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Standing with our Companer@s by Raul Cano Co-Chair, Socialist Party USA Deep in South Texas, in the lower Rio Grande Valley, the "border" is nothing more than a river that once roared with fury but now only manages a whimpering flow. For those of us who live in this nether land known as the Frontera, it's a speed bump in the constant traffic of people, culture and goods. Realistically the geographical "border" no longer really defines where one country begins and another ends. In a wider scope, the same can be said of the concept of nations. Politicians know this, but are not beyond using the issue for their own benefit. Throughout the history of the United States, the immigrant issue has been a convenient political ploy. Fueled by overt and covert racism, fear mongering and scapegoating, immigrants once again come to the forefront as a wedge issue to distract the American people from the real problems. HR 4437 proposes to criminalize those that are undocumented, to build a fence along the border and to impose heavy fines for employers who hire undocumented workers. In the typical "good cop bad cop" game meant to reflect a democratic process, this act panders to the extreme right. The senate plays the voice of reason and returns with the more sensible guest worker program and the further militarization of the border. The Democrats will grumble, as usual, and then will accept the guest worker program and a cumbersome legalization process as the "best we could do" option. The ruling class will get points for compassion and continue to have a reserve pool of exploitable labor. The working class will get a sub class of workers at the mercy of both state and capitalist. It would have been business as usual, if it wasn't for millions of workers finally rising from the shadows of exploitation and taking to the streets to protest the proposed legislation. The secret army that has for decades propped up the illusion of a prosperous capitalist economy can no longer be ignored. Posturing and pseudo solutions will no longer work and the "immigrant problem" is there for all to see. As a political Party, the SP USA has been active in this issue, with many of our locals and at large membership working with and leading the immigrant rights struggle. We fight for an amnesty program for all who are currently in this country. We stand against a guest worker program and instead propose an immigration policy that is reflective of a mobile work force. All who work in this country should have full protection under our laws and are entitled to the full benefits of citizenship. We understand that that the unity of workers throughout the world is essential in fighting transnational capitalism. While we fight for grassroots roots democracy at the national level, we also understand that the fight against capitalism requires a struggle without borders. As such the immigrant issue here in the United States is the national expression of a worldwide rebellion by a mobile working class. The objective of the Party should be to stand with our companer@s as workers, as an oppressed minority with a right to self determination and as participants in a worldwide anti-capitalist movement. Todo El Poder al Pueblo! |
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Socialist Party
USA 339 Lafayette St. #303 New York, NY 10012 |