Federal inaction on immigration lets issue fester
Georgia legislators sponsoring anti-immigrant bills say they have been forced to act by frustration with the federal government, which they believe has been unwilling to address illegal immigration issues.
Unfortunately, those legislators have a point, at least about the federal government’s failure to act. In fact, they have every right to be frustrated, even if the solutions they propose to fill the void left by federal inaction are unworkable.
Thanks to a combination of cowardice and political opportunism, Congress has indeed abdicated its duty to deal with tough immigration issues. The few steps it has taken in recent years — such as efforts to tighten border security — have been little more than useless if expensive window dressing.
Certainly, our border with Mexico needs to be tightened as much as possible. In practical terms, however, a boundary more than 2,000 miles long through mainly undeveloped areas can never be made secure against people sufficiently motivated to cross it. That’s a fact.
It’s also a fact that at least 10 million illegal immigrants already live here, and at this point, most have every intention of staying. According to the 2010 Census, roughly 850,000 Hispanics live in Georgia, and by some estimates as many as half may be here illegally.
So what do we do about them?
That’s the question that elected officials at the federal level refuse to address. That’s the vacuum that state legislators such as Rep. Matt Ramsey, R-Peachtree City, and Sen. Jack Murphy, R-Cumming, claim to be trying to fill. And it is really the crux of the whole illegal immigration debate. With the economy in the tank and the flow of illegal immigrants greatly reduced, the real issue is how to deal with those already here.
There are two basic options: Either make those people go back where they came from, or they stay. Ramsey, Murphy and other conservative legislators prefer that they go back where they came from, and are trying to pass laws so punitive that they will leave on their own. (The option of tracking down, arresting and removing 10 million people, using law enforcement and the judicial system to sift the illegal from the legal, is understood by almost everybody to be hopeless.)
Personally, I have no faith that a policy of discouragement can work. Illegal immigrants have already proved themselves willing to endure great risk, sacrifice and hard work.
No matter how difficult we make things, no matter how inhumane or punitive we make our laws, most illegal immigrants are going to conclude that things are better for them and their children here than they would be back home. And if you think about it from their point of view, they’re right.
Changing that calculation would be very, very difficult.
The alternative, then, is to acknowledge the continuing presence of illegal immigrants while providing an avenue for them to leave the shadows and join the mainstream. That’s a step that only Congress can take — a step that it has so far refused to take, and that it shows no signs of taking in the foreseeable future.
Back in the ’80s, President Ronald Reagan supported legalization, explaining in a 1984 presidential debate that “I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and lived here, even though sometime back they may have entered illegally.” Thanks to his backing, Congress agreed.
A few years ago, President George W. Bush tried to convince members of his party to follow Reagan’s lead, but the effort failed. President Barack Obama has also expressed support for such a change, but with chances of passage almost non-existent, he has expended no political capital on its behalf.
As a result, we’re stuck with a choice between bad solutions and no solutions at all.
– Jay Bookman
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710 comments Add your comment
Thulsa Doom
March 29th, 2011
11:36 am
getalife,
Back down quick my child. You’re no match for me.
Joe
March 29th, 2011
11:36 am
Republicans are not doing anything to atract them, all republicans Nation Wide by coming up with harsh laws and they are shooting themselves in the foot.
Yippee
March 29th, 2011
11:37 am
Wow Mood,
Now we can see that you really are as smart as you think.
getalife
March 29th, 2011
11:37 am
That is a lie doom.
They found more than two.
Mick
March 29th, 2011
11:38 am
georg
All right then we should start building army training centers along the border for you know, simulated desert ops….
George W
March 29th, 2011
11:38 am
Joe….you mean by enforcing federal law? You are right the Demoncrats are not enforcing the laws to gain votes….hmmmm noble idea eh?
@@
March 29th, 2011
11:38 am
My husband avails himself of V.A.’s medical. Only when it comes to annual/bi-annual check-ups. He’d never have major surgery at their facility. They didn’t do such a good job with his Dad. Went in for what they call a drug holiday (El Dopamine) and left frozen and rigid. Spent his last 10 years a bedridden invalid. He was fine up until then. They thought the drug holiday would benefit him in some way. They were grossly mistaken.
