>>>>"Rational ideas anyone?"<<<<
Fair Tax is a start, then Military at our Borders.
TT
My thinking is along these same lines. Seal the border, step one of any reasonable plan. Step two, remove the economic advantage the illegal worker has. I am sure the illegal problem differs depending on where you live. In the midwest, the illegals are taking work for half the pay because they are being paid in cash and don't get half their pay confiscated. Contributing to this is the graduated income tax code. Like you, I think MANY illegals would self-deport if we implemented an NRST.
Guest worker plans and making illegals felons neither one address to root cause.