Life, liberty and the pursuit of cheap labor.

• Author: Postigo-Martell, Omar
• Position: Guest [column] - Illegal immigration employment working at lower cost and it affecting colorado economy or local labors wages

Recently our local media have portrayed the state of Colorado as a panacea for environmental and economic progress due to newfound opportunities for the development of alternative energy sources as well as more environmentally friendly legislation.

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The media also have reported a clear divide regarding illegal immigration from those who wish to deny undocumented immigrants employment and basic health services to those advocating for working visas and a path to citizenship.

It is evident that opportunities for betterment produce mobility, and that this is a complex issue indeed. Is there a positive connection between our sociopolitical will to create a more environmentally sustainable road map and a willingness to embrace a more diverse working class? Or can we afford to be satisfied with cheap labor when it is financially convenient without regard for its social and environmental implications? More importantly, what is our responsibility as the business sector in supporting a more sustainable and culturally diverse working community of workers?

The clean water we drink, the clean air we breathe and the protected wilderness we cherish in our state today were in no small measure the result of the visionaries of the modern environmental movement. These weren't exactly predictable or easy victories. Sadly, during the past four decades, the business community--mostly larger corporations--has been rather successful in preventing labor unions and environmental organizations from reaching common ground. Its message was: Environmental cleanup will cost you your jobs.

More recently, the development of Xcel's smart grid, the incorporation of BuiltSmart construction requirements, and carbon trading, among many other changes, shows that businesses have now embraced the green revolution as part of their business consciousness. They have collectively moved from the perception of compromise to one of opportunity.

Similarly, if we are experiencing labor shortages and a dwindling rural working class, are we ready to move from a so-called immigration crisis to an opportunity for a more inclusive and diverse working community? What can we learn from the struggles and division of environmental movement to inform our decision about immigration?

The backlash against undocumented immigrants is coming from all sides. First, parts of the mainstream population claim that in their...