Recently, newly elected Congressman David Bratt held a meeting with supporters in Richmond. According to press reports, Bratt continued to emphasize the issue of immigration that led to his surprise primary victory over Eric Cantor. His only other qualification is that he is a PhD economist. In fact, Mr. Bratt’s hatred of “the other” recently compelled him to refuse to fund the government department whose task it is to fight “real” terrorist group, i.e. ISIS.
Bratt’s fervent hostility to immigrants brings into question his qualification as an economist. In the 1980’s, Japan was considered the “miracle economic engine” of the world. For over two decades now, growth has stagnated and shows no sign of recovering its former vigor. Many economists who have examined the end of the post-war economic miracle site Japan’s program that virtually eliminates immigration as a retardant to achieving its economic potential.
America’s economic history is full of industries started by immigrants from the Sarnoffs who started NBC to Andy Grove whose family left Hungary during the revolution of 1956 who started Intel.
Unfortunately, the history of immigration in the United States has a dark side. The 19th century saw much anti-Irish, anti-Italian, and anti-Catholic politics that birthed the No-Nothing Party that is an early ancestor of today’s G.O.P. Congress also passed a Chinese Exclusion Act in the early 20th Century and in a prelude to World War II refused to hike quotas that would have provided a haven to some European Jews. The tragic fate of the S.S. St Louis demonstrates where a hatred of “the other” that Bratt embraces might lead.
Rumor has it that this Bratt is planning another rally at a rural location to be determined later. Attendees are responsible for bringing their own sheets and hoods, and Dave might provide the fiery cross and an ample supply of matches.
— Les Schreiber
