As we slowly creep towards the November elections, the Republicans are also sweeping issues under the rug until after the elections. Many Republican incumbents fear for their jobs and they're treading carefully on the issues that they handle. The current immigration issue is a staggering concern and recent polls show it to be a top priority but why are the Republicans waiting?
Simply put, they don't want to lose the Hispanic vote they have. They also don't want the Democrats to begin with the name-calling like 'bigot,' 'racist,' or the classic 'hate monger.' And finally, they don't want to disagree with each other. This issue is very decisive, even to the point where our 'Republican' president's opinions align more with the Democrats then Republicans.
The New York Slimes has a lengthy article on it and I've taken some excerpts:
"WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 - As they prepare for a critical pre-election legislative stretch, Congressional Republican leaders have all but abandoned a broad overhaul of immigration laws and instead will concentrate on national security issues they believe play to their political strength.
With Congress reconvening Tuesday after an August break, Republicans in the House and Senate say they will focus on Pentagon and domestic security spending bills, port security legislation and measures that would authorize the administration's terror surveillance program and create military tribunals to try terror suspects.
"We Republicans believe that we have no choice in the war against terror and the only way to do it is to continue to take them head-on whether it is in Iraq or elsewhere," said Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the majority leader.
A final decision on what do about immigration policy awaits a meeting this week of senior Republicans. But key lawmakers and aides who set the Congressional agenda say they now believe it would be politically risky to try to advance an immigration measure that would showcase party divisions and need to be completed in the 19 days Congress is scheduled to meet before breaking for the election.
President Bush had made comprehensive changes in immigration laws a priority, even making the issue the subject of a prime-time address, but House Republicans have been determined not to move ahead with any legislation that could be construed as amnesty for anyone who entered the country illegally. They held hearings around the country in recent weeks to contrast their enforcement-only bill with a Senate measure that could lead to citizenship for some."
All I have to say is this. These politicians need to stop acting like this is their jobs and they don't want to get fired. Their duty is to the American citizen and we've spoken. Fix the borders, remove the illegals, and don't let it happen again.
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11 comments:
"These politicians need to stop acting like this is their jobs and they don't want to get fired."
Let men know if you ever find one, I'll move there in a minute.... funny how your really equipping the northern border with surveillance and response, and leaving the southern one wide open ..... strange .....
Uh... that should have been "Let ME know" ... sheeesh
Kick 'em all out and start afresh, I say.
"Kick 'em all out and start afresh, I say."
I know you're being sarcastic but again, this is the standard liberal move. you have no answer, just a complaint.
Riddle me this Mr. Trabue, would Christ approve of law-breakers? The US has never restricted access to the US, we have all been given lawful access to this country.
Actually, I was talking about kicking out all the politicians and starting afresh with a new batch. My apologies for the confusion.
Although now that you mention it, I bet the native peoples here might like the idea...
Does Christ approve of law-breakers? When laws are injust, yes.
Do we need to reconsider our immigration policies? Yes. But we need to reconsider not just who we let in and not, but also what impacts are our economic policies having on our neighbors - especially those to the south. To what degree have our policies contributed to bad economies there that people feel the need to cross the borders?
Surely you don't think these sons and daughters, fathers and friends WANT to leave their homelands? They are here because times are tough there. It would behoove us to consider if our policies are contributing to our own immigration woes. I'll gladly look at immigration policies IF we also look at other policies that effect the situation (did you know that illegal immigration from Mexico has INCREASED since NAFTA?)
"When laws are UNjust," that is.
As to THIS comment:
" this is the standard liberal move. you have no answer, just a complaint."
I'd suggest that progressives have many answers, but we have no representation and so we do have to complain from the sidelines often. I'd love for progressive candidates (both those with a conservative background and liberal background) to be given a chance to have a voice in our government. Taxation without representation sucks.
But if we complain, it's certainly not from a lack of answers (I've provided the beginning point of the answer to illegal immigration in my post above), right?
Few quick things:
1) The laws are just, legal immigration is very successful and plenty are waiting their turn, considering equality and fairness.
2) I agree, let's kick all of the politicians out.
3) Furthermore, I'm sympathetic to the impoverished and needy, completely understanding the horrible conditions. That doesn't mean that we can't help them as a whole, not letting them become dependent in our country.
For the most part, they're not becoming dependent in our country (depending on what you mean by that). For the most part, they come here for as short a while as possible (they want to return home) make some money to send back, pay taxes that benefit us and take little in return.
Statistically, we're gaining off them, not losing.
There is a lot of evidence that they are abusing our welfare system and also free healthcare/schooling, especially in California. Also, the thousands of them imprisoned in our jail system too.
A majority of illegals do not pay taxes yet they reap the benefits of our system. Again, I'm all for legal immigration and helping the poor, this isn't the way to do it. By condoning the actions of these 12 million illegals, it'll only happen again (see 1980s).
I'm not heartless, I have a common sense.
Actually, according to at least some studies, the facts show that over all, they are paying more than they are taking. Some may not be paying income taxes, but some are. And ALL are paying sales taxes - they have to buy stuff.
Sure, there's evidence that some are abusing the welfare system and making use of the education system, no one is disputing that. But overall, they're paying more in to the system than they're taking out.
Which is not to say that I'm arguing for keeping the status quo - we DO have immigration problems. I'm just advocating being sensible and moral about the problems we have, weighing ALL the problems in seeking the best solutions.
And, as a starting point, if we'd just undo what that rascally Democrat Clinton did with NAFTA (don't tell me I'm not an equal opportunity critic), then that would likely reduce the numbers crossing the borders. We need to look at the WHOLE picture, not just one part of it.
A link to a study disputing a false study claiming immigrants cost more than they contribute and then going on to show immigrants are paying more than they're taking:
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=6143
And for the record, I don't think at all that you're heartless. I just don't think you've heard all the evidence.
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