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!
No, illegals don't come here to undercut other workers. They come here because there are jobs.
"Enforce the laws. Stop the flow. Protect our borders."
"Do we all agree on that?"
Yep. No borders by definition means no country and that means we have surrendered.
I haven't yet read all the posts, but you may be the first to bring this ID card up. Is Georgia the only state that requires an ID to vote? This is a great idea, IMO, and would solve other problems as well.
it irks me that so much of the blame is put on business owners, who for the most part, cannot control the things they must do to remain competitive and stay viable in their respective business environs.
All the anecdotal information about illegals caught at major firms, involve unregulated subcontractors for the most part.
Large businesses have the ability, and the desire to cull illegals from their payrolls, but the sub's cannot do do without losing business to those who will not, and it is a expense that if not applied evenly across the board, will negatively affect any business who employs these measures independently.
Much has to be done in this area, and business lobbies are strong. Their respective politicians are very reluctant to do anything as a result, the legal framework and support for business is also reluctant to do anything to rock the boat, and this is the primary reason that the "86 reforms failed so miserably under Reagan.
Excellent points, Seattle.
Not sure that we'll ever be able to remove minimum wage laws - the Dims have been screaming they need to be increased and it wouldn't surprise me if they use that as a bargaining chip for something else (e.g., we'll agree to troops on the border if the Pubbies agree to increase minimum wage). I don't like them, but I can accept them, if they're not increased.
The Dems have already announced that one of, if not the first things on their agenda when they take over the Congress is to raise minimum ways (one of the gazillion reasons we CAN'T let that happen!)
But the minimum wage IS one of the reasons the low waged illegals are attractive to business owners. They are willing to break the law to get more money (nothing new about that!)
GWB must enforce the laws on the books. No amnesty, no pardons, or there must be no GWB. If he can't do that, he must be impeached and thrown out of office for flipping the bird at the American people, the US Constitution, and his oath of office.
So simple that in a few words I can tell you again: Enforce the rule of law, the present laws, not his idea of amnesty.
Indiana requires ID to vote and howie Dean has already declared war on our state because of it...
If you did, you would see just how authoritarian and impossible some of them are.
It is these types of proclamations that make us all look a bit foolish and knee jerking shallow, as we try to come to some sort of consensus regarding this issue.
I have no wish to live in your authoritarian world, nor would anyone else who understands the longterm ramifications of some of the things you propose.
Some really great ideas, and some information that many of us didn't know........almost entirely in a positive light.
This is what we need to CONTINUE doing.............please come back before the band-aids come off. :)
tagline change
National IDs (whatever form) are anathema to American values.
Any nation which implemented them heads toward socialism and tyrrany.
The problem with such IDs is that they constitute a license to exist: no ID, you're not a citizen, we throw you in jail until either the ID can be found or you're deported.
I understand the desire for it, but implementing 'em hands the power of citizenship over to petty bureaucrats. "Papieren, bitte" (papers, please) has long been the catchphrase for the worst gov't oppression in the world.
Get rid of the socialist/welfare/handout/bureaucrat system, return to basic American values, and such paperwork won't be needed.
Your idea about getting Fox to spend much more time with LEGAL immigrants who are Americans and share our views is a good one.
Let's get that idea implemented.
It exceeded my expectations, Coop. By a LONG way.
And then there is the fact that many Americans really DO believe that such jobs are beneath them. Many would much prefer to get welfare, than to work. And yes, I know, the welfare rolls are down substantially, so let's also say that many would rather sell illegal substances, than bus tables.
There has never been a zero% unemployment, in the history of this national; not even in Colonial times.
The demand for "pagina iqual por trabaja igual" (equal pay for equal work) is a reality of this debate. It's coming - Reverend's Al and Jesse are banking on it. I'm just the first guy (that I know of) to point it out ahead of time. We need to brace for it. We need to manage it. Check out my other posts on this thread for my thoughts on the situation if youhaven't already.
Hard, backbreaking work, that most teenagers wouldn't even consider doing. Another layer of the problem..........spoiled kids.
We already have them in the form of State drivers licenses, social security cards, VA cards, business ID's, and birth certificates.
In a world where ID fraud and the presence of guests who are not welcome, the ID becomes one of many things needed to make sure you are who you say.
The "your papers please" analogy just does not work any longer. We need them.
OK, Just what do you think leads to "bilingual education"? To Spanish radio stations? To Spanish TV station? How was it that almost everybody was caught off guard when the first large scale demonstrations happen?
I was shocked a few weeks ago to see that the Bisquick box is now bilingual. This is just my opinion, but I put things like that in the same category as the constant brainwashing that tries to make us accept homosexuality as mainstream....
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