Always Low Prices and Always Low Pay?

In America, you have an excellent opportunity through capitalism to be a success. To a point, that is. After which, well our dirty little secret is that we don’t want you to be.

Witness the current piling on Wal-Mart, the nation’s largest retailer and an American success story by anybody’s measure. I know. I was there to see the story begin.

Seemingly, everyone blames Wal-Mart for unfair success.  A variety of labor unions, the National Organization for Women, and the State of Maryland has found fault with everything from hiring practices to low pay to substandard health care benefits to not paying garment workers in El Salvador enough money for making pants that cost $16.95.*

Yet, in examining the truth about Wal-Mart, you find an interesting story regarding pay in America and the current debate about minimum wage.

average hourly wage for regular full-time associates in the U.S. is $9.68 an hour, almost double the federal minimum wage.

The argument gets more errant and more ineffectual with quotes like those in the recent book, “The Case Against Wal-Mart”, by Al Norman, which begins in Chapter One with the quote, “America has been invaded by WalMartians. They have successfully colonized the United States, and planted their flag in nine other nations”. [The Case Against Wal-Mart, copyright 2004 by Al Norman].

Seriously, has anybody been holding a tazer out and threatening you to shop at Wal-Mart or else lately? The only visible space ship I am seeing here is the one Mr. Norman is in.  Mr. Norman — the Mother Ship is calling you!

Wal-Mart’s benefits to their full-time employees are enviable. Employees in most stores are offered a choice between associates’ plans (group plans) and HMO’s. They have a variety of choices, among them dental, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, business travel insurance, and disability insurance. There is a available supplemental cancer insurance plan offered in addition to the comprehensive health care benefits available in the other plans. Wal-Mart even offers a limited medical plan to associates who are temporary or in an eligibility waiting period. Other benefits include an IRA/401K plan, an ESOP plan, incentive programs, a discount card, elective pay programs, and a free financial education benefit. All this and twice minimum wage as determined by the government. Who are we finding fault with again?

The Great State of Maryland has no problem with finding fault. You need only have assets they can tax, and they will fill in the blank, to-wit:

the State of Maryland has enacted its Fair Share Health Care Act. The new law imposes upon Wal-Mart (and effectively no other business in the state – for now) the legal duty to spend at least 8 percent of its payroll on health insurance or pay any shortfall to the state.

The Washington Post characterized the law as “a legislative mugging masquerading as an act of benevolent social engineering.”

We negotiate a slope worthy of Everest iced-in when we, as a capitalist economy, attempt to legislate to employers what to pay employees. Just as we can’t tell consumers where to shop (and they seem to have absolutely no problem doing just that at Wal-Mart), we can’t tell the free market where to work and for what pay and benefits. Such socialist hype means we hurt the competitiveness of the American worker and the shareholders of American corporations in the process.

One final point: if it were such a bad deal to work at WalMart, then why would over 25,000 Chicago-area residents apply for 500 positions in a newly opened suburban store?

I grew up in Rogers, Arkansas, where the first Wal-Mart store was constructed in 1962. I know a lot of millionaires and a number of other people living in very comfortable early retirement who did nothing more than go to work for Wal-Mart and take advantage of the benefits and pay offered. All-in, it looks as though wearing a blue vest is not that bad a deal.

This is Spinal Tap

In the Rob Reiner film, “This is Spinal Tap” we are treated to a hilarious parody of a British rock band.  There is a scene where the band, “Spinal Tap”, is attempting to explain why the volume knobs on their amplifiers go not to 10, but to 11.

It goes like this:

Nigel Tufnel: The numbers all go to eleven. Look, right across the board, eleven, eleven, eleven and…
Marty DiBergi: Oh, I see. And most amps go up to ten?
Nigel Tufnel: Exactly.
Marty DiBergi: Does that mean it’s louder? Is it any louder?
Nigel Tufnel: Well, it’s one louder, isn’t it? It’s not ten. You see, most blokes, you know, will be playing at ten. You’re on ten here, all the way up, all the way up, all the way up, you’re on ten on your guitar. Where can you go from there? Where?
Marty DiBergi: I don’t know.
Nigel Tufnel: Nowhere. Exactly. What we do is, if we need that extra push over the cliff, you know what we do?
Marty DiBergi: Put it up to eleven.
Nigel Tufnel: Eleven. Exactly. One louder.
Marty DiBergi: Why don’t you just make ten louder and make ten be the top number and make that a little louder?
Nigel Tufnel: [pause] These go to eleven.

