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November 29, 2007
Framing the Immigration Debate
George Lakoff and Sam Ferguson have written an essay on the language of the immigration debate:
Framing is at the center of the recent immigration debate. Simply framing it as about “immigration” has shaped its politics, defining what count as “problems” and constraining the debate to a narrow set of issues. The language is telling. The linguistic framing is remarkable: frames for illegal immigrant, illegal alien, illegals, undocumented workers, undocumented immigrants, guest workers, temporary workers, amnesty, and border security. These linguistic expressions are anything but neutral. Each framing defines the problem in its own way, and hence constrains the solutions needed to address that problem. The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, we will analyze the framing used in the public debate. Second, we suggest some alternative framing to highlight important concerns left out of the current debate. Our point is to show that the relevant issues go far beyond what is being discussed, and that acceptance of the current framing impoverishes the discussion. For the full essay, click here. Courtesy of the Rockridge Institute.
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November 29, 2007 | Permalink
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Comments
'Americans won't do the work immigrants do not because they don't want to, but because they won't do it for such low pay. '
Try telling that to The Decider ,he of his economically illogical view.
I agree with them that 'undocumented worker' is flawed and 'guest worker' is ridiculous:
'“Undocumented workers” opened the door to Bush's new proposal for “temporary workers,” who come to America for a short time, work for low wages, do not vote, have few rights and services, and then go home so that a new wave of workers without rights, or the possibility of citizenship and voting, can come in.
This is thoroughly undemocratic and serves the financial and electoral interests of conservatives.'
'The answer to this problem isn't an “open-border.” The United States cannot take on the world's problems on its own.'
Someone here disagrees!
Posted by: Jack | Nov 30, 2007 4:47:16 AM
Excellent article. I have noticed the "framing." Thank you for more elaboration that will help me create some new "frames." For me, the bottom line is getting a base out to the polls who might stay home this time round. It's inflammatory and keeps the eye off the topics the People should expect their leaders to address. I will be happy to participate in meaningful dialogue about immigration AFTER the trillions of dollars stop flowing to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Posted by: Betty | Dec 2, 2007 9:42:52 AM
