Manly’s Plan for Immigration Reform
While I still wouldn’t put it past Congress and the Man-Child to attempt a ram-through of Cap & Trade legislation, it appears all but certain that in wake of the Copenhagen disaster and the Climategate scandal, this particular initiative will be tabled for the immediate future. That leaves the issue of “immigration reform.”
Needless to say, much like “health care reform,” any effort conceived and executed by the Democrats will have nothing to do with reform and everything to do with consolidating power - in this case, the power of the Democrat Party. In light of the fact that we are exactly ten months away from the mid-term elections this coming November, it’s a sure bet Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi will be working frantically with the Democrat majority in both Houses to pass legislation that will effectively grant blanket amnesty to 12 million illegal aliens and open the door wide for them to become citizens (and, of course, registered Democrat voters) before November.
Will they be able to pull it off? Gary Andres isn’t so sure.
A couple of weeks ago, amidst the prolonged drama surrounding Senate passage of the Democrats’ health care bill, House Democrats unveiled another major policy initiative for 2010–a renewed effort to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
The new bill didn’t attract a lot of national media attention at the time. Health care sucked the air out of the news cycle. But a closer look at this developing story reveals an interesting twist. The House’s new immigration gambit looks more like a political tactic aimed at dividing Republicans - when the GOP is growing in political strength heading into the 2010 midterm elections - than a serious effort to find solutions to this complicated issue.
Serious reformers, genuinely interested in improving immigration policy, would not tackle the subject as House Democrats have approached it. Here’s why.
First, the legislation is ill timed. Congress is not the Energizer Bunny. As an institution, it’s prone to exhaustion and needs time to recover. After bruising and extended battles on the stimulus, cap and trade, and health care this year, Congress simply lacks the political stamina to take on an issue as controversial as immigration in 2010.
Second, Congress cannot tackle this issue in a partisan manner. True, a straight partisan bill could pass the House. Yet if reformers want a law instead of a talking point, a purely party-line measure won’t make it to the finish line.
I’m inclined to agree with him. The debate over health care was an extremely complicated one because it’s an extremely complex issue. Immigration reform? Not so much. Amnesty is amnesty and it’s a hot-button issue that resonates even more strongly with a majority of Americans than the health care issue did. Americans intuitively understand that a flood of illegal aliens is not a good thing - not for our economy, not for our hospital and school systems and most certainly not for our culture. I suspect that if Congress attempts to legislate amnesty for illegals it will be met with an even greater roar of outrage than greeted both Cap & Trade and ObamaCare.
Will the outrage and threats of being voted out of office stop them? Probably not. If they can manage to close ranks and pass the legislation before the August recess - preferably sometime in April - there would ample time for ACORN to fan out nationwide and register millions of new Democrat voters who, conceivably, could cancel out votes cast by independents against Democrat candidates.
What the Republican Party needs to do is develop a coherent, inclusive agenda for reforming the immigration and naturalization process. Here are my suggestions for a start:
Seal the border with Mexico. Whether by means of a fence or an actual wall (the Israelis would be of great assistance) the entire 1,969 mile long border must be completely sealed off with watchtowers - equipped with high-powered telescopes and infrared scopes for night time viewing - at half-mile increments.
Hire additional border patrol agents. Anywhere from eight to ten thousand would be needed to adequately patrol the border and man the watch towers.
Deport alien criminals. Assess the population of illegal aliens in the U.S. prison system. Retain only those who have been convicted of serious crimes and capital offenses; deport all the others to their country of origin.
Enforce existing immigration laws. Aliens who are apprehended should be immediately deported. Prohibit states from allowing sanctuary cities. Encourage American citizens to turn in illegal aliens by offering fines and/or tax credits. Mandate the E-Verify system nationwide and stiffen fines and penalties for employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens.
