Thanks a lot Ben. ©

Oh boohoo, some liberal that works in the Wells Fargo tower is going to be inconvenienced. You should be outside in remembrance of the inconvenient protests that got you the 8 hour workday.
What a twat.

Clearly we need to amend the consitution so that your unique proposition of "Free-speech-unless-it-causes-traffic" can become reality, and "liberals" such as yourself won't have to wake up early to make it on time to their very, very important jobs.

Oh, and my favorite line is "...allow me to suggest that you go to work and/or school tomorrow. You will be one day closer to the dream that is, I can assure you, uniquely American." Because it is uniquely American to...have a job? Make money? And thanks for your assurance. I feel so comfortable and safe in your hands.

As MLK said, the true danger to reform is not the outright racist, but the moderate who wants to take it slow!

come on guys..the over-entitled yupster is trying to politically assert himself....wow....

Those responses are exactly why those people cannot work within the system. They don't understand the system to do so.

I am completely for mass movements but I also completely agree that marching 4-5 times a year will make no difference - its only objective is to disrupt the daily flow of life. Also, I have no idea what the purpose of the march is this year. I remember the first time around was two years ago and it brought a million people out. That was great. Now what?

Personally, I have a problem with ILLEGAL immigration. My parents are immigrants and they had to get here through a very difficult and protracted process by legal means because they couldn't simply walk across the border. Fine, if you're going to illegaly immigrate here, do it. But, then, you're going to say that we don't treat ILLEGAL immigrants (operative word: illegal) well? Nobody promised a comfortable life in the United States. I don't see why illegal immigrants should be entitled to the same rights as legal immigrants (such as the right to citizenship in a certain amount of time) despite the fact that they broke the law to get here.

It's a trade. You enter the country illegaly, we don't deport you, you get to work (illegaly) as you expected when you came here. Don't expect the same treatment and protection under the laws (which you broke) as legal migrants and citizens receive.

You are entitled to your own thoughts and opinons and because of this great country you are allowed to post your opinon for everyone to read. This opinon of May Day is wildly selfish in nature. Only because these marchers are inconviencing you, this is why you are over it. Let me pose this question if they were marching down Colorado Blvd. would you be as bothered? Would there be a article written about how "You" are bothered by their right to march. This is what is wrong with so many people in America we only believe in the cause if it does not directly impact our day to day routine. We only want things if it is diluted enough to fit into our pretty little lives.
Who knows if today's march will make a difference or it will be swept under the rug as just another bad traffic day in LA. I do know things in the past were not changed by paying off lobbying politco's but by taking to the streets and protesting! We can all argue and call each other names till the cows come home, this still only keeps us focused on ourselves. At what point do we all stop to take a look at ourselves and realize what am I doing about the convictions of my beliefs? What am I doing to help other human beings? We all get caught up in the day to day routine of driving to work, paying bills, dealing with family, watching American Idol...
We Forget that there are alot of people in this great country that are less fortunate than you or I and often times fall through the cracks that this amazing government has established between the rich and the poor.
You have to follow what is in your own heart. Just refrain from judging others for theirs because they effected your morning commute.

You are entitled to your own thoughts and opinons and because of this great country you are allowed to post your opinon for everyone to read. This opinon of May Day is wildly selfish in nature. Only because these marchers are inconviencing you, this is why you are over it. Let me pose this question if they were marching down Colorado Blvd. would you be as bothered? Would there be a article written about how "You" are bothered by their right to march. This is what is wrong with so many people in America we only believe in the cause if it does not directly impact our day to day routine. We only want things if it is diluted enough to fit into our pretty little lives.
Who knows if today's march will make a difference or it will be swept under the rug as just another bad traffic day in LA. I do know things in the past were not changed by paying off lobbying politco's but by taking to the streets and protesting! We can all argue and call each other names till the cows come home, this still only keeps us focused on ourselves. At what point do we all stop to take a look at ourselves and realize what am I doing about the convictions of my beliefs? What am I doing to help other human beings? We all get caught up in the day to day routine of driving to work, paying bills, dealing with family, watching American Idol...
We Forget that there are alot of people in this great country that are less fortunate than you or I and often times fall through the cracks that this amazing government has established between the rich and the poor.
You have to follow what is in your own heart. Just refrain from judging others for theirs because they effected your morning commute.

[4]Tripe - Yeah you might want to re-read the article. I don't work in the WF building. The point was that both the guy getting minimum wage to clean that building and I will both be AT WORK, because we have to. Before talking shit, make sure to comprehend what you are reading so that hilarity does not ensue.

[5]Lush - That's some great imagery there, but totally inaccurate, as I am sure you already knew.

[6]Deargod... - Nowhere did I indicate that there should be any changes to our constitution. In fact, I stated before and will state again that I fully support the right of people to express themselves freely, even if it does tear up the commute for the vast majority of people who actually have to show up for their jobs today. If you re-read what I said, you will see that I was saying that marching every couple of months has a minimal effect on policy. Your MLK reference is horribly misplaced for a number of reasons, and you know it. How you can read what I wrote and come to the conclusion that I am a moderate, subversive racist is beyond me. We absolutely need immigration reform in this country, and sooner rather than later. My position has nothing to do with race. It has to do with the end result of having constant marches on City Hall, which have a de minimis effect at best on actual policy, and which basically shut down the city for people who actually have to go to work,

[8]Acacs - I am an 'over entitled yupster' because I want to make it into work on time? DIAF

[9]William - You get the award for best reading comprehension skills. I actually fall to the left of you on the illegal immigration issue, but you at least got the point of the diminished effect of marching 4-5 times a year.