My neighbor, whose husband recently died, did so after having surgery at the V.A.. While it was a pretty straightforward procedure, something went terribly amiss. She’s trying to get to the bottom of it.
getalife
March 29th, 2011
11:39 am
doom,
I crush you like an insect.
MC
March 29th, 2011
11:39 am
The Mexicans are a better class of people than you white trash xenophobes.
lkdhf
March 29th, 2011
11:40 am
“ship them all home!” and “secure the border!”
misterbill
March 29th, 2011
11:40 am
Bookman says “let them out of the shadows,(an extremely boring response, used thousands of times), I will agree when and if Bookman’s job is up for the taking as many middle class jobs are. Young people who want to join the work force without college education, our black youth are most st risk. Many laid off, older workers would gladly take many of the jobs, but the employers rather have the illegal for lower pay with much of it off the books.
I am a retiree, but I notice that most who support the illegal immigrants are those whose livelihood is not at stake and who benefit from cheap labor.
I support Americans. We can all do our part. I had my house expanded a few years back and I told the GC that he could not have the contract unless he used American workers.
Bookman’s job first, then maybe I can be swayed.———————- Nah!
Thulsa Doom
March 29th, 2011
11:40 am
AmVet,
You remind me of that 7 foot tall, 300lb Texan that died and was wayyy too big for his coffin. So they performed an enema on his corpse to get him down to size. When they were done he was a 3 foot tall midget weighing 46 lbs. You must be from Tejas AmVet!
Joe
March 29th, 2011
11:40 am
getalife, examples like maybe you neighbour your coworker who?
Paul
March 29th, 2011
11:40 am
AmVet
That was great!!
“If the label says it’s food, that’s good enough for me”
George W
March 29th, 2011
11:41 am
MC……great move to Mexico….I am sure you would be more welcome there than you are here.
misterbill
March 29th, 2011
11:42 am
A PS-
Bookman’s salary is not paid by the illegals buying the AJC. He needs a bog wake up call. Typical liberal slobbering over foreign others as his fellow countrymen bite the bullet.
Doggone/GA
March 29th, 2011
11:42 am
“That was the intent of the REAL ID initiative. That one went over like a sack of nickles in a pool”
and it can’t be done anyway. Any ID we can create can be forged, or just plain stolen
Thulsa Doom
March 29th, 2011
11:42 am
getalife,
You crush me like an insect? Really? Haven’t seen one witty post from you in response. Your responses are weak, worthless, and witless. Try again. This is yet another stupid post from you- should be deleted.
buck@gon
March 29th, 2011
11:42 am
“The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus filed a lawsuit Monday against the state of Georgia seeking to dissolve the city charters of Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, Milton and Chattahoochee Hills. Further, the lawmakers, joined by civil rights leader the Rev. Joseph Lowery, aim to dash any hopes of a Milton County.”
Wow. I suppose that chartering a city itself can be seen as a racist enterprise designed to dilute minority voter representation–that is, in fact, what these dum-dums are claiming. Good luck to the last vestiges of legacy “racial justice” in this country.
MC
March 29th, 2011
11:43 am
I hope all the CITIZEN 2nd,3rd,and even 4th generation children will give you white trash cowards what you so richly deserve at the polls. In 15 years it won’t matter how you ignorant nativists think or feel. I can’t wait.
Name (required)
March 29th, 2011
11:43 am
http://articles.cnn.com/2005-05-14/us/fox.jackson_1_immigration-policy-mexican-immigrants-mexican-leader?_s=PM:US
“There is no doubt that Mexicans, filled with dignity, willingness and ability to work, are doing jobs that not even blacks want to do there in the United States.” -Vicente Fox, May 2005
Joe
March 29th, 2011
11:43 am
you can not judge people by the way you frame them “illegal aliens”
George W
March 29th, 2011
11:44 am
Buck…..you are SPOT ON!