This is in essence the current discussion about minimum wage. The government, contrary to the opinion of all Democrats and even some Republicans (are you listening, Arnold?) does not set the minimum wage. The job market does. Currently, the job market is paying above minimum wage as set by Congress and other state governments, with rare exceptions.

This is from the Employment Policies Institute website:

““According to U.S. Census Bureau data, fully 85% of employees in The United States whose wages would be increased by the proposed minimum wage hike either live with their parents or another relative, live alone, or have a working spouse. Just 15% are sole earners in families with children, and each of these sole earners has access to supplemental income through Earned Income Tax Credit.”

And here is some data to consider for the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on the “Chatacteristics of Minimum Wage Workers“:

“According to Current Population Survey estimates for 2004, some 73.9 million American workers were paid at hourly rates, representing 59.8 percent of all wage and salary workers. Of those paid by the hour, 520,000 were reported as earning exactly $5.15, the prevailing Federal minimum wage, and another 1.5 million were reported earning wages below the minimum. Together, these 2.0 million workers with wages at or below the minimum made up 2.7 percent of all hourly-paid workers.”

Despite these statistics, you hear politicians from both sides of the political aisle bemoaning the fact that “the minimum wage has not been increased by Congress in over 10 years”. You also hear the phrase, “living wage”. Which brings up the point of what that actual wage would be, and which standard of living is the benchmark. Paris Hilton’s standard of what would keep her in Gucci is not going to be the same standard for a housewife living in Nebraska. Unless maybe she’s married to Warren Buffett.

But, my point about a “living wage” is that, in the common vernacular, it often means a standard of a family who owns their home, has multiple automobiles in the driveway, plenty of state-of-the-art phones, IPODs, flat panel TV’s and etc. and who somehow feel this “American Dream” is owed them by the taxpaying public, even if they don’t possess the marketable job skills to earn it.

My next blog will be an expansion of this topic, highlighting a recent area of attack on capitalism from Congress and the liberal left on companies that “don’t allow their employees to “earn a living wage”. In other words, the ones grounded in the reality that painting an ‘11’ over a ‘10’ doesn’t change a thing.

Isis’ Guide to Sensible Islam Posting

 

I am a conservative Republican. I am a freelance writer for several local media outlets. I also have journalistic experience. Therefore, today I am going to blend my regard for the complexities of Islamic culture with my experience as a journalist and provide friends, pundits, and fellow members of the Rightosphere with my Guide to Sensible Islam Posting. It is my hope that they are used to enhance productive discussion of Islam, its practitioners, and Americans of Muslim faith in our domain.

Let me start by stating why I feel it has time to set forth some rules. One word: BACKLASH.

When all you ever read about an entire group of people goes against your experiences with actual members of that population, you are inclined to disregard the author’s views. All of the author’s views. On all subjects. And this is beginning to happen to pundits failing to distinguish between Islamic terror-lovers and law-abiding, freedom-desiring Muslims who are supportive of the Global War on Terror.

Perhaps the best example of this backlash is related to littlegreenfootballs (abbreviated LGF). I fell in love with LGF during Rathergate. I detested Dan Rather’s liberal pontificating and anti-conservative slant on the news. I clicked LGF daily, looking for their latest take on the news of the day. They were bookmarked on my favorites.

That has ended. It is because of their focus on the latest insanity caused by individual Muslims as a way to blacken all followers of Mohammed. It is because of their focus on the most damning interpretations of the Koran and Islamic religious texts. And it is because they fail to adequately mention the presence, actions or existence of Humanist Muslims who embrace religious tolerance, promote personal freedoms, and desire change in repressive Islamic regimes.

I have real issues with LGF now. For example, the site initially failed to acknowledge the role played by Ali Eteraz in obtaining a letter describing the execution of an Iranian mother witnessed by her son. LGF is obviously unaware of Ali’s involvement in attempt to secure greater freedoms for women in the wider Muslim world. Ali is the classic example of a Humanist (the word he and I both prefer to “Moderate“) Muslim that the Rightosphere pundits seemingly desire to see (but more often silence).