[10]JonWilson - All good points. Glad somebody else caught the inappropriateness of invoking MLK.

Mando,

I could give a damn if the option is available or not. I believe that America should reform its immigration to include the legal migration of blue collar workers. Until that time, it is ILLEGAL to walk across the border without permission from the United States government. It is an absolutely heartwrenching tragedy that people in this world must live in poverty or fear for their lives on a daily basis but proximity should not be reason enough to allow some to break the law and others not to.

You're damn right. My parents were immigrants. They came here legally. They didn't HAVE to do that. There are many who came from the same part of the world who did not come legally. That did not preclude them from abiding by the laws of the country they were expecting to live in. I believe it sets a bad precedent that your first action concerning the country you're going to be living in is a violation of one of their laws.

For the record, May Day is a great day and no one should have to work in respect of all workers, across the world.

We need a new immigration policy. Although, we wouldn't want to confuse the Bush administration with more than one task as they are now busy decimating a part of the Middle East. Looks like it will have to wait.

[Panfilo] - Again, go ahead and ditch work / school and march through the streets. Just know that you aren't accomplishing much in the way of effecting immigration policy. Currently US immigration law doesn't just allow for anyone and everyone to come here. There is a naturalization process that people conveniently forget exists, and tons of laws that simply are not enforced. The immigration system in this country needs a complete overhaul to reflect the realities that exist today. I am not sitting in some ivory tower, sipping a 'latte'. The stereotype that you are projecting on me is tired and makes you look like a douche for not being able to come up with a solid argument.

Funny how no one has addressed the fact that pooling the resources of all of these activists to effect real change would be a LOT more effective than walking through the streets. Nobody wants to talk about that. Everybody would rather pound their fists, march through the streets, take a day off, and accomplish nothing.

To Panfilo and (C), you are both waisting time arguing about who the biggest douche is! You both have valid and eloquently put agenda's and you both are in violation of sterotyping each other.
Bottom line is we are all immigrants of this country unless you are of Native American Descent. How we got here does not matter it is that we are here now and we should support our fellow immigrants. Bottom line is if it wasn't for them none of our dirty work that I can guarentee you neither of you do yourself would be accomplished!
Maybe just maybe if we all stopped judging each other for what side of the political line we fall upon. If we drink Latte's or not, what car we drive, if this is an excuse for a day off....Instead stand up for everyone to have equal rights not because they are legal or illegal but because at the end of the day we are all Human Beings!!!!!!
It is not fair for anyone to judge the motives of these indivduals as we sit behind the ivory tower of a computer debating their intentions. If you are concerned go down to the march and see for yourself.
It is time for a revolution in this country, Stand up for your RIGHTS and the rights of Other's!

I agree with you William Mexico should not be a poverty ridden country with no middle class. I have spent time there and seen how both upper class and the poor live it is not pretty.
As for over simplifying the situation, this is just a way for you to make me a how did you put it, oh yes "simpleton".
If you do not know what the march is for then why are you commenting as if you are an expert and condescend any of us that do not agree with your point of view?
Calling people names and making them feel stupid is a just a tatic that means you can shout louder than I. This does not mean you are more educated about any of the issues at hand.
Most of what May Day is about is equal rights for Laborers in America. To continue to protect the rights of workers that so many people fought to have. That is why it has been turned into an immigration issue.
I guarentee when your family immigrated just like mine to America not everyone did it legally and due to this they were given the worst jobs.
Also I bet even you my friend like myself if given the citizenship test would not pass. Like many other American's we take alot forgranted.

You're right Babylon, the author and I should not argue over who is the douche. The biggest douche here is obviously Mr. Public Policy himself, William.

number #11 said:
"to the earlier comment: Let's not channel MLK when talking about illegals. Black people got forcibly brought to the country, Latinos jumped a fence."

Bullshit. We didn't cross the borders, the borders crossed us. My Mexican/indigenous family goes back in these lands before there was a "united states," so fuck you. Interestingly, you left out how YOUR ancestors came here.
A case can be made whether these marches are effective or not, but mr. poseur (c) did not make a good argument. Basically, he sounds like a whiny, privileged fool crying about his minor inconvenienced life.

"28] La Ranchera - Please see above. Did you actually read the whole article? If you want to change policy, there are FAR more effective ways of doing so than running into the streets every month."

Did you read MY comments above #3? If you think the best way to create social change is to donate money to lobby congress and for us to sit at home so you can get to work on time, then take the damn Anarchy @ symbol out of your logo, poseur.

Your views are embarrassing.

"get the gasface"??

what a poor choice of words...

I would tell you what a douche you are for using a hyberbole in your article, but I have to go march for abandoned animals to be spayed and neutered to prevent testing on them and save the whales and signing people up to give them a clean ocean to swim in while I'm closing down sweatshops to give rights to their workers while at the same time protecting the abortion rights and getting free health care to everyone as well as opening my home up to the homeless mentally ill to give them a place to recover while they join forces with the overcrowded school children to fight for equality. Since I can't read past the first sentence as I am too busy saving the world, unlike you, silly white person who hates all immigrants and spends all day writing about how you hate mexicans and how you hate me as well, I don't have time to do anything but throw my blinders on and be self-righteous, so let me just call you an asshole and be done with it. Good night to you as well.