Posted on 04/22/2013 8:40:59 AM PDT by robowombat
I Have Seen Shameful Things By: Erick Erickson (Diary) | April 22nd, 2013 at 04:30 AM | 30
I am an immigration squish.
There are jobs Americans won’t do at the existing price point. We have a real need in this country for unskilled workers who will pick domestic crops and do jobs Americans will not do for a low wage. I know a number of people who came here illegally who are harder workers than me, who love this country, and who just want a job.
More specifically, I know a number of illegal immigrants — a few of whom I represented as a lawyer — who have no intention of staying in the United States, but work here and send money back home. Most of them wind up staying because of the difficulty of coming back into the country. Contrary to the opinions of many, it is not an easy thing to come and go as an illegal alien.
I think we need a program that is easy to administer, easy to apply for, and easy to use for individuals to come and go as they please during seasons of work to do jobs Americans won’t do at the price point these immigrants would.
Saying all of that, I am deeply, deeply disturbed by the games being played by pro-immigration advocates on the right, including staff in Senator Marco Rubio’s office, Grover Norquist, and others.
They are attacking other conservatives who disagree with them as racists, slavery supporters, bigots, haters, baby killers, un-Christian, etc. They are waging a coordinated attack between Senator Rubio’s office and others against conservative stalwarts like the Heritage Foundation and Jim DeMint.
They are proposing a plan that thus far appears to be unworkable, is wholly too complicated, and is a distraction from issues that we could all agree on in the name of getting a plan acceptable to Democrats. In the process, their attacks on conservatives designed to intimidate, browbeat, and silence them opens old wounds and does exactly what the Democrats hoped to do — divide the right and play directly to the fears of Hispanic voters who have for so long seen political leaders of both parties demagogue the issue.
Many of the people who want an immigration solution frankly could care less about hispanic voters. They see this as an issue the GOP has to get right on and they will do whatever it takes to get right on the issue. They are playing political games. Seeing self-styled conservatives and libertarians trying to pass any legislation that is labeled “comprehensive” should always be a red flag.
I have seen friends paint others as racists, as sympathizers to abortion advocates, and as haters all to try to steam roll through their preferred policy solution. I have seen good conservative organizations attacked and lumped in with fringe groups. I have seen mainstream groups characterized as fringe. I have seen people whore their faith in the name of immigration reform.
I have seen shameful things. What will be the cost paid in these attacks? These are not liberals attacking, but other members of the center-right. They now claim that maybe Boston would not have happened had this bill been passed or, at worst, at least with this bill millions of new immigrations coming into the country will be known instead of unknown. I’m sure the dead eight year old and his family will be consoled by that.
I want an immigration reform plan that will solve the problems we now have with unskilled workers who come here illegally. I am not sure that the proposed plan will do that. What I do know is that conservatives should be deeply skeptical of Republicans who call upstanding conservatives racists and baby killers while allying themselves with the race baiters and baby killers of the left on this issue.
The damage Lindsey Graham, John McCain, and Bush staffers did in 2005-2006 has not been undone. They called many Republicans bigots and racists who were not, but who stood in the way of their comprehensive approach to immigration. That created a great deal of distrust and animosity on this issue. Instead of trying to understand the legitimate concerns of those who opposed their plan, they tarred and feathered them all.
Without ever trying to heal those wounds, those behind this latest push are tearing open new wounds.
I think Senator Marco Rubio wants to do the right thing. I think he set before himself a good, but unpopular task. He should be commended for trying, at least, a Nixon goes to China moment on immigration. But I think the actions of some members of his staff coordinating attacks on solid conservatives is undermining the cause he and I both believe in. Ultimately, they are playing right into the hands of President Obama and the Democrats.
Count me out. The cost of this to those who should be united against the Democrats is too great.
Thanks for all you're do! I'm starting to think RINOs are to the left of Reid, Pelosi, Schumer, Feinstein, etc.
“But as for myself, I’m not doing those jobs if I can get other work.S”
Understood, thank you. Just realize, when these millions of illegals get ‘legalization’, big biz will demand more illegals because the legaliZed ones won’t do those jobs either. And they’ll be marching in the streets demanding $20 an hour min wage.
And when Marco Rubio is renominated for his seat in the next election cycle, Erick Erickson will support him because he has an “R”.
Immigration isn’t the only issue where Erickson is a squish. He can, and should, be indignant over the ridiculous campaign Rubio is running against conservatives, but when the chips are down Erickson will fold just like the rest of the GOP-E.
When I see (must read) I never do. fwiw
Do you have a true blue conservative with deep pockets who has no connections with unions and foreign governments? Please enlighten me.
