tell me why illegal immigration is such a problem to conservatives. I agree that some turn to a life of crime and need to be brought back to their country. But what about the ones who work two jobs? support a wife and kids? attend mass? Isn’t a kind of cool part of being in America is that people flock here from all over the world for a better life? and my biggest question is if economically Canada and Mexico switched roles...do you think this would be such a big of deal?
There is one word in your comment that makes all the difference in the world... "illegal"
If they came in legally, there would be no issues.
Here is an economic reason for this being a problem:
When an illegal immigrant comes here and "works two jobs", they are both breaking the law (working under the table or using false identities for tax purposes) and they are depressing the natural labor rates built into a capitalistic economy. Consider that the illegal is willing to take almost any job for significantly less than their legal counterparts (being legal immigrants or citizens). Because employers can now hire the same number of bodies for less (whether knowingly or not - that's a different topic, really), the rate which the employers are willing to pay is lowered.
The illegals also are willing to take jobs without health benefits. After all, there have been numerous studies that show that illegals avail themselves of "free" emergency care when necessary - despite the fact that they have no history of paying into the system that they are using (through insurance or medicare/medicaid). So, they get their health care (which is a substantially different thing from "health benefits") paid for by you and I - and anyone else who pays their taxes, health insurance premiums, and doctors' bills.
The point is that they have proven that they have no regard for our laws by entering the country illegally. I have no problem with people who want to come here for their chance at the American Dream. But they should respect our laws, get in line and apply like millions do every year. But most importantly, we need to control the border because if millions who simply want to work can sneak in undetected, then those who's goals are not so pure can also get in. Are you ready for suicide bombers in the malls, shops and schools here in America?
and my biggest question is if economically Canada and Mexico switched roles...do you think this would be such a big of deal?
Yes, for the second reason stated above. I don't care where they come from, as long as they come here legally.
Ask yourself how they are able to stay in the country and hold the 'two jobs'. In order to hold a job, they must have a taxpayer ID- a social security card. Being illegal, they don't have that so they are, more likely than not, using someone else's identity, such as yours. How did they buy or rent if they are illegal? Using someone else's credit? Illegal immigration is far more of a crime than just sneaking across the border to work- if that was all it was I doubt there would be the uproar. When you hear on TV about identity thefts or foreclosed mortgages, then think about the fact there is, at the very smallest report 14 million people living in the country illegally- the correlation should become clear.
I want to cut to the chase on this, so I'll reply with some questions...we have a system of borders in place to control who comes in, who stays, and how long they can be here.
1) Do you see the need for such a system? (I'll assume yes for the next questions)
2) Do we have the right to impose such a system?
3) If you support more immigration than currently allowed, how much more, and from where? Does where matter?
4) How much pent up demand is there for immigration? IE, if we had no rules, how many people would come?
5) What basis/framework do we use for deciding questions like this?
6) What requirements, if any, should be placed upon these immigrants?
7) What is the danger, if any, in selective enforcement of laws?
Isn’t a kind of cool part of being in America is that people flock here from all over the world for a better life?
Undisputably. I think we're the coolest place on the planet to live. Another question for you...why is America such a cool place to live? What is it about America that makes it so, and what is it about Americans that makes America the way it is?
and my biggest question is if economically Canada and Mexico switched roles...do you think this would be such a big of deal?
If you're asking if conservatives have a problem with brown people, the answer is no. There may be some who call themselves conservatives who don't want "furriners" here for reasons of racial purity, but that's not a conservative viewpoint. Jeb Bush, for example, is married to an Hispanic.
But let's be clear...for Canada and Mexico to trade places, Canada would have to become a Third-world country with no tradition of rule of law, or democracy...and speak a different language than us.
BTW...I believe there's an ironclad relationship between rule of law, and prosperity...and freedom. Would you agree?
If you answer those questions, I think we can cut to the chase...and by answering those questions, you will have hopefully provided some context for my answers. You will also understand that I think you have to look at this issue (and any issue) in a very detailed way...which is a trait, IMO, of a conservative.
Immigration to the US is a privilege. Thousands of people spend fortunes and decades to become citizens. Many are forced to return home many times, leaving jobs and friends. They are forced to learn about American history and culture probably more in depth than what is taught in public schools k thru 12. One day they pass their tests and pledge and oath to this country.
Illegals hop a fence and hide underground for years taking jobs from poor or uneducated Americans and do so at a cheaper pay because they don't plan on staying forever. They don't aspire to be American, just richer than their counterparts in Mexico and at the expense of uneducated and poor Americans.
Illegals at one time didn't know how to milk the system of free lunches and welfare designed to help poor Americans, now its a draw for coming here.
If Canadians were the illegals, and I assume you mean white Canadians, the liberals would object because they are white and Conservatives would object for the same reasons stated above. I know how many thousands Canadians have to pay just to work here. Do you think they should forget all that American immigration law junk and follow the lead of the Mexicans? If so where do you or liberals draw the line? Haitians? English? Iranians? Why do liberals choose specifically Mexicans to be the ones to be able to flaunt immigration law?
Let me try to quickly boil down to a few points what I see as the reasons for conservative opposition to unchecked illegal immigration (jotted out quickly, so forgive me if it sounds sloppy):
-Weak enforcement of immigration laws, such as what McCain tried to get through last year, sends a message to future waves of potential illegal immigrants that they will also be able to get away with their crime. So long as the penalty is not so ‘severe’ that it doesn’t outweigh the benefits of being here, this will always be true.
-The difference between US and Latin American culture does present future problems, in terms of potential political balkanization. It cannot be assumed that just because an immigrant comes here, that they either have the intention of assimilating or even the best interests of this nation in mind - and much of the flow over our southern border has been detritus whose home nations were almost certainly glad to have gotten rid of.
It’s a good bet to make that many of those who come here illegally don’t have the best intentions simply because of the shortcut they chose to take, and since we can’t read hearts, it would be impossible to sort out the illegals that even liberals would agree are rotten, until after they’ve already proved it through more crime.
Add to that the fact that there is an outright desire by a lot of people in the hispanic community to see America carved up and its borders re-drawn.
-Further, the people coming here illegally are virtually always either “low-skill” workers with little to no formal education, or people who intend on becoming welfare recipients, busting an already overwhelmed entitlement system.