Posted on 08/22/2005 1:10:58 PM PDT by bayourod
Illegal immigration is a complex national problem.
It won’t be solved by piecemeal attacks such as that of GOP gubernatorial hopeful Jerry Kilgore in opposing a day laborer site in Herndon.
Such tactics fuel anti-immigrant prejudices while skipping the hard part, acknowledging the broad tradeoffs and difficult compromises necessary for a permanent solution.
If exploitation of nativist emotion isn’t Kilgore’s intention, then he should pull the plug on this line of campaigning.
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At issue is the proposal of a coalition of community organizations to open a day laborer site in a soon-to-be abandoned police station straddling the Herndon-Loudoun County line. Currently, scores of men gather daily at a nearby convenience store to await the arrival of private employers who hire them for day labor in construction, yard work, and the like.
Kilgore joined critics calling the proposed site a haven for illegal immigrants and a breeding ground for illegal activity.
But others argue convincingly that an official site, including a police or security presence, would more likely contain bad behavior while serving both small-time employers and legal workers. The Herndon council validated that view with a 5-2 vote Wednesday to open the center.
No doubt, some illegals will turn up there. But frustration with U.S. failure to stem the flow of illegal immigration ought to be directed toward Congress, the immigration service or others with an opportunity to make a real difference.
Virginians who grouse about illegal immigrants should open their eyes and see who’s really tending their lawns, putting new shingles on their roofs, cleaning toilets in their office building and hotels. Illegal immigrants are doing the dirty jobs that Virginians don’t want.
Kilgore characterized the problem in Herndon as one of illegals taking “hard-earned dollars from law-abiding citizens.”
In fact, the issue there and elsewhere wouldn’t exist except for America’s addiction to cheap labor. Undocumented workers sustain many of the services and prices Americans have come to expect.
Politicians as diverse as President George Bush, GOP Sen. John McCain and Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy acknowledge that a much-expanded temporary worker program, combined with some form of enforceable amnesty for illegals with long tenure here, is the only hope for getting a handle on the problem.
Name-calling about undocumented workers who supposedly leach the system dry might win votes. But it won’t make the problem go away.
I don't defend them for breaking the law, but I don't stick my head in the sand and refuse to recognize reality.
Reality is that illegals contribute $800 Billion to our GDP, that our economy is dependent upon them, that we have aborted 45 million American babies, that unemployment is dangerously low at 5%, and that our immigration laws are in dire need of reform.
I don't personally know any firemen either, but I fully appreciate the need for them.
Why do you resent people who come here to do jobs you don't want to take? Someone has to do those jobs.
Yeah, that's why we passed Prop. 187 in California in 1994, that would've done everything your damn AG in Texas supposedly did and more. We American patriots understand the concept of electoral politics all right. And we're going to teach it to party hacks like you all across the nation on the immigration issue so fast it'll make your head spin.
"Why do you resent people who come here to do jobs you don't want to take?"
Why do you resent hispanics and africans, and prefer western europeans as immigrants....yet call anyone who opposes illegal immigration a "racist"?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1449544/posts?page=72#72
Not me. As I've posted before, I have no affinity for Mexicans or Americans of Hispanic descent.
To recognize that foreign laborers are essential right now to sustaining our economy does not mean that I am particularly fond of Hispanics.
If I had my personal preference, instead of Mexican laborers, we would have Western European laborers with blond hair and blue eyes pouring across our borders bringing their beautiful daughters. But that isn't reality. Neither is "sealing the border".
To recognize that Republicans must not unnecessarily alienate Hispanic voters with gratuitous insults if we hope to keep Hillary out of the White House is not the same as saying that I want to invite them to live in my house.
However all my relations with Hispanics have been good. Can't say that about Nigerians and half a dozen other types.
72 posted on 07/24/2005 3:47:25 PM CDT by bayourod
"Your billboard in Spanish, sponsored by Los Angeles County, advertising welfare for illegals is a good example of why it's more important to win elections than to prance around with glee for losing elections because you "stuck to your principles.""
But you just told us the other day that Illegals on welfare was a "myth".
Bayourod lies about illegals not recieving welfare
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1466382/posts?page=112#112
Bayourod lies about illegals and crime
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1465954/posts?page=37#37
" Some people just don't understand the concept of electoral politics."
Some people just don't understand the concept of telling the truth.
"Immigrant Bashing won't fix the Problem"
How about ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT bashing? Will that work? No?
Then how about the F'ing government fixes the problem?
We wouldn't be bashing ILLEGALS if they had obeyed the law. I bash pedophiles too. Lawbreakers are lawbreakers. Period.
Oh, I'm sorry. I meant to say you excuse them for breaking the law. Big difference.