George W
March 29th, 2011
11:44 am
MC…..I dont know I am really enjoying where we are now in society…>Good luck catching up!
Thulsa Doom's definition of blogger getalife
March 29th, 2011
11:45 am
dumb (dʌm)
— adj
1. lacking the power to speak, either because of defects in the vocal organs or because of hereditary deafness
2. lacking the power of human speech: dumb animals
3. temporarily lacking or bereft of the power to speak: struck dumb
4. refraining from speech; uncommunicative
5. producing no sound; silent: a dumb piano
6. made, done, or performed without speech
getalife
March 29th, 2011
11:46 am
@@,
It happens at all hospitals.
I was a nervous wreck before my heart surgery. Scared to death.
When I look back now, they did a great job.
carlosgvv
March 29th, 2011
11:47 am
Granny – “some folks call that American, some Christian”
And some folks say that since no other country in the world allows so many illegal aliens into their country as we do then either we know something that they don’t or they know something we don’t. Which do you think is the most likely?
Paul
March 29th, 2011
11:48 am
@@
Very sorry to hear that. I’ve run across more than my share of inadequate doctors on the civilian side – way more than my share. Hope you’re able to hold someone accountable.
getalife
March 29th, 2011
11:48 am
doom,
If you have to look up dumb in a dictionary, you just might be a i d iot.
You just got crushed like an insect.
Want some more?
MC
March 29th, 2011
11:49 am
misterbill, maybe it is time that these uneducated young people get it through their heads that nobody is going to give them a desk to sit at all day or a computer to play on all day. Give them a damn shovel and tell them to get off their lazy asses and go take those jobs from the Mexicans. But don’t hold your breath waiting for that.
snoqualmiepass
March 29th, 2011
11:49 am
This is truly funny, funny in the sense that y’all don’t remember recent history. For those who have forgotten… Saint Reagan gave amnesty to over 13 million illegals. So by logic, if you are against this type of action, you are against the pillar of the GOP… Saint Ronnie. That’s all folks.
Thulsa Doom
March 29th, 2011
11:50 am
buck@gon
March 29th, 2011
11:42 am
“The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus filed a lawsuit Monday against the state of Georgia seeking to dissolve the city charters of Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, Milton and Chattahoochee Hills. Further, the lawmakers, joined by civil rights leader the Rev. Joseph Lowery, aim to dash any hopes of a Milton County.”
Buck@gon,
As you know its all about the money. They just want to reign these cities back in so that they can feed off them like parasites. Its really all about looting someone of their wealth and using the gubment to do it.
getalife
March 29th, 2011
11:50 am
snoqualmiepass,
Smack down.
Ouch that hurt the cons.
Dekalb taxpayer
March 29th, 2011
11:50 am
Someone suggested legalizing them and said that once they start paying taxes, they’ll want to go home. Unfortunately, most of them would not earn enough to pay income taxes; they would instead end up with earned income CREDITS. You think that’s going to make them want to leave?
Thulsa Doom
March 29th, 2011
11:51 am
getalife,
I would call you stupid but the word stupid just doesn’t deserve that.
AmVet
March 29th, 2011
11:52 am
Paul, good times in the once Grand Old Party, huh?
To wit, Pawlenty says Donald Hairpiece needs a new comb over on the birther non-issue.
Along with some great left-handed compliments…
As for his thoughts on a seemingly improbable Trump presidential candidacy, Pawlently said, “I think he’s talented. I think he’s funny. I think he’s interesting.”
And being a typical (lying) con:
Trump followed those comments up by releasing what he said was his own birth certificate to the conservative website Newsmax.com. The certificate Trump released however is not an official one, according to Politico.
He must have lost his long form version!
Thelma would vote for the television clown though.
His fave show from his early 20’s…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FIbPJx7HJ4
MC
March 29th, 2011
11:52 am
eorge W
March 29th, 2011
11:44 am
MC…..I dont know I am really enjoying where we are now in society…>Good luck catching up!
