Pay No Attention To The Man Behind the Curtain

Anti-immigration folks would have you believe that illegal immigrants are just an enormous drain on our resources and a source of violent crime.

Strangely, statistics show that it's pretty much a wash financially for communities with large illegal immigrant populations because of the economies these immigrants drive. And, a new study says that the old trope about immigrants and crime may be off-base as well.

I know what Mark Twain said about statistics, but this study is important nonetheless. It shows that not only did robberies and murders NOT increase in areas with an influx of immigrants, but they actually DECREASED. Now that is a surprise, right?

After all, isn't the standard complaint about illegal immigrants that they are a drain on communities and cause crime to skyrocket? Isn't that why folks believe they need armed militias and laws encouraging racial profiling? Haven't Americans been told it's all about their safety and well-being?

Lies, lies and damn lies.

It's funny how much of our worldviews are based on easily identifiable lies. We've been trained to ignore the truth hiding behind the curtain particularly if that truth would make our lives less enjoyable. Some of us don't even see the truth anymore because we've been trained so well.

It's like Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul refusing to see how private businesses refusing service based on the color of someone's skin was something that needs to be illegal. Or, how Mr. Paul can deem the BP oil spill an accident when all of the news coming out shows it was pretty much the result of gross negligence. It doesn't matter what's actually happening, it matters what the right people TELL you is happening.

Some folks have accused me of practicing that particular brand of self-delusion, particularly as it relates to my faith. That's fine, I can accept that criticism, and I can't deny that my belief system is based on faith. I don't ignore the issues folks have with Christianity, but I'm unapologetic about the choice I've made to believe. It works for me.

The thing is, I'm self-aware enough to recognize that fact while most folks don't see all the faith-based decisions in their own lives. Even more troubling, these people can't see how they allow their own faith to back them into irrational and dangerous positions all because they want to be believe that the Wizard of Oz is all-powerful, and not a stooped-back, white-haired, old man. They want to believe that the police are mainly a benevolent peace-keeping force and not a large gang running a complex protection scheme. They want to believe the folks being kept in prison truly belong there and aren't the victims of a massive scam to revitalize rural communities and provide contractors with cheap labor.

I guess it's comforting to be fed information that backs up the worldview you've chosen to embrace. It's like some people say they'd rather not know if their spouse is cheating on them because they prefer the comfortable illusion to the ugly reality. I'm not one of those people. I like to have all the information so I can make choices. That doesn't mean I treat all information equally, but I don't like it when folks withhold stuff from me because they think it's in my best interest.

I want a peek behind the curtain. Pull that sucker back.





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