George Will's latest essay entitled "Guard the Borders-and face facts too" gives a four-point assignation to the role of 'control' at the top of the immigration issue.
But control belongs at the top of the agenda, for four reasons. First, control of borders is an essential attribute of sovereignty. Second, conditions along the border mock the rule of law. Third, large rallies by immigrants, many of them here illegally, protesting more stringent control of immigration reveal that many immigrants have alas, assimilated: They have acquired the entitlement mentality created by America's welfare state, asserting an entitlement to exemption from the laws of the society they invited themselves into. Fourth, giving Americans a sense that borders are controlled is a prerequisite for for calm consideration of what policy that control should serve.
The second point is most likely the one that abhors people the most. But abhorrence topped out during the large protests last week where school kids, prompted by activist, walked out of classes all across California. These walkouts spilled onto highways clogging up traffic for miles. Especially irksome was the Mexican flag being flown above or sometimes in place of Old Glory.
But personally, I would be protsting too if my current livlihood and a potential family relocation were being bandied about in Congress. Lawlessness from vigilantes inside and needfully across the border need to be dealt with with force. Once the federales spot a troupe of border-jumpers in the act of crossing , the coyotes dump their cargo like Han Solo when Imperial fighters arrive. THe human cargo left behind goes to a holding center and is then deported. The coyote banditos keep every cent of the $1500 per head they charge for services rendered or not. The financial magnitude of the injustices of this nature foment organized crime and territorial beatings.
So who can we blame for all this ribald Mexican nationalism; protesting our country's potential laws? The Mexicans? It's simply an issue of incentives for them. Not only with the obvious financial upheaval, but more like doing it legally takes rigamarole, red-tape and eleven years. To do it illegally costs fifteen hungy and an all nighter running with everything you own in a backpack across a busy highway or two. Two days later you'll be helping lay carpet, carrying 2x4s and getting paid cash money, every day. It's a beautiful thing really. No, you'd be unwise to blame the Mexicans. They are of quality stock and a familial people.
Blame your governments. State, Federal and local. Where the hell are they during all of this? (Insert humor) As usual, they're asleep at the wheel snipping about leaked ex-CIA agents, investigating steroids in baseball and chasing that ultra-priority, Scooter Libby, that's where. American politics is spiraling deep into the helix where every senator wants to be a media superstar, and no one wants to make laws to serve and protect the greatest country that history has ever known. Our melancholy reality is where laws are passed with only emotion, via the "issue of the day". Campaign Finance Reform? McCain-Feingold? Why did we demand that they pass this law again? Or did we at all? This law strips freedom of speech for donating money to cause or candidate. These are the type of lynchpins we will have to deal with in short time. Erosional freedom means eventually there won't be any left.
To be frank, this is an issue with many different angles. It will take senatorial fortitude to hammer out something the people will accept. I'm really not expecting much from them. An issue like this will be so polygonal a Republican majority will become anything but, and Democrats will vote against, and negatively splay anything Republicans put forth. These are the situations where Democrats act incorrigibly at best. Just like the Terri Schivo event, immigration and border security is a difficult situation requiring someone to lead and make difficult and unpopular decisions. WHen a thatch of a problem arises, Democrats say nothing, offer nothing and kick their feet up and watch Republicans flounder and wrestle with potential solutions. Anything decided upon is blasted by them and the negative points shown on CNN every 38 seconds.