Posted on 05/12/2006 5:47:27 PM PDT by ohioWfan
I’m going to try something entirely new to Free Republic………..start a thread restricted to practical, positive. pro-active things that this huge forum filled with good people who love this country can actually DO about helping to solve the illegal immigration problem, and how we can ‘encourage’ our leaders at all levels to get their acts together.
This is not a thread for venting or attacking (Heaven knows, that‘s been done plenty around here!). Let’s keep it entirely positive……..no attacks on the President and ‘Bushbots’ or the GOP………or on each other, from EITHER side. No threats to ’kick the GOP bums out’ …….we all know that the risk of having Dems in power is too great for that irresponsible threat. NO name-calling from EITHER side……..’Jorge‘ and ‘El Presidente‘ both qualify as disrespectful name-calling. (Perhaps we can all just ignore anyone who tries to turn this into a hostile thread, and punch the abuse button, but NOT engage in battle with him/her). Disagree, but be respectful about it.
What we really need are practical things we can do……with links to key Senate and Congressional offices, the White House, as well as STATE and LOCAL government offices, examples of THOUGHTFUL and POSITIVE letters to our leaders that will actually be read, and responded to. Phone numbers, and ideas for THOUGHTFUL and POSITIVE phone calls to leaders. What we also need are specific PRAYER requests for you, so that those of us who believe that our God is the God of the impossible can be on our knees in prayer for the details of this immense problem. We need fervent prayer for the President and Congress, as well as our State and Local authorities. And we need Freeper creativity!
We are LEGION, and together, I believe we can make a difference in moving this engine down the track more rapidly.
There are people who are very angry with the President and the Republicans in Congress, and people who still respect and admire the President greatly, and are angry with the Republicans in Congress……..and even some who are NOT angry with the Republicans in Congress (OK……..maybe not..... :)………..but we ALL want to end this invasion, and help our brothers and sisters in the Southwest to have their safe and normal lives return, and prevent the invasion from moving further.
Those of us outside the region may not understand what things are like, but we want to, so if those of you in the affected states could give us more details about how bad this is, without belittling us because we don’t live there, it would be much appreciated. We know it‘s bad, and we care about it, even though we cannot fully appreciate it from where we sit.
There is a great work force of pro-Bush people out in freeper lurker land who have been shoved out of the discussion by bashers. There are lots of us who want to know what’s going on, but wouldn’t go on a standard immigration thread if our lives depended on it, because the disdain for us there is palpable. We may agree with the idea of a guest worker program, or we may not, but we don‘t want to be labeled just because our ideas are different.
So…… LET US HELP YOU, PLEASE! We are activists, and we are willing to work.
Tell us what we can do. Let’s band together on this important issue to do whatever we can do to put pressure on Congress, the White House, state and local governments………polite, respectful pressure……….as well as encouraging them when they do make good decisions, and see what happens.
What do you think? Can we be pro-active and actually get something done? Can we discuss this without rancor, but with the common goal in mind to rescue our beloved country from invasion?
If you think so, please ping those who will, without personal attacks, tell us their stories, and let us get involved in getting something done. This thread is not to place blame, but to come up with solutions.
This is America………..and we are Freepers! Let’s ROLL!
Trublu, I think we're assuming he is going to move in our direction ... and if he does it will be important not to entirely reject the overture.
Just answer this question and answer it truthfully, how do people who can't afford to feed their kids, as you put it, afford to pay a coyote 5 grand to come across the border?
BTW, enforcing the law includes fining and jailing employers. If the jobs are not here, they won't come across.
As for people in Mexico(or ANY country) not being able to feed their families, since when is that our business? Isn't it up to good old Fox and the boys to keep an economy that will support their citizens? We can't feed, clothe and house the whole world.
Enforcement of present laws, real enforcement, will stop this problem in it's tracks, and the ILLEGALS here now will self deport.
There are only 3 builders authorized by the association where I live. All three employ only citizens and the most expensive house in here is $250K - and we all have an acre or more. Now, on the west coast, houses cost 5 times what they do here, and the builders employ illegals.
Beyond this, are you saying it's OK for an illegal to live in the states as long as they keep their butts in poverty and out of your neighborhood? That's slavery, man.
IMHO, pass the FairTax!!!
But if we coordinate our efforts, including perhaps reporting employers to the authorities (to Chertoff?), then something more might happening.
There is movement up there...........we can just give it a shove.
Then put the troops at the California/Nevada border :)
Tens of thousands of illegals in San Diego are getting free medical care.
The rest of us have to have insurance or pay up front.
Illegals can get special loans for homes
the rest can not get.
The illegals can get free tuition
the rest can not get on that program.
etc, etc, It is costing San Diego residents tens of millions of dollars a year to care for the illegals.
If you would like to contribute to the support please do.
Interesting. So do you believe that if we "legalize" these illegals they will lose their jobs to the next wave of illegals? If that's the case, we are just buying more welfare cases if we allow amnesty.
Good point. Arizona people need to make a BIG deal about this.
5. No more free health care, education, etc. for anyone who is not a citizen.
This is costing all of us a bundle, and wreaking havoc on the health care systems in the affected areas.
7. Stop making all instructions & signs in 2 languages - ENGLISH ONLY.
BOY, do I agree with this! WHO has decided to put signs in the middle of Ohio in Spanish?
Shall we write to Lowes, or whatever companies have done this........en masse??
Implement those five steps and we won't really need to build a wall.
Not that I'm against a wall, but I think we can skin the cat without spending all that money on contractors who'd most likely just hire illegals to build the damned thing anyway.
L
Look don't put words in my mouth. You said that legalizing those that are here would demand prevailing wages and then drain social services. That does not compute. Now, I agree that anyone that works should make what the prevailing wage is so if the guest workers want to strike then I would assume there would be many citizens more than ready to take their place, until they decide to strike of course. The problem for the guest workers is that if they are not working then they have to leave. That is the whole point. But yes, without illegal labor rates you will be surprised at the at least temporary inflation rates. It will have a ripple effect so you had best be prepared.
Good for you for starting the thread, OWF. I'll check in tomorrow as I've had my fill of immigration discussion today, although this sounds like a thread where freepers can actually talk with each other and learn something. How refreshing!
There are some really good ideas being kicked around here, with a minumum of negativity.
I concur! Our hope does not lie in the hands of the dems. We ended up with clinton because of Perot. Staying home will result in the same thing. Of course, I don't have to be happy if the President doesn't make an honest attempt to start solving this problem.
Not a bad idea at all. I lived in Maricopa County for four years. He is one tough SOB who gets the job done despite threats and complaints from civil rights groups.
ACLU would cry about the pink panties though, ROFL!
It's not an ingenious thing ... it's common sense ... but D.C. Republicans are losing it in their inexplicable search for a "comprehensive" solution.
Defer the whole question of what to do with illegals already in the country ... and focus on stopping the flow first.
Realistically, we're not going to get the President to implement a mass exportation of illegals or totally drop his notion of a guest worker plan.
Our message needs to be: Close the borders first, then we can talk about the other stuff.
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