Reality is that illegals contribute $800 Billion to our GDP,
Only Raul Hinojosa, ethnic apologist, says so. You and the Republican Party getting your talking points from HIM now????
that our economy is dependent upon them,
No, scofflaw employers are "dependent" on them, only in the sense that they don't want to obey the law and pay a wage competitive for LEGAL workers, or pay benefits that taxpaying chumps have to pay for instead. And since that's their "dependency," I'm more than happy to cut them off "cold turkey."
that we have aborted 45 million American babies,
A irrelevant and deeply disgusting attempt to emotionally link the illegal immigration issue to pro-life sentiment.
that unemployment is dangerously low at 5%,
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!! Yeah, we can't have less than 5% of our able-bodied citizenry unemployed! Your scofflaw clientele might have to hire LEGAL WORKERS!!!
and that our immigration laws are in dire need of reform.
Sez you and your abuela. 80% of America's citizens disagree with you.
I don't personally know any firemen either, but I fully appreciate the need for them.
Yeah, all the firemen I know are working illegally, as "vigilante firemen." [/bitter sarcasm]
Why do you resent people who come here to do jobs you don't want to take? Someone has to do those jobs.
Someone legal. Not necessarily me. But someone in compliance with the laws my representatives passed. Why? Because I and my fellow citizens are masters in our own home. That's why.
Does this "reality" thing of which you speak go anything like this:
If I had my personal preference, instead of Mexican laborers, we would have Western European laborers with blond hair and blue eyes pouring across our borders bringing their beautiful daughters. But that isn't reality.
Reality is that illegals contribute $800 Billion to our GDP,
If they supply so much to our economy, and in fact are keeping it from collapsing, then why do they have to live in such squalid conditions? Why aren't they allowed to reap the benefits which they are solely responsible for creating?
Oh yeah, now I remember - you have no idea how the migrant workers are affected by all this. Funny, for someone who acs like such an expert on the subject, I'd think you'd at least have SOME idea how this impacts the people who (you claim) are literally responsible for keeping this economy from collapsing. Think you might be doing a little research on it in the near future?
that we have aborted 45 million American babies
"We"? Who is this "we"? Could it be the "Nigerians, and a half dozen other types" that don't meet your high standards?
Oh yeah - 45 million aborted children also means 45 million less people for whom these "jobs need to be done." The US takes in a million immigrants legally each year, so that should cover the one million annual abortions. But hey, keep on using this one - it would be funny if it weren't so sick.
that unemployment is dangerously low at 5%,
Uh-oh, not enough people out of work! Well, we must do something about THAT, toot-sweet!
Why do you resent people who come here to do jobs you don't want to take? Someone has to do those jobs.
Like operating a leaf blower at 8:00 in the morning? Yeah, I wonder how we'll get by...
Dang, beaten to the punch yet again!
(Insert OBL'er-type comment of "Huh from the sound of it that punch is probably kool-aid JMO.)
Illegal aliens are law breakers.
If the government conveniently overlooks these criminal acts, why should U.S. citizens worry about breaking the law?
We are either a nation of laws or we aren't, which is it?
I don't buy that. The test of the truthfulness is very simple. If the law was changed to give the illegals legal status would you still oppose them?
I would be against pedophilia whether it was legal or not, and I suspect you would be too, so whether they are legal or illegal really isn't the deciding factor is it?
They have already broken the law. They deserve no legal status just as a pedophile deserves no legal status.
So 'rod, if this immigration reform also benefitted the "Nigerians and half a dozen other types," would you be so inclined to support it? What did Nigerians ever do to you, anyway?
b*tchslapped again ;)
That isn't the question. You say that you oppose illegals for the reason that they are illegal. If that were true then if Congress made them legal you would have no reason to oppose them
But you would still oppose them. That means you must have some other reasons for opposing them.
I can give you several very good reasons why I detest pedophiles, not one of them is the fact that it is illegal. I can give you reason why I think male homosexuality is harmful, and that isn't illegal. The legal vs illegal argument has never held water in any context. In scholastic debates it isn't even permitted to be used.
Hey look, the Nigerian immigrants are just trying to do whatever they can to feed their families. What have you got against them?
The legal vs illegal argument has never held water in any context. In scholastic debates it isn't even permitted to be used.
Unless you're in law school, or discussing legal issues, in which case it should be a key factor.
Oh, by the way, it's been more than a few posts since you trotted out the "Buchanan/Tancredo crowd" line. Saving it for a rainy day?
First of all, I believe the Virginia Pilot is a pissy liberal paper, and don't give it much respect. Second, this is a blatant attempt by people who want illegal immigration to continue and being a newspaper, they have the platform to call anyone who discusses illegal immigration a racist. I know by our own area newspapers - they have been compromised by the illegal lobbyists and the bleeding heart churches who make it their life's work to resettle illegals, and put them on the dole for the citizens to pay the tab - never the churches. What a bunch of traitors!
There's nothing special or magical about illegal alien workers. If legal immigrants filled these jobs, they would be the ones contributing this $800 Billion (if accurate) to our country's GDP.
Why do you resent people who come here to do jobs you don't want to take? Someone has to do those jobs.
I resent illegal aliens because they're violating our immigration laws and other laws.
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