get drivers licenses.

Of course, that point may only get driven home if someone totals your new SUV and you find out just how much your insurer is going to offer you, less deductible and depreciation....

Once that happens, I guarantee that you will no longer be conflicted.

[Scairp]

22. I am not conflicted

I thought this was a bad idea from the beginning. Driving is a right not a priviledge, and should not be easy for anyone not a legal citizen to have. We have a terrible illegal immigrant problem here in California, and giving them priviledges without having to become citizens isn't going to induce them to become legal anytime soon. I don't think this makes a person anti-immigrant, just anti-illegal immigrant. And I won't apologize for it.

[alittlelark]

25. because we NEED them here

they are the local India-China-Mexico outsourcing (insourcing) Our borders are pourous because the most expensive phase of a worker's life is 1-14. Why should we pay to raise, support and vaccinate them when they come to us for free? Could we get a better deal? GOP understands all of this. Pourour borders = cheap labor. Got JOBS!!!!!

[IndianaGreen]

6. Duh? Illegal immigrants hurt legal immigrants

many of whom are Latinos.

No nation in the world tolerates illegal immigration!

[neuvocat]

7. The agricultural companies do

especially when no american would even consider working the fields to pick produce.

There goes cheap lettuce.

[cjm2222]

9. Actually

poor whites and blacks worked in the fields. In areas of the country where there aren't many illegal immigrants, poor Americans do the hard labor. Look at Appalachia.

Corporations and businesses that employ illegal immigrants need to be heavily fined. I doubt that will happen, but they need to be.

[depakid]

10. oddly enough

the fact is that corporations in many industries- like large meatpackers & agrigiants, to name only two, depend on undocumented workers, which is one reason why immigration policy over the years has led to such strange bedfellows (as in bizarre combinations of Republicans & Democrats voting for or against particular legislation). Large business fines tend to be discouraged by the right wing and liberal Dems in states that bear a disproportionate share of immigrant social services sometimes vote for major restrictions on things like amnesty.

[Piperay]

11. I agree...

this is one issue that I don't agree with the liberals on, the US has a right to control it's own borders and who is allowed in.

[Guaranteed]

16. That doesn't mean that not everyone in the state

should get a driver's license. Shouldn't everyone in the state that drives be certified and on record, no matter where they're from?

Doesn't that make sense? It makes people accountable.

[tinanator]

13. catch a clue

we surely do! Agriculture and housing construction, the two biggest industries locally almost totally rely on subcontracted laborers who often cant speak english. It is no coincidence that we have both extremely (always way above national average) high unemployment numbers, and the lowest wages anywhere. Not really any excuse to blame the nationals. It is the government who fails to enforce. A drivers license would be a small step towards safety and security for all citizens. Dont let your own racism get in the way of thinking this through. But then again, that is how thieves steal into office, playing racists like violins. dumb as rocks.

[Gman]

17. This whole issue is stupid politics

Illegal aliens are going to drive anyway whether they are allowed to have a legal license or not. Even if they can legally have a license, chances are they're not going to get one for fear of being deported and probably more importantly, they don't want to take off work and lose the pay. So the entire issue means nothing.

And the strike call is (rightfully so) a protest against the blatant racism at work here from rescinding the driver license bill.

[0007]

19. We are all citizens of this world. Borders & fences are ....

for political advanages only. Everyone has a right to work, doesn't this country under one God have any compassion for the hungry and our neighbor to the South? I thought this country worked for the brotherhood of all men! Or is that another lie? You mean we can't reach a compromise for all concerned?

And we wonder why there are terrorist, we wonder why people in the world hate us! This is sick -

[Muddleoftheroad]

20. All nations need borders

Otherwise we could have several billion people here in the U.S.

[reknewcomer]

24. Racism?

I'm sure the law is retroactive for all illegals and not just one race.

[Muddleoftheroad]

18. The illegal problem

Ahnold is right and wrong.

We need to tackle the problem of illegal immigration by granting work visas to immigrants. That means anyone who is here LEGALLY to work gets taxed, can drive, etc. If you try to cross the border ILLEGALLY, you are rightfully considered a major criminal.

A solid guest worker program that is strongly enforced would solve this problem. We just need to lock up the violators, especially companies that deliberately hire illegals.

[Orangeone]

21. Bad Illegals!

I don't understand why people get so upset about Illegal Aliens getting driver's licenses. Before Governor Pete Wilson's anti-Mexican crusade illegal aliens were able to get licenses nobody cared about it before.

I'd rather people get tested before they drive.

[reknewcomer]

23. How many states issue driver licenses around the globe for non-citizens?

Was CA the first?