The Democrats’ optimism on the midterm elecitons — is it warranted? Also, we’ve got Rob Johnson from the Transportation Choices Coalition on the show to talk about Transit NOW, an initiative on the Fall ballot. Finally: the latest from Iraq and North Korea.
Now Playing: Episode 421: Reconciliation, Unions, Iraqi Elections
Links Mentioned:
Unions and weatherization programs
Public-sector unionization rates
Very interesting discussion about the undocumented Mexican immigrant situation.
Something that is left out of the typical American’s frame of reference when talking about this is history.
The history is about the conquest of the northern half of Mexico. This piece of real estate includes seven Western states. The process was started before the
1848 Conquest when a bunch of illegal aliens who spoke English crossed the
Mexican border. In our history books they are called pioneers. But, then, the
victors get to write the history.
So now we have a “Mexican Problem.” Yeah, like the British have an Irish problem. Or Israel has an Arab problem.
When Americans learn some history on this it will reset the whole frame of
reference on this debate. Maybe they will come down off their high horse.
Fred — good point. In a previous episode (a few weeks ago … can’t remember which off hand [true, but also shameless plugging to get you to listen to other eps
]), we talk quite a bit about “Azatlan”, as in Movemiento Estudiantil Chicano de Azatlan (MECHA), or the name that some of our south of the border neighbors give to the territories we conquered from them in the 19th century. Apologies if I’ve butchered any of those spellings, but, yes, we totally agree with you.