Posted on 05/16/2006 5:39:20 AM PDT by LowCountryJoe
[snip]During the same campaign, circa December 1979, the Gipper responded to criticism from conservative columnist Holmes Alexander with the following: "Please believe me when I tell you the idea of a North American accord has been mine for many, many years. I have seen presidents, both Democrat and Republican, approach our neighbors with pre-concocted plans in which their only input is to vote 'yes.'
"Some months before I declared, I asked for a meeting and crossed the border to meet with the president of Mexico. I did not go with a plan. I went, as I said in my announcement address, to ask him his ideas -- how we could make the border something other than a locale for a nine-foot fence." So much for those conservatives who think the Gipper would have endorsed a 2,000-mile Tom Tancredo-Pat Buchanan wall.
[snip]In his signing statement, Reagan declared that "We have consistently supported a legalization program which is both generous to the alien and fair to the countless thousands of people throughout the world who seek legally to come to America. The legalization provisions in this act will go far to improve the lives of a class of individuals who now must hide in the shadows, without access to many of the benefits of a free and open society. Very soon many of these men and women will be able to step into the sunlight and, ultimately, if they choose, they may become Americans."
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
I am pretty sure there were far, far fewer illegals crossing the border in 1979 than there are today, 27 years later.
Just because Reagan did not agree with having a fence then does not mean its a bad idea today.
If state taxpayers have borne the brunt of the societal costs – if any – from illegal immigrants while the federal government turned a blind eye to its (our) own laws, then perhaps the states should have found a way to tap into the some $3000 per head that the “would be” immigrants have been willing to shell out to human trafficking scum. Collecting just $2500 per person at an entry point while creating the necessary documentation could have gone a long way in alleviating this immigration “crisis” while maintaining a steady stream of eager people willing to unlock economic value, here, in our country.
But, here we are now, willing to choke the golden goose by actually considering having our taxes raised in order to garner less benefit. Maybe it’s all worth it as long as the majority of us feel better about it; because it’s hard to put a value on feelings, isn’t it?
Ssssh! Reagan said no such thing. If only Reagan was President. Bush is a RINO. Reagan would have already kicked out the illegals. /sarc
Reagan would not have built a wall ... especially after giving his famous speech "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
The man was a giant, with an optimism, character, adn conservative philosophy I deeply respect. However, he was shortshighted at times, and border control was one of those times.
Agreed .. we gave Reagan's idea a chance and it didn't work .. so it time to move onto another idea
To equate the Berlin Wall with a border fence along the southern US is foolish. Repeat after me: "The Berlin Wall was designed to keep slaves of the communist IN; the US border fence will keep illegals OUT."
The Berlin Wall was the outward appearance of the internal decay eating away at the "Evil Empire".
If the US does not enforce its laws, we will cease to be a country and will devolve into simply another brick in the UN wall of chaos and anarchy.
Don't forget most of the Illegals came in when Bush was inaugurated.
Have you ever lived in So. Calif.?
Back to New York’s Future
Brighton Beach is one of the last “old world” communities in New York City, serving immigrants since the early 1900's, when the first wave of European/Russian émigrés settled here. Today, it is still a community of émigrés - a neighborhood that encompasses people of almost every region of the world.
With an estimated population of 150,000 people, Brighton is a melting pot of world cultures, which can be seen in its many restaurants, shops and cultural establishments. The largest population thus far are Russians. The first wave came in the early 1900's. The second wave came in the late 1970's with an estimated 25,000 arriving in our shorefront. With this influx, Brighton Beach became a bustling scene of cultural upheaval. Brighton will never be the same.
Brighton Beach Avenue is the main commercial strip of Brighton Beach and over 80% of the businesses are Russian owned. The “Momma Pappa” stores of old now reflect the influx of major chain stores like RiteAid and Duane Reed along with Petland Discount. You can not go hungry on Brighton Beach Avenue because there are blocks of produce stores along with restaurants and nightclubs.
In the 80's, another 10,000 people from Russia arrived and they still trickle in due to relaxed immigration policies. In addition, large numbers of Koreans, Filipinos, Pakistani, Afghanis, Hispanic and Turkish people have moved into the community. Recently, mosques have opened on and around Neptune Avenue where many middle Easterners are settling.
Yeah, he wasn't offended at all by walls. He LOVED the Berlin wall.
Reagan's idea was not enforced so we don't know if it would have worked or not...
But you're still right. Time for another idea.
Remember .. at the time many countries back then didn't like the US or Reagan either
If there were a FR during President Reagan they would have been screaming for his head on a variety of issues. He was far less Conservative than President Bush on many. History has a way of changing things.
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
Shhhhh! Mentioning that always gives the Tancredo-ites a brain hemmorage...
LOL!
Recently, mosques have opened on and around Neptune Avenue where many middle Easterners are settling.
They were the one's that cheered on 9/11. They should all be deported before the Mexicans.
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