I was busy last week and missed a lot of news events. I only caught a little of the big quake in Japan with the resulting problems in nuclear power plants. The Libya news seemed depressing with bad news for the reformers until the UN resolution that enabled the military action by France, Great Briton and the U.S. The reason that I missed much of the details was that I moved (not one but two houses), finished buying the house we moved into, and was married Saturday. Now with only two months (conservative estimate) unpacking, combining two sets of everything into one and donating the surplus, to do, I will be able to return to my usual hour of reading the news online.

There was however one news item I didn't miss.

It was an article in the New York Times on Arizona. Specifically it was about the Arizona Senate voting down five new anti-immigration bills. I read about it with pleasure. What really caught my attention was that the defeat was largely due to efforts by the business lobby. In particular one sentence poped out at me.

"In an abrupt change of course, Arizona lawmakers rejected new anti-immigration measures on Thursday, in what was widely seen as capitulation to pressure from business executives and an admission that the state's tough stance had resulted in a chilling of the normally robust tourism and convention industry."

Arizona, Bowing to Business, Softens Stand on Immigration, New York Times

March 18 2011

The "of course" was what grabbed my attention. Was it the of course meant as: of course there was an abrupt change? Was it meant as: of course since there was a change the lawmakers voted down the anti-immigration laws? Or (this is my favorite) was it that of course the law makers bowed to pressure from business? Probably there are several other ways it could be taken. But I don't have time to play with them all. I'll just accept it, of course. Any way you slice it, it is a nice wedding present for my wife, Barb, and I.

There is (of course) something I don't like about this situation. I think there is a great deal wrong with a state (Arizona) failing to legislate immoral laws only because the business community stands against them because the economic fallout is too great.