Obviously it is you that needs to come into the 21st century George W. Get with the way things are. Understand that you either deal with diversity or you get the hell out of the way before it buries you. The 50s aren’t coming back bozo. Get used to all the brown around you or get the hell out. Start your own homeland or something.
Joe
March 29th, 2011
11:53 am
Dekalb taxpayer, mayority of them pay taxes already.
Jefferson
March 29th, 2011
11:53 am
Live and let live, 10 mil try 16 mil. People are people, no different so quit treating anyone different. Money talks and bs walks.
getalife
March 29th, 2011
11:54 am
And now you double down on st upid.
doom,
You are not smart.
We all see it.
We are laughing at you.
But Jay does not like personal attacks here.
Paul
March 29th, 2011
11:54 am
Granny
Your dad flew P-38s? He has my utmost respect. That was a particularly tricky twin-engined fighter.
N-GA’s dad flew P-47 Thunderbolts. My mom was an inspector for the cylinders. 19-year old could shut down the entire line if she found a defect.
My dad was in charge of the engine room on an Infantry landing Ship in the South Pacific. Said they called the captain the “Old Man” (not to his face) as he was the oldest guy on board. He was about 27.
They really were the Greatest Generation.
Thulsa Doom
March 29th, 2011
11:55 am
getalife,
If you study and try real hard. You can be the best bagger at Kroger even with an IQ of 60.
George W
March 29th, 2011
11:55 am
MC…..sorry dude most of the “brown” I see are in prison or the welfare line. You should really work on improving your class. FYI….your current leadership will not get you there…..keep working.
Joe
March 29th, 2011
11:55 am
well said jefferson
Tundra Dude
March 29th, 2011
11:56 am
JKL2@10:45 wrote in part:
The Berlin Wall worked very well. It worked because the penalty for climbing over it was instant death
Which is why Smartfellers, like my dad, took us to the West German border and simply crossed there.
Secrets Exposed
March 29th, 2011
11:56 am
“The Mexicans are a better class of people than you white trash xenophobes.”
You support illegals because you need a class of people that are lower than you. Stop being a hypocrit and label yourself accordingly. Those that support illegals have the most to loose.
Rhode Island Red
March 29th, 2011
11:56 am
“There is no doubt that Mexicans, filled with dignity, willingness and ability to work, are doing jobs that not even blacks want to do there in the United States.” -Vicente Fox, May 2005
I’ll take two hard working Mexicans over generation upon generation of government dependents. Support the productive before the demwits cripple them.
DebbieDoRight
March 29th, 2011
11:57 am
Most of you miss one point, most of immigrants share the same value as the republicans
Which is what exactly? Most immigrants will actually FIGHT for this country, while there are some republicans like our old friend James O’Keefe (ACORN Scandal, and others), who are eligible to go but somehow, although he is vigilantly fighting liberalitis in the US, refuses to go and fight for the democracy he’s trying so hard to tear down.
RB from Gwinnett
March 29th, 2011
11:57 am
I sure wish you liberals would make up your minds. You want to punish the companies who hire illegals severely, but you don’t want to send the illegals home. How does that work? They can stay, but can’t work? Or they can stay for the purpose of fining companies who hire them?
Make up your minds please. Your inconsistant thinking is NUTS!!
getalife
March 29th, 2011
11:57 am
doom,
I am retired so you lied again.
You know nothing about anything,
AmVet
March 29th, 2011
11:57 am
Thelma, quit being a racist.
Or go back to Tucker’s, where it is ubiquitous from you cons…
Thulsa Doom
March 29th, 2011
11:58 am
AmVet,
I see you’re still stuck on the liberal groupthink reservation.
WillieRae
March 29th, 2011
11:58 am
Democrats refused to join Bush on immigration because the politics of deying a “victory” was more important to them than any progress on the issue. It was a clear case of partisan politics among our so called progressives.
One of the arguments against the AZ law is that immigration is a federal issue. Perhaps but it’s clearly an issue that the feds don’t want any part of. They have fiddled on this issue for a long time, neglecting thier responsilbity and the country is worse off as a result.
