Posted on 09/01/2011 7:56:10 AM PDT by triumphant values
Imagination is the key tool missing in the political arena.
Immigration policy, especially, suffers from a lack of creative solutions and imagined possibilities for a better future, not just for immigrants but for all of us. The undocumented population recently was estimated at approximately 12 million. However, no one knows for sure how many there are in the United States. By definition, the undocumented are unrepresented in our political process, but also in our census. There is no way to accurately count them. There is no way for them to forcefully represent themselves, their interests or to communicate their political will unless citizens and advocates do it for them.
This lack of imagination is starkly illustrated by recent proposed legislation - for example, the so-called HALT Act, aimed at stripping immigrants of some forms of discretionary relief, as well as overreaching state legislation, which aims to tighten restrictions on noncitizens and their families by making it easier to question, detain and deport them. The alternative (not yet imagined in the minds of legislators or the public) is to address the salient question: How do we utilize the talents of the millions who have been relegated to the shadows? Imagine tapping into the creative energies and ideas of these people, bringing them from the shadows to the forefront of our economy and society, educating and empowering them so they can serve as future leaders and engines of empowerment to others and engines for our teetering economy.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
How many illegals are in California alone? 3 million? 4 million? Another couple million in Texas and just as many more in the rest of the less populated border states.
Geeze o petes, I see stories about illegals being arrested all the time here in Michigan. Add in the stories from Kansas, Minnesota, Illinois, and the eastern seaboard etc etc etc....
Will Perry's booster squad come along and clarify whether or not Perry will continue his "bold commitment to bipartisan efforts," "as shown by his record of support for the Texas Dream Act."
The voters of American need to know where he stands on all these thinly disguised amnesty initiatives. And now we have a proposal for an "Economic Dream Act".
Perry is pro Shamnesty.
He will not deport illegals any more than absolutely necessary to keep the Bitter Clingers from revolting.
Herman Cain has the only sensible immigration policy.
No amnesty.
Enforce the laws already on the books.
Send them packing.
Eight years ago the feds told us there were 12 million illegals with another million coming in every year.
Yet today we still hear the number of 12 million being bandied about!
Several years ago I read a well thought out analysis based on the various but limited data available. The author concluded that a more plausible number was 34 million illegals living in the USA at that time.
This is part of what the folks involved in the Great Perrygasm fail to notice about their “perfect” candidate.
BTW, unlawful entry into this country has NOTHING to do with immigration. You need an immigration visa to be an immigrant.
So, according to Rick Perry, every anchor baby and every kid brought illegally into the US and Texas is a "Texas child".
They can appeal abroad. Might even send some of our judges there to make it easy to accept those appeals.
People need to recognize that those numbers translate into congressional seats whether the illegals vote or not.
Those who vote for amnesty are voting for democrats whether they pull the D lever or not.
Perry has a great opportunity now. He can take the lead by embracing a national Dream Act, which would reward those undocumented immigrants whose presence here would be beneficial to the economy. Beneficial will be defined, for example, as an immigrant's plan to start a small business, design a new product, register a patent or in some other way materially contribute to our economic growth and prosperity."
More of the usual, and how does one translate this soaring rhetoric into legislation? Even the "pay a fine and learn English" solution was unworkable and unenforceable. It would boil down in practice to just another amnesty give-away with some added rituals.
We could certainly use REAL immigration reform. "Value-added" immigration, like some other countries where an applicant is scored on a points basis as to their level of education, age, health and capital. We could do that and throw the racial quota and lottery system out the window. As for illegals here, now, It's all too easy. Just place ICE agents between them and what they need, i.e., jobs, benefits, housing and healthcare. No need for roundups. Go after the fixed targets. Fine employers, fine landlords, place ICE people at the doors to human services offices, courthouses, DMVs, Social Security offices, emergency rooms, schools, etc.
DO roundup the several hundred prominent in-your-face illegals who think that making themselves media darlings renders them untouchable. I'm betting that a move like that--simply arresting and starting deportation proceedings against several hundred limelight-seeking illegals in multiple jurisdictions--would overload and cripple the resources of the "Immigrant's Rights" community. These guys always pick and choose their legal/PR battles. Force them to fight on a hundred fronts simultaneously.
Furthermore, investigating the more egregious of these "sanctuary" churches and "immigrant" groups would likely turn up all manner of actionable lawbreaking. These guys have been traipsing about their business for years, carefree in the knowledge that the politicians and LEO's were too afraid of the lib media to inconvenience them. Instead of tiptoeing around the media, do the opposite. Make them scream their heads off. Use them as an unwitting megaphone for policy. This game is 95% psychological. If the illegals knew there was a new sheriff in Washington who was kicking tail they would self-deport as life on the lam became more and more unsustainable.
I like Perry a lot, but I think immigration is by far his Achille’s heel. He really needs to “get religion” on this issue.
Its a little late for a road to Damascus moment.
Uneducated and unskilled illegals who made their native countries such beacons for the future and who now try to force America to adopt to their cultures, will lead America into its future?
Imagine a Liberal writer not blinded by their delusions of utopia not leading us to a dystopia!
My policy is simply.
Guests are invited, criminals break in.
Step one-Return to your own country and apply for a Visa.
Step two-Wait
Step three- let the beautiful beauracracy of the government do its magic..............LOL.
A decade ago it was estimated at 30 million. That would have been 1 illegal to 8-10 US citizens. Today, it’s a much smaller ratio.
we’re way beyond having mexicans learn english.
where i live they speak spanish and expect businesses and government officials to speak spanish too.
Thank you Red,
I can only hope this question is given evenly to both Perry and Cain during the upcoming debate.
Perry hasn’t done anything miraculous in Texas economically: he just followed good, common sense principles.
It is the immigration issue that separates the two candidates.
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