Posted on 11/28/2006 6:27:04 PM PST by Gene Eric
Ugly, the American
On TV, the immigration wars aren't as simple as politicians make them sound
Few prime-time TV characters are more American than Betty Suarez. On ABC's hit comedy-soap Ugly Betty, she's a fashion-magazine assistant who is distinctly unfashionable--chunky sweaters, frizzy hair, bear-trap braces--but succeeds through good old Yankee values like perseverance, optimism and hard work. Smart and sweet-hearted, she embodies the Puritan-Shaker-Quaker principle of valuing inner good over outer appearance. She's as Norman Rockwell as a chestnut-stuffed turkey. The actress who plays her is even named America Ferrera.
And yet--if you listen to some politicians and pundits--she should have been booted out of the country years ago. Betty's father is an illegal immigrant from Mexico. To hear Lou Dobbs and Pat Buchanan tell it, our fellow citizens are boiling with resentment against people like Betty.
(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...
If you read Time Magazine, you pay a couple of bucks to lower your IQ.
It's a bargain!
>> because our government has trended socialist, and "new world order", against our will, and against the Constitution.
Yes, it does appear to be against our will. To take it a step further, there are few things taking place today that favor our will. In fact, the vast majority of events point to the ongoing reduction of our liberties.
I, at least, have no problem with individual illegals and progeny of illegals I have met who come with the ideas of making a better life and of becoming Americans with American values. Of course those are not all of them, maybe not a majority. My problem is with the total lack of intent to close the border and not let them in in the first place. I do not fault the employers who hire them. I fault the government that does not arrest, jail, and fine those employers. A consistent and surely applied set of fines and jail terms would rapidly eliminate the reasons the illegals come here and those here would begin to self-deport. And giving them free government services is insane.
I don't deny either of your assertions. but they are not the problem. Given the incentives and the lack where they come from, that they would strive to come here is a given. It cannot be held against them because they cannot be expected to do differently. The same thing goes for the employers. So long as the government encourages them to hire the illegals, and it does-by not acting against the practice- then it makes no sense to not hire them because the competition will. There have to be enforced rules on employers down to the suburbanites who hire the lawn care wetbacks to the contractors who hire them to build condominiums and do hurricane cleanup. Without that then you just waste all your emotion to no end. I cannot get mad at the individuals who respond to the incentives offered until they convert to Islam and I fear they will do that at some point. It offers them great power in this society. Then they become personal enemies. Then, of course, it is all too late.
ping
"I do not fault the employers who hire them.
Yea, you know the money was just laying their on the counter. I looked around and didn't see anyone, so I took it.
The problem is one of practicality. It is much easier to enforce laws against employers than it is to enforce laws against the illegals, themselves. There was a time when we could round them up by the thousands and put them on buses with guards and send them back across the border. Our judges won't permit that now. They all have to have their "rights" and comfort safeguarded and must be treated individually. It is much easier and quicker and cheaper to go after the employers. The ACLU doesn't like employers. It only takes a few employers sanctioned so long as the Justice Dept. is obviously geared up to do the job and the great majority of other employers will get rid of their potential migraines. The illegals, not being total dullards will self deport at far less expense to the taxpayer than if Uncle Sam has to do it. And first and concurrently with the other measures-BUILD THE FENCE and man it with troops and electronics.
The fault lies with the people who come, the people who employ them and the government. All share the fault, so to say that two of the three are ok with you makes zero sense.
susie
For solving the problem the locus of the fault is irrelevant to the measures that must be taken to alleviate the problem.
I, at least, have no problem with individual illegals and progeny of illegals I have met who come with the ideas of making a better life and of becoming Americans with American values. Of course those are not all of them, maybe not a majority. My problem is with the total lack of intent to close the border and not let them in in the first place. I do not fault the employers who hire them. I fault the government that does not arrest, jail, and fine those employers. A consistent and surely applied set of fines and jail terms would rapidly eliminate the reasons the illegals come here and those here would begin to self-deport. And giving them free government services is insane.
You do not fault the employers and have no problem with the people who come illegally. When I say I disagree and say where the fault lies, you say you don't care about finding fault. Which is it? I could only respond to what you posted.
susie
I have been pretty clear. You are just picking. If you will not understand what was plainly written then further explanation will be of little use.
I suppose that will have to suffice as an answer.
susie
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