The state of discussion in the American political arena β an apt term now more than ever β leads us to wonder aloud from time to time: βAre we still capable of having an honest conversation about anything without partisan bickering?β
The antipathy feels unprecedented, the divide never wider.
You know things are bad when even both major political parties are divided amongst themselves.
Weβre not going to get into that, because we know whose fault it is β the other sideβs. Itβs been their fault since at least the turn of the century, maybe even since the start of politics.
But whatβs changed seems to be in the approach.
Time was, if we had a massive problem with, for example, illegal labor, weβd create laws that addressed it β whether employers were hurt by it, or employees were hurt by it. Both sides would sit down and hammer out a fair set of laws. Compromises would be made and, for better or worse, always, the market would adjust.
We canβt do that if we canβt have an honest conversation.
First, both sides need to get their respective acts together.
Then, letβs talk about what would happen if we deported everyone who was here illegally.
Thereβs about 12.5 million people affected.
Theyβre using all our resources.
Sure, but theyβre also performing menial, low-paying jobs no one else wants. Weβd have a real labor shortage from here to the Americaβs bread basket, Californiaβs Central Valley, unless we honestly address immigration reform.
They statistically donβt make cities more or less safe.
Tell that to the family of late Deputy David March, who was shot and killed by a criminal who should have never been here β a felon here illegally.
We witnessed the gap in community opinion on Senate Bill 54, as protesters showed up last week, 14 days earlier, to let their views be known at City Hall.
Weβd expect a similarly orderly but much more robust showing Tuesday, when City Council plans to look at whether it wants to file an βamicus briefβ regarding the lawsuit objecting to S.B. 54.
Knowing this, we wade into this murky morass of morality vs. the Supremacy Clause vs. a law-and-order state vs. economics vs. statesβ rights vs. βWhere do you stand?β
Letβs hope for everyoneβs sake it doesnβt devolve into βWhere are you from?β
Because hereβs the funny thing: We all know the nationβs immigration system is broken.
Itβs no easy task, even when youβre fluent in the language, have a college education and adequate means.
We also know these cracks and tears in the system have violated our communityβs sense of safety.
Yes, illegal immigration is straining our resources to breaking point.
Having our City Council file an amicus brief is about as helpful to solving the immigration issue as when we yell out the car for traffic to go faster when weβre late for work.
Yes, everyone else around us will know where we stand. Thatβs great.
But what makes America great β more importantly, what makes Americans great, is our ability to roll up our sleeves and work together to solve problems β not yell or file amicus briefs about them.
If the City Council wants to send a positive message to Sacramento, Washington, D.C. or both, hereβs a suggestion, send a letter:
Tell them to roll up their sleeves, work together and do their jobs.