June 7, 2007
Borderline Futility (Bob Franken)
I'd like to borrow from the debates and ask everyone who thinks the immigration problem is about to be solved to raise his/her hand.
Oh come on: NOBODY? Congratulations, everybody.
But what we're witnessing is not about fixing this problem. It's about politicians trying to finesse the issue …t rying to make as much political capital as they can and then moving on to something else.
And of course, we in the media, who have the collective attention span of a gnat, are all too happy to move on to something else. I mean, Paris Hilton is out of jail for crying out loud.
And besides, how many stories can we do about the "Human Side of the Immigration Debate" ("This is Maria … she doesn't want her name used because she is here illegally, etc., etc. …")?
But here's the dirty little secret: A lot of our biggest challenges cannot really be overcome. Not really. Healthcare? Give me a break. It's true. Our current system is a grossly unfair mess. But the various one-size-fits-all proposals out there are really one-size-fits-NO ONE.
Same with education: In so many cities (and some suburbs, too), if you don't got money, you don't got decent schooling. That's private schooling, because the public education system which is the backbone of our country is broken.
I am trying to make two points here: First of all, the battle between politics and good government has been won. By politics. And secondly, if you want to see real change in our country, you're going to have to make sacrifices.
Notice I said "YOU.” Because I sure as hell am not going to sacrifice. Are you kidding? So: I've seen the problem, and it's … ME. And all of us.
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The citizens of this country don't need to sacrifice to solve the immigration problem: enforce the existing laws and it will take care of itself. In other words, the sacrifice that's being asked for will not help this country as a whole. So don't sacrifice and enforce the law. That simple. No to the senseless "immigration reform".
Comment by Igor R. — June 7, 2007 @ 1:31 pm
Sacrifice? I assume you mean raising taxes? A 4 trillion dollar budget and you think we need more money to fix healthcare and education? Public education works where families are involved. Doesn't mean they are wealthier, although most times it is the more affluent areas that have good public schools, but it is mainly parental involvement. Too many people use the schools as day care centers so they can go about on their way doing whatever they do that they deem more important. Government can't fix parental responsibility. Healthcare needs to be market based and get the insurance ripoff out of the middle. Break the AMA monopoly on doctors. Sacrifice not by the people but the insurance scam in healthcare, teacher's unions and government bureaucrats. We are sacrificing 4 trillion a year already. Government can't fix social problems; period. The premise that it needs to is flawed. Just a thought…
Comment by Rich — June 7, 2007 @ 2:37 pm
REMEMBER THESE WORDS CONGRESSMAN/WOMAN - ILLEGAL MEANS ILLEGAL. I KNOW THIS IS HARD FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND SINCE YOU ALL HAVE BEEN ROBBING AMERICANS WITH TERRIBLE LEGISLATION TO DATE SUPPORTING THE WORST PRESIDENT IN OUR AMERICAN HISTORY. JUST REMEMBER - ILLEGAL MEANS ILLEGAL, OH, THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO IMMIGRATION ISSUE THAT YOU STRUGGLED WITH BECAUSE OF THE MONEY IT WOULD COST YOU IF YOU DID NOT VOTE CORRECTLY. BE PEOPLE OF HONOR FOR ONCE, YOU ALREADY ARE ALL MILLIONAIRES!
Comment by JOHN D GWAZDOSKY — June 8, 2007 @ 5:54 am
Very insightful points Mr Franken. I've lately come to realize that Government and politicians only exists to perpetuate themselves. Anytime a call to action is demanded on an issue Congress leaps into inaction with plans that always involve more government, more bureaucracy and most importantly, more money. The issue itself never gets resolved.
Comment by taxedToDeath — June 8, 2007 @ 9:48 am
Bob:
Agreed, our system that has brought us along this far in our national history is broken.
We need to realize as a nation that we can't take care of every little problem in the world and that we don't have to. We need to move most powers back to the state levels and reduce the size and the scope of Washington D.C.'s involvement in our lifes.
All major companies in this country realize the advantage of technology and have used it to their greater advantage. Unfortunately, they have had to layoff many people as a result of the technology but they are more fruitful because of it.
How many federal jobs have been lost because of technology and how many times can you overlap a problem to assure that it will never be solved ?
Start closing portions of D.C. down!
Comment by David Hamlin — June 8, 2007 @ 10:31 am
"…t rying to make as much political capital as they can and then moving on to something else…"
That was Bush's failure; he lost his political capital in a long drawn out war against a lesser foe and couldn't move on to invading Syria and Iran.
Comment by Donald — June 8, 2007 @ 11:58 am
The citizens of this country don’t need to sacrifice to solve the immigration problem: enforce the existing laws and it will take care of itself.–Igor
Get real. Deport twelve million people who do America's heavy lifting, the ones who maintain American's yards, repair their roofs, clean their living quarters, wash their dishes, and pick their produce, and have done it for years? That's not an option for anyone in a position of responsibility.
These people know better than anyone what they are contributing to America and they take to the streets in uncountable numbers when repression is suggested.
Igor is again taking great pride in the wisdom and good sense he displayed in being born in America, and anyone not so wise should suffer for their wrong decision to be born elsewhere.
Comment by Don Bacon — June 8, 2007 @ 3:52 pm
Bob,
This whole immigration problem could be solved without the question mark over all the heads of the politicians. EASY fix actually!! If the companies did not hire these Mexicans, guess what, They would have no reason to come across the line.
If they farmers need the agra help, they can petition the border line to allow thousands to come across for the season. Then, the Mexicans do not have to go into hiding because they are criminals.
We have done ourselves in. I will not buy from a company that hires Mexicans if I can help it.
Because my email is required, does that mean I will get a reply???
Comment by Edward — June 9, 2007 @ 11:03 am
I actually think that Kennedy, Bush, and McCain were deadly serious about imposing the amnesty on the populace, whether is liked it or not. Anything that Kennedy advocates has been against the well-being of the United States since 1965, and McCain and Bush have to be ashamed of themselves in this instance.
Comment by Igor R. — June 9, 2007 @ 9:17 pm
No Don, I was not born in America, I came here. I like the culture that took several hundred years to form and is based on the Anglo-Saxon ideas and history. I like it a lot better than the culture of the country I came from, and a lot better than any Latin American culture. I have nothing against the hardworking hispanics, other than they broke the law. Even with that, I'd want to give them citicenship if I could see that this would lead to preserving the basic character of the USA. Yet with the chain migration that would follow, the reasonably expectued failure to assimilate of the resulting enourmous ethnic block, and the tremendous taxpayer costs, along with a multitude of other problems too long to list, all I see is the destruction of the culture and the financial base of this country. National suicide due to guilt isn't my way of doing things.
Comment by Igor R. — June 10, 2007 @ 1:30 am