WOODSTOCK MIKE
March 29th, 2011
11:58 am
@MC
What you don’t get is that there is nothing wrong with acknowledging the fact that there is a point where immigrants can cause a system to collapse. How about taking a look at how other countries handle immigration? Much more strict than America. This is the most diverse country in the world. You are ranting and raving but it’s very clear that you are not educated on the topic. It’s not about Americans not wanting to give other people an opportunity, it’s about acknowledging the fact that there are many serious consequences involved and they must be factored in. Everyone wishes this was some Utopia but that’s not the real world.
Doggone/GA
March 29th, 2011
11:58 am
“If you study and try real hard. You can be the best bagger at Kroger even with an IQ of 60″
I see we’ve reached the stage of infantile insults. Sad to think that this sort of thing actually passes for DEBATE with that crowd
Thulsa Doom
March 29th, 2011
11:59 am
AmVet’s Racism Scorecard
David Duke- not okay
Louis farrakan Aokay
Reverand Wright Aokay
Jessie ‘Hymietown’ Jackson- Aokay
Black racist legislators attempting to rob majority white cities? Aokay
George W
March 29th, 2011
12:00 pm
Woodstock….dont bother MC is not that smart.
Secrets Exposed
March 29th, 2011
12:00 pm
The US is no longer a melting pot, we are a toxic waste dump for the World.
Southern Comfort (aka The Man)
March 29th, 2011
12:00 pm
I see we’ve reached the stage of infantile insults. Sad to think that this sort of thing actually passes for DEBATE with that crowd
Yep!!
AmVet
March 29th, 2011
12:01 pm
“You want to
punishhold accountable to the rule of law the companies who hire illegals…Welcome to the Pro-Crime Republican Party, where precluding organized, corporate, criminal activity is considered punishment…
Thulsa Doom
March 29th, 2011
12:02 pm
Doggone/GA,
I’m more than happy to debate. But ya gotta understand that when the libs start with childish insults I just have to beat them into submission for a little bit. I fight fire with fire and it always ends the same way. They can’t match up with me and so then they just start complaining about it. It is what it is.
Doggone/GA
March 29th, 2011
12:03 pm
“Welcome to the Pro-Crime Republican Party, where precluding organized, corporate, criminal activity is considered punishment”
And this from the ones who bleat “What part of endorcing our LAWS don’t you get?”
Back atcha folks!
Harry Callahan
March 29th, 2011
12:03 pm
“hairy cut an ran.
Did not want to pay 500 out of his welfare check.
Just another welcher con.”
No, punk, I have a job. I don’t play on the internet 24/7 like you.
Just another bedwetting liberal.
George W
March 29th, 2011
12:04 pm
AmVet…..and how do you plan on “holding accountable” the criminals who are in this country illegally? It works both ways.
RB from Gwinnett
March 29th, 2011
12:06 pm
Has anybody else noticed our governments; local, state, and federal, have resorted to a game of “find the money” and are doing anything and everything they can to take more money from us. They’re going to tax sattelite TV, cell phones, have diverted funds from anything possible, are telling everybody their house is going to burn down without a property tax increse, blah blah blah. They’re proposing casinos in underground and the Doraville GM plant for tax revenue reasons. They’re keeping the GA400 tolls for the revenue. The list is endless.
Does anybody think they’ll ease up these new taxes when the economy improves ant their revenue returns? Or do you think they’ll just spend their newfound money recklessly?
Enough already!
Harry Callahan
March 29th, 2011
12:06 pm
“I am retired so you lied again.”
Being on welfare doesn’t count as being “retired.”
Just sayin’…
md
March 29th, 2011
12:06 pm
“Saint Reagan gave amnesty to over 13 million illegals. So by logic, if you are against this type of action, you are against the pillar of the GOP… Saint Ronnie. That’s all folks.”
Is this what passes for logic these days??
If so, we are in big trouble………
Paul
March 29th, 2011
12:07 pm
Thulsa
“when the libs start with childish insults I just have to beat them”
You just have to?
It must be pretty trying, when others have power over you to compel you how you choose to live -
@@
March 29th, 2011
12:07 pm
Paul:
Hope you’re able to hold someone accountable.
