San Francisco's venerable Sierra Club is being wracked by an intense battle between advocates of immigration controls, as a way of reducing stress on the domestic environment, and advocates of maintaining solidarity with traditional allies on the left, who oppose restrictions on the entry of illegal aliens as inherently racist. To use Marxian phraseology, the internal contradictions of the left are being heightened.

The issue is coming to a head with elections next month for a third of the club's 15 member board at stake. Outside organizations on both sides of the issue are urging members to join the Sierra Club and vote in the election. On February 10^th, insurgent candidates for the board filed suit in San Francisco Superior Court alleging that club officials were illegally manipulating the election by urging club members to vote against the anti—immigration slate.

The controversy itself is nothing new. Six years ago, the club held an internal referendum on the question, resulting in a vote to remain neutral. This time around, however, control of the club itself is at issue. With a substantial treasury, and a membership of roughly three quarters of a million, the Sierra Club is a formidable prize for advocates of both sides.

When self—righteous leftists struggle on questions of ideology, the rhetoric escalates rapidly. Naturally, the 'r—word' is being hurled at advocates of immigration restrictions. One of the insurgent candidates for the board, and African—American former NAACP chapter named Frank Morris responds that, 'If it weren't so sad, it would be comical.'

The Sierra Club is only the beginning, however. Immigration is a high—stakes issue which cuts across many of the alliances found on the left. More and more advocates for lower income groups are waking up to the fact that an uncontrolled inflow of unskilled labor willing to accept rock—bottom wages depresses wages. Of all groups in America, blacks probably pay the highest price for the de—facto open borders policy. Labor unions are another group which is adversely affected by open borders, even though certain unions are attempting to finesse the issue by recruiting illegal aliens as members.  Honest consideration of problems in health care and education, along with out—of control spending by federal, state, and local governments also must reckon with the impact of illegal immigration.

The American Thinker believes that honesty is the best policy, even for the left. We wish the Sierra Club well in its debate, and encourage advocates of immigration controls to respond with facts when their motives are attacked.

Posted by Thomas   01 11 04