I should add, we've lost industry also because of the rise of China. Some loss was inevitable as the U.S. was too big and diverse to be able to sustain employment and profits across the board under pressure from lower-cost rivals. You'd have to seriously cripple the free market system and diminish overall wealth. Even at the heights of union power (1920s - 1950s), America was never remotely that socialist. Anyhow, economic equality is a means to an end (wealth, stability), not an end in itself.
Mexico is something of a red-herring. Vastly more industry has moved to China than Mexico. In fact, since NAFTA almost all of it went to China. It was only within the past 5 years that Mexico really saw significant NAFTA dividends, as China had been eating their lunch for years. Just ask Wal-Mart.
This is further proof for how racism, prejudice, and xenophobia is at the heart of the current political movement. The narrative is that Mexicans have taken all the blue collar jobs and depressed wages. In reality it's mostly due to China. But the Mexican narrative prevails because it resonates with people's prejudiced preconceptions.
There are similar parallels with immigration.
There's just no denying the inherent racist attitudes. It can't be denied and it shouldn't be denied. And admitting that doesn't discount what real, legitimate issues people face. In fact, admitting that is one of the first real steps necessary to addressing those issues. The inherently racist narratives make it impossible to reach effective compromise, socially and politically.
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I should add, we've lost industry also because of the rise of China. Some loss was inevitable as the U.S. was too big and diverse to be able to sustain employment and profits across the board under pressure from lower-cost rivals. You'd have to seriously cripple the free market system and diminish overall wealth. Even at the heights of union power (1920s - 1950s), America was never remotely that socialist. Anyhow, economic equality is a means to an end (wealth, stability), not an end in itself.
Mexico is something of a red-herring. Vastly more industry has moved to China than Mexico. In fact, since NAFTA almost all of it went to China. It was only within the past 5 years that Mexico really saw significant NAFTA dividends, as China had been eating their lunch for years. Just ask Wal-Mart.
This is further proof for how racism, prejudice, and xenophobia is at the heart of the current political movement. The narrative is that Mexicans have taken all the blue collar jobs and depressed wages. In reality it's mostly due to China. But the Mexican narrative prevails because it resonates with people's prejudiced preconceptions.
There are similar parallels with immigration.
There's just no denying the inherent racist attitudes. It can't be denied and it shouldn't be denied. And admitting that doesn't discount what real, legitimate issues people face. In fact, admitting that is one of the first real steps necessary to addressing those issues. The inherently racist narratives make it impossible to reach effective compromise, socially and politically.