Immigration
George Bush spoke last night about immigration reform and a plan to protect our southern boarder from many things including terrorism. Since 9/11 Bush has used the threat of terrorism to lower taxes, start a war (against a country with little if any connection to terrorism), increase defense spending on programs that has no impact on terrorism, and to win another term as President. And now he is using it to put troops on the boarder. Which brings the question, how many terrorist have ever crossed the US/Mexico boarder? Well, there are no public records of it ever happening. The 9/11 terrorist came to the US perfectly legally. Work and educational visas are still available and the security that screens legal visas is minimal. Additional, terrorists can just buy a plane ticket and unless their name is in the government database the can walk into the country as a tourist (assuming they are not armed in the actual airport). This is just another case of the administration using our fear and guilt to move their agenda forward. If you look behind the scenes, the administration has a much different agenda. They want to propose a plan that will stop illegal immigration from Mexico by force. And the reason is that conservative Americans don’t like immigrants. They don’t want them here and they want the ones that are here to leave. So the conservatives create a plan that says that it allows illegal immigrants to become citizens, but in reality it is a way to register illegal immigrants so that they can be deported when they fail to meet unrealistic expectation. Why would an illegal immigrant voluntarily decide to register, pay taxes, pay back taxes, learn English, and wait at least 5 years for the chance to prove they should be considered for citizenship? However, is there a better solution? Should we allow illegal immigrants to work in the US, take advantage of government services, and not pay taxes? I don’t think they should be able to, but I also don’t think that just because someone happens to be born in another country should they not have certain opportunities. Americans didn’t do anything to earn our place here, we just happen to be born here. So I suggest a three-part plan. First, we should invest heavily in the Mexican infrastructure. I am a big believer that in order to have progress in a country they must have good roads, communications, transportation, and sanitation. Secondly, we should seal off the boarder in accessible areas, but make entranceways where workers can cross the boarder, register, and work. Third, businesses must be allowed to hire these people; however, state and local taxes must be taken out of their wages (why should they pay federal taxes when they are ineligible for government program). Additionally, what about the idea of the US taking over some Mexican land in order to develop it. In the history of the US, whenever we get more land it always is beneficial to us.
Immigration is a complicated issue, both politically and morally, and the Bush administration has no interest in actually helping Mexicans or Americans. But in the end, its just talk as there won’t be any immigration reform, the bills will fail miserable. Americans with Mexican or Latin blood will come out in strength to oppose any legislation and Senators in states with that demographic will not be able to support it. However, other mid-term candidates will use the failure of this legislation to rally conservative votes.
Side note: Stopping illegal drugs and human trafficking would be reason enough to put troops on the boarder. Ohhh, and the Canadian border is completely unprotected.
In non-important news, the Knicks are going to pay their head coach tens of millions of dollars to the privilege of being able to fire him. In his first year with the team, coach Larry Brown led the Knicks to one of the worst records in the NBA and now he will get paid to leave the organization. Why let him leave, can’t they demote him, or just fire him, or sue him for lack or production. I say demote him to spit bucket carrier until he quits. To makes matters worse, Isaiah Thomas (the worst GM in the history of the NBA) wants to replace Brown with himself (Isaiah is a horrible coach). Thomas hired brown, costing the team over $30 million, and after that was a disaster he gets a promotion. I used to really like the Knicks, but now I despise them. The leaders in Iraq look at the Knicks and joke about how poorly they are organized.
Immigration is a complicated issue, both politically and morally, and the Bush administration has no interest in actually helping Mexicans or Americans. But in the end, its just talk as there won’t be any immigration reform, the bills will fail miserable. Americans with Mexican or Latin blood will come out in strength to oppose any legislation and Senators in states with that demographic will not be able to support it. However, other mid-term candidates will use the failure of this legislation to rally conservative votes.
Side note: Stopping illegal drugs and human trafficking would be reason enough to put troops on the boarder. Ohhh, and the Canadian border is completely unprotected.
In non-important news, the Knicks are going to pay their head coach tens of millions of dollars to the privilege of being able to fire him. In his first year with the team, coach Larry Brown led the Knicks to one of the worst records in the NBA and now he will get paid to leave the organization. Why let him leave, can’t they demote him, or just fire him, or sue him for lack or production. I say demote him to spit bucket carrier until he quits. To makes matters worse, Isaiah Thomas (the worst GM in the history of the NBA) wants to replace Brown with himself (Isaiah is a horrible coach). Thomas hired brown, costing the team over $30 million, and after that was a disaster he gets a promotion. I used to really like the Knicks, but now I despise them. The leaders in Iraq look at the Knicks and joke about how poorly they are organized.
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