Posted on 05/21/2007 9:10:14 PM PDT by jazusamo
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Nothing is more common than political "solutions" to immediate problems which create much bigger problems down the road. The current immigration bill in the Senate is a classic example.
The big talking point of those who want to legalize the illegal immigrants currently in the United States is to say that it is "unrealistic" to round up and deport 12 million people.
Back in 1986 it was "unrealistic" to round up and deport the 3 million illegal immigrants in the United States then. So they were given amnesty -- honestly labeled, back then -- which is precisely why there are now 12 million illegal immigrants.
As a result of the current amnesty bill -- not honestly labeled, this time -- will it be "unrealistic" to round up and deport 40 million or 50 million illegal immigrants in the future?
If the current immigration bill is as "realistic" as its advocates claim, why is it being rushed through the Senate faster than a local zoning ordinance could be passed?
We are, after all, talking about a major and irreversible change in the American population, the American culture, and the American political balance. Why is there no time to talk about it?
Are its advocates afraid that the voting public might discover what a fraud it is? The biggest fraud is denying that this is an amnesty bill.
Its advocates' argument is that illegal immigrants will have to meet certain requirements to become citizens. But amnesty is not about how you become a citizen.
The word is from the same root as "amnesia." It means you forget or overlook some crime, as if it never happened. All this elaborate talk about the steps illegal immigrants must go through to become citizens is a distraction from the crime they committed when they crossed the border illegally.
Instead, all attention is focused on what to do to accommodate those who committed this crime. It is a question that would be recognized as an insult to our intelligence on any other issue.
For example, there are undoubtedly thousands, perhaps millions, of unsolved crimes and uncaught criminals in this country and we cannot realistically expect to find and prosecute all these fugitives from justice.
But does anyone suggest that our focus should be on trying to normalize the lives of domestic fugitives from justice -- "bring them out of the shadows" in Ted Kennedy's phrase -- and develop some path by which they can be given an acceptable legal status?
Does anyone suggest that, if domestic criminals come forward, pay some fine, and apply to have their crimes overlooked, they can be put on a path to be restored to good standing in our society?
Just as we don't need to solve every crime and catch every criminal, in order to have deterrents to crime, neither do we have to ferret out and deport every one of the 12 million illegal aliens in this country in order to deter a flood of new illegal aliens.
All across this country, illegal aliens are being caught by the police for all sorts of violations of American laws, from traffic laws to laws against murder. Yet in many, if not most, places the police are under orders not to report these illegal aliens to the federal government.
Imprisoning known and apprehended lawbreakers for the crime of illegally entering this country, in addition to whatever other punishment they receive for other laws that they have broken -- and then sending them back where they came from after their sentences have been served -- would be something that would not be lost on others who are here illegally or who are thinking of coming here illegally.
Just as people can do many things better for themselves than the government can do those things for them, illegal aliens could begin deporting themselves if they found that their crime of coming here illegally was being punished as a serious crime, and that they themselves were no longer being treated as guests of the taxpayers when it comes to their medical care, the education of their children, and other welfare state benefits.
Incidentally, remember that 700-mile fence that Congress authorized last year? Only two miles have been built. That should tell us something about how seriously they are going to enforce other border security provisions in the current bill.
Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institute and author of Basic Economics: A Citizen's Guide to the Economy.
This is a greater fiasco than Bush nominating his secretary for SCOTUS.
And a greater fiasco than the Mariel Boatlift!
That too!
I hate to do this, but I have to disagree with Dr. Sowell. We cannot just jail 12 - 20 million people. All we hear about now is jail overcrowding. Besides, why should we pay to keep them here in jail?
I’m surprised that Dr. Sowell missed the best idea. Crack down on employers. HARD. When the jobs start drying up, most of the illegals will go home on their own.
I agree that's what will have to be done.
I’m very surprised that Dr. Sowell didn’t get that. He is always on the ball and usually much sharper.
Come to think of it, I’ve never disagreed with him before.
" Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom: it is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves. "
--William Pitt, Speech, 'Hansard', 18 November 1873
In other words, when politicians seek to rush through a measure, and wish to avoid public scrutiny, the intent is usually a detriment to the body politic, and often works at the expense of the body politic to the self-enrichment of the politicians in support.
In a more enlightened age, tar would be getting heated in buckets, and the stockpiling of chicken feathers would make the news.
Why indeed.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
A mere 7 months ago Bush & Co promised us 700 miles of fence, they've already broken that promise, that's how tough they are on securing the borders in this new amnesty plan.
As Thomas writes, only 2 miles have been built and the new amnesty plan calls for only building 370 miles (a number no doubt subject to change... downward) before they grant mass amnesty to 21 million illegals.
And they wonder why we don't trust them when they tell us they will secure the borders... later.
No Thanks, secure the borders first!
He didn’t bring it up in this piece but I’m sure he’s aware of it. There’s a limit to the length of the article.
I believe he stated it from the point of jailing those caught for crimes then deporting them and many would start leaving on their own.
It will be interesting to see if he writes one or two more columns on this same subject this week as he sometimes does.
No one cuts through the crappola like Dr. Sowell. Thanks!!
From article:
Just as we don't need to solve every crime and catch every criminal, in order to have deterrents to crime, neither do we have to ferret out and deport every one of the 12 million illegal aliens in this country in order to deter a flood of new illegal aliens.
I don't think he's talking about jailing 12 to 20 million.
I couldn’t agree more.
Don't forget to sharpen all your pitch forks and set aside some good rope.
If hiring illegals were NOT tax deductible, then the IRS, the most feared beauracy in all the land, would take care of this problem in nothing flat.
I expect Teddy Kennedy and the like to betray us, but the people we fought to elect? The magnitude of the betrayal and the ramifications if this passes...are unthinkable.
I don't know who it is exactly that you are disagreeing with, but it isn't Dr. Sowell. Sowell NEVER made the proposal you are claiming he did.
Quite to the contrary, Sowell made the explicit point that it would NOT be neccessary to round up and jail them all.
Instead, he rightly noted that if we started actually treating these people as criminals, subject to arrest and trial, many would repatriate themselves forthwith. Take away the incentive, put in place some serious disincentives (like enforcing existing law), and the busses south will be filled to the brim with folks looking for a new life in Mexico.
If hiring illegals were NOT tax deductible, then the IRS, the most feared beauracy in all the land, would take care of this problem in nothing flat.
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