Dean’s World currently chronicles LGF’s Taqqiya campaign:

But of course the Koran contains no such direction. Taqqiya is only to be invoked in extreme circumstances, so as to avoid bloodshed and horror. Furthermore, Taqqiya is actually rejected by a majority of Muslims worldwide. Indeed, most conservative Muslim scholars say that “taqqiya” is just code-word for “liar” and that lying is never acceptable under Islam.Get used to hearing that word, “taqqiya.” It is almost invariably a sure sign of a foaming, raging Muslim-hating Islamophobe.

Not many LGF readers have exposure to the Islamic world, have read the Koran, or know a Muslim with whom they may ask about subtleties in religious practice. Focusing on a small aspect of faith, magnifying its importance, presenting it as fact, and failing to recognize that the aspect is rejected by most Muslims does Islam an injustice. It diminishes LGF still further.

 

 

To top it off, LGF has become an Internet Book Tour for anti-Muslim viewpoints from non-Muslims (yes, I believe that the head of Jihad Watch can actually present a completely unbiased view of the Muslim community – NOT). This book, and the quotes and citations will be unquestioned by most LGF readers. For example, many authors, pundits and chatters have read the Koran and think they should be very proud of it because they can quote from it. I’ve read my Bible; during discussions, I could quote from it to make Christians look evil. However, if I am genuinely interested in making friends, allies and supporters of fellow Christians, what is the sense of insulting them? The same is no less true of fellow Americans of Muslim faith.

 

Michelle Malkin also recently lost a little of her luster. When Dean Esmay addressed his growing concerns about Islamophobia directly to her, Michelle responded with the most ill-considered, wild-eyed, dismissive electronic rant that I have seen (at least on my side of the blogosphere. I am given to understand that ill-considered, wild-eyed rants are routine in the Leftosphere. But I digress). I felt then that her blogo-explosion was because Dean had actually hit a nerve – a spot in Michelle’s conscience recognizes that perhaps she has crossed the line and not properly distinguished between Islamo-foes and Islamo-friends.

 

One of the biggest questions I get on the Rightosphere is how to differentiate a Wahhabbi-embracing nut job wanting to purda me or chop off my head from a regular, sane follower of Mohammed who embraces the same Constitutional principles I cherish (e.g. freedom of religion, equal opportunities for all, and the pursuit of happiness). I am hoping my Guide will be a good, first start.

 

***************************************

 

ISIS’ GUIDE TO SENSIBLE ISLAM POSTING

1) Learn to distinguish a news-worthy entry from the “Daily-Muslim-Outrage” (DMO) post.

For example, discussion worthy items are about terror groups and their actions. However, stories about child abuse and wife beating apply to members of all faiths, and can just as easily be used to tarnish Christians, too. Consider the actions of these Christians and leaders of Christian sects:

 

Andrea Yates

Fred Phelps

Warren Jeffs

Mary Winkler

Oliver O Grady

Dennis Rader

 

As a reader, I will gloss over the DMO – and if it is provided as an example of all Muslims, I will ignore any future content by the author.

 

However, I acknowledge that we must address the treat related to Islamic groups seeking the destruction of Israel, the United States and adding the West to a grand, new caliphate. For example, stories about the Coptic Christian experiences in Egypt, and struggles of minority religious groups in Turkey, are worthwhile. And, needless to say, Bin Laden updates are always great blog material.

2) Give Humanist Muslims their due.

It is laughable to me that the Rightosphere longs for a none-hateful Muslim presence, then silences any such voice that appears.

 

It would really help the Global War on Terror and national security, even on this small level, to acknowledge the contributions of Humanist Muslims like Ali Eteraz, Free Muslims Coalition against Terror, and the other voices normally dimmed by the din of passionate discussion. You will find Muslims promoting liberty and freedoms – the more you magnify their message, the safer we all will be. The recently issued TV ad by the Free Muslims Coalition is a great item to discuss.

3) Find new sources of information about the Muslim Community – especially in the United States.

One of my greatest personal frustrations as a Conservative Republican woman is that NOW representatives are trotted out to speak on all “women’s issues”. Frankly, I hope news organizations eventually find the Independent Women’s Forum. It is perhaps time to expand the Internet bookmarks a bit. Let me help:

 

http://eteraz.wordpress.com/

http://www.freemuslims.org/

 

I have discovered these two links alone are wonderful portals into Muslim thinking and practices that bear no resemblance to the Islamo-extremist stands of Western-hating Muslim militants.

