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 ...
My plan is simple - get rid of anchor babies, arm the border with 50-cal and up automatic weapons, and cut off ALL the free welfare, schooling, and medical coverage that illegals get at the expense of American taxpayers. 99% will leave, 1% will attempt to assimilate.
Immorality on parade enabled by Government handouts.
My neighbors are originally from Hondouras; hard working, clean living, both now fully nationalized American citizens. They came in the legal way, did their time, and I'm proud to count them as my fellow citizens and friends. You're right, there are millions of people like them who came here to work.
But you must admit there is a big difference between being asked to come to someone's house for dinner, and sneaking in the back door at night to make a meal in their kitchen. Even if you bring the food and leave it cleaner, it's still a violation.
That's how a lot of people feel about this topic; like they have been violated somehow and the FedGov doesn't care. It makes rational debate highly problematic.
>Be selective about future immigrants’ country of origin, and terminate multiculturalism as a national value.<
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That’s the best suggestion yet — it has nothing to do with racism but everything to do with the fact that a country has the right to decide who they will let in just as anyone may decide who they will invite into their house.
America should use the immigration selection method that was generally used after WWII:
1. Check his knowledge of the ENGLISH language.
2. Immigrant must have a sponsor who will have to be responsible for him for the first 5 years. No welfare checks possible the first 5 years.
3. Check an immigrant’s education and physical health and see if his skills are of any use in this country.
4. Prospective immigrant must undergo and interview (in English) at US Consulate/Embassy to determine if immigrant can adjust to and assimilate in American society.
I hear ya, 2DV. Nevertheless, we went ahead and nothing changed. The flow has increased and we are facing the consequences of years of inaction.
Japan is smart. Almost no one is let in on a permanent basis and they hardly ever grant Japanese citizenship, or so I’m told.
We have millions of Americans who are sitting on their butts right now. No jobs for immigrants while this is still a problem.
Deport illegals, kill welfare, and encourage employers with tax breaks to hire American nationals only, recruit them, move them if necessary but no illegals on your payroll or we jail the management.
You don’t work, you don’t eat, not even government cheese, unless you are so banged up that you simply cannot do any type of work, including sitting at a desk.
I understand that people legitimately get laid off, this isn’t about them. This is about the loafers and professional babysmamas out there. We shall not subsidize that type of lifestyle, which, regrettably is a American trait that may immigrants are more than willing to assimilate.
Absolutely not. Period.
And enforce both to the max.
Right. When the U6 number is below 5%, then maybe open up the door a little.
No services of any kind to anyone who can't provide a long form birth certificate...I mean, proof of citizenship.
The parasites will self-deport by the tens of millions back to Mexico or Kenya or whatever sewer they crawled out of.
And if they stay, instant 5 years on the inside under the tender care of Sheriff Arapiao in frilly pink panties.
“With an unemployment rate near 10 percent, why are we importing close to a million people a year? America has experienced zero job growth since 2000, yet we have added 10 million legal immigrants plus millions more illegally...”
Problem is once you have one illegal granted amnesty he can now sponsor his wife, kids and family members over new legal immigrants who have no one in the country. Dems use reasonable compromise facade, but when you look behind it for the outcome of such reasonable compromise, it unleashes legal consequences that will benefit the Dems demographically. Dems think like inscrutable lawyers. They have a stragem behind their offer. What looks like a good deal will turn into a nightmare after you are stupid to sign on.
I am very disappointed in Dick Lamm, who, having spent the past 20 years warning people about the immigration problem, both legal and illegal, decides the best way to stop it is TO REWARD IT.
2. Close and seal the border with specific attention to water entry points such as Falcon Lake, Pac. Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Greatly expand the UAV surveillance.
3. Biometric every immigrant and foreign student.
4. Auto deport every foreigner arrested of any felony, gross misdemeanor, or drug or alcohol offense, DUI, etc.
5. No undocumented aliens allowed drivers' licenses or welfare.
6. No undocumented aliens allowed business licenses. That's how they're doing it, the illegals are now the employers in many states, with Tax ID #s they get 1099'd and no longer need a SSN.
7. Any guest worker is issued a 6 month visa and agrees to relinquish citizen rights to offspring.
8. Legalize marijuana.
These 8 simple steps would drastically reduce the illegals and greatly enhance our public safety and prosperity.
The second crucial step is to end multiculturalism as a national value and be much more selective about who we welcome into our country. Immigration isn’t just about quantity. It’s about quality. Since immigration should serve the national interest, it’s fair to ask:
• What does America’s work force need? What choices leave our children the best, most sustainable America?