Periodically halt immigration. A steady flow of immigrants over a ten or twenty year period creates cultural friction; new residents should be given time to learn our language and assimilate into society. To facilitate this, it would be necessary to stop all immigration for a period of five or so years and then open it up again.
Restrict and eliminate government services. Only emergency life-saving medical care would be permitted. Access to all other government services or benefits would be denied to illegal aliens.
Redefine citizenship. Pass legislation conferring U.S. citizenship only upon persons born on U.S. soil to with least one parent who is a U.S. citizen. This would have the practical effect of virtually eliminating the practice of birthing “anchor babies.”
Abolish chain migration. Because of this practice, entire extended families end up emigrating here.
Encourage immigration of skilled workers. Highly-skilled individuals such as physicians and engineers should be given preferential treatment. Ban both immigration and travel from countries deemed to be terrorist states or supporters of terrorist states.
Make English our official language. Enact legislation requiring that all federal documents be printed only in English. Require all candidates for citizenship to have a minimum 8th grade proficiency in written and spoken English and similar proficiency in American history and civics.
Eliminate dual citizenship. Any and all persons wishing to become American citizens will be required to renounce any and all political allegiances to any and all foreign powers. Likewise, any American citizen who presently claims dual citizenship will be required to choose between them.
Establish an objective “path” to citizenship. For example, legal immigrants must reside in the United States for 5 contiguous years, during which time they are to receive instruction in the English language, American history and the basics of American government. At the end of that period they are to be administered a standardized test – both oral and written. If they pass the test, they must continue another year of residence before being naturalized as American citizens. Conversely, any person wishing to immigrate to the United States who is deemed acceptable for induction into the armed forces of the United States shall, after serving the number of years required for a single term of enlistment, be granted American citizenship if honorably discharged from service.
These are serious reforms that, if enacted, would have an immediate stabilizing effect on our economy and our culture. But will Congress - even a Congress with a Republican majority in both Houses - ever seriously consider them? I’m not inclined to think so. Even good, solidly conservative Republican Representatives and Senators would likely balk at many or most of the reforms I proposed for fear of electoral backlash. It’s understandable: if the question were posed to a Reaganite Congresscritter he would respond, “Sure I could vote for the Manly Rash Immigration Act of 2010. If I did, I’d probably lose the election this November to a Democrat who would not only vote against true immigration reform but will also vote in favor of higher taxes and bigger government - things I oppose.”
Unfortunately, that is way of things today. Unrestricted immigration, coupled with a flood of illegal aliens who have been given a whole panoply of government benefits, has reached a tipping point - spurred on by activist groups such as La Raza and ACORN. It’s become a third rail issue that most politicians are terrified of dealing with in any meaningful way.
And it could very likely spell the doom of unified republic.
This issue of rampant immigration and the inability to culturally absorb people could be the issue that ultimately tears the Republic apart.
We are currently building up to Yugoslavia. A balkanized America will lead to terrible violence, bloodshed, atrocities on all sides.
A country cannot survive if a significant portion of its citizens speak a different language as their primary language and the political system goes along racial lines.
The system should create Americans and not hyphenated Americans.
Great ideas all. Chance of it happening? Zero.
Our country has been suffocated by PCness. It is not BEING suffocated, it has been. Think of the many things you are simply not allowed to say out loud. Simply asking questions that are protected by the Liberal ROE re PC, will get you tagged a racist/ hater. And the worst part? Even so-called hard core Conservatives mindlessly follow the very PC rules that Liberals have laid down. PC drives ALL of our laws, policies, and procedures. We can’t even “profile” (God I hate that stupid, effing, word) the savages who commit domestic crime, or the Muslims who want us dead!
The GOP is disgustingly feckless as a result of adopting Liberal ROE’s, in order to garner the favor of all the many America-hating groups out there. Hasn’t worked out - at all - but does anyone think a talking head like, say, Mitt (first I’d consult my lawyers) Romney has the brass to ever speak the truth? Does anyone think the GOP will ever learn?
