Would the position of "I only support white workers" be acceptable on DU? How is it worse than

[RB TexLa]

the position of "I only support American workers" ? ? ? ?

[imdjh]

1. Context is nice, but assuming one is in America, there is nothing wrong with...

.... supporting American workers over illegal aliens or guest workers.

[baldguy]

2. Charity begins at home.

That doesn't mean you'd prefer to see your neighbor starve.

[barb162]

44. Bingo n/t

[Cant trust em]

3. That's a good question...

I think that the example of white workers has more to do with plain racism.

If there are jobs to be had, wouldn't we want them to go to people who work in the country where the products are sold and the money is made?

[pampango]

59. The white worker example is definitely racism, but is not the American worker example nationalism?

We are all born with a certain race, gender, sexual orientation and nationality. No progressive would think of discriminating against someone based on their race, gender or sexual orientation, but their nationality is fair game for many of us.

Why is that? For some is may be the practical reason that there are just too many of "them" and "they" pose too much competition in one way or another (an economic model - higher supply of labor and stagnant demand equals lower wages ). For others it may be that "they" are just not as worthy of compassion or concern precisely because they are "they" not "us" (a nationalist model - Americans should support Americans because they are Americans). For some it is a combination of the two (self-interest and patriotism are a powerful combination, though they are favorite arrows in the conservatives' quiver, as well).

Racism, sexism, homophobia and nationalism have used historically to keep people divided and feeling that we are different than (and probably better than) those people "over there". Progressives have come to believe the first three of these should not affect the opportunities that one has in life. Nationalism, too, will fade one day as an acceptable basis for determining one's opportunities in life and already is in Europe where progressive societies are expanding the EU into poorer countries in central and eastern Europe. Germans are still Germans and the French are still French, but nationalism is no longer the overriding force that it once was in Europe.

[Cant trust em]

63. Assuming that there are a finite amount of jobs to be had

wouldn't we want them to be filled in the same place where they are being created? If an American company is creating products to be sold to Americans, doesn't it stand to reason that other Americans would be the ones to make the goods?

By Americans, I mean people currently living in this country. Their country of origin isn't important to me.

[RB TexLa]

65. And hopefully we have our own regional political and economic union here in North America

soon.

We will have it one day, I just hope that day is sooner rather than later.

[flvegan]

4. This should be fun.

:popcorn:

[petronius]

19. And to think - there was a time a few months back when I thought the OP

had lost his touch... :rofl:

[flvegan]

26. LL Cool J said "don't call it a comeback"

:rofl:

[Rick Myers]

25. Pass the popcorn!!!

Jeeze.........

[flvegan]

27. Enjoy

:popcorn:

[saltpoint]

5. My thought is pay workers fairly for their time and toil, provide

health coverage for when they are ill or need medical attention, and not least, behave as if you are grateful for their efforts in your behalf.

I'm not seeing a white skin dark skin issue here.

It's a worker issue and many worker are owed better than they currently have.

[Zomby Woof]

6. I don't work with you

[ret5hd]

8. .

:rofl:

[R. P. McMurphy]

33. You may not work with me . . .

but will you answer the nurse's questions and do you run red lights? :evilgrin:

[Zomby Woof]

37. The nurse asked me why I didn't wear a seatbelt

I don't drink with her either.

[Gold Metal Flake]

7. ...

[Gman]

9. Illegal aliens and other "guest" workers work for less than an American

They reduce the overall market price for work in a trade because they will accept less. That drags everyone's wages down.

I'll support only American workers, thank you very much.

BTW, Cesar Chavez hated illegal aliens from Mexico for the very reasons I mention.

And as for your "I only support white workers" comparison, that's not an apples to apples comparison.

[tekisui]

10. The employers are the wage suppressors, not the workers.

[Hello_Kitty]

32. To people like the OP, criticizing the employers will still get you a "xenophobe" accusation

It's pretty obvious that he derives some kind of personal benefit from bringing in low wage scab labor.

[Gman]

41. Scab labor

that's the bottom line with illegal aliens and so-called "guest" workers.

[Gman]

40. True, however supply and demand are a fact of life with labor

as it is with any other input of production. I don't disagree that employers take advantage of it. That's a lot of the reason the Chamber of Commerce fights the minimum wage so hard.

[barb162]

46. I agree, there's wage suppression implicit and explicit with

non-US workers.

[Rabrrrrrr]

11. These are not even remotely close to the same things, except the word "worker" is in both.

Sorry, but for things to be linked/similar, there needs to be a lot more than just shoving the same word in two concepts.

Seriously, try this one, which I came up with using your methodology:

"How is the position 'I think anyone who isn't my friend should be gassed to death' any different from 'I'm pretty selective when it comes to choosing friends'?"

[leanderj]

12. The majority of production workers in manufacturing in the U.S. are nonwhite

and/or immigrants.

[Brooklyns_Finest]

13. I don't know what you are trying to say

But I support jobs for Americans/resident alien before I offer it to an illegal alien.

That is my stance and I am sticking with it. Call me all the names you want.

[underpants]

14. Has that happened?

Has anyone said that?

[Vickers]

15. What if the white workers are made of straw?

:shrug:

[Orrex]

21. If they were those cool bendy straws, they could work flexible hours

[Throd]

16. Apples to carburetors comparison

[RB TexLa]

18. So what's the difference between choosing to only support workers of one race and only supporting

workers of one nationality.

And please don't say to keep money in your own community, each of those groups can say that if they want.

