The current anti-immigration mania sweeping the nation began with John Tanton.
In an earlier piece about Colorado Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo, I mentioned that Tancredo had received large sums of money from John Tanton, and referred to Tanton as the ‘Puppet Master.” The Southern Leadership Poverty Center deserves credit for the moniker, “The Puppetmaster.” In an Intelligence Report from 2005, the SLPC catalogued the baker’s dozen anti-immigration organizations under Tanton’s control. Twenty-four years ago Tanton founded FAIR, the Federation for Immigration Reform, and thereby laid the foundation stones of today’s the anti-immigration fervor. How did this liberal proponent of negative population growth, retired ophthalmologist, and bee-keeper create a movement that has been embraced by conservatives and denounced by liberals?…
Article comments
276 - zingzing
why is everybody so guilty and full of self-loathing, except the only one who can see that guilt and loathing?
277 - Nancy
Moonie, everything I have to say to you, now or in future, is on the "Truth Shall Set You Free" thread. Good luck w/your therapy.
278 - Clavos
I am personally very tired of being a target for your bullshit.
If you're tired of being a target, stop targeting.
279 - moonraven
Possibly because I am outside The Fortress and therefore have perspective on the behavior that's been presented there?
I was reading an article yesterday in the Sunday literary supplement to La Jornada. It was an interesting piece about how the Seventeenth century was the century of Mathematics, the Eighteenth that of Physics, the Nineteenth that of Biology and the Twentieth: FEAR.
I believe that to be a good call, given that there were 3 World Wars and a host of others, and from 1945 on the holding of the planet's breath in regard to the second shoe of nuclear destruction hitting the ground--and even more than that: the ruling of countries in the lion's share of the planet by fear (McCarthyism and other forms of despotism).
It's too soon to call the Twentyfirst, but it seems that several regimes have pushed FEAR to TERROR, and have ratched up just about everybody's fear and anxiety levels (Bush and Co, Tony Blair and The Gang, any Israeli government, Mubarrak in Egypt,--just a few obvious examples.
Out of the fear and anxiety comes the feeling of impotence--but also a lot of irrational behavior to try and make the feeling go away: trusting snake oil salesmen, over-eating, hopping into bed with abusive partners--well, there are many destructive behaviors which make the person feel okay for a few minutes and then drop him or her further into the void.
And then of course, underlying all of this stuff is the human addiction to violence.
280 - Zedd
As an immigrant, the word alien is a legitimate term for a foreigner. It was used before the sci-fi usage became common.
Also this article was about a racist kook. Not about immigration. Lets calm down.
As for illegals, Nancy is right. The point is "ILLEGAL".
This country is successful because of immigration. We are who we are because we get people from all over the world to throw in the pot, intellectually and culturally. Those who lead our nation understand the importance of immigration. One only has to look in the universities across America, especially in the sciences and the post grad programs. There is an overwhelming representation of immigrants of all colors in those arenas. These are the people who bring ideas and continue to make our country great.
281 - An American Caucasian
I suggest ALL "Legal" immigration from MEXICO be turminated- until Mexico stops the Illegals from crossing the border.
I think one Country should not be allowed to shift the balance in the United States by over-populating this country.
All immigernts should be welcome from All countries. but they Must assimilate into the general population!
They should not try to move their Country into the USA.