Posted on 01/06/2003 8:33:03 AM PST by Sabertooth
So long as we think some fake IDs, such as the one at right that President Bush's daughter Barbara was caught using, are ok (see FR threads on how "everyone does it"), we are going to have illegals and criminals getting fake IDs.
Until we take all fake documents seriously, we will continue to have problems with illegals and criminals.
You cannot have one policy for the underage drinkers and another for the illegals and criminals, and expect that it can be maintained.
LOL!
But generally speaking a good rule of thumb is this: where no formal verification of identity is remotely necessary, you'll be asked for a ton of it; where it might conceivably be useful, you'll breeze through. If they ever do push through this mandatory Federal Identity Card, you can bet you'll be required to produce it if you want to enrol your three-year old in the Thomas The Tank Engine Junior Engineers' Club at your neighbourhood toy store, entitling you to 5% off your tenth purchase of Thomas-related items. But you'll never be asked for it if you want a baggage-screening job on Air Force One, and, even if you are, you'll be able to buy one for 30 bucks from a guy in a parking lot.
More painful truth. But anybody who objects gets the usual "Agggh we're at war!" and so on. Never mind that this nonsense won't make us any safer--the sheeple will feel safer.
Wrong wicket. This is a wicket that almost all Americans go through to get what is now standard identification. I've known blind people who get "drivers" licenses with the restriction that they're not allowed to drive, so that they can have acceptable ID for writing a check. Whether or not such a source of standard ID is a good or bad idea, making it hard to get a driver's license will get a lot of people legitimately annoyed.
There are two problems here: 1. Keeping dangerous people out of the country, legally and illegally. 2. Keeping illegals from getting welfare benefits.
Second problem first, the problem isn't getting identification. It's the range of unnecessary services that the country provides. Decrease or eliminate government welfare provisions and illegals won't be taking as much of them. Get the government out of health care there will be fewer illegals getting such benefits.
As for keeping dangerous people out, we need better security at the borders and better screening of people who are allowed in. My libertarian streak tells me that anyone who wishes to come to this country to work for a living should be allowed to. But my streak for keeping the country secure tells me that those coming in should have to be checked, carefully, before they are allowed in and those who try to sneak in without going through such checks should be stopped.
Making it hard to get in, except through proper procedure will make things difficult for would-be terrorists. Making it hard to get government benefits, will make things difficult for people who come to the U.S. to collect benefits without work. Making it hard to get a driver's license will make things difficult for all of us.
If this was ever a good idea, it isn't since September 11th: If five al-Qaeda Pakistanis on British passports really did slip across the border -- well, OK, not "slip," that makes it sound as if it requires some skill -- but, if they really did get across the 49th parallel, all they have to do is hook up with America's "undocumented" support network and the Tennessee DMV will do the rest.
Well, if you're an enthusiastic Bush supporter, then your preferred policies are closer to Tommy Daschle than mine.
Why don't they just apply for a state issued ID card instead of a driver's license? In every state that I've lived in, that state's Department of Motor Vehicles issued both driver's licenses and ID cards.
Other than that each should honor their oath to uphold the laws of the United States. As if that mattered to any of them.
I don't think things are going to change that much regarding immigration. The fact that the Liberals and the media favor immigration may in part explain the failure of the GOP to speak out and do something against it in fear that the media would accuse them of being mean, heartless, and exclusive. We have seen how the GOP and the public have behaved at the media censure of Trent Lott. On the other hand, going against public opinion may also be a detriment for the Republic Party come 2004. So far, doing nothing hasn't had many consequences because, even thought the majority of people want immigration reduced, they haven't retaliated against their members of Congress when they have failed to comply.
According to Marine Inspector, at least 5,000 illegal aliens are entering our country everyday, since Bush took office.
That's unconscionable.
I'm not giving Bush and the other RINOs another 18 months to do what they know should have been done more than 18 years ago.
He doesn't have any time to waste in my book.
No. The President you love and adore has made it nearly impossible for the INS to go after illegal aliens. And the last thing he wants is to bring more light to his complete failure on the issue of illegal aliens.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.