My father-in-law passed away years ago. Way too young, but pass, he did.
The neighbor? The V.A. has “sovereign immunity”. Although she could take legal action, I doubt seriously her resources would succeed in outlasting theirs.
Stuff happens!
George W
March 29th, 2011
12:07 pm
Harry….hahah great post!
Thulsa Doom
March 29th, 2011
12:07 pm
AmVet,
The Republican pro-crime party? Man that is too funny. Yep! The jails are just filled with Republicans. Hell there knocking down liquor stores every night. Carjackings too! Matter a fact the prisons are filled with them Republicans.
AmVet I would probably even concede that the Athens cop that got gunned down the other night by that worthless thug was a Democrat. And of course I’m sure that thug that shot and killed him was a card carrying Republican.
If idiocy were measured on the Richter scale your idiocy level would require a brand new mega richter scale. The Japan earthquake wouldn’t even register as a fart on the new AmVet mega idiocy scale.
Harry Callahan
March 29th, 2011
12:08 pm
“The funny thing about Thelma is that he really believes he is Mensa material.”
AmVet, what university did you graduate from? Thanks in advance.
Paul
March 29th, 2011
12:09 pm
Harry
[["“I am retired so you lied again.”
Being on welfare doesn’t count as being “retired.]]
The high road would have been “sorry, getalife, I shot off a remark before I read your post.”
The high road. That means….. oh, never mind…..
Thulsa Doom
March 29th, 2011
12:09 pm
Paul,
Nice psychoanalyzing there buddy. But its really just about having fun. I’m just laughing my duff off as I blast away.
Southern Comfort (aka The Man)
March 29th, 2011
12:09 pm
Has anybody else noticed our governments; local, state, and federal, have resorted to a game of “find the money” and are doing anything and everything they can to take more money from us.
Oh well, you voted the GOP in. Deal with it. Only 3.5 years until you can vote them out.
Paul
March 29th, 2011
12:10 pm
@@
I’m interested in that sovereign immunity part. Knew a young lady, captain in the Air Force, member of their legal corps, her main duty was preparing the government case for accusations of medical malpractice. Maybe it’s different for the active duty than for the VA.
Harry Callahan
March 29th, 2011
12:10 pm
Paul, when you depend on government for all your needs, that’s when people have power over you.
Just sayin’…………..
Thulsa Doom
March 29th, 2011
12:11 pm
Harry Callahan
March 29th, 2011
12:08 pm
“The funny thing about Thelma is that he really believes he is Mensa material.”- AmVet
AmVet,
Didn’t you graduate magna cum laude from the international school of buffoonery? Why yes. You did! Valedictorian also! Bravo! Pigeon clap!!!
md
March 29th, 2011
12:12 pm
“Oh well, you voted the GOP in. Deal with it. Only 3.5 years until you can vote them out.”
well…..you addressed one of the three……………
How many local gov’ts are gop??
Paul
March 29th, 2011
12:12 pm
Thulsa
All righty, then -
Thulsa Doom
March 29th, 2011
12:12 pm
Paul,
Harry do have a point there. I can always just quit posting and go back to work which is what I shall do shortly. I have freedom. But a ward of the govt? Nope-he’s a slave on the gubment dependency plantation.
Harry Callahan
March 29th, 2011
12:13 pm
AmVet’s posts reveal a deep-seated insecurity over his intellectual abilities (or lack thereof), most likely exacerbated by his failure to attend/graduate from college and his inability to survive without government assistance.
RB from Gwinnett
March 29th, 2011
12:14 pm
Amvet, what is wrong with holding the company and the individual responsible for their criminal action? Are you and your brethern not capable of maintaining both schools of thought in your simple minds?
Get off the “corporations are evil and must be opposed” mantra long enought to think for a change.
DebbieDoRight
March 29th, 2011
12:15 pm
WillieRae: Democrats refused to join Bush on immigration because the politics of deying a “victory” was more important to them than any progress on the issue. It was a clear case of partisan politics among our so called progressives.
