The Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce will be leading an effort again this year for a Spanish driver’s license test.
The Newspaper Whose Name We Do Not Speak says a coalition of “business owners and Chambers of Commerce across the state” will be pushing for the change.
This is an issue that my listeners have consistently and passionately opposed. You can view their comments on my Facebook page below.
I empathize with those businesses who are having difficulties finding and keeping employees.
However, they’re sadly mistaken if they think issuing Spanish driver’s licenses will solve their problem. Businesses who do so will seriously alienate their South Dakota customers.
Every business in the state faces workforce challenges. But they’re not all advocating this idea nor will they benefit from it.
There are very few state-wide issues I’ve seen that have drawn more opposition from the general public than conducting driver’s license tests in Spanish.
America truly is a welcoming country. I’ve always thought expecting people to learn and speak fluent English was the BEST way to help them achieve the American dream. It’s not meant to punish them.
Unfortunately, business has a pathetic record when it comes to citizenship and immigration issues.
Polls consistently show that overwhelming numbers of Americans, including small business owners, believe the best way to deal with illegal immigrants in the country is to enforce existing law and send them home.
Yet the U.S. Chamber of Commerce argues for legalization.
Business is also still peddling the old argument that there aren’t enough Americans to do unskilled jobs.
Yet, most Americans disagree. They say employers just need to pay more.
And there’s the REAL issue.
