by David Safier The silence is positively defining. The Goldwater Institute, which has an opinion on every almost every controversial issue in Arizona, is still mum on SB1070. Dead silent. Nothing to hear but crickets. Cowards. Abject, unprincipled cowards. Everything about your libertarian philosophy and your past writings say you're against this infringement of civil … Read more
by David Safier SB1070 is filled with sloppy writing and problematic stipulations. But two passages nag at me for a different reason than other parts of the legislation. With these two I ask myself, "Why did they decide it was necessary to put this in the bill?" Here's the first. It's part of the meatiest … Read more
by David Safier Quiz: Who said anti-immigrant legislation is the “modern equivalent of the know-nothing party of the last century"? Answer: Jack Kemp, talking about the 1994 California move to cut off state-funded education and health programs for the children of illegal immigrants. Good news for Rs, bad news for Ds: CA Guv-at-the-time Pete Wilson … Read more
by David Safier An illustrative comment from Meade. It's OK to be without a birth certificate if you're (a) not living in Arizona post SB1070, or (b) white. I recently celebrated my 75th year on this planet. I never saw my official birth certificate until 8 years ago when I obtained a certified copy thinking … Read more
by David Safier Doesn't this sound a little police state-ish to the right wing? It does to me. If a police officer has "reasonable suspicion" you are in the U.S. without the proper papers, you are considered guilty until proven innocent. Based on nothing more than looking nervous and wearing the wrong clothes — we're … Read more