WTF??!!! “I’m not for allowing illegals to stay in this country,” said Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Va. “I think they should have to go back to their home countries … and get in line with Jack, Suzy and John and apply for a guest worker position.”
Doom: But its really just about having fun. I’m just laughing my duff off as I blast away…
Ewwwww!!! Pull up…….pull up!! T.M.I.!! T.M.I.!!!!
Southern Comfort (aka The Man)
March 29th, 2011
12:15 pm
md
Depends on the city/county. I’d wager that the majority in GA are GOP controlled. The urban areas probably would be Democratic controlled, but outlying areas like Cobb, Gwinnett, and even here in Henry are GOP territory.
garep
March 29th, 2011
12:16 pm
I guess the way you can sum it up is that the US has been busy in illegal acquiring land such as Hawaii. Majority of the country has been stolen in the first place. So if you build a house on a bad foundation you are bound to have a bad house no matter how pretty you want to dress it up.
You do bad, you will get bad that’s god’s way just because it happened hundreds of years ago doesn’t mean that we are not still paying for it. I guess how many people look at it “It’s okay for us to engage in illegal activity but if others do it then it is a violation”
Also other countries are more so the entire world is looking at us sideways the way we deal with people but try to tell others how they suppose to “humanely” treat them.
Donna P.
March 29th, 2011
12:17 pm
You have to the secure the borders (with Canada and Mexico) and then go after businesses that hire illegals. Promise them no corporate taxes for the next four years if they only hire LEGAL citizens. Also, close them down if they don’t use E-verify, etc. to ensure their employees are using the correct social security numbers, green cards, etc. Be tough with them. We should also make identity fraud a felony. I thought if one uses false information on an I-9 form when applying for a job was a felony but no one is enforcing that rule unless you are a LEGAL citizen.
I know I am a racist or xenophobe. You just can’t win….
RB from Gwinnett
March 29th, 2011
12:18 pm
“Oh well, you voted the GOP in. Deal with it. Only 3.5 years until you can vote them out.”
SC, if you really think this is a Republican issue and your cherished little Democrats wouldn’t be doing this, YOU ARE A COMPLETE IDIOT!! You are the problem SC. You can’t see issues without D and R attached to them. Wise up or do us all a favor and stop voting.
George W
March 29th, 2011
12:18 pm
TODAYS ILLEGALS = TOMORROWS DEMONCRATS!
md
March 29th, 2011
12:21 pm
“I’m not for allowing illegals to stay in this country,” said Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Va. “I think they should have to go back to their home countries … and get in line with Jack, Suzy and John and apply for a guest worker position.”
And they should…………unless one is advocating that line jumpers have a right to stay in front of those they jumped………..
Southern Comfort (aka The Man)
March 29th, 2011
12:23 pm
SC, if you really think this is a Republican issue and your cherished little Democrats wouldn’t be doing this, YOU ARE A COMPLETE IDIOT!! You are the problem SC. You can’t see issues without D and R attached to them. Wise up or do us all a favor and stop voting.
I do believe it is a Republican issue as they are the party who signs “No tax increase” pledges. If, as you stated, governments are looking everywhere for more money, then why sign the pledge in the first place if you’re going to raise taxes? It’s always assumed that the Democratic Party is the “Tax and spend” party. Yet, Georgia is a GOP dominated state. If the GOP were true to their “no tax increase” pledges, you wouldn’t have to worry about the governments looking for ways to get more money, would you?
For the record, I don’t cherish Democrats OR Republicans. I don’t know how many times I have to tell you and others here. I wised up a long time ago, and realized the only difference between the two is the place where campaign contributions are sent. Maybe you should follow your own advice and wise up……
AmVet
March 29th, 2011
12:24 pm
George W @12:04, of course.
It is patently obvious that those who’ve entered this country illegally, have to pay the piper. And I have said so repeatedly. I’m not pro-crime Republican.
The comprehensive immigration act of 2007, addressed that in great detail.
Substantial fines, rigorous requirements, timetables, deportation of criminals and others, etc.
