There are too many assumptions being bandied about by well meaning folk over what the "average" conservative US voter 'thinks' about illegal immigrants, etc.If I may speak for a large number of fellow conservatives, what frosts our backsides is the "illegal" part of the situation. Our answer: If it's agin' the law, just don't do it! The US's entire national immigration program responds so slowly as to place folks who follow the 'rules' in a diminished or inferior position when it comes to obtaining entry permission, etc., etc. That's not fair!
And it very unfortunately financially 'rewards' those who take the law into their own hands, ignoring the proscribed process. That's just not right! That part needs to be fixed before we start talking about more and more programs designed to 'fast-track' the application system for those that are already here and want to "legalize" themselves.
This ties in with the post below to the extent that most liberals (democrats) seem to want to excuse the "claim jumper's" lawlessness (or to be more charitable "forgetfulness") on humanitarian grounds. And while that is quite tempting to do, it's also a 'feel good' solution that unfortunately teaches the wrong lesson concerning US culture and the responsibilities of US citizenship.
Somehow we need to quickly re-establish fairness in the system and then solve the extremely human problem of families divided by distance or living while eternally keeping an eye looking over their shoulder, ever watching for 'la migra'. For the most part these persons are happy to be here, consider the US their adopted country, and after a few years will never, ever 'go back home' unless to visit loved ones. They consider themselves to have become "Americans", regardless of their official status.
The phrase "Borders, language and culture" is more than a conservative creed. It is an essential foundation for nation building. A society ignoring those words is living in anarchy. Living with them encourages genuine and humane societal progress.
The US corporate and agricultural world has paid too little lip service to this issue for far too long, riding cheaply and virtually painlessly on the coat-tails of tax-paying citizens and anxious illegal immigrants alike. It's now time for them to step up to the plate and take responsibility for themsevles, and disgard their self-imposed "blinders" when it comes time to verify employee's employment eligibility. It's only the fair thing for them to do.
Cheers
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2 comments:
Grrrr...Can you hear my teeth gnashing? I really can't find anything in your post to truly disagree with, and your view on the blindness of the US corporate/agricultural consortium is completely correct. But, speaking from my own experience as an employer, just how could that happen at my small business level? Without infringing on individual civil rights, which, as you know, are mighty important to us Conservatives. Just asking, Mr. Retired Government Employee.
Regarding your new political slogan, and it's a catchy one, ("If it's agin' the law, just don't do it!”) I am afraid that you, and most Americans (Northern version, also) don’t and can't have a true comprehension of the human motivation behind this issue.
Is it illegal immigration or is it civil disobedience? {;-)}
Amnesty is not a good answer, but it might be a first step (I know – Again!) toward a thoughtful, broader solution, one that would hopefully include a total reworking of USCIS technology that is so incredibly backward and prone to human error. I’ve actually spent some time in hell, which is really located in Los Angeles, inside the Federal Building. The process is truly awful. And that’s from a citizen’s viewpoint.
The road to residency and citizenship should be challenging and rigorous; it should not be de-humanizing, demeaning and lead down a long, rocky road to frustration and defeat. And, Mr. Dweet, you’re absolutely right: It should be a legal process that is transparent and fair. Let’s all support our legislators who see the human side of the issue and work toward intelligent reform.
OK, off the soapbox, girlie- Christmas blessings!
This is the first of at least two comments.
ed said, " just how could that happen at my small business level?"
Fair question, hija. Why couldn’t an enterprising state legislature establish a voluntary subscription program for small businesses based on the proven “backdoor” format (already in use by state DMV’s) to electronically submit via the state’s Department of Labor to a federal database the SSN data of potential employee’s where the information is either confirmed or rejected on-line within seven working days? A program that would also have reasonable steps for “rejected” information from applicants to be further clarified or refined? With a small per item fee of say $10, with the state picking up the rest of the cost? Would that not resolve much of the uncertainty small businesses like yours now face?
I am prepared to discuss this further, but wait your opinion as to whether or not a system like this might alleviate some - or many - of your concerns.
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