Mark Steyn wrote a great book about demographics and the destruction the world is facing due to same. It was very well received ONLY because he was referring to Muslims. Well, we in this country are facing quite a big demographic problem ourselves. The fact is that, with few exceptions, our “Hispanic” and Black populations simply do not like America the way it was/ is intended to be. Blacks vote, en mass, for Liberal policies and procedures. Hispanics, in spite of what the GOP wants you to believe, do not share traditional American values (come to AZ and see all the “assimilation” going on. Riiiight…)
This is a problem that is leading to America’s death. It is not correct to label these views as “racist”, and it is ultimately playing into the Left’s game plan to do so.
Why worry about illegal immigration? The American Indians didn’t, and what harm did it do them?
Truth be told, in time they did worry and tried hard to hold on to their territory. We outmatched them technologically and the rest is some pretty sad history. But I wouldn’t shed too many tears for the Red Man: as a parting gift, they gave us tobacco. And today they operate their casinos TAX FREE.
Looks like Squanto is having the last laugh.
To me, ‘reform’ implies improvement and a change for the better. For the dems, ‘reform’ means more control over America’s citizens…
Besides, we all know that sense isn’t common in D.C.
I took a look at the about.com’s Questions and Answers for the New Naturalization Test. The 100-question test was introduced on October 1, 2008. It’s a pretty comprehensive quiz. I sure couldn’t pass a test of similar depth for any other country.
Still, as a study guide, the web site holds a surprise for the rote memorizer. Someone forgot to update the site when The One assumed power.
What happened to the land mines and electrified fences on our border?!
President Abraham Lincoln stated, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
This is the path that these United States is inevitably taking, because we keep electing the same old bunch of politicians who are selling us out to the highest bidder. Tea Party members like me are about the rights of the American Constitution and the power of THE PEOPLE. Not legislators passing laws behind closed doors to benefit corporate welfare or the corruption of open border zealots? WE MUST REALLY ENFORCE OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS AT BORDERS, AIRPORTS AND DOCKS AND STOP THIS MADNESS? WE NEED TO AMEND THE 1986 SIMPSON/ MAZZOLI BILL, SO GUEST WORKERS CAN ENTER AMERICA, BUT MUST LEAVE AFTER THEIR CONTRACT EXPIRES, WITH NO FAMILY UNIFICATION? WE CAN AND SHOULD OFFER SPECIAL VISAS, TO THE HIGHEST OF SKILLED ENGINEERS, SCIENTISTS AND PROFESSIONAL ECHELON OF WORKERS? THESE LEGAL IMMIGRANTS WILL NEVER BE A PUBLIC CHARGE OR A BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS. FINALLY WE SHOULD DEMAND THE NATIONAL GUARD, TO COMPLIMENT THE US BORDER PATROL AND US AGENTS AT AIRPORTS AND THE DOCKS. AN ULTIMATE DETERRENT AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IS PERMANENTLY INSTALLING THE FEDERAL MANDATED E-VERIFY IN EVERY BUSINESS ACROSS AMERICA.
As we enter the new year, it looks to most bloggers that the Obama administration is quietly suppressing the use of local police 287 (G) which has been shown to be most successful in apprehending illegal immigrants. Although E-Verify has gained in popularity, it was nearly tabled by Sen.Harry Reid, Speaker Pelosi and a the whole partisan gang of Democrats. However E-Verify has survived for at least another3 years with funding and has gained in new modifications. The open border extremists have pressured government to kill it, but public attention has not allowed this? E-Verify as part of the SAVE ACT, that is an efficient tool to identify foreign nationals in any company throughout America. This resolves any reputable business of penal penalties, if they actually have a I-9 for an undocumented worker in the files, when federal agents run an audit. As E-Verify becomes more predominant in working locations, the law will not be as lenient and the public will want prison sentences. Right now it is only at the discretion of the employer, but already political voices in Washington are insisting on mandatory enforcement. This is specially appearing as more and more Americans lose their jobs, joining the 15 million who are now without options?
