Posted on 06/06/2007 10:54:43 PM PDT by goldstategop
Nobody ever said being a parent is easy. But do politicians have to make it harder?
Here I've been all these years, teaching my three children that you can't get something for nothing. If youwant something, you have to work for it. Now along comes the Senate to debate an immigration bill that would undermine that very principle.
It's a simple question of mathematics. The Heritage Foundation's Robert Rector – probably the most widely quoted expert in the country on immigration – has crunched the numbers and figured out the average illegal immigrant family receives about $30,000 annually in government benefits. But that same family pays only $9,000 in taxes.
You don't need a calculator to see that leaves a shortfall of $21,000. As Rector puts it, that's like having the taxpayers buy every illegal immigrant family a brand-new Mustang convertible every year!
And by taxpayers, of course, I mean you and me. And your neighbors. And your friends. I'm talking about everybody who clings to the notion of fair play and hard work – who thinks the American Dream is something you strive to earn, not something you passively accept, as if it were a government handout.
Supporters of the Senate bill may want to deride their opponents as xenophobes who hate immigration, but that's a ludicrous caricature. In reality, they are people who are glad to accept immigrants who come here legally and become American citizens. But they also don't want their children taught that lawbreakers get a slap on the wrist and win the jackpot prize to live on the government dole.
The bill's proponents are persistent, though. The status quo is unacceptable, they say, so let's pass this bill and go from there.
They're right about the status quo. But for a viable solution, I'd suggest looking to former Attorney General Edwin Meese III, who has published a paper laying out the essential principles of any sensible immigration reform. Mr. Meese was there in 1986 when the last amnesty bill passed Congress, so he knows this battle first-hand and the many pitfalls of offering amnesty to the masses of people who have broken our laws.
He outlines six principles for reform:
1. America's immigration system must be a national strength and not a strategic vulnerability.
"From a national security perspective, preventing illegal entry and reducing unlawful presence in the United States is an imperative. An uncontrolled immigration system encourages the circumvention of immigration laws and is a clear invitation to those who wish to take advantage of our openness to cause this nation harm."
2. The rule of law requires the fair, firm and consistent enforcement of the law, and immigration is no exception.
"Federal, state and local law enforcement must be allowed to enforce immigration law consistent with their legal authority. Federal and state governments must provide law enforcement with the necessary resources to enforce and prosecute these laws, and the federal government should expand programs to assist states and territories in their immigration law enforcement efforts."
3. Those who enter, remain in and work in the country illegally are in ongoing and extensive violation our immigration laws.
"Forgiving or condoning such violations by granting amnesty increases the likelihood of further illegal conduct. Failure to enforce immigration laws is deeply unfair to the millions who obey the law and abide by the administrative requirements to enter the country legally."
4. Each nation has the responsibility – and obligation – to determine its own conditions for immigration, naturalization and citizenship.
"The United States welcomes those who come here in accord with the law. Individuals who are not citizens do not have a right to American citizenship without the consent of the American people as expressed through the laws of the United States."
5. Immigration policy should be a fiscal and economic benefit not only for immigrants, but also for the nation as a whole.
"Most individuals and families that immigrate to the United States come seeking economic opportunity. Unlike previous generations, however, a generous welfare, education and health system with generous eligibility draws poor and low-skill immigrants into the ranks of the underclass rather than encouraging self-reliance and financial independence. Policymakers must ensure that the interaction of social services and immigration policy does not expand the welfare state and impose significant costs on American society."
6. A temporary worker program must be temporary, market-oriented and feasible.
"A balanced and well-constructed temporary worker program should diminish the incentives for illegal immigration by providing an additional option for legal temporary labor and, in combination with other reforms, reduce over time the current population of illegal aliens."
To find out more about the dangers of amnesty and to get a free Amnesty Disaster report, visit NoFreeMustang.com. We must speak up on behalf of genuine reform. Our future deserves nothing less.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I wish someone in the spotlight would put things in such terms; it would expose the people who want to undermine the rule of law.
My office is near a county run welfare distribution center. I often see illegal aliens drive up with their brand new Mustang Convertibles (I'm not kidding) and their BMW's and Cadillac Escalades and pull their anchor babies out of their car seats and go inside to get welfare benefits.
Just say NO to Amnesty!! Before it’s too late!!
U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121
U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121
White House comments: (202) 456-1111
Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep
Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
1-800-417-7666. (English number) will direct you right to your Senators . . . please tell them you oppose this bill.
People should be more upset that than they are (it was barely on the news last night) that they killed an amendment to the amnesty bill that would have barred giving legal residence to felons. In other words, 600,000 felons who are currently illegal and could be deported will be given the right to remain in the country legally. They did pass Kennedy’s amendment that will bar sexual offenders from residence . . . which he put in to kill the stricter amendment barring all felons . . . but the Senate then voted to allow murderers, armed robbers, credit card fraudsters (which is how a lot of the Muslim terrorists fund themselves), and all other felons to be given the Z visa and stay. Here in Florida, where I live, we will probably get over 10% of them . . . over 60,000 new criminals to legally walk our streets with full rights when they get out of jail. It’s horrible to think about but they will be walking the same streets as my daughter.
Good for Eisenhower. He did the right thing and we can do the right thing. Make sure the illegals go back to their own countries and deal with the problems in them.
7. Any implementation of the above six principles must involve either a repeal of the 14th Amendment or an application of it to its original intent. No anchor babies.
8. Legal immigration to address labor shortages should not be a means to suppress market wages of citizens. Such actions undermine the ability of the country to produce its own vital scientific, engineering and technical workers by providing disincentives to enter such fields.
I used to teach a college course in Personnel Management. One part of the course dealt with writing Want Ads. Every semester I'd clip some from the paper to use as examples. There was one kind I could always find. It would read something like this: "Wanted. Engineer with Masters Degree and 5 years exsperience. Satary $25,000." I'd tell the class that when they saw an ad like that, the company had lined up a foreigner for the job, and was going through the motions of proving that no American would take the job. Employers haven't changed since I taught tht class. They're still "going through the motions" to screw American workers.
WRITE! WRITE! WRITE! WRITE! TILL YOU RUN OUT OF INK IN YOUR PEN!
Bombard the Democrats as well, especially the ones that ran on an anti illegal immigration plank and the ones in marginal districts who could be vulnerable. keep pounding on them. This is a bipartisan issue not a Conservative or Liberal issue BUT AN AMERICAN issue.
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