Replies

You know what's stupidity? Harping on the immigration thing when there's bigger fish to fry -- fish like reforming entitlement programs and agencies that are in serious trouble or that cause serious trouble. Entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Agencies such as the EPA, FDA, DOI, and DOE.

Conservatives piss and moan over the encroachment of government in our economic lives but not nearly as much as the absolute level of convulsions that take place of the socially conservative issues. What's that really say about today's conservatives? To me it says that the real drive of today's conservatives is not to produce economic freedom: to me it says that "traditional values" are far, far more important of an issue to take up.

Count me out!

"You know what's stupidity? Harping on the immigration thing when there's bigger fish to fry -- fish like reforming entitlement programs and agencies that are in serious trouble or that cause serious trouble. Entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Agencies such as the EPA, FDA, DOI, and DOE."

Immigration is going to have a catastrophic effect on things like Social Security, Medicare and Medicade. Unfortunately, when Social Security was enacted in 1933, the average life expectancy in the U.S. was 63 so the government was gambling on the fact that at least half the people wouldn't even be around to collect it and those who did would only do so for a few years. The situation has changed and will change much more with increased immigration. It's something we need to "harp" about.

To me it says that the real drive of today's conservatives is not to produce economic freedom: to me it says that "traditional values" are far, far more important of an issue to take up.

Count me out!

I remember a column by Safire after one of the elections. He said social conservatives had done their part, but it was time for them to 'go to the back of the bus and let the economic conservatives drive'.

You have reproduced his arguement. But here is a shocking fact - those of us who are primarily social conservatives don't feel obligated to get to the back of the bus and let the economic adults do the driving.

I shelled out $20,000 in federal income tax alone last year. I voted unsuccessfully against yet another increase in Pima County taxes a few days ago. If I could waive a magic wand and roll back taxes and services, I would.

But illegals sometimes use the wash a couple hundred yards from my house. Illegals fill up our emergency rooms. An illegal killed a friend's daughter in a hit and run - then said, "What's the big deal?" when caught. I drive by a dozen spanish billboards on the way to work. I'm increasingly a foreigner in my home town.

You may find it hard to understand why I'm "Harping on the immigration thing when there's bigger fish to fry -- fish like reforming entitlement programs" - but maybe if you were having a hard time recognizing your home town, you would understand.

Social conservatives are not opposed to economic conservatives. I wish the reverse were true - and I've had it up to the eyeballs with economic conservatives who want me to bust my butt during the election, and then 'go to the back of the bus'!