Immigration...Who Cares?

[Steely_Dan]

I've been feeling sort of badly because all this hoopla concerning immigration and illegal aliens is absolutely of no interest to me. I really did feel like I should be interested...but I simply don't...and I live in California.

After careful consideration on why this might be the case I concluded that regardless of its importance, it is a huge distraction from more serious issues...corruption, the war in Iraq, Plame, censure and NSA, British memo on Bush's real intentions with Iraq, etc, etc.

I want the momentum with these issue not be stalled in any way. And while I must admit that immigration and illegal aliens are not unimportant...it's not going to change, regardless of whatever legislation comes down.

Is anyone else just as apathetic about this issue?

-P

[ugarte]

1. It's an issue, but hyped-up

My feeling is that the far right doesn't even want to see immigration reform. They are simply interested in having a wedge issue to fire up their base, a la abortion.

[Fridays Child]

2. Not apathetic, just annoyed that we're being distracted by it.

Why I'm annoyed.

[Vincardog]

3. I am. If they wanted to stop Illegal Immigration they would make it a

crime to hire illegal immigrants. Here is the plan.
1) Give us an 888 number to call when we see a company with illeral workers.
2)The IRS swoops in and fines the company $1000/illegal paid on the spoti.
3)Half of the money money goes to the tipster.

return to one. The illegal problem would disapear in 5 years.

It is like a field of driems "If you pay them, they will come."

[TomInTib]

4. "the illegal problem would disappear in 5 years"...

Our economy might last a month.

How do you propose we fill 20 million jobs that no one wants to do for a pittance?

Who will
dig the ditches
pick the peaches
bus those tables
care for the kids
clean the houses
clean the septic tanks
muck the stalls
asphalt those roofs
wash the cars
and on and on and on?

Not me and not a single soul I know. And I know a LOT of people.

[Vincardog]

15. I know a lot of people who would do them For The Right PRICE.

[Steely_Dan]

7. I disagree...

Some of what you say makes sense on paper, but our economy would never survive. Fo too many years this issue has not been addressed and now, it's much too late to have any kind of effective program that would not hurt our own country. I'll tell you what, you provide a "living wage" for some of those jobs and I bet Americans...at least a lot of them, would take them in a flash.

-P

[Kablooie]

5. It's certainly not a time critical issue.

And could be more effectively addressed if the Bushies were destroyed and an administration with a brain, a heart, and courage, took over.

[heidler1]

8. Still this looks like a win win for the Democrats and they are perfectly

willing to let the republicans self destruct. IMO the Republicans set this in motion by promoting lowering taxes on the rich, removing safety nets, allowing pension destruction, trying to destroy social security and destroying many in the middle class. This blatant lack of protection for higher paying jobs hasn't gone un noticed and now the extreme low pay to these illegal immigrants causes a impasse for both sides, unemployed or under employed citizens versus the illegals.

[gizmo1979]

6. It's not in my top 25

issues.I just wish they'd get on with it.Got a border enforce it they get in they get in.

[guidod]

9. I've said that from the beginning.

The immigration issue is nothing more than a smoke screen to get our attentions off of the real problems, and it seems to be working.

[AtomicKitten]

10. The GOP has chosen what THEY want to focus on

which is pretty amusing for a couple reasons:

1) They haven't touched immigration in six years.

2) The are torn within their own party on the issue, with half their party suggesting we should round up 11-12 million illegals and deport them or jail them. If the House bill passes, the GOP won't see Hispanic votes for at least a generation.

What is annoying is the GOP's ability to make the MSM sit up and bark.

I say back to the scandals!

[beyond_the_pale]

11. Re: Apathy -- Why isn't Miami in the Streets?

Remember Elian? Cuban Radio urged Cuban truckers to block the port of Miami, Cuban flags were proudly displayed everywhere, cars, trucks, t-shirts, you name it. Demonstrators mobilized anywhere there was a TV camera. It was on television for weeks.

Isn't it strange that with all the massive demonstrations, maybe 1 million in Los Angeles, I don't know if this was verified, plus Chicago, New Jersey, Arizona, -- as far as I know, Florida were very peaceful, almost somnambulant. Why isn't Miami Radio Mambi and others calling upon the citizens to support the cause?

Why is this community apathetic?

[Steely_Dan]

13. Great Question...

[Capn Sunshine]

12. The BIG FUCKUP is that the Republicans awakened the giant

Onec again, failing to consider the consequences of race-baiting an entire underclass that is part of the largest ethnic group inthe country, they have galvanized the entire lot of them, and those who have always helped them, into a mass political movement with powers heretofore untested and unrealized. Even the YOUTH, who will be hard to put back in their complacent consumer molds, have awakened , and there will be HELL to pay.

There's a strike March 1- take a look at what happens without the economic and labor power of the hispanic people for one day.

Then imagine the chaos if the republicans try to demonize or criminalize them further.

Imagine the howls of anger from the people when the problems they are now blaming exclusively on illegal immigration don't go away, because the root cause is not illegal immigration, but rampant corporatism.

[madfloridian]

14. These are human beings they are talking about sending back..

or arresting. And these are human beings the House bill would criminalize if they helped another human being without first asking for their papers.

So no, I am not at all apathetic on this issue.

[Steely_Dan]

16. In That Context...

...you make an excellent point. However, I don't see the RW winning on this one. They will not send these people home.

=P