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Let's Not Forget Our Roots
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
Does anyone else remember learning about this quote in school and priding yourself on our history of immigration? I sure do! So what changed?
We have allowed ourselves to politicize a common sense, mainstream issue. So let’s agree to two fundamental assertions. One – we have a right to protect our borders. Two – most of the illegal immigrants (forgive the “pejorative” term) living in America today are generally good people despite their illegalness. If you can’t concede these points, you can stop reading.
Any sovereign nation has a right to protect its borders. To argue otherwise is absurd. I won’t waste any time explaining this point other than to say that in order to maintain our security, our tax system, and our domestic programs, we must control the flow of people across our borders.
So cede that point to Republicans. Build a fence with all the newest and greatest technology, surge National Guard units, and increase our Border Patrol Agents. Stop all forms of illegal transit across our borders, whether in human capital, drugs, weapons, black-market merchandise, or anything else imaginable.
Which brings me to my next point… most illegal immigrants are honest, hard-working people who came to America to seek a better life. I can’t fault them for this, even if they technically broke a law. I break the speed limit every day to get to work on time. I justify this in assuring myself that everyone does the same (don’t you?). Plus, policemen don’t really enforce the speed limit. It’s just not a big deal. So if I cross into the realm of the illegal simply to get to work on time, how can a fault the Mexican immigrant for doing the same for a more noble cause… to better his family?
In that sense, I say let the Democrats have their way. Carve out an amnesty program and incorporate illegals that have proven themselves productive members of our society. They broke a law that nobody cared enough to enforce. That happens every day in America. If the country decides to make speeding a big deal tomorrow, I don’t want to receive a gazillion dollar ticket in the mail for all the times I’ve gotten away with it in the past.
But, if we enact border control and an amnesty program, we will only fix the immediate problem. For a sustainable solution, we need more liberal immigration laws. A healthy influx of immigrants builds our nation and feeds our economy. I truly believe that our diversity is the heart of our strength as a nation. When America speaks, it truly is the voice of peoples from every corner of the globe. We should embrace those who would leave their home to become American!
Ironically, President Bush presented a very similar plan and received virtually no support from Congress. As it seems, most of our Congressional leaders are too busy pandering to special interest groups to tackle problems in the realm of integrity and reality. Maybe that’s become too much to expect, but as an external optimist, I’ll choose to believe otherwise.
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I think that the only true solution to this problem is in the countries that the immigrants are coming from. They come here because they cannot make a decent living, so their countries need to do something to help it's people to not need to go across the boarder. If our government was to restrict trade with countries that violated labor laws and wage laws (based upon the cost of living for that country) instead of giving our corporations tax breaks to go to those countries like mexico where they profit by exploiting the lack of business regulations, we would be forcing countries to meet a standard that would both directly benifit the people and decrease illegal immigration. If we don't go to the source of the problem, it will just continue.[COOL][THUMBUP] |
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Have you ever read "The Fair Tax Book"? I completely agree with you in regards to economic incentive and policy. Great point! [TONGUE] |
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Right on, you make an excellent case. President Bush also has his head on straight because he comes from a border state.