• Aren’t there significant differences in the speed and completeness of assimilation among different immigrant groups?
• Doesn’t it make a difference whether we take 1,000 Chinese, Japanese, or Koreans as opposed to 1,000 people from south of our border? Just look at the astonishing Asian success rates, and the failure of so many Latinos to graduate even from high school – and the divisive evolution of Spanish to become, de facto, our second national language....
The late Mexican-American columnist Richard Estrada captured the essence of the problem in a letter he wrote in 1991:
“The problem in which the current immigration is suffused is, at heart, one of numbers; for when the numbers begin to favor not only the maintenance and replenishment of the immigrants’ source culture, but also its overall growth, and in particular growth so large that the numbers not only impede assimilation but go beyond to pose a challenge to the traditional culture of the American nation, then there is a great deal about which to be concerned.”
His point is underscored by the recent reports that more than half of the children born in California, Texas, and New Mexico were born to Latino mothers.
please see both my comments toward the bottom of this thread
Nope
“But you must admit there is a big difference between being asked to come to someone’s house for dinner, and sneaking in the back door at night to make a meal in their kitchen. Even if you bring the food and leave it cleaner, it’s still a violation.”
I agree, which is why there are designated ports of entry. A policy like this would decrease the desire to go around the designated ports of entry, because if you were willing to announce your intention to immigrate and pay the fee to show you were serious about it, that would be it. Hardly ‘sneaking in the back door’, and you would use the money raised by collecting the entry fee to pay for improvements in border security against those who do not wish to pay the fee, smugglers, etc.
That’s my take on it, and I think that’s the fairest way to do it rather then quotas of any sort. Quotas can be manipulated by politicians, to let in people they want, and reject perfectly qualified immigrants because they aren’t the right colour, background, etc. Often well qualified immigrants face this difficulty, they want to contribute to american society, while those who would vote democrat go to the front of the line .
‘That’s how a lot of people feel about this topic; like they have been violated somehow and the FedGov doesn’t care. It makes rational debate highly problematic.”
They have been lied to about immigration. They continue to be lied to about immigration, and turning it into a race issue, when that is the furthest thing from the truth. There are latino American citizens, and there are illegal white immigrants. This is not a racial problem, anymore so than stating that not all crimes are committed equally by all groups.
I understand the desire to screen and examine immigrants prior to entry in the US. Border security and the interests of American citizens must come first. I feel a policy like this does slice through the majority of the bureaucracy, and at the same time refocuses the debate on the main point. Immigration isn’t bad, welfare is, and the reason why is because America was built on Immigration and crippled by welfare. The enemy is not really immigration, but welfare.
“What does America’s work force need?”
Good question. Why would we ask the government to decide what the answer to this question is?
“What choices leave our children the best, most sustainable America?”
Screw sustainable. What policies will lead to a prosperous America for our children? Why must the best we can hope for is to ‘sustain’ rather than improve?
“Aren’t there significant differences in the speed and completeness of assimilation among different immigrant groups?”
Is the best assessment of capability of assimilation the race of the applicant? I don’t think that’s necessarily true. I think instant deportation would do a long way to provide increased compliance. Don’t want to live by US laws, then get a one way ticket out of the country. No exceptions.
Secondly, no spanish government documents. Everything is done in English. Don’t understand the language, tough. You must learn. I wouldn’t mind an English requirement for everyone to enter the country but then the question is how do you assess this? This wasn’t the policy at Ellis Island, and yet assimilation still worked.
I think the answer is to cease parallel instruction in spanish. Cease catering to all second languages, and getting behind ESL programs to increase language competency.
• Doesn’t it make a difference whether we take 1,000 Chinese, Japanese, or Koreans as opposed to 1,000 people from south of our border? Just look at the astonishing Asian success rates, and the failure of so many Latinos to graduate even from high school – and the divisive evolution of Spanish to become, de facto, our second national language....
The late Mexican-American columnist Richard Estrada captured the essence of the problem in a letter he wrote in 1991:
“The problem in which the current immigration is suffused is, at heart, one of numbers; for when the numbers begin to favor not only the maintenance and replenishment of the immigrants’ source culture, but also its overall growth, and in particular growth so large that the numbers not only impede assimilation but go beyond to pose a challenge to the traditional culture of the American nation, then there is a great deal about which to be concerned.”
His point is underscored by the recent reports that more than half of the children born in California, Texas, and New Mexico were born to Latino mothers.
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