4) Avoid the use of derogatory terms when discussing Islam, Mohammed and Muslims.

“Raghead” for example is a pejorative term that can only be wielded well by the most skilled pundits. Most skilled. Ann Coulter-level skilled. Bandied about in blog comments sections and chat rooms by lesser entities, it makes the poster’s contributions immediately dismissible. And don’t even get me started on muslime, muzzies, moohamedamna, ect.

 

And even then, such terms should only be used when clearly and concisely referring to Islamic-terrorist and evil-embracing Muslim clerics. Also, failing to capitalize Muslim, Islam, the Koran, and other proper names is just plain ignorant. Perpetrators may think they are making some grand point. They’re not.

5) Reading Robert Spencer’s latest book or citing “the Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam” does not make you an Islamic scholar.

Neither does reading the Koran. Proper knowledge of the faith requires interaction and instruction from practicing, learned Muslims. Also, expand the reading list to include books from actual Islamic scholars, so you get actual interpretations of Islamic faith from living, breathing Muslims. Here are some suggestions – and Ali Eteraz probably has more worthy ones.

Soul on Islam;

• Islam & World Peace: Explanations of a Sufi;
• Crusades Through Arab Eyes

6) Consider that ex-Muslims do not offer completely untainted views of their religion.

Just listen to the rantings of an ex-Catholic (e.g., George Carlin). While I appreciate the hardships that were endured by former Muslims, trotting out ex-Muslims to expound upon their experiences based on corrupted visions of their faith is not fair.

****************************************

IN CONCLUSION. I hope this is helpful. I think following these few, simple rules will help support healthier discussions about Islam and the relations with the Muslim community on a national and international level. It will make policy, tactical, and economic decisions more sound, as we will be acting with information instead of fear.

Interestingly, I could probably do the same list for discussions of Conservatism in the Mainstream Media. In fact, such a list exists. It can be found in a book called Bias.

I think the Rightosphere should consider that we do have much in common with Humanist Muslims.

By Isis

Why You Can’t Say You’re a Capitalist and Be an Isolationist

Global investors finance the leveraged borrowings of our U.S. Treasury at about 30% on a quarterly basis.  While the quarterly refunding is always monitored closely to see the level of foreign investors, it masks the true level of global participation.  If you add the GSE’s [Government Sponsored Enterprises,(FNMA, FHLMC, FFCB, FHLB, etc.) ] together with corporate bond issuance, the overall investment participation by foreign investors is indeed impressive.  Why are so many global investors enamoured with U.S. debt obligations, as opposed to say South American debt?  I’m glad you asked that question.

First of all, America has a stable government, stable interest rates with a strong central bank, and a revenue source that appears unstoppable:  the American taxpayer.  Without the wealth in America, created through our free enterprise system, we would have none of that.  Private ownership and wealth create stable government.  Our Republic has been at it for about 230 years now with outstanding results.  Without it you have…well, rioting in the streets, military coups, currency that trades on appointment, and extreme poverty where children are literally dying every five minutes.  You have Mexico, or much of South America, or even worse, Africa. 

Second, America pays their debt obligations and often everybody else’s.  America even forgives defaults at the World Bank level.  We’re the world’s good bankers.  Suffice it to say that everybody may not like us, but they like our credit rating.  Stop me if it sounds like I am describing Exxon.

Third, what is happening is something called “positive carry”.  We not only finance, we trade with the world.  Americans have the luxury, now increased exponentially with the arrival of the internet, to buy the cheapest goods available for sale.  We import more than we export, unless you are tracking services, which are nebulous and difficult to track, but which nevertheless belong in the export/import discussion.  The world is competing for our dollars.  But it is also a world competition for intelligence and innovation we are part of.  So far, we are the leader.  When other nations and investors trade with us, they also take on currency risk, and investing in U.S. debt is a “positive carry” for many manufacturers and central governments looking to mitigate their currency risk in the ongoing process of a trade.  In other words, from their standpoint it’s cheap hedging.  And they get to keep the interest.