Two paramount issues that must be taken into consideration, in passing any another BLANKET AMNESTY. Millions of more desperately poor families are waiting to rush the border, just before President Obama signs into law this so-called Comprehensive Immigration Reform. All these people know of our welfare entitlements and our government will give free education, free health care, housing, and undisclosed supplementary support. The other is that 15 to 20 million Americans are wandering the streets, looking for work? Find the true facts and not propaganda at NUMBERSUSA, JUDICIAL WATCH. Read what the US Census bureau says about unsustainable OVERPOPULATION. [United States Population Projections: 2000 to 2050 by Jennifer M. Ortman and Christine E. Guarneri of the Census Bureau]“… a greater number of migrants arriving in the United States will correspond to a larger increase in the size of the total population. Under the assumption of a high level of net international migration, the population is expected to grow to 458 million by 2050. The late U.S. Senator Teddy Kennedy, the United States added 100 million to its population via immigration. Before that time, we enjoyed 194 million in 1963.
Today, we slog forward with 309 million on our way to 438 million in four decades, said Frosty Woodbridge, an acknowledged columnist. Poverty and hunger is rampant now in America, with shortages of drinking water and electricity outages are our dismal future, if we don’t halt illegal immigration. For the record thousands of Vietnam warriors are homeless, veterans of other wars , fatherless Mothers with children and Senior citizens on low income, worrying about sharing their pitiful pensions with Bush’s Social Security funds, that are on-hold for totalization with the corrupt government South of the border. There are millions of American living in poverty now, hungry, homeless and without any hope. We have a responsibility to our own countryman, not to other foreign corrupt nations
Rampant population growth threatens our economy and quality of life. Immigration, both legal and illegal, are fueling this growth. I’m not talking about environmental degradation or resource depletion. I’m talking about the effect upon rising unemployment and poverty in America.
I should introduce myself. I am the author of a book titled “Five Short Blasts: A New Economic Theory Exposes The Fatal Flaw in Globalization and Its Consequences for America.” To make a long story short, my theory is that, as population density rises beyond some optimum level, per capita consumption of products begins to decline out of the need to conserve space. People who live in crowded conditions simply don’t have enough space to use and store many products. This declining per capita consumption, in the face of rising productivity (per capita output, which always rises), inevitably yields rising unemployment and poverty.
This theory has huge implications for U.S. policy toward population management, especially immigration policy. Our policies of encouraging high rates of immigration are rooted in the belief of economists that population growth is a good thing, fueling economic growth. Through most of human history, the interests of the common good and business (corporations) were both well-served by continuing population growth. For the common good, we needed more workers to man our factories, producing the goods needed for a high standard of living. This population growth translated into sales volume growth for corporations. Both were happy.
But, once an optimum population density is breached, their interests diverge. It is in the best interest of the common good to stabilize the population, avoiding an erosion of our quality of life through high unemployment and poverty. However, it is still in the interest of corporations to fuel population growth because, even though per capita consumption goes into decline, total consumption still increases. We now find ourselves in the position of having corporations and economists influencing public policy in a direction that is not in the best interest of the common good.
The U.N. ranks the U.S. with eight third world countries - India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangladesh, Uganda, Ethiopia and China - as accounting for fully half of the world’s population growth by 2050. It’s absolutely imperative that our population be stabilized, and that’s impossible without dramatically reining in immigration, both legal and illegal.
If you’re interested in learning more about this important new economic theory, I invite you to visit my web site at http://PeteMurphy.wordpress.com.
Pete Murphy
Author, “Five Short Blasts”
Col. Rash,
The immigration issue stands to be THE ISSUE in 2010, even surpassing (gasp!) healthcare! Your points are well taken, however, I fear NONE of your points will be adopted, as we fight a losing battle.