Posted on 02/11/2005 10:55:36 AM PST by Jim Robinson
The shot heard around the Internet has been fired on FreeRepublic.com The owner Jim Robinson and his moderators have launched a sniper style purge against members that disagree with the President’s ‘guest worker’ amnesty or support more control of illegal immigration. Free Republic is an amazing tool for those looking for a good debate and news from around the country.
The problem for the administration of the site is that their creation is allowing the participants to learn that the Bush immigration record and plans are shockingly out of line with the views of most conservatives. The management’s answer to this conflict between the majority of conservatives and the influence of the White House on their Web site has become electronic executions and censorship.
Members and readers of Free Republic would be surprised to know that many members of their community have fallen silent on the discussions about illegal immigration lately because free speech is an illusion on FR.com. They are silent because they have been banned from the Web site without warning, cause, or explanation in most cases. For weeks the moderators have been suspending and banning new members that chimed in quickly on the immigration debates.
Now this trend has broadened as the first groups of long-term users were suspended or banned this past week. Although Robinson and his staff removed many members of the Free Republic community in the first few days of the purge, those that religiously support President Bush’s immigration plan, open borders and approve of public benefits for illegal aliens remain on the forum. Those that were banned were the members that wanted more done to control illegal immigration and a strict observance to the President’s Oath of Office.
What is motivating President Bush for reform is 9/11, yes; but the other problem of illegal immigration has continued under every president's watch. Congress and the Presidents have always turned a blind eye to the border crossing problem. I've always maintained that it does no good to lock the front door and windows when you leave the back door wide open....and that's what's been the case since 9/11.
Thanks for the ping, Travis.
Dane is one of the several statist posters that I've butted heads with in the past. And I recall, his first resort was to always make a personal attack or insult.
I never fully understood (although I have my suspicions) why that was "allowed" time after time after time, while long-time FReepers were often banned for stepping over the line only once (or merely being on the "wrong" side of an issue).
As for FR, most of the better posters have either been banned or left on their own accord. That is the main reason that I don't post here much anymore, unless someone pings me.
~~Sigh~~ Something wrong here, I thought all us "rich" Republicans got to eat food like that. What's with the cheap frozen pizza I'm stuck with for dinner tonight? I must be doing something wrong!
I don't know enough about that program to make an opinion of it either way. I do know that there are claims that because of that program, there were claims of an increase in illegals coming to the States, the wage rate was reduced by Farmers, so those Americans who used to work on the farms as laborers had to accept lower pay or be without their job because the farm owners had the "option" of paying the Mexican laborer's lower wages, it displaced American workers, and that many Mexican workers weren't treated terribly well...almost treated as slave workers, the improvement/use of machinery also reduced the need for as many Mexicans to manually doing work (as well as Americans).
That's true; sometimes they're false; other times they're exaggerated. Oftentimes there's truth found from what both sides of the aisle claim. But logic tells me that what I posted is probably closer to the truth than an exaggeration or fabrication.
Thanks for the new and improved poll.
Americans are going to be asked first if they want the jobs.
I assume that that includes jobs currently held by "undocumented workers" and as guest workers they will not automatically return to their old jobs that "Americans won't do." Americans will be asked first.
What about "undocumented workers" with career jobs? That is, good paying jobs held by undocumented workers for several years? They own homes, have families, etc. I know that it happens.
Are Americans going to be asked if they want those good-paying, responsible jobs "undocumented workers" have held for years? I thought Americans had to refuse the jobs first then the search for 'willing workers' began.
The "guest worker" plan may be fine for temporary work but what about "undocumented workers" who have careers? Would guest worker proponents have the "guest worker" plan renege on the promise to ask Americans first?
Thank you ...appreciated.
If it turns ON a couple internal light bulbs around here...and across to who knows where out in cyberspace, it will have accomplished its purpose.
Look beyond immmigration, to the big big picture, which encompasses other topics of discussion on this forum.
What do they all have in common...the long term securiity and viability of the US.
Yep.
I voted maybe but needs lots of work.
which might surprise some here...lol
It seems I am third least anti-Bush'd plan than most FReepers who voted.
That is too funny.
but I'm still a racist of course..lol
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