Today (May 1st or May Day) illegal immigrants and their supporters are trying to show their impact on the American economy by not attending school and boycotting U.S. businesses. Maybe, Cinco de Mayo would be a more appropriate day since the preponderance of illegals are Mexican. However, May Day is Workers' Day in the former communist U.S.S.R., and it hearkens back to when workers' were exploited but given "cradle to grave" sustenance. Further, the Minutemen patrolling the border may remind legal American citizens that "May Day" should be a desparate call to rescue the U.S. from the current crisis of inadequately guarded borders. Will today's actions by illegals engender sympathy or a backlash from American citizens? If they want to procure better PR for their cause, they may want to disassociate themselves from some of their strident demogogues who wave Mexican flags, sing the national anthem in Spanish, and call for force if needed to secure their demands.
5 comments:
James,
A few days ago, I was telling Kathleen about the May Day parades in the Soviet Union and how it could be a somewhat intimidating display of nuclear power.
On a more related note, I think that hispanic workers are starting to catch on with respect to the negative effects of skipping work on this day. Many of the legal workers are being pressured to skip work to support their illegal brethren, sistren, cousren, uncrens, auntrens, grandfathren, and grandmothren. (sorry, I got a little carried away there) This pressure worked a few weeks ago, but today, I think many are realizing the negative effects from both a personal and public relations point of view.
Joseph, this subject is well within your balliwick. Please share your observations of the
boycotts and other non-participatory actions. Your incisve comments are much appreciated.
One day, he spilled some coffee on himself and burned his leg. He went to the company nurse. Company laws prevented her from asking him if he worked for the company, so she administered free treatment for his injury.
With each passing day, this young fellow grew bolder and bolder, even doing small tasks for the big man Bill Gates himself. Everyone liked him and would let him look at all the cool new gadgets they were developing and play some of the new video games. Even Mr. Gates allowed the boy to drive the company Hummer. The boy said to himself, "Heck, I should have all the rights as other Microsoft employees. I contribute my fair share around here. What would they do without me? Who would get their specially-blended mocha chocas? I should get company-paid insurance, 401(k), stock options, and a paycheck. Heck, they should make me an employee. They owe it to me!"
So, one Monday, the boy found himself a comfortable chair and refused to do anything. In fact, he carried some homemade signs in that carried such slogans as "Down with monopolies! Down with Microsoft!", "Give Linux a chance", and "Heil Bill" and "Nonemployees have rights, too!"
Nonplussed, the Microsoft management did not know what to do. Some office employees said that the boy should be made a temporary worker. Others said that he should be made an employee straightway. Still others said that all management had to do was kick him out of the building and tell the security guard to not let him in. Bill Gates paced the floor of his expansive office, pensively rubbing his chin, and wondering what to do next.
In regard to boycotts, I have not seen many effective boycotts, i.e. The Last Temptation, Disney, Procter and Gamble, etc., so my opinion of this as an economic tool is somewhat low. They often (and yes, I am pronouncing it "of-ten") have the opposite effect, ginning up business and free publicity.
I've been trying to think of an equivalent scenario of the illegal immigrant protests:
* A sixteen year old boy breaks into the offices of Microsoft. Previously, he had filled out an application but had been notified that he must be at least eighteen years old to work there. Once inside, he hung out with some of the office workers and did odd jobs such as gather coffee from the local Starbucks or run documents down the street, all for a fraction of the cost of a concierge's wages.
(cont...)
Joseph, tell Bill to call Steve Jobs! He'll know what to do.
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