What global isolationism (i.e.,  Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer’s current  proposal to tax imports from China) does is hamstring what is already turning the U.S. economy.  Countless U.S. corporations now have operations in foreign countries.  Much of our labor is now off-shored, where it is much cheaper.  This has understandably caused both confusion and consternation on the part of many Americans.  They feel that America is “losing jobs” (though that isn’t the case), and they are alarmed when they hear about our “trade deficit”.  Businesses which are expanding sales across the globe, such as Wal Mart, are taking political pressure, some of it coming from conservatives, for simple good business plans that add value to their shareholders.  Thinking that way is not capitalism.  It’s isolationism, and you can’t have it both ways.

by Smart

PS:  Isis has related comments here.

A Tribute to Captain Kahn

 I would like start my blog post here by offering a tribute to Captian Kahn. Captain Khan was an American.   By way of additional background on him, he was Muslim and of Pakistani origin.  He was serving in the U.S. army as an ordnance officer when he was killed in Iraq..

During his funeral,  Captain Khan’s colleagues eulogized his exemplary services and praised him for the leadership he provided to his troops.  The Muslim chaplain who led the Nimaz-e-Janaza after the military honors, specifically highlighted the ethnically diverse group that had come to pay its respects to Captain Khan. He was one amongst the growing number of Pakistani Americans in the U.S. Army.

This man died protecting my nation, my family and myself.  He sacrificed himself to preserve our lives, liberties, and freedoms (including religious ones).  He and the 9000 American servicemen of Muslim faith deserve our respect and regard when discussing their faith, families, and participation in American institutions.  The extreme, toxic response to the Muslim world by certain members of the Rightosphere is disturbing.  Deeply disturbing.  And this vitriol against Muslims is corroding sound discussion. Embracing irrational fear of the entire Islamic population and making regular calls for bombing Mecca is not only insane but detrimental to my security.  Stop it.  Stop it now.

As a way of explaining how I have come to be this upset with the certain Rightosphere views, I would like to provide some details in my crazy adventures in the blogoshphere.  It first started when I was asked to provide some thoughtful analysis to serious questions posed during discussions with fellow members of the Rightosphere. I wanted opportunities to teach and learn about Islam, Muslims, and their interactions with wider world. I wanted to contact moderate, peace-loving Muslims who would engage America in productive, positive ways (as the faithful from other religions do).

For those of you who are not already acquainted with me, here is my background as it relates to the Muslim Community. As an avid, amateur Egyptologist with Egyptian friends I do speak a little Arabic, have read the Koran, and have been inside a few mosques (including ones in Istanbul and Cairo). I have read extensively on the history of Egypt (and the Levant in general). My readings have covered tomes discussing the positive and negative contributions of Muslims in history. I also was a semi-professional belly dancer (in my much-younger days), and performed in clubs that Muslims would patronize. Finally, I personally interact on a regular basis with three American practitioners of the faith. One of these Muslim faithful is the Iranian-American husband of my cousin.  Another is a dear friend and premier blogger, Ali Eteraz.  The third is the future mother-in-law of my 5-year-old son (my boy has a crush a delightful Persian beauty).

(Aside: Before I begin this post, I would also like to ask those who want to make one-sentence quips filled with anti-Muslim sentiment to do Smart, our other readers, and myself the courtesy of placing your comments elsewhere on the blogosphere.  You have plenty of other avenues to post your screed.  For example, be creative and generate your own blog site.  It is cheap and easy to do. While you don’t have to agree with my interpretations, I will be far more apt to consider your views if you are thoughtful, rational, and fully engaged in proper discourse.)

Here is the essence of my initial Islam discussion in the Rightosphere. Question to Isis —  Ann Coulter  has made her feelings known on this topic. I’m sure everyone has heard what she said right after 9/11. “We should invade their countries, kill their leaders, and convert them to Christianity.”   I’m curious – what do you think of Ann’s statements and her position on Islam?

Isis response: I think it is essential when discussing Ann’ Coulter’s statement, “We should invade their countries, kill their leaders, and convert them to Christianity,” that we do so in its full context. Here is that statement more fully explored:

This Is War September 12 , 2001 BARBARA OLSON kept her cool. In the hysteria and terror of hijackers herding passengers to the rear of the plane, she retrieved her cell phone and called her husband, Ted, the solicitor general of the United States. She informed him that he had better call the FBI — the plane had been hijacked. According to reports, Barbara was still on the phone with Ted when her plane plunged in a fiery explosion directly into the Pentagon. Barbara risked having her neck slit to warn the country of a terrorist attack. She was a patriot to the very end.…

The last time I saw Barbara in person was about three weeks ago. She generously praised one of my recent columns and told me I had really found my niche. Ted, she said, had taken to reading my columns aloud to her over breakfast. ….

