As someone who is very involved in this issue and understands the Orwellian use of language to disguise what politicians really mean, Behney has not fully disclosed where he stands on the issue. I know where Hostettler stands on the issue because my group and I have met with him on it. If you get a chance, ask Behney how he proposes we deal with the 12 to 20 million illegals currently in the country. That is the real question.
While career politicans and term limits is apparently not an important issue to you it is #1 with me.
Agree. I believe there are two thing that can destroy this county--amnesty and the entitlement programs--and they are related. Career politicians may contribute to our inaction on issues, but I blame the public just as much for electing them. Most of the American public are uninformed and unengaged. We deserve the government we have.
All the other issues will be meaningless if we do not get our constitutional government back. That is THE top priority. And your answers in the above posts make it clear Hostettler is not firm on that issue. That settles it for me. Thanks.
LOL. You lost me on that one. Go to his website and the top banner and you will find among other things, the following: Restoring Our Constitution -- Solving today’s difficult problems can be achieved using the clear solutions given by America’s founders.
I can't and am not trying to change your mind. It is not fair to diminish John in order to support your candidate. From what I have read about him, he seems like a fine conservative. I do have some reservations about where he stands on immigration and amnesty, which I don't have about John.
Immigration, legal and illegal, has had and will continue to have a major and far-reaching impact across a broad spectrum of existential challenges that confront this nation, e.g., national security, the economy/global competitiveness, jobs, health care, taxes, energy independence, education, entitlement reform, law enforcement, social welfare programs, physical infrastructure, the environment, civil liberties, and a continued sense of national identity/shared sense of endeavor. Immigration policy is the defining issue of our time with enormous implications for the future of this nation and the preservation of our patrimony.
The U.S. adds one international migrant (net) every 34 seconds. Immigrants account for one in 8 U.S. residents, the highest level in more than 80 years. In 1970 it was one in 21; in 1980 it was one in 16; and in 1990 it was one in 13. In a decade, it will be one in 7, the highest it has been in our history. And by 2050, one in 5 residents of the U.S. will be foreign-born. Currently, 1.6 million legal and illegal immigrants settle in the country each year; 350,000 immigrants leave each year, resulting in a net immigration of 1.25 million. Since 1970, the U.S. population has increased from 203 million to 309 million, i.e., over 100 million. In the next 40 years, the population will increase by 130 million to 439 million. Three-quarters of the increase in our population since 1970 and the projected increase will be the result of immigration.
Immigration is changing the demographics of this country and with it the basic adherence and allegience to the values and vision of our Founders. By 2023 half of the children 18 and under will be minorities as defined by the USG and by 2042 half of the country will be minorities. Can we still maintain a sense of national identity or will we become Balkanized along racial, cultural, linguistic, and ethinic lines?
This is not the same America I grew up in more than 60 years ago. And I grew up in an immigrant neighborhood. Multiculturalism and diversity are hindering assimilation and the huge numbers entering every year of mostly poor and uneducated immigrants are killing us economically. Milton Friedman said, “You cannot simultaneously have free immigration and a welfare state.” We have a welfare state with 53% of immigrant headed families on welfare. They vote mostly for the party of free stuff--the Dems--and they support bigger and bigger government.
I just happen to respectfully disagree that Behney has not fully disclosed where he stands. He's been quite specific. He has said that he wants to see to it that existing laws are enforced. We already have immigration laws, we don't need new ones which is what you're proposing. What we need is to ENFORCE the ones we already have. Behney has been VERY SPECIFIC on this. If we can't enforce the ones we have NOW, what makes you think we're going to be able to enforce anything new Hostettler comes up with????
Now go look at these existing laws, read them, and then think if these were actually enforced instead of ignored we wouldn't have an illegal problem. And they are very specific so I don't see where you keep saying Behney hasn't been specific.
