My idea of legal and illegal is also tied to right and wrong. Ideally, that is what should be the case.
I do not believe the founders envisioned a relativistic society where right/legal and wrong/illegal were changed on a whim or based on who was in the state house or capitol building, or who was able to lobby the best for their particular special interestr. While it is true that issues unrelated to foundational moral issues can ebb abd flow with the political winds, it is equally true that foundational moral issues were meant to be, indeed ought to and must be unalterably tied to much firmer foundations.
It is upon that foundation that our constitution and our laws were meant to be built. There is right and wrong and with this issue and the boundary is, at least IMHO, fairly well defined.
In Senator Craig, I am appealing to an individual I know has strong moral values and thus can be appealed to on the moral level. That is a key component to our governance and outr constitution ...without it...we indeed siink into the abyss.
That moral/religious component was a key part of this nations founding, its liberty and its prosperity ever since. As John Adams said,
"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other."- John Adams, Oct. 11, 1798 I believe that there are fundamental issues with respect to immigration and becoming an American and that our laws, for the most part reflect it. What is not happening is the enforcement of those laws. I am appealing to Senator Craig, as is my right and my duty, to begin doing so and to establish a policy in line with what I feel are fundamental moral principles governing people wanting to "become Americans".You may feel differently and then have the same right and duty to share and influence your own representatives.
Having said all of that...irrepsective of whatever change may be made in the future (and from this letter it is clear what direction I hope to influence that debate), the current laws are being broken and those breaking them must be accountable and responsible for those actions.
You know, Jeff, I'm on your side moreso than you seem to believe.
I'm simply convinced that a large number of congresscritters are not basically concerned with right and wrong, nor are they critically concerned with lawlessness, as shown by their indifference to current immigration laws going wholly unenforced.
I am amazed that the legislature, as defined by the founders, is still churning out legislation in a moderated manner.
But I'm unconvinced that appealing to Congress to make this law or that law is the problem. The problem is that we are selectively applying laws here and there means that the rule of law (new law, old law, any law) is seriously broke!
Illegal immigrants should be dealt with as the law prescribes NOW, and meanwhile, Congress can consider changes for the future.