We know who the homicidal maniacs are. They are the ones cheering and dancing right now. We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity. We weren’t punctilious about locating and punishing only Hitler and his top officers. We carpet-bombed German cities; we killed civilians. That’s war. And this is war.

Here is the way I read Ann’s Column : Note the date on this article – Sept.12, 2001. Ann had just lost a friend and colleague. I am sure Ann was tuned to the TV, radio and internet (as most of us were), garnering information about the 9/11 events (I know I was; I was constantly refreshing the “Drudge Report” while listening to my local talk radio stations). She was seeing our elite media attempting to take the typical, weak, liberal stance on these terror activities (e.g., we have to “understand” our enemies, and Islam is the “religion of peace”). She was understandably and reasonably concerned that the elite media would weaken our resolve to utterly destroy the terror groups responsible for this event. Note the statement previous to the one cited: “We know who the homicidal maniacs are. They are the ones cheering and dancing right now.” I believe it is these individuals to whom Ann is referring in the next statement – the Islamic extremists who what to destroy the USA. Ann Coulter was attempting to strengthen the resolve of the American public and get us on a “war footing”. Ann was also rightly pointing out that to get to the Islamo-fanatic terror leaders that innocent civilians would have to die, as happens during war. I read her article the day it was published. I agreed with her then, and I agree with her now. I think her statements are referring to Islamic fundamentalists, who have declared a global jihad on non-Muslims everywhere. I want them dead, or turned into peace-loving Christians, or “reformed”.

Where I have a dispute with many members of the Rightosphere is in our consideration of the non-terrorist Muslims. Many Conservatives state that all Islamic teachings are evil and can do nothing but generate continuing global hatred and hostilities. I believe that ignorant Islamo-extremists are a small portion of the global community, and that most Muslims prefer to live in peace with their neighbors – and they are more inclined to follow the gentler portions of their Koran. This statement is doubly true for American Muslims, who already enjoy the freedoms of our land and are routinely exposed to religious tolerance.   I think Ali Eteraz can probably better expand upon the views of Americans who follow Islam .

I would like to offer a little more background on me, Sept. 12, 2001. I was six-months pregnant, and routinely flying between client facilities in New Jersey and California during that time period (I was slated to stop such flying in October). Fortunately, I was home that week. When my husband and I were awakened at 6:20 am by his friend on Sept. 11, and told to turn on TV, we were in shock. When we learned what was happening, all I could think was “this might have been me”.

When I saw the reports of the Egyptians dancing on the streets of Cairo, I felt stabbed in the heart. I had been to Egypt. I loved Egypt. How could this be happening? I wept. Then, my Egyptian friends called. They wanted to make sure that I was OK, as well as my family. They said they were outraged at the idiots dancing on their streets, as it was the “ignorant crowd” (their words, not mine). They explicitly stated that they do not practice the version of Islam heralded by Osama Bin Laden’s group – and that their version of Islam bore to resemblance to the idiocy displayed by the Islamic fundamentalists. To be honest, I was still very sad. It took me six months before I could listen to my Arab music again (as I former belly dancer, I have an extensive collection). It took be about that long before I could fix my Middle Eastern cuisine, or go to the nearby Middle Eastern grocery. Therefore, I do understand the bad feelings related to Islam that are expressed in the Rightosphere. However, we must balance passion with reason. As has been noted in previous posts, Islam is officially recognized as a religion, and the First Amendment applies. Additionally, even if you deem it a cult, the USA also does not ban cults. While many view Christianity as the best faith, not everyone sees it that way. Deeming Islam a “death cult” only places Muslims in a defensive position – and closes their minds to other possibilities.

After my posts own posts showing the diversity of Islamic thought and belief went nowhere, I went in search of a Muslim Moderate.  That brought me into contact with my freind Ali.  His expereinces with the Rightosphere is chronicled here.  The two positives that came out of this experience is my new friendship with him and access to wonderful new resources.

