Some things have been clear for a while. The Great Recession and its anemic recovery has severly hurt Americans in every corner of the nation, in every community. And, this is the perennial problem: as always, an economic downturn hurts racial and ethnic minorities more.

The 2010 U.S. Census showed a striking demographic shift, one we've reported on this blog. Hispanics immigrants (legal and not), and second and third generation U.S. citizens of Latino heritage, seeking greater opportunity and lower costs of living than bigger cities like Los Angeles, filled small towns in the midwest and south in greater numbers than ever before.

There was a time, not too long ago - and many Americans are operating under the impression it's still true - that there was an immigration escalator. That is; if you come to the U.S., work hard, play by the rules, you would find upward mobility, and your children would be better off than you.

Arizona's immigration law takes effect today (sans the three most controversial provisions), and the mainstream media are breathlessly covering the protests. Whether this will lead to a mature, thoughtful discussion about immigration remains to be seen.