For those supporting open immigration

[Archaea]

please explain why.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,189110,00.html

[realtall]

Originally Posted by Dennis Miller

We gotta do something because I live in California, and if you go down to Tijuana on any given night with a pair of night vision goggles, it looks like the start of the Boston Marathon in ponchos.

I don't have anything against Mexican people; they seem nice to me. Just sign the guest book on the way in. You gotta do that at a cheap motel, of course you should do that at our border."

[MikeWaters]

as I wrote on cougarboard.

It cuts through both parties.

Some dems think that there are votes to be had among poor hispanics. Certainly some truth to that.

Corporate repubs like the cheap labor. They are the ones who offer the argument "no one else will do these jobs." they forget to add the line "at minimum wage."

And a growing movement, lead by George Bush, to try to attract hispanics to the republican party.

So you see Bush walking a tight rope. His base wants immigration reform. But the corporate guys don't. And the big bosses don't want to alienate hispanics.

[ChinoCoug]

Immigration and outsourcing are just different forms of trade. It's trading inputs instead of outputs.

And since you are the most liberterian poster on Cougarboard (JapanCoug comes close, but I never see him anymore), let me help you be consistent.

http://www.cato.org/testimony/ct-dg052605.html

[Cali Coug]

I don't know of very many who advocate completely open immigration, though it makes infinitely more sense than our current regime.

We spend billions right now to "secure our borders." Our borders certainly are not secure and illegal immigrants continue to pour across in the millions each year. So, since they are getting in virtually at will anyways right now, it would make more sense to simply have an open border and save the billions of dollars.

Any immigration solution that fails to address securing the borders or making them completely open is a farce. You inevitably wind up with the exact same situation we have today- spending lots of money and getting nothing in return.

A better solution, I think, is to seal the borders completely. Sealing the borders by itself, however, is a disaster waiting to happen. You have to have a pressure valve on the system. We need to dramatically increase the number of immigrats we allow into the country through legal channels. Our economy is largely based on immigrant labor. Let millions come in, but allow them in legally. Then they are treated as members of our society instead of second-class citizens. Costs will go up as they are paid minimum wage, but it is a price we have to pay sooner or later.

Right now, we have millions who could become quite disenchanted with the nation as they are excluded from financial gain. The same thing occurred in Rome in ancient days, and it occurred in France recently with the riots. If we close the border, we can make them all legal and go from there. If it is reasonably easy to enter through legal channels, there is no reason to enter through illegal channels.

[Robin]

Hoya makes sense. On the eve of Cesar Chavez day, it is worth noting that HE advocated stricter policing of the borders, and during his presidency over the United Farm Workers' Union, the organization actively turned in illegals for deportation. Chavez understood a simple rule of supply and demand -- the price of labor goes down with availibility.

[Cali Coug]

Originally Posted by Robin

Hoya makes sense. On the eve of Cesar Chavez day, it is worth noting that HE advocated stricter policing of the borders, and during his presidency over the United Farm Workers' Union, the organization actively turned in illegals for deportation. Chavez understood a simple rule of supply and demand -- the price of labor goes down with availibility.

This may be the first time the words, "Hoya makes sense" have ever been uttered.

[Surfah]

I was a spanish speaking missionary in the states. I once had my entire teaching pool decimated as INS set up a roadblock in our area and several chartered buses lined up alongside. Each car was stopped and those unable to demonstate proof of legal residence were escorted to the bus which eventually took them to deportation.

I remember writing my mission president that week and explaining to him I don't know what we are to do. In his wisdom, he said be patient. Within a month about half of our contacts had returned.

Now working in the construction and trade industry I see illegals drive our economy (construction) daily. I have often contended that if every illegal were to not show for work for a week, it would cripple our economy.

I am not sure what the answer is. I think open borders is a big mistake. I think what hoyacoug suggested as to closed borders with easier access to become legal is the best alternative to what we have.

[MikeWaters]

I don't support it, but:

1. It redistributes wealth (which is important to King Benjamin)

2. It attracts a risk-taking type individual, the sort that have always come to America.

[JohnnyLingo]

2. It attracts a risk-taking type individual, the sort that have always come to America.

Thieves, murderers, and drug-dealers are all risk-takers, too. Rather broad brush you're painting with, there.

I'm for controlling the borders. This does not mean I want "closed borders". Let people in, but I want them documented. If I have to have proof of citizenship, why isn't proof of legality required of everyone who lives here?