Voyager wrote:As many of you know, I usually lean a little to the left on social issues. But I really don't even know where the two political parties stand on this issue, or what they are even debating about. I'd say if the majority of the people want to stop illegal immigration, then the politicians should do what they are paid to do: the will of the people. 83% is a solid majority, so I don't see what the cause for such disagreement is.
RedWingFan wrote:It's pretty simple Voyager. The dems are going to try to get these illegals registered to vote as soon as possible to replace all the independents and democrats they've alienated with the "healthcare" bill.
Most republicans and democrats (among Americans) are against amnesty, as was displayed when Bush and McCain tried to get a bill snuck by the American people a few years ago.
stevew2 wrote:this country would shut down. Who would cut our grass, do landscaping or work on our roads? Americans dont want to do that kind of work.Id rather see the bums ,thugs and crackheads deported first Get rid of the dead weight first.At least them little mexicans work hard
cyndy! wrote:yes, sometimes i think lazy, entitled, americans who are unwilling to work may be hurting our country more than illegal immigrants who are willing to work hard for a better life.
All of you are right and have valid points. Most important is Voyager's very valid question -- if 83% of the American people are asking for a solution, why is the government unwilling to do the will of the people? RedWingFan is closest to the answer, because the incumbents in office (both parties) have a self-serving political agenda that supercedes the will of the American people. It's pretty cut and dry, people. No matter what noble intentions people have when they first run for office, power is a drug that is nearly impossible for most people to handle with grace. Any lip service given during election campaigns toward resolving this problem or many others is just that, and wedge issues like illegal immigration make for great politcal campaign toys. Eventually their
first priority shifts to staying in office even at the expense of their principles and their duties to their constituents. Unfortunately with more eyes on them than ever before thanks to technology, they are forced into endless campaign mode to sell themselves to people. You can't campaign
from office and serve the people at the same time. You definitely cannot solve tough problems.
There are two basic reasons the issue is not being addressed and it effects both parties. RedWingFan is right that it has to do with voting blocs, but there is more to it. It's about currying favor with potential future voters and also fear of offending and losing the support of registered voters sympathetic toward the issue. In a nutshell, it's a cowardly, self-serving way to govern and BOTH parties are guilty of it, more today than ever before. The Republicans had a PERFECT chance to tackle this issue under Bush's 2nd term and they
DIDN'T...
Now Stevew2 and Cyndy also make important points, and that leads to my next one. Every major problem we face could have been resolved pretty easily early on, but they are allowed to grow and fester until they they become too ingrained, complicated and difficult to tackle without hurting our country. This is why they are "wedge" issues, and everyone has a valid point. Yes, illegal immigrants broke the law. Yes, they are "technically" criminals who skirted the system. BUT, our people have made the choice to become
dependent on what they add to our workforce, even though most of that money leaves the American economy and gets shipped back south of the border. Sellers wanted to increase their profits by decreasing their labor costs, and buyers will not adjust easily to paying the higher costs that would result by "sending 'em all home."
Eventually with any wedge issue, whether it's illegal immigration, Social Security, domestic security, campaign reform, or countless others, the issues are allowed by the people in power to become magnanimous to the point that the people are willing to sacrifice additional freedoms and control to allow the government to take sweeping action to address it. The politicians are always the winners, and the American people are always the losers.
Politicians need to keep the people undereducated and dependent on them, which is why many of their policies only
increase poverty, undereducation and dependence. Smarter folks, they need to keep distracted with wedge issue debates which deflect attention away from the real problems -- corruption in government.
You can't argue political issues from the pit. People need to zoom out and really look at the big picture of what's going on or things will
never change. There is a very, very clear pattern that's not hard to see once you look at it from the outside. It's all about gaining and maintaining power, plain and simple. Them
first, us
last.
Great question, Voyager... more people need to be asking themselves that.
Bush allowed this so his rich buddies in Big Box stores and large corporations could hire help on the cheap.