Finally, and most importantly, basing policy on fear and ignorance is ultimately harmful to our national security.  The first time I began to truly understand that hysteria was being used to develop policy was and opinion was during the Dubai Ports Deal.  Smart and I argued for the deal, because it made good trade sense AND because Dubai was an ally in the Global War on Terror.  Needless to say, ours was not the most popular view. Treating allies, potential allies, and friends with such contempt endangers my family and me.  Several terror plots, including the recent British airport scare, were foiled because Muslims were turned in by fellow Muslims.  Why should Muslims bother if we treat them with such contempt?  Embracing blind Muslim-hating sentiment gives the Islamic-extremists in other countries reasons to force Muslim leaders to stop rendering aid and assistance to US Armed services.  Therefore, the troops protecting me have a harder time doing our job.  Your extremisms about extremism are detrimental to my family, my nation and me.  Stop it.  Stop it now. For those of you who state that all Muslims embrace evil, I urge you to go here and learn about other Americans of Muslim faith who have been laid to rest at  Arlington National Cemetery.  We need to remember that we all all Americans and respct our fellow citizens who are abiding by our laws protecting our freedoms.

by Isis

Fear of “Aliens”?

Among the conservative Republican party base, you hear the phrase “illegal aliens” on such a constant basis, you can conclude one of two things.  Either there is a dandy new science fiction movie out, or the number one topic of concern right now on conservative talk radio and television is people coming across the border from Mexico.  Let me give you a hint:  Hollywood doesn’t make that many successful science fiction movies.

“Illegal” immigrants (I refuse to use the insulting term “aliens”) are here in our country not to initiate terrorism among our citizens.  They are here largely to work.  Whether you agree or not with the current situation of the esimated 11-12 million illegal immigrants living and working among our 300 million American citizens, you have to concede one undeniable economic fact.  Wage cost has stayed low in America in the last 10 years, which has kept inflation low and the U.S. economy very strong.  That has benefitted everyone, and is due in no small part to cheap immigrant labor, whether legal or otherwise.

What is of no small concern is the overburdening of state infrastructures and services through concentration in certain geographic areas, and the lack of state’s responsibility to register and record and collect taxes from these visitors.  Instead, states have allowed them to receive drivers licenses in order to increase fee income, while ignoring the larger needs of their communities.  To be sure, a portion of this is addressed in payment of state and local sales tax, but illegal immigrants skirt property tax payments which support local schools, and income taxes which pay for essential state services.  They also skip payment on insurance, which means the liability for accident and/or health is passed along to the citizens who pay.  Employers hire illegal immigrants in many sectors of the economy, and so avoid health care and benefits cost that are parenthetically also passed along to the rest of the paying community of American workers.  It is no wonder people are fed up, and it is no wonder that the frustration is coming out in unattractive racial slurs.

However, conservatives are failing to realize several areas of concern.  Failing to do so may mean another type of “alien” they do not wish to see.  It may mean the block of conservative hispanic voters who previously voted largely Republican feel “alienated” from the party and opt en masse to vote for Democratic candidates who we all know love to promise a bottomless bowl of state and federal benefits that translate into higher taxes.  People, we can win the battle here and lose the war.  It isn’t smart politics.  Throughout this blog, you will see me use the term “smart”.  I like that term.  As a woman in the highly-competitive field of investment banking for thrity years, I am pragmatic.  I like what works and what is “smart”.  So let me get right to that.

What is “smart” is to first register immigrants who are here illegally and invite new ones who come in looking for work to register.  Non-compliance would mean immediate deportation.  Either you register and pay state and local property taxes, insurance, and pay for health care, and you also register with the INS and pay federal withholding taxes, or you don’t work in our country.  Period.  We need less Department of Immigration and Naturalization Services beauracracy.  We need a streamlined method of allowing these immigrants to become legal guest workers.  By now, I can almost hear the screaming and jumping up and down by those who feel threatened by the “flood of illegals” who will now come here with this policy.  To that I would say, “What are the consequences of being caught now”?  We need to eliminate “catch and release”.  We don’t need a fence nearly as much as we need cost-effective, pay-as-you-work tolerance for workers from Mexico.  You don’t want to compete with them for jobs?  Well, then I assume you didn’t finish high school and you have my sympathy in that regard.  Those are the jobs illegal immigrants have.  Price yourself accordingly.  We should fine employers who don’t comply with hiring only registered workers,  and do it on a sliding scale for those who are caught more than once.  If we let the free market economy here in America do its work, it will become too costly to keep hiring illegal workers.  Those who don’t want to pay into the system either won’t come here, or they won’t be here long.

