Well..... I am wondering how many of us think about this EVERY single day. Here is the latest legislation trying to get thru. What thinks YE ? http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070607/D8PJU2F00.html
While I believe they should be treated with compassion and dignity, they are still illegal immigrants who have broken the law of the very country they wish to stay in. They should be treated accordingly and returned to their country of origin. If they wish to enter the US through the legal process of immigration and naturalization they should be given consideration to do so in due time. I think the proposed legislation is a slap in the face to all immigrants who entered this great country legally. It would set a dangerous precedent.
Really....trying....not....to....post....anything.................in....political....threads........ (But if I did, I would say that we should return to pre-1965 ratios based on population. Illegal in my Webster's Dictionary of the English language means just that...ILLEGAL.)
I haven't read this legislation, but being a first generation mexican american it's a big easier for me to see BOTH sides of the situation. People want to prevent illegal immigrants from coming to the US, but yet they don't want the prices of anything they buy to go up. Unfortunately, cheap illegal labor is a big part of our economy. From construction to agricultural labor to the service industry, cheap labor is already baked into all of thoses costs. It's like products made overseas, everyone keeps buying the shoes/clothes, but turns a blind eye to the fact that kids are making them for a nickel an hour in some third world country. If you really want illegal immigrants to stop coming over, only buy from companies/businesses that only use legal labor. It'll never happen b/c no one wants to pay 30/40% more for the house that was built by legal labor vs. the house down the street that's exactly the same but way cheaper b/c of the use of illegal labor. If some kind of real legislation ever gets passed that really does prevent illegals from easily entering the US, expect an increase in price in a LOT of products b/c the buck will get passed onto the consumer. From grapes to real estate to restaraunts, it'll happen. Why do you think the government hasn't raised the minimum wage in forever? Because the cost of increasing minimum wage to where it should be after so many years of not increasing it, it would be a huge hit to the large and small businessman. This would depress the economy and increase the cost for almost all items to the regular consumer. I'm not saying it shouldn't be done, I'm just saying that's why it hasn't been done. Same reason the government will never take a real stand against illegal immigration. Just my two cents. ~Joshua
Well, that certainly won't change with the legislation as it is proposed. You're right, Joshua, in that the government has too many irons in the fire to really do anything about this. The Republicans are supposedly for law and order, and yet they also are seen as the party of business and commerce and don't want to be seen as hurting American business. The Democrats are looking for new voters, and they know that, no matter which way this goes, it's a loss for the President. If they pass this, the Republican base will desert in droves, and if they don't, the Dems will say that the President has failed (since he is backing this.)
Registered Republican here, and proud to say so. Now..... as much as I dislike discussing politics I felt the need to talk about this because illegal immigration SHOULD NOT be a political issue. This is a matter of national security, first and foremost. Im not going to get into who did what or why didnt we do this or any of those conversations...what I would like to talk about is : How do we, the US of A, keep bad guys out of our country ? I believe: 1. The legislation we currently have on the books should be enforced. 2. Figure out methods for securing ALL our borders. 3. Take some time and discuss ways of how to deal with / assimilate / what have you, those who are here now illegally. AND... 4. Lets make absolutely certain we are as safe as possible. Public Safety is (should be) the PRIMARY goal of any government.
Aw, but Rick, it is inexorably tied to politics. I am very disappointed in this President, for whom I voted twice, and the Republicans for even proposing this legislation in the first place, much less continuing to support it. I wholeheartedly agree that we must first enforce the laws that are on the books now. But Joshua makes a good point. All that gets lost in the political wrangling that is currently going on.
As a general statement it amazes me how many problems we have that just need existing laws enforced instead of new laws and compromises. I can't really say anything about illegal immigration because CA farms and service industries truly depend on illegal labor. Livestock & Horse ranches do too. This country was built on immigration legal or otherwise.
So, Rick, you are saying illegal immigrants = bad guys? Perhaps you meant to start a thread on National Security, not Illegal Immigration.
