Radio Show--today at 5-6 p.m.

[William Barry]

      I have been invited as a guest on the Marc Steiner Show TODAY (October 1) from 5-6 p.m. on station WEAA-FM (88.9) to discuss the immigration controversy, especially the firings by American apparel in Los Angeles of 1800 workers who couldn't provide documentation.

   I think that this so-called crisis was predicted by Julius Caesar when he proclaimed "divide and conquer," a feeling reinforced last week after long discussions about health care with steelworker retirees at the monthly meeting. So many of the retired steelworkers--and no one needs single-payer more than these retired workers!--complained that the problem with a public plan was coverage for "illegals."  After reminding them that most of us are descendants of "illegal aliens," I said that we were caught in a bait-and-switch, blaming the victims of a crime (garment workers in this case) rather than the criminals who passed NAFTA and wrecked the economies of both the US and Mexico.

    If workers are fighting each other, and blaming each other for our current depression and crisis, they obviously can't focus on the real culprits. When in doubt, create a pogrom, right?

     The radio show takes calls so buzz on in.