Posted on 10/17/2010 10:41:09 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Denver and Vineyard Haven, Mass. As the debate on immigration policy intensifies, Americans are caught in a false choice between tougher border protection and amnesty for illegals. A compromise solution that both parties can rally behind is possible – but only if we have a revolution in the way we discuss our national identity and values.
At bottom, we must:
1. Substantially reduce levels of legal immigration and end illegal immigration, while providing amnesty – at a price – to most pre-existing illegal immigrants.
2. Be selective about future immigrants’ country of origin, and terminate multiculturalism as a national value.
Not a right-wing concern Concerns about immigration are not confined to the right end of the political spectrum or to “xenophobes” and “nativists.” Both of us, we hasten to add, are avid supporters of President Obama.
The consequences of unchecked immigration affect all Americans. The US population in 1900 was about 76 million; today, it is about 310 million, of which about 47 million are Latinos. Richard Lamm observes:
In my twelve years as governor of Colorado, high levels of immigration, predominantly from Mexico, made virtually every major problem more difficult to solve. At least 50 percent of immigrants today come from Latin America, and they are acculturating much more slowly than prior immigration waves. Additionally:
• A substantial proportion of the patients at the Denver Public Hospital are illegal immigrants, virtually all poor and poorly educated.
• The percentage of Hispanic students in Denver public schools has risen quickly, to 54 percent.
• Public housing in Denver is filled with both legal and illegal immigrants.
• Nationwide, 20 percent of our prison space is occupied by foreign-born inmates, disproportionately Latinos...
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
No amnesty for existing illegal aliens. The first step in any serious plan has to be the construction of a Wall to stop the problem from getting bigger. Then we start work on sending people home.
It's not a false choice. We had a 'comprehensive solution' in the 80s and we got shafted. They gave us amnesty without border protection.
Never again. Washington must prove they are serious about border control before we will discuss what to do with those already here.
Period.
2. Be selective about future immigrants’ country of origin, and terminate multiculturalism as a national value.
I would also add education to the equation. No adult should be allowed to immigrate to the US without proof of have at least the equivalent of our high school diploma.
Avid supporters?
Even a blind sow...
And make it a hefty fine to employ illegal aliens or make it illegal to provide welfare to illegal aliens. That would send most of them back to where they came from.
Actually, I would say the solution is this.
Cut off all welfare all together.
Enable immigration from everyone who can pay a fee upon entry. Pay the fee, you can stay, look for work, whatever.
However you’ll get no welfare when you are in America.
Fix the welfare problem, and you fix the immigration problem. The problem is not that the productive people willing to give up their lives in order to come to America and make a better life, the problem is the folks who come looking for a handout.
There are many latino folks who are productive, work hard, etc. There are many white folks who sit on their butts all day and collect a check. Why do we give the white folks a pass, while we despise the latino folks who are trying to make a better life for themselves? It makes no sense to me.
If they want to work and be productive, and pay taxes, welcome to America. Pay the fee, go to work, have at it.
You want a welfare check? Here’s a one way ticket. Goodbye.
All I want the government to do is keep their kids out of the schools and arrest and deport the ones who commit crimes of violence, fraud or theft.
The plan is for an episode of the Bold and the Retarded.
Here’s a more productive plan:
Call up the President of Mexico and say if all his citizens in the U.S. illegally aren’t back in Mexico by July 4, 2011, the U.S. will start bombing their cities one at a time, beginning with the Mexico City, until every city in Mexico is reduced to a smoldering crater.
I can understand why people want to come here and escape the corrupt hell holes some countries have become (or have been for decades).
But we would be able to self-deport millions if we stop enabling them with massive government programs that lavish the benefits of being American citizens onto folks who are not.
America cannot continue to absorb the tab that accompanies illegal immigration. We were promised years ago that once amnesty was bestowed on those already here, enforcement would be beefed up.
It didn't happen. The floodgates opened and the FedGov looked the other way.
I don't trust either Party to get it right. We'll need a strong 3rd Party candidate for 2012.
Amnesy first! I get it. Been there; done that. Trashed the fround.
Here’s a workable compromise. Border security; draconian enforcement measures. English only for ALL governmental fucntions. 10 Year moratorium on all legal immigration except as might be required for national security (0?).
After the 10 years are up, see how many illegals will remain to qualify for amnesty. Continue until there are none.
From the link:
“Action steps
The policy implications are clear:
• We must end illegal immigration by enforcing the laws on employment and strengthening our control of our southern border.
• We should calibrate legal immigration annually to (1) the needs of the economy, and (2) past performance of immigrant groups with respect to acculturation and contribution to our society.
• We should declare our national language to be English and discourage the proliferation of Spanish language media.
• We should end birthright citizenship, limiting citizenship by birth to children with at last one parent who is a citizen.
• We should provide immigrants with easy-to-access educational services that facilitate acculturation, including English language, citizenship, and culture.”
Not too much here with which to disagree apart from adding the caveat that we will provide acculturation education services only to LEGAL immigrants.
It’s a start, at least...
“Never again. Washington must prove they are serious about border control before we will discuss what to do with those already here.”
Send ‘em back.
Period.
The Federal government needs to enforce the people’s laws on immigration. Why do they think they have a choice. If they won’t enforce them they need to be removed from office.
Comprehensive immigration reform is a bait and switch, they will enforce the bait, amnesty, but now the switch, deportation.
If we have the rule of law the laws must be enforced.
It’s already against the law to knowingly employ illegals. The other won’t happen because they want their votes, even though, as non-citizens, they shouldn’t be voting.
Yes. I don’t agree with these two, but that they are even able to look at a solution to a problem The 0ne doesn’t even see is quite telling!
No amnesty. Period.
Many Asian countries, like Singapore, will let you immigrate if you start a business that will employ X number of people. I believe there’s a down payment required.
that promise came from Ted Kennedy. Mary Jo could’ve told us what his word was worth.
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