Another area of serious concern is that this polarizing issue is eclipsing areas of more serious concern on the national front, especially that of the War on Terror.  As conservatives, we simply cannot allow that to happen.  The illegal immigration problem is not serious enough to warrant such prolonged outcry and defamation of the leadership of the Republican party.  Further, if you think liberal Democrats will help more in this area, then check their history on immigration and especially recent voting with regard to immigration reform.

 Conservatives, either your complaint is what you  say it is, in that you want to see illegal immigrants pay for the services and infrastructure they are cherry picking out of our country of abundance, or your complaint is based in a more serious and wrong form of racist elitism.  We cannot narcissistically insist on only American workers, because we are capitalists, and corporations and employers are well-advised to look for cost savings in labor (which is their largest cost) within the entire spectrum of the global economy.  As conservatives, we should take a step back and look at the big picture of a fully-productive American economy and all it has afforded us and be thankful for our free economic opportunity.  We should stop the insulting language that is both distracting and counterproductive.  And we should keep in perspective the difficulty of others whose desire for a better life is no different from the one showcased in most of our own family albums.

By Smart

Who are Smart and Isis?

 Hello!  We are two conservative, Republican women who met in a chat room filled with fans of a big-time conservative icon.  Through postings, PMs and email messages, we became electronic friends, as we discovered we shared much in common.  For example, we both heartily support the principles of capitalism and desire limited government.  We hate high taxes and have disdain for wild-eyed, man-hating feminists. 

Over the course of the past six months, we both noticed deterioration in the quality and civility in chat room dialog related to several important issues of national importance – immigration and interaction with the Islamic community (on both national and international levels).  The level of discourse has also slowly corroded in the Rightosphere blog sites that are the mainstay of debate in our electronic domain.  Neither of us could disagree with fellow chat room members on weighty, controversial matters without being pounded with posts filled with derogatory language, trite remarks, and closed-minded perspectives.  Certain chat room members no longer wanted to engage in respectful debate nor consider new information sources or links to websites that offered alternative viewpoints.  Some of these vitriolic members strive to silence those who disagree.

However, the Rightosphere is a very complex community (despite reports of the contrary).  Many, many other of our chat room friends also share our viewpoints.  They, too, wish to have a rational review of national policy and international matters.  They desire that important policy decisions not be based on fear and enforced ignorance.  These friends have provided us with the support and incentive to carve out a new place in the blogosphere, where differing ideas and fresh perceptions are offered.  This blogsite is that place.

While we have much in common, like many good teams, our differences strengthen us.  Smartsoimustbeabitch (aka Smartso) is the Left Brain of this operation (logical, sequential, “Detail” person).  Isis is the Right Brain (Intuitive, Synthesizing, “Big Picture” person).  Together, we are a whole that desire to present a more complete view of this crazy world.  The following are specific details on us:

 SMART:  I am an investment banker and Senior Vice President for a large dealer bank, with over thirty years experience working with financial institutions and state and local governments.  I have degrees in finance and economics.  My interests range from economics and the expanding world business stage to the simplicity of country life in America.  Growing up on a working cattle ranch, I am no stranger to the American work ethic, and believe it to be our strongest export.

Smart –  Economist, Citizen Pundit, Left Brain of this Blog

 ISIS:  I am a scientist/technical writer by trade and an historian by hobby.  I have degrees in geology, chemistry and biochemistry.  I am an environmental health and safety officer with biotechnical firm and do freelance technical writing/consulting for local media outlets around my southern California community.   I am a published author and an avid Egyptologist.

My readings, interests and travel have brought me into contact with many Muslims, American and foreign.  One of my main objectives here is to bring some insights into the diversity and complexity of Islamic faith and put a human face on some of its practitioners (the peace-loving, terror-hating ones that desire separation of mosque and state).  I will also be offering information to science-related matters (e.g, global warming and stem cell research).   Perhaps my greatest pleasure will be my reports on the implosion of the Mainstream Media, who dribble out indulgent liberalism while being overcome by the New Media (of which I am now a part).

I look forward to sharing my insights with you.  Please comment, as blogging is lonely work.

Sincerely,

 Isis – Scientist and Historian,  Citizen Journalist, The Right Brain of this blog

Please Pardon Our Dust

Dear Friends: This site is under construction, and we hope to have our first blog post up soon. In the meantime, please keep up with news and views here.