[Throd]

30. Wow, you got me there. I guess supporting American jobs equals fealty to the Ku Klux Klan.

[Hello_Kitty]

39. You don't support workers. You support greedy low wage employers.

You aren't even disguising it very well. I've seen plenty of posts from you attacking people as "racists" and "xenophobes" for being concerned about the impact of immigration on wages and working conditions, but I've yet to see a single one from you discussing the treatment of workers, immigrant or non-immigrant, on the job. Telling.

[paulsby]

58. because we are IN AMERICA

and thus, we should support OUR workers first and foremost. just as mexicans should support their workers, and the french should support THEIR workers.

americans can be any race (and we are one of the most diverse nations on earth), but the common thread is american citizenship.

some get it by being lucky (being born here), and others through hard work or exceptional skills.

it's not cosmically fair, but that's life.

[LanternWaste]

60. I was under the impression

"...and only supporting workers of one nationality."

I was under the impression than America is made up of many nationalities. If that's the case, then buying American-made isn't reduced to merely buying from only one nationality.

[Occam Bandage]

17. I only support Chinese workers. nt

[saltpoint]

20. America is a pretty big place. Runs an entire hemisphere north and

south, in fact.

[Jim Sagle]

22. Civic nationalism is the opposite of racist division. You're welcome.

[anigbrowl]

51. No, I'm not at all sure that it is. I find this kind of nationalism offensive, frankly.

For example, i don't like the anti-chinese sentiment that crops up here on a regular basis. and I'm not ntalking about legitimate complaints about working conditions or manufacturing standards, but a more generalized opposition to the idea that Chinese companies should be allowed to even compete in the same market.

[Jim Sagle]

53. Left turn, Clyde. wsws is thataway.

[anigbrowl]

54. That would be witty and amusing if I were a socialist.

As it is, I just believe strongly in trade and people's right to make a living. Tariffs are stupid and only hurt the poor in the long run.

[Jim Sagle]

55. Observation of real life utterly refutes that.

[anigbrowl]

61. Compelling argument you have there...not.

[Jim Sagle]

62. I don't need a compelling argument when everybody goddamn well knows I'm right and you're wrong.

[Hello_Kitty]

56. Whereas "free trade" has made life for the poor a Paradise on earth. eom

[HughBeaumont]

23. Yep, I don't know why he's still here either.

Laissez Fail doesn't work. Greed is crack for the rich. Globalization is a pyramid scheme. Unbridled Corporatism doesn't clarify, it ruins.

[Laelth]

24. Um, it's very different.

All citizens of the United States are Americans. Not all of us are white. Ours is a government of, by, and for the American people. There's nothing wrong with our government protecting American workers. In fact, that's what they are elected to do.

It would be very wrong, on the other hand, if our government protected only white people.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Hello_Kitty]

28. I love how you imply all American workers are white.

You know, the casual racism of you race-to-the-bottom globalists is only exceeded by the stupidity of your talking points. "I don't give a shit about your job" isn't exactly going to win you any converts but y'all keep trying it.

[RB TexLa]

31. No such assumption made. I'm just asking what is the difference between a racist and a nationalist

I see no difference, they are both the same kind of human beings.

[Hello_Kitty]

35. What's the diff between a bloodsucking plutocrat and a dumbass "liberal" who carries his water?

I actually do see a difference there. The plutocrat has a shitload of money while the dumbass who helped him steal it just looks like a dumbass.

[Jackpine Radical]

29. Personally, I wanna see all workers in the world paid decent living wages.

If Chinese labor costs as much as American labor, our jobs stay here.

[anonymous171]

34. I support all workers, I just support American ones more. nt

[notesdev]

36. It's different if

you have an IQ high enough to grapple with the concept of labor market dumping and the various forms of indentured servitude that come along with it.

[aquart]

38. Oh, Lord, one of those.

When you bend backwards that far, you just get the knife in the front of the ribs.

You almost understand an analogy, then miss it completely.

[proteus_lives]

42. You're making an false connection.

Not surprising from a person too stupid to wear a seat-belt.

I don't want American jobs leaving to any country. Not Mexico, not Canada, not China, not the UK, not Africa, not Asia-nowhere.

The government and businesses of the United States should be caring for and employing their own citizens.

The other countries of the world can handle their own problems.

[barb162]

43. Supporting a fully employed American workforce is not like racism.

[saltpoint]

45. I support anonymous poets in the world's cities.

[Captain Hilts]

47. And Augusta National only permits men to belong to the club. Folks here aren't upset by that.

[lumberjack_jeff]

48. Because not all americans are white? Just guessin.

Why do you hate native americans?

[HughMoran]

49. The USA is a country.

What does hoping for jobs in one's country so that we can have food and shelter have to do with racism?

[Zavulon]

50. I can't believe this is a serious question. (NT)

[TankLV]

52. Not the same thing at all...

I support AMERICAN workers - first and foremost.

Period.

No more "offshoring"!!!

[mitchum]

57. Damn, you brought some kindling along with that argument; will the playground miss either of them?

[Marr]

64. You're doing great with the sophistry.

Are you a professional or just a talented amateur?

I've heard a lot of Free Trade sales pitches before, but I've never heard it suggested that government protecting it's labor interests is the same thing as racism.

Anyway, the answer to your silly question is that government serves the practical interests of a nation, and that includes protecting it's economy and it's labor base. It has nothing to do with racism, it's just effective bureaucracy. The governments of other nations do the same thing. Do you think football coaches should spend their time trying to get all the players of all the teams to play more effectively, or is it more practical to just kind of... you know... coach your own team?

[Codeine]

66. Oh look. The RB TexLa Show is back! nt

[Jim Sagle]

67. Hey, five buck an hour DLC hogwash dispensers gotta eat too.

;)