Two Steps Toward a Sensible Immigration Policy

The New York Times ^ | August 14, 2005 | DAVID BROOKS

[kellynla]

What do you say to the working-class guy from the south side of San Antonio? He feels his wages are stagnating because he has to compete against illegal immigrants. He watches thousands of people streaming across the border, bankrupting his schools and health care system, while he plays by the rules. What do you say to the working-class guy from the south side of San Antonio? He feels his wages are stagnating because he has to compete against illegal immigrants. He watches thousands of people streaming across the border, bankrupting his schools and health care system, while he plays by the rules.

He's no racist. Many of his favorite neighbors are kind, neat and hard-working Latinos. But his neighborhood now has homes with five cars rotting in the front yard and 12 single men living in one house. Now there are loud parties until 2 a.m. and gang graffiti on the walls. He read in the local paper last week that Anglos are now a minority in Texas and wonders if anybody is in charge of this social experiment.

What do you tell him about the immigration system?

He's no racist. Many of his favorite neighbors are kind, neat and hard-working Latinos. But his neighborhood now has homes with five cars rotting in the front yard and 12 single men living in one house. Now there are loud parties until 2 a.m. and gang graffiti on the walls. He read in the local paper last week that Anglos are now a minority in Texas and wonders if anybody is in charge of this social experiment.

What do you tell him about the immigration system?

[kellynla]

Here's a start.

[InsureAmerica]

Again with the stutter??? What gives here??

[Lobbyist]

So it doesn't matter how many beer-swilling good old boys appoint themselves citizen border guards, we're not going to get this situation under control until we understand this paradox: The more we simply crack down, the more disorder we get.

Smart people understand this,... Among practical people..., .

Brooks is a condescending a$$. Characterizing people who disagree with illegal immigration as beer-swilling good old boys is unfair. So now "practical people, smart people" are the operative words in the lexicon of the open borders crowd. This is the same sort of crap that Tamar Jacoby expressed during the Prop. 200 initiative. Jacoby explained in her WSJ piece that the citizens of Arizona did not understand the complexities of a global economy.

[kellynla]

all we have to do is consider the source of criticism...
Brooks & the NYT...
nuff said! LOL

[cripplecreek]

Those "practical people, smart people" have chosen anarchy as a means of getting their way. The don't like the law so they simply choose to ignore it, all the while calling their opposition names and screeching hyperbole. (I heard an Immigration attorney call the Minutemen "Grown men, armed to the teeth, seeking human targets" just the other day.)

[Lobbyist]

I'm tired of it.

[layman]

What do you tell him about the immigration system?

You tell him the truth. You tell him that his federal representatives and senators need to be FIRED for failing to fulfill their basic responsibilities.

[AmericanChef]

I like your answer.

[johnnyBbad]

Step one: no Muslims.

That is all.

[Lobbyist]

It’s easy for a guy who doesn’t have to worry that his pay will be undercut by an illegal alien to cast aspersions on Americans who do suffer that fate. Being a columnist and best-selling author Brooks’ is able to take a decidedly academic view on an issue that effects the rest of us beer-swilling Americans.

[26lemoncharlie]

I agree, just move this wall to the borders and CONTROL them!!

[ncountylee]

But we can't just act like lunkheads and think we can solve this problem with brute force.

Why? Troops and/or a wall or both will work. Call me a lunkhead if you must revert to name calling.

We're not going to deport 11 million people.

Why? While this will be a major project, only the will to do it is needed and time can be taken (2 to 5 years).

[R.W.Ratikal]

There is only one immigration policy that makes sense.

1. Deport all illegal aliens immediately
2. Declare an immigration moratorium of 50 to 75 years
3. Seal the border, if necessary bring home the troops stationed overseas to patrol our borders.
4. Require aspiring citizens to be able to read, write and speak English fluently; be self-suficient; possess a skill; be educated; and have a sponsor that will be responsible for the new citizen.
5. After two years review each new citizen to be sure he or she is assimilating into the American culture.
6 Stop giving health and welfare benefits to immigrants, especially illegal aliens.

[jordan8]

So much crap on such a small cracker. Translation: amnesty now, amnesty forever.

Since 1986, we've tripled the number of Border Patrol agents and increased the enforcement budget 10 times over, but we haven't made a dent in the number of illegals who make it here. We've got agents chasing busboys while who knows what kind of terrorists are trying to sneak into this country.

Potemkin enforcement and Brooks knows it. This is a conscious lie. Last year there were 3, count 'em, 3 raids on businesses thought to be employing illegals. That's the real enforcement. There is no effort to enforce immigration laws. Increasing the Border Patrol is a PR stunt, as the results show.

More on this later.

[Desron13]

"Jacoby explained in her WSJ piece that the citizens of Arizona did not understand the complexities of a global economy."

Thats right. Us yokels out here in fly over country are just too simple to understand that we really need to destroy this country to save it.

[DumpsterDiver]

ping

[gubamyster]

ping

[dennisw]

It's piece of crap, pro amnesty, article by David Brooks, which you cannot tell just by reading the part excerpted.

[hispanarepublicana]

Characterizing people who disagree with illegal immigration as beer-swilling good old boys is unfair

Well, admittedly, I do swill beer. And wine. But I'm a good old gal.

[jackbenimble]

Brooks & the NYT...

David Brooks may have put his byline on this article but it was about 100% pure Tamar Jacoby who is the Shill in Chief for the Bush Shamnesty.

We have not even begun to try to enforce our immigration laws. There are something like 10,000 agents guarding our Mexican Border while there are 40,000 cops in New York City (The NYTimes should know that). I'll believe our immigration laws can't be enforced when I see a legitimate effort.