The Mexicans so respect the USA the opportunities there they risk life and limb to come. Twelve millions of people voting with their feet is one of the greatest social movements in history. Since the USA is so big, $30 billions for a wall isn't so much. It won't stop the drugs traffic, as that has always been a function of corrupt border police. Since the Israeli government has always controlled the drug trade, our wall cuts competition and raises prices. The number of terrorist attacks have diminished. The Palestinians have suffered financially hindered from regular work and emotionally from families being separated. Moreover, the wall gave them a great jolt. Israel doesn't want anything to do with them, The Israeli can not see Palestine like it really has ceased to exist. Israel has gerrymandered all the good districts for herself including a tight ring around Jerusalem. Guests at Arab hotels have a tough time seeing the sites. A cement border obviates negotiation and crushes hopes for mutual understanding. The wall has brought short term security the lasting effects much less sure. [SMILE] |
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My grandmother and mother came thru Ellis Island after WWII from Germany. To get here, my grandmother (who had met and married her American GI during the war) had to get married, again, three times in fact. Once in front of my grandfather's commanding officer, another time in front of their senator, Guy Cordon, and I cannot remember why the third time. Regardless, in order to cross America's border, they had many hoops to jump...and they jumped them. Once my grandfather settled my grandmother and his daughter (my mother) onto the family farm, my grandmother refused to speak German, because she was an American! To this day, she will proudly show you her citizenship papers and she's 85!! |
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An interesting post. While I am pro-immigration, and myself am the grandson of immigrants, I am adamant about the words "legal" and "illegal". America should welcome legal immigrants and expel illegal aliens. Almost every country chooses who to admit, including those countries which are providing our illegal problem. I would add that a secure border fence will do little to prevent illegal immigration since many illegals enter the United States legally (as tourists, students, seeking medical care, etc.) and simply never leave. What is needed is to remove the profit motive from illegal immigration by severely punishing employers of illegal aliens (who love the cheap slave labor). If illegal aliens can not find employment or government benefits many will stop coming and many who are already here will leave. |
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A great point and something that I should have included. We do need to be far stricter with employers who elicit illegal immigrants. They are using the tax-payer to subsidize their discounted employment costs and greatly contributing to the problem! |
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I have never really understood the immigration thing. No one does much to keep them out... or much to keep them from working, which is why most come but everyone blames them for everything. There should be an easier way for hard working people to immigrate here and become tax paying workers. The way it is now lots can only work cash only and get taken advantage of... I have no answer but there should be one that works. Of course now with the US economy the way it is and the lack of jobs nothing is going to look too appealing for those that live in the US to let more workers in. |
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I had to stop reading at the third paragraph as you instructed because I cannot agree that most of the illegal immigrants are generally good people. First, it doesn't matter if they are good people or not, and that argument is a red herring. It invokes the argument that illegal aliens are being discriminated against as unworthy people by racist motives...a ploy used by the left to distract from the real issues of law, economics, and culture. Second, we don't know whether "most" are good or not, but we do know these people introduce into American society, a very high ratio of criminal activity (beyond the initial criminal act of illegal invasion) and almost all nuzzle the public teat far beyond any contribution they make to the country, or the public good. I live in a rural area where we've dealt with illegals longer than most of the country, in fact I'm in the heart of the area featured in Steinbeck's, The Grapes of Wrath. The invaders here, a generation earlier were mostly poor whites from Oklahoma and Arkansas collectively called "Okies" as a pejorative term. What most people don't remember is, that the earlier invasion also included a fair percentage of Mexicans (from Texas), Blacks (from the South), and Indians (from Oklahoma), and all, including the poor whites, met much of the same resistance we see against "Illegal" immigrants today, even though they were American citizens. Were they mostly good? No, they were mostly scoundrels and scumbags with bad manners and little respect for the law. They were struggling to survive, but the difference was that they didn't get welfare handouts, and they were rejected by society for their debauchery, not praised as "mostly good people." In the face of such disdain and resistance, they did the natural thing...they found jobs, cleaned up, educated themselves and their children, and became a generation that is one of the most spectacular success stories of American industry and fortitude. Read The King of California, and you'll be introduced to a few of these people. Our community is now blessed with these Okies, Mexicans, and Blacks who became pillars of the society, and their children are now the doctors, lawyers, school teachers and business people who run the place. No one knows...we don't even know ourselves...if we are good people or not, until we are forced to chose a path. If you turn a blind eye to crime, and hand out free food, free rent, free dental, free eye care, and free health care, while allowing someone to work illegally, or under the table at low wages, you kill any opportunity for them to ever be good people, and instead