The Public And The Elite Are At Odds On Immigration.

Just whose borders are these? We are referring to the borders, which define our national boundaries. Most Americans believe they are boundaries, which should be controlled on behalf of our people. The Washington elite, however, believe the borders are just political ammunition for their class to use in any manner they deem suitable.

A large new study reveals 60% of the American public view the present immigration situation as a “critical threat to the vital interests of the United States”. At the same time only 14% of our national leadership and opinion makers hold the same views. This reflects a huge disagreement between the people of America and the political elite. It also reveals why so little has been done to correct a problem everyone knows is worsening with every passing day.

One surprising thing is the lack of media attention given to this large study, conducted by the Chicago based Council on Foreign Relations. The organization interviewed 2,800 people over a three-month period to learn how the American public viewed the issue. At the same time the Council interviewed 400 opinion leaders, ranging from members of the current administration to union leaders, journalists and members of Congress. Most of the difference in viewpoint can best be understood when the motives of all concerned are examined. The American people see borders as homeland boundaries. If these boundaries are ignored, people view the intrusion as a threat to national security, a national economic threat, or an out and out violation of law. Our political elitists see immigration with very different eyes.

The Democrats have an unspoken view all immigrants. Be they legal or illegal, all are seen as potential future votes for the party. These party leaders refuse to take any action, which might turn off the flow of bodies, believing all immigration movement will eventually translate into votes.

Republicans also have a silent rationale behind their inaction on immigration. Their view is immigration translates into cheap labor. Because GOP support emanates from the business and agri- business world, the party does not want to take actions, which could harm those who provide needed funding. Further, they do not want to take actions, which could impede their attempts to generate more minority participation.

These attitudes, on the part of both parties, combine to form a completely unmanageable immigration policy.

The administration’s lack of response on immigration issues seems to be one area where President Bush does not enjoy public support. While his overall job performance ratings continue to hover in the mid 60s, when it comes to immigration 70 % of the people rated his actions poor to fair, the lowest rating received on any foreign policy matter.

Though the American public has desired reductions in all immigration for years, our leaders have continued to move in the opposite direction. They have regularly raising the numerical level of legal immigration above levels, which can be assimilated by our society. At the same time they have failed to take any meaningful steps to reduce the inflow of illegal aliens.

The Democrats have proposed amnesty for most of the estimated 8.5 million illegal aliens in the country. The White House also wants amnesty, but only for about 4 to 5 million illegal aliens from Mexico.

Some Republicans want illegal aliens to have the right to pay in-state tuition to attend college, while there is a Democrat move to make it easier for immigrants convicted of felonies to remain in the United States.

The feeling of the general public on immigration is almost a complete reversal of those attitudes reflected by the country’s leadership. In addition to the 60% of Americans who see immigration concerns as a critical threat, another 31% of the public see immigration as an important issue, but not critical. This means less then 10% of the general public remain unconcerned about the flow of human beings into the United States.

Within our national leadership there are those who view immigration as an important threat, but not critical. Overall 59% of the leadership compared to 91% of the public see the flow of foreign nationals into the United States as either an important or critical concern. But, it should also be noted only those who view the problem as critical are likely to take any action that might lead to a realistic solution.

One of the most interesting findings of the study is our political elite have not developed any increase in concern about immigration since the horror of 9-11. While the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon have increased public concern about immigration, among the national leaders concern actually declined.

The opinion leaders of our country drive most public policy issues. This alone should answer many of our questions about government inaction. Because these leaders have not changed their attitudes on immigration since the terrorist attacks, those who make public policy have been very weak in their calls for action. This clearly explains why Congress and the President have not seriously addressed what almost all Americans consider a major national problem.

The gulf between our American public and the elite of our society has existed for many years and will continue into the future. Candidates of the future will find it very difficult to obtain public support for any immigration policy that does not include both a reductions in numbers and a strengthening of the borders. Because the political leadership is very aware of public concern, it seems likely some politician or group of politicians will eventually decide to carry this banner.

It should become a winning issue for whoever makes the call for national security and immigration reform. The big question is which party will forsake old ways and answer the public’s cry?

The first chores are to split off the border patrol from INS so it can be more effective and to get modern computers that can track immigrants. Until these things are done, there is no way to enforce any changes. As these things are going to take a year, there is going to be no way to show you objectively how "the Bush administration" is doing until then. So, you all are just going to have to stomp your feet and scream yourselves hoarse at every demagogueing article until then

You are naive, my friend. It is rare that a FR posts has as many fallacies in one short post.

The primary goal of the Bush administration "reforms" is to get contracts for their friends. Sorry, but that is the simple truth. The Federal bureaucracy is not going to be reformed or fixed in one year or five years or ten years. Twenty years? Maybe--if we have five consecutive Presidents who make it their highest priority. The likelihood of that is very very low.

The next fallacy of your post is the notion that bad policy can be fixed by good implementation. There is only one good immigration policy at this time in our history when for the past twenty years we have been faced with one million legal and a half million illegal immigrants a year. That policy must be a total freeze. No immigration for ten years. None. Nada. Zilch.

Then we probably could cut immigration down by half (in the real world) while W fiddled with bureaucratic reorganization and awarded contracts to his friends.

Some day we might actually get a President who actually wanted to stop immigration and then they would throw away the computers and start defending the borders and shooting on sight anything that tries to cross illegal entry points.

The primary goal of the Bush administration "reforms" is to get contracts for their friends.

You've made a serious charge, so I expect you to back it up or I can only consider you to be libelous (not merely naive as you accuse me of being).

So, document all the friends (specific names only accepted) and the contracts (specific terms and dates and why the friend wasn't qualified to handle it) that President Bush doled out to his "friends."

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EAT THE ELITE!