I also advocate the elimination of social services otherwise.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was one helluva start.
Now what?
joe suggs
March 29th, 2011
12:24 pm
Bookman, how many illegals are you willing to let invade the U.S. ? I am tired of my taxes supporting them .
George W
March 29th, 2011
12:25 pm
AmVet…..so are you for or against the Arizona immigration Law that Obama is suing over?
Paul
March 29th, 2011
12:26 pm
Harry
“Paul, when you depend on government for all your needs, that’s when people have power over you.
Just sayin’…………..”
No argument there. But the point is, getalife said he was retired. You made the error of assuming he’s on welfare, then compounded it with a red herring about reliance on the government.
The point remains, getalife’s retired and you implied he has the views he does because he’s on welfare.
You should apologize. Really.
But your point about gov’t reliance and loss of freedom. Over here in Texas we have a huge budget shortage (thanks, Republicans). The Republican legislature, to their credit, has proposed eliminating many high-dollar tax write-offs and credits for the oil and gas industry (major player, here). Industry says without that they can’t survive or will have to greatly reduce their operations.
So in that sense, you do indeed have a point. Corporations who can’t survive without welfare do lose their freedom.
But if we stop giving them so much of our money, maybe we’ll get back some of our freedom, eh?
Jefferson
March 29th, 2011
12:27 pm
time to ban some ip addys.
@@
March 29th, 2011
12:28 pm
“I’m not for allowing illegals to stay in this country,” said Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Va. “I think they should have to go back to their home countries … and get in line with Jack, Suzy and John and apply for a guest worker position.”
The wheels of government like to grind us down slowly.
AmVet
March 29th, 2011
12:29 pm
Arizona’s law orders immigrants to carry their alien registration documents at all times and requires police to question people if there’s reason to suspect they’re in the United States illegally.
It also targets those who hire illegal immigrant laborers or knowingly transport them.
I have zero problems with those clauses, George W.
Ed Weirdness
March 29th, 2011
12:31 pm
Why attempt to make this more complicated than it is. Secure the borders to the greatest extent possible, enforce our immigration laws fully. Those who are here illegally will eventually run into the bureaucracy of our state and nation and once it’s determined that they are here in violation of our laws, they should be expelled to their country of origin. Cold as this may seem, it’s they only way we have of encouraging illegals who are already here and benefiting from U.S. tax dollars to return to their native country and do things the right way by applying for legal immigration and waiting in line. Those who refuse to do so, should be arrested, their assets forfeited as well as those of employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens, to be used to offset the costs of identifying, incarcerating and ultimately deporting illegal aliens. Overpopulation, congestion, urban sprawl, diminishing resources, crumbling infrastructure, overcrowded schools, hospitals, and jails, vanishing farm land and green space, water and energy shortages, crime, pollution, the balkanization of our communities, depressed wages, increased tax burdens, the marginalization of American workers, taxpayers and voters, the overall decline in quality of life, are all the result of unconstrained immigration and lax enforcement. Like it or not folks, too many people competing for the same limited resources is NOT, and NEVER WILL BE, sane, sustainable social, economic or environmental policy. Under no circumstances can we allow any illegal to flaunt our laws. If police, educators, social services, health care workers encounter anyone they suspect of being in our country illegally, their next step should be to report them to ICE. As for those who assert that enforcement will lead to profiling, our laws never pretended to put citizens or legal immigrants above suspicion, our laws do however provide ample opportunity for anyone who might be detained to demonstrate that they are a legal resident, and that’s a damned sight better than American’s receive in other countries.
RB from Gwinnett
March 29th, 2011
12:32 pm
“If the GOP were true to their “no tax increase” pledges, you wouldn’t have to worry about the governments looking for ways to get more money, would you?” That would be the case, yes. Unfortunately, too many of them are too spineless to tell all the liberals whining at the feeding trough “NO!!”.
When the fire department chief tells the public their homees will burn if there isn’t a property tax increase to pay for his department, somebody needs to tell the people, “you’re going to have to choose between fire services and libraries, because the well is dry”