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!
I'm praying for every word the President says Monday night.
Ohio, I sure do hope this will be a thread where we can discuss the issue civilly.
Anyway, I do think that our whole immigration policy needs updated. It doesn't work for us, and just trying to enforce it would not be in our best interests.
Specifically, I think we need an update on the numbers and methods for admitting "guest workers". Those are people who come here to work, not to become citizens. They should not be able to bring family, and they should not be able to stay permanently - only as long as the job they came for lasts.
It should be relatively straightforward for employers to get guest workers if they need them - because if we can't punish employers who hire illegals, we'll never solve the problem.
And we should update the rules for applying for citizenship. They should not be part of the guest worker program, but when we have people who are married to American citizens, and have children born in this country, who are left with no choice other than abandoning their family or illegal status, we are going to have a problem.
People are feeling a lack of security post 9/11 with the boarders open. I think starting the fence will do more to tone down the rhetoric them anything.
People have just gotten scary insane about this issue...unreasonable and like almost wild.
We need to have a rational discussion. Thank you for this thread.
I think that would go a long way toward solving the problem. I would especially go after employers who hire illegals as a cheap source of labor.
You have my vote. You are right on!
Do you remember the old Eddie Murphy comedy special where he tells a story of a guy who keeps getting burned in divorces? Well, the guy goes to Africa to get a bride thinking he'll be safe from civil action if it goes south. He brings this bride back to the US and after a few months, she figures out what the American wives get and she tells her hubbie, "I want half".
Moral of the story, if we legalize the folks who are here and set up a guest worker program, they will demand prevailing wages and benefits, so we gain nothing but a bigger population and a bigger drain on social services.
Here's my solution (well, not really mine but piece meal from other places, but anyways). Step 1 - shut down the southern border (cry me a river on Canada and the oceans, the problem is the southern border) for real with troops and walls. Step 2 - give the illegals who are here 4 months to identify themselves. Those who don't identify themselves go to prison for 5 years before getting deported when we catch up with them. Step 2 - figure out how many illegals are upstanding, send the rest back, send the really bad ones to jail. Step 3 - Give the employers 3 months from the end of the 4 to come clean. Step 4 - now, with the employers having to pay fair wages, see exactly how many low level employees we need. My guess is not that many since we have a 4.7% unemployment rate, not a ZERO% rate. Step 5 - create a guest worker program to accomodate that need.
Employer sanctions will get rid of at least 50% of them.
In phase two you whittle down the rest with some ultimatums to leave or be stripped of all assets and deported. Send to jail and deport all found driving illegally. Make sure none get on welfare medical or housing programs
Neither are they stupid.
You should make no mistake about this- these employers aren't stupid. They KNOW they are hiring illegals and benefit financially from doing so. They aren't the "good guys.
I think the President doesn't realize that this lax approach led to an enormous illegal migration that is hurting the economy and just makes no sense because a nation must control who enters. We're now talking tens of millions and that is a serious situation.
Example: I live in New Jersey. I am noticing that in Home Depot or Lowes it seems like 25% of the customers are Mexican, and they are making announcements to their employees in Spanish. Unless we let in an awful lot of Mexicans legally, I think I am seeing the fact there are more here than the highest numbers usually cited (20 million?)
My answer would be to totally control the border and if we really need the cheap labor, process in people legally in greater numbers. But there has to be control.
#28
Most conservatives will not settle for anything less.
I know Arizona law prevents police officers from asking if lawbreakers are here legally. Am I correct on that?
HOW do we, outside the affect states help get your laws enforced?
Secure the border first, then ask that all illegals return home for a quick Guest Worker permit registration & biometrics ID card, at a cost of $500 or so per person. Those who don't go home to voluntarily register get rounded up and deported, and put on a "Not Welcome Back" list.
Everyone in Washington knows the solutions, they are ignoring them.
1. Have the President tell illegals to go home and tell them they are not welcome here illegally. (lol)
2. End Anchor Babies
3. Enforce Employer Sanctions, eliminate loopholes.
4. Eliminate all benefits for illegals. No public schools, no welfare, no free hospitals.
5. End talk of Amnesty.
Thousands have been writing to their representatives, the GOP, and President for years, and they have not just turned a deaf ear but opened the doors to illegals.
Tell Washington if they don't have the guts to forego amnesty put it to a vote of the American People.
Absolutely!
Yeah, just enforce the laws. People who are trying to feed their kids won't try to sneak across the border then. Whatever you do, don't try to go after your employers for enticing them. We don't want anyone seeing the campaign of distraction from surrendering in the War on Terror and keeping imports cheap. Now don't look at the rate increases and importance of cheap freight fuel. Just keep your eyes on the Mexicans.
So tomorrow you are going to apply for a vegetable pickers or construction job.
The wages aren't low, some illegals are making $20 or more an hour in construction.
That's another thing that has to stop is these myths and demonization of business.
Good Bahbah....must watch that the authorization is funded.
I like the idea of tariffs on money transfers...
Wait a minute. How is demanding prevailing wages going to drain social services? Most social services are means tested and the more you make the less you get. I don't follow.
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