Many of these laws have heavy fines attached to them on the first offense. Rarely would an illegal have the cash fund to pay any of them if they were actually enforced, they would have no choice but to go home on their own, and fear would be a heavy motivation against hopping across the border if your bank account was wiped clean if you were caught. If the offense is committed a 2nd time - its a felony upon which they are jailed or deported. Enforcement of existing law is the key which we are not doing. Examples:
- It is unlawful for any person to bring aliens into the United States. Fine: $3,000 for each alien (Sec. 273. [8 U.S.C. 1323]) - We aren't currently enforcing any of these fines if they're caught.
- It is unlawful to bring in or harbor illegal aliens. Fine: $3,000 for each alien. (Sec. 273. [8 U.S.C. 1323] ) - we don't enforce the fines again.
- It is unlawful for a person or other entity- to employ or recruit or refer for a fee an illegal alien in the United States. Commercial advantage or private financial gain offender can be fined under title 18, US code, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both. ...Any person who, during any 12-month period, knowingly hires for employment at least 10 individuals with actual knowledge that the individuals are aliens described in sub paragraph (B) shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both. (Sec. 274A. [8 U.S.C. 1324a] ) - If we would just enforce this one simply by making the fine so heavy that an employer would go out of business on the first offense, they would stop. And Behney has promised to legislatively go after offending employers. So yeah, very specific.
Those are just a few examples. If you look at the laws, see where they are not being enforced and start enforcing them the problems are solved. A 2nd area is to cut off all freebies illegals are getting: free medical care, anchor babies, welfare, etc. etc. etc. and Behney has specifically promised to initiate more legislation that puts an end to this practice.
Career politicians may contribute to our inaction on issues, but I blame the public just as much for electing them.
I don't disagree the public has much to blame for their apathy over the past 40 years. BUT, having said that a large number of the public is waking up and are actively engaged in contacting their congresspersons only to be ignored.
Also, I very much disagree with your comment that career politicians 'may' contribute. Bollocks. They are a huge part of the problem. As you yourself put it corruption is rampant in Washington. This is because they are 100% focused on getting re-elected or maintaining their power base instead of listening to their constitutents. You cut off the focus on re-election (because they can't be re-elected) and you cut off the power trip.
In the past few years, the public HAS BEEN engaged, writing letters, phone calls, e-mails, more phone calls. When the congressperson ignores their constituents YOU CANNOT BLAME THE VOTING PUBLIC! Trust me, I have personally sat in Lugar's office and watched his staff field phone calls. During the call they were all polite and oh so encouraging to the calling voter saying they would 'personally' see to it that the Senator heard their concerns, blah blah blah. Upon hanging up the phone the staffers looked at one another, laughed, waded up the paper they had been doodling on and sent it to file 13. Lugar never heard squat even if he wanted to. True story. So tell me again how voters are going to be engaged when we're ignored and mocked???? Career politicians have everything to do with it! Because of this issue and the back room deals, and lobbying, the whole of Washington is a sewer. Term-limits, and an end to lobbying would go a long way to cleaning it up.
LOL. You lost me on that one
You shouldn't have been lost. You admitted that term limits were inconsequential. Only a lobbyist would think they are not important - wrong. If we elect more and more people to congress with Behney's views - it would eventually get passed. It will be hard work but its worth pursuing. I'm not for anyone who takes a dim view of term limits. And I don't care WHAT a campaign website claims about restoring the constitution, its just fluff if you don't go after term limits and endless back room deals and lobbying.
You absolutely lost ME when you admitted to lobbying. That a lobbyist who cannot even vote in Indiana is trying to get a man elected to the U.S. Senate FROM Indiana is another red flag. The only people working to get a man elected to represent Hoosiers should be a voting Hoosier! I see RINO written enough all over the place that I'm beginning to wonder if Hostettler should even be my 2nd choice!
Now with all that said though, remember what I did say in an earlier post: Hostettler is my 2nd choice and if Behney loses and Hostettler wins he will have my support despite all of my concerns. I'll just do a lot of praying that my concerns will be proven wrong.