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Proposition 200 Opinion Piece
A recent story in the Arizona Republic suggested that Proposition 200, if it appears on the ballot, will become a battleground for political party interests. It details the fact that at issue with some is the question of whose voters are turned out for which candidate.
With all due respect to partisan leaders, the leaders of Arizona Interfaith Network believe that Proposition 200 is far too important to be left to bickering and strategic positioning by these political forces. We are determined that the debate over Proposition 200 not be reduced to these terms.
The AIN network of organizations opposes Proposition 200 because its passage will damage the state of Arizona and families living here. We are particularly concerned that our economy will suffer and that our families will also suffer as a consequence. We have too many struggling families and businesses as it is.
Recall the debate in Arizona over a paid holiday for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. At issue was not only the deserving recognition of a holiday for one of the great moral and visionary leaders in our country's history but also the stain on the state of Arizona if the drive to pass the holiday failed a second time. We had already suffered the very real economic consequences of the first failure. But there were those then who would have had us walk down that same path again, with disastrous results.
We believe Proposition 200 poses such a challenge to Arizona voters in reverse. Passage of Proposition 200 will not only taint Arizona with a moral stain, it will also send a clear message that Arizona voters are gullible and are confused about Arizona's best economic interests.
This is a tourniquet on the wrong leg. We do have problems with a broken immigration system, but this is putting the tourniquet on the other leg with no attention to the real issues. It would build false expectations, because the focus is misplaced, and will end up being counterproductive.
Consider the following:
We live in an already litigious society. Proposition 200 will unleash a blizzard of lawsuits further clogging our courts.
We live in an overly bureaucratized society. Proposition 200 will enlist an army of ordinary people into the role of enforcement bureaucrat.
We live in a society in which strangers are already suspicious of one another. Proposition 200 will initiate a whole new era of self-appointed, racial profiling watchdogs.
Many businesses in Arizona, small and large, are already struggling to recruit trained, talented employees from all over the world. Proposition 200 will send a clear message: strangers are unwelcome here. You're under suspicion if your English isn't perfect or if you look different.
Can Arizona afford this? Is this good for Arizona's business climate? In a highly competitive world, will business firms simply choose to go elsewhere?
We live in a state carefully watchful of our budget priorities and dollars, as is appropriate. Proposition 200 raises the likelihood that hundreds of millions of dollars of state, county, and city expenses will be incurred to administer this fiscally unwise, unfunded mandate. In our state we have clearly identified unmet needs that require those dollars, and we have programs that will show results but go unfunded or get cut. All indications are that there is no way we can afford Proposition 200.
For Arizona Interfaith Network the bottom line is this: we vigorously oppose Proposition 200. We will work through any and all legal means with allies across the spectrum to defeat it, with people of all faiths and democratic principles.
Proposition 200 is a bad idea, motivated by fear, misdirected in focus, damaging in intent and impact, deceptive in the claims of its supporters and unworthy of the State of Arizona.
The campaign we will wage against this initiative will have a single focus: Educate! Educate! Educate!
We are certain that if the voters of Arizona understand the truth about Proposition 200 they will rejects its intent, oppose its content, and condemn it to a resounding defeat at the polls.
Richard H. White
President
Arizona Interfaith Network
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