Illegal Immigration

[KingFlorez]

I see an opening for Democrats here. I've heard people who are concerned about this and I think we could swing votes based on this. Should Democrats take up this issue?

[bahrbearian]

1. yeah , it's illegal. Nuff said.

[Maestro]

3. Nuff said?

Not if cheap labor conservatives want to hold the status quo even though they complain about it vociferously and hypocritically. There is much more to this issue.

[bahrbearian]

6. Prosecute the employers ,, starting with the CEO's on down.

[Maestro]

16. That would be a very good start! -eom

[Island Blue]

20. Thank you very much! My feeling exactly.

Why is it you always hear people complain about some guy who risked his life to come into this country to make $6 and hour doing construction (or working in a slaughter house, or a restaurant, or on a farm or whatever), but you never hear anyone complain about the employers who hire these folks simply out of greed so they can save and extra buck? These are the folks we should be going after.

[Maestro]

2. Possibly as long as they understand the issue

Here are my thoughts on it as I felt compelled to respond to quite a bit ignorance on the issue. I fear even this thread will be locked eventually.

Msy thoughts on immigration

[CBGLuthier]

5. very good Maestro

To me, most arguments against immigrants are steeped heavily in racism.

[Maestro]

14. Much thanks.

It's very much a personal issue with me as I work with some very hard-working documented and non-documented immigrants.

[applegrove]

4. Immigration will not be stopped because in 10 years there will be

a severe lack of American workers to take care of the economy when boomers retire.

GOP will try and do the "guest workers" thing..where workers come in, pay taxes, and get kicked out as soon as they retire or are unemployed.

America needs the 10 Million illegal workers. They should be given an amnesty - even though jobs are short right now.

Guest worker programs are totally unfair. But neocons have plans for immigration of American workers who don't do useful things like fight in the army or pay taxes. With them you are either an economic entity or a drag. Nothing in between. If you are rich & have stocks in the market or retired & have your pension in the market you are good. If you are retired and poor.. you are bad.

Will be interesting how they try to box Dems into a position so they can take the opposite view and gain the love of all the new immigrants without getting their wrath.. even though guest workers will likely not be able to vote (too democratic my guess).

Look for Cubans to be exempt.

They are just weird. And mean. And did I say they are nasty!!

[bahrbearian]

7. Thats what Visa's are for.

[applegrove]

8. No - if they think immigrants will vote mostly dem - they will have

a long term guest worker program where you can work for twenty thirty years in the U.S.A. and pay taxes... but when you need to pull money out of the system.. you are on a plane back to the old country.

Just like the Saudis & Kuwaitis.

[bahrbearian]

9. O.K. then lets just let the Saudis and Kuwatis work here,,,,

Upon edit... I'd feel much safer than.

[sam sarrha]

12. How about letting the Americans WORK HERE.. no more jobs to CNINA/MEXICO

etc..

24 million jobs went to NAFTA

[applegrove]

17. I meant Saudis & Kuwaitis have guest worker programs where

you can travel abroad to work - then you go back to the Phillipines or wherever once you are out of a job.

We in North America are better than that.

I shudder to think what Rove has concocted.

[bahrbearian]

19. I bet they all had Visa's too

It's illegal to cross the border with out a visa, It's illegal to hire a person with out a visa, why should we encourage people to break the law? Are those the people we want as citizens?

[applegrove]

24. Well you have given Amnesties before. You need the people. What -

are you going to get another 10 Million from somewhere else?

[bahrbearian]

27. One word "Visa's'

[MrTriumph]

10. Yes, but note many illegal "immigrants" plan to return home.

Polls continue to make this point, but somehow it gets lost.

The Democrats have a great opening: protecting American workers. How? CLOSE THE BORDERS TO ILLEGAL LABOR.

[dretceterini]

13. Isn't homeland security

Supposed to be doing something about stopping illegal immigration? x(

[ret5hd]

11. when people start bitchin' about illegal employers rather than...

illegal immigrants...

and start demanding that those illegal employers are fined into bankruptcy and thrown in prison...

and start deriding illegal employers for destroying "our" economy...

and start "looking down on" anybody that has an illegal employer as a neighbor...

well, then, and only then, will i decide that i really have anything to discuss with those that are all up-in-arms about the "illegal" problem. cause until then, i think that the only people talkin' about it are bigots.

[bahrbearian]

22. Can you say, Sam Walton (Walmart)?

[Robertwf]

15. This is not a good "issue"

No matter what position you take on this, you're going to end up as the statue rather than the pidgeon.

[Maestro]

18. Good analogy BTW. eom

[demgurl]

21. Someone has to take up for these poor people and not just to get votes.

If I may go off on one of my tangents.....

If you thought prejudice was a thing of the past then think again. There is rampant prejudice happening every single day in the Us and the government - whether Democrats or Republicans, are not doing anything about it.

I was not around when blacks were slaves so I have nothing to really compare this to but I will say that it is is one of the most vile things I have ever seen.

These people come across the border hoping for money and trying to provide a better life for their families. Who could blame them for that? Isn't that what we all want, a better life? What we have done to these folks is lower than despicable.

These people come across the border and work for less than minimum wages. They work in unsafe environments and are afforded no protection under our laws. They can not go to authorities if they are treated poorly or if their employer decides they didn't do a great job and they will not get paid.

Our government could make laws to protect these people. They could make sure there are stiff penalties for any business hiring an illegal and they could issue more work visas.

If the government issued visas then the workers could have unions and businesses would even have to pay these people more. They would have a safer work environment and could bring suits when treated unfairly or when they are cheated out of pay.

I put forth that our government and our people are doing by not protesting these acts, and demanding protection for these folks, is tantamount to the biggest case of prejudice I have ever seen. If blacks or whites were not given citizenship and they were treated this way then holy hell would be raised. If Canadians were allowed to be treated this way then their government would be all over that.

Our citizens need to make it clear this will no longer be tolerated. The Mexican government needs to speak up to protect their people.

The way we sit back and watch these people being taken advantage of is just sickening.

demgurl

[bahrbearian]

23. Our government could make laws to protect these people.

Exactly ... Instead of using them for profit and Cannon Fodder ( in Iraq)

[-..__...]

26. Or we could just fund an additional 1,000... 3,000... Border Patrol agents

Or whatever it takes to stem the flow.

Put the National Guard on the borders if necessary.

The current situation is unacceptable and needs to be addressed yesterday.

Vincente Fox needs to shut the fuck up and sit down. * and his special interest cronies need to uphold the law and crack down on illegal border crossings.

Stop the source first and foremost. From there go after the employers big and small.

Shouldn't matter if it's a major agricultural or food processing operation, McDonalds, someone looking for day labor in the Home Depot parking lot, or hiring a nanny or cleaning person... all are equally complicate.

Balance and adjust the fines to suit the depth and involvement of crimes.

I don't care what they do as long as someone does something.

[earth mom]

25. The Citizens and Legal Residents of this country must come first.

Saying that anyone who is against illegal immigration is racist is just a talking point so people will back down to avoid being called racist. :eyes:

Tell that to the 67% black population of NOLA who won't get the jobs rebuilding their own city because those jobs will instead go to illegal immigrants who will readily accept less pay. :mad:

Corporate America has been allowed to TOTALLY EXPLOIT the people of this country for far too long and Congress needs a good kick in the ass because of it! :grr: