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DISCONNECT
There is a
real disconnect between institutions, including the media and politicians,
and the public's desire for immigration reduction and enforcement. Immigration,
widely seen as a threat to low-wage American workers and as a possible
source of terrorism, draws remarkably stronger reactions from the public
than leaders. The foreign policy goal of reducing illegal immigration is a
far higher public priority by a 48 point margin. The public is
substantially more alarmed by immigrants and refugees coming into the
United States as a critical threat to U.S. interests by a 46 point margin
(60% of the public versus only 14% of leaders). By large, 39 point gaps,
the public is more favorable to decreasing legal immigration (57% vs. 18%)
and to combating international terrorism by restricting immigration from
Arab and Muslim countries 79% vs. 40%).
Full
report at:
Elite vs. Public Opinion.
There
are many examples where organization leaders have taken immigration stands
contrary to the wishes of membership. For example, the
AFL/CIO leadership supports amnesties for illegal aliens in order to boost
their sagging membership roles, despite the clear harm mass migration has
been on American workers. The Sierra Club, a leading environmental
organization, no longer supports U.S. population stabilization
because it has "no position on immigration." Native-born Americans
would have to reduce their fertility to perhaps one child per family to
make it possible to support U.S. population stabilization without reducing
mass migration. Yet many Sierra Club members question how the Sierra
Club can be considered an American environmental organization while
refusing to support U.S. population stabilization. When members hold
their organizations accountable the disconnect will diminish. |