bribe them to be scum sucking welfare frauds while teaching 'that' is the definition of good people. By ignoring our laws and expanding socialist aid to illegal immigrants, you ruin any significant hope for them to assimilate and prosper as the previous generation did (all races), and at the same time, you subsidize criminal employer behavior, and drive down wages turning whatever industry they invade into a profession that pays so little no one can earn a living working in it, unless you provide government assistance (welfare). We saw Bush on TV again and again arguing to ignore our laws and welcome the flood of criminals to "do the jobs Americans won't do," a disgusting and utterly leftist argument. Don't get me wrong, I supported Bush, but for one reason...we were attacked, and Bush stepped up and mounted war on the Muslim terrorists in the Middle East. That was the correct thing to do, but other than that, Bush was a liberal Democrat right down to establishing the liberty quashing Patriot Act...an iconic liberal piece of legislation. Well, those are MY roots, and I assure you I will NOT forget them. |
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Thanks for the thoughtful response, Neo! I still don't think that deportation is practical. But, I think there is a rational compromise whereby illegals could have a temporary residence. During this period, we'll find out who really wants to earn their citizenship. Those who meet the gates and the metrics can help build this society. Those who don't can be deported. Those who don't bother to enroll in the program can be deported immediately. And, while establishing citizenship, we could greatly reduce the number of entitlements available. But, I still belive that most illegals are here for the opportunity. And, I believe that most are 'good'. I can't substantiate either of these beliefs. But, the best way to find out is to put them to the test. |
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Hi Greg, ...It takes careful reading of my views to recognize they are based on pragmatics and not racist values, so I tend to be a little aggressive in presentation as a coping strategy. I thank you for not taking offense and returning a practical and very civil response. I agree with you on deportation, but I'm surprised you introduce the topic since usually that's an false argument thrown in by liberals, and I'm pretty sure you are not a liberal! I've never heard a reasonable conservative say we should deport 10 million Mexicans, but over and over, I hear liberals argue against it as if the conservative had said it. In fact I've always said that we need to close the borders first, and then implement immigration quotas that factor in the number of immigrants that are here (including illegals), and temper immigration quotas accordingly. My view is that on the day we seal the border, we will be ten years away on that date, of that overburden vanishing on its own. In other words, over the period of one decade, some will leave, some will obtain legal status, some will be picked up when they come in contact with authorities on other matters and will be deported (DUI's are a huge problem among illegals so that alone will solve two problems at once), some will end up in prison, some will reach retirement age and settle from work or crime, and some will die from old age or the victims of crimes or risks of their lifestyle. By the time ten years has lapsed, the numbers will be low enough that assimilation will have resumed normal levels. The great thing about assimilation is that it works both ways. Each new immigrant group blends in to our unique kaleidoscopic American culture, and adds a grain of their own flavor. The problem exists only when too many come at once, and the immigrants absorb rather than blend into the host culture. I flatly assert that Mexico is a corrupt Marxist, and crime ridden society, and we must protect future generations from being victimized by the flood of debauchery the immigrants bring with them, perhaps sometimes even unaware of the disease they carry. That's what assimilation is about. For example a few years ago two young immigrant girls came here while in high school. Through affirmative action, they were hired at the County courthouse after graduating high school. Within a couple of years, they were arrested for "fixing tickets." For a "fee" of just a few dollars, these two girls would shred the contents of court dossiers, for friends charged with traffic tickets and DUI's. When they were caught and prosecuted, they were dismayed that anyone cared. After all, in Mexico, it was the prerogative of anyone gaining such a position, to augment their salaries with a little bit of graft. You see, to many, especially among liberals and those in their own culture, they hadn't done anything wrong other than "getting caught." Yes, the crime was absolutely forgivable without any accountability, but the shame of getting caught was being considered not very clever in their chicanery. They and their peer had NOT assimilated. I'm the product of one of those Okie families I told you about, so I speak with a little authority, although I have to say, my Dad was the most honest intelligent, and among the most dignified men I have ever known. He was disgusted with his contemporaries who thought nothing of stealing for a living, and who didn't care how they looked or smelled. Nevertheless, by the time my generation came along, we white "Okies" grew up and went through school with Mexican "wetbacks," Portuguese "greenhorns," a few Italian "waps," and several other flavors of human cultures, and today, you have to see us to know any difference. We sound alike, think alike, vote alike (even most Democrats in name, vote conservatively here). We have about the same values, and participate equally in work, business, and play...we assimilated. In short, goodness is an earned title, not one granted by way of hardship or need, or simply because we are human, or because it's politically popular to qualify that our views aren't prejudice by prefacing our opinion with "they're good people but". In any event, we can agree to disagree, and we all have opinions. You have introduced a great post and good conversation Greg, and I thank you! :) |
I’ve been reading your blog. I really enjoy it! [THUMBUP]