As far as I'm concerned, Rubio has shown how stupid he is with his immigration reform. Hispanics will not vote for him, because he's Cuban. Hispanics I work with hate Cubans because they see them getting a free immigration ride. I can't blame them. Cubans get one foot in America and they're home free. Oh sure, they'll string the boy along to get what they want then they'll vote for the democrat who'll give them the most free stuff.
People elected by and paid by us should be doing what's best for Americans. I'm tired of them talking about the poor illegal immigrant who has put down roots here. They didn't care how they were hurting Americans when they came here. All they cared about was themselves, and all they care about now is themselves. We Americans need to do what's best for ourselves. If I thought living in a Latin American third world cesspool would be good for me, I'd move to one. There are plenty to choose from.
And then you wait until your application is approved.
Why advocates of citizenship continue to advocate on behalf of lawbreakers is a curiosity. And they are never asked to explain themselves. Do they believe that there aren't enough lawbreaking Americans that we have to import a fresh new batch?
I agree. In the present economy there are no jobs that Americans won’t do. There are jobs that Americans won’t do as cheaply as illegal unskilled labor. But in most cases the higher paid labor can be utilized so as to match the output of the lower skilled illegal labor by proper organization, innovation and planning so that improved productivity keeps the cost about the same.
Case in point: when the Left’s much praised United Farm Workers strike to force legalization of illegals a California lettuce farmer developed a lettuce picking machine that allowed more skilled American workers to pick lettuce in a far more productive fashion.
This thesis was proven during the George W. Bush administration with pork product producers in Virginia and North Carolina.
My job is very largely dealing with the consequences of poorly built buildings.
A major contributor in many cases is workers who are illiterate, generally in English, but often in any language.
Building design and materials have gotten a lot more sophisticated as we try to save money by doing more with less material. This requires careful attention to detail and manufacturer’s directions.
Which is tough to do if you no speak Englese.
You have to choose between unions and foreigners.
It sucks, but there it is.
We were much much better off as a nation with manufacturing here and coolie labor in China, and if what is needed to change it back is me loving unions, then, dammit, I am going to love them.
All true. Younger people especially could be given transportation buses to get to and from fields to work. We’re paying for these illegals in emergency room visits, education for their kids, etc.
If the answer is "No" then think about why you are against more open borders. Are the problems you are trying to solve by tighter borders really caused by open borders or by something else?
Are the drug cartels caused by open borders?
Are career criminals wanting to come to the US because of open borders?
Do the lazy and the poor from around the world want to come to the US because of open borders?
If America were a nation which had strict property laws that were always enforced, a system of government rooted in self reliance and independence, and a moral people which understood that there are natural negative consequences to sin and vice would we need tighter borders?
First and foremost I believe we are a nation of laws, not men. So to me,amnesty is out of the question. Going forward though, I am against getting in the way of someone who wants to add to America from making that contribution.
Your question is very interesting.
My late father came here illegally around 1949. He and his brother crossed the Canadian/American border with his new car he purchased after working in Canada for a few year (waiting there to get papers in order to immigrate to the US.)
My father got a high paying job in the defense industry in San Fran. One day he came home and INS officers arrested him. His brother had escaped with the car and drove back to Canada.
My father spent a day in custody. The next day the INS officers gave him an ultimatum. He could voluntarily go back and get back in line or he can refuse to go back and get deported. He chose the former. Seven years later he entered the US legally.
My father and mother each had $3000 in their bank accounts when they came over. Those were the days when we had a competent government. FYI, the border guards had taken down the license plate number when they crossed the border. When they didn't return the INS searched for their car and arrested my father as he was coming home from work.
If your point is that you’re willing to settle for the corrupt status quo, then go ahead, I can’t stop you.
No, my point - your recommendation for a true blue deep pocketed billionaire conservative. So far, I am only hearing crickets.
“I really do think, that if there are indeed jobs Americans won’t do, not even the low skilled, the temporary, the high school/college students, etc. -
that employers should raise the wage offer until someone does want to do it. Also, improve working conditions, etc.
That is how the free market is supposed to work.”
Of course, we could also lower welfare payments, food stamps, housing assistance and free cell phones. Then folks might be more interested in working to provide for themselves.
“No, my point - your recommendation for a true blue deep pocketed billionaire conservative. So far, I am only hearing crickets.”
I don’t know one, do you??? Crickets??? How ‘bout spending as much time exposing this corruption instead of trying to play GOTTCHA with me??? This isn’t about YOUR ego.
The author is kidding himself. The only answer is Arizona’s plan:
“Attrition through enforcement” — passing strict laws designed to deter more illegal immigrants from coming to Arizona and to encourage those already here to leave.
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