For Salvation
I like to understand people when they speak. Speak a foreign language, and we’re back to charades. Still, I’m not for laws penalizing people for not speaking English.
I really prefer the persuasion that’s built into a free society.
A big part of that persuasion is economic. Trade requires communication, and markets alone tend to entice faster language-learning and assimilation. Immigrants who speak English earn 50 to 60 percent more than those who don’t.
In comes government. The EEOC, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, is suing companies that require employees to learn English — without showing “enough cause†to please the federal agency. The Salvation Army tops their hit list.
Back in 2004, the Salvation Army gave two Boston-area employees a year to learn English. Seems reasonable, but the two women did not learn English, so were let go. The EEOC sued.
In steps Senator Lamar Alexander, corralling a provision through both houses of Congress telling the EEOC to cease and desist.
But wait — Alexander’s measure is now held hostage in a conference committee. The Hispanic Caucus threatened Speaker Pelosi’s control of the House if she allows the Alexander provision to become law. So far, she’s caved.
Immigrants will assimilate naturally, by choice, if we simply let the free market work and get the government out of the way.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
