What will President Bush's guest worker program do?
456800
Guest workers sound great in theory.  But it will be like having illegals with a voice.  Are they citizens?  No.  But they will march just like the pro-illegals marching tomorrow, and guest workers will have a legal foundation to their argument.  People will be more sympathetic:  "Oh, we invited them in."\n\nI'm against the guest worker program.  Read the following.  It's long but good, and I wrote it.\n\n----\n\n\nIllegals aliens are NOT citizens.  They have only HUMAN rights in the USA.  THAT'S IT.  They have no Constitutionally guaranteed rights.\n\nDeporting them is NOT a civil rights issue.  We have the right to manage our immigration policy however we see fit.\n\nAnd regarding compassion, I have tons of compassion for them.  But we have a country to run, and we can't let people just waltz into the USA.  WE CAN'T ALLOW THEM TO IMPORT POLITICS.  Poor, uneducated, illiterate people tend to like SOCIALISM.  I don't.  I'm not talking about good all-american bleeding heart liberalism. I'm talking about Castro quality SOCIALISM.\n\nAlso, they are massing in the Southwest by the MILLIONS.  Do you realize that the population of TEXAS is 22 million.  And the proposed legislation wants to make 12 million illegals citizens.  And MOST of those are in the Southwest.  So, don't you think the people of these states have the right to not get their vote diluted by potential SOCIALISTS. This is not about race.  I have no problem with people who are here legally.  But when you allow millions of people in, they congregate together and hold the same political leanings (like allegiance to Mexico and socialistic beliefs).  The fact that most can't speak English just strengthens their solidarity and reinforces their beliefs because they can't understand what most Americans are saying.\n\nThis has the makings of ethnic strife written all over it.  Look at Northern Ireland. Iraq. France. Cyprus. Sudan. Turkey AND Iran with the Kurds.  Quebec in France.  Rwanda.  Yugoslavia.  Chechnya.  China.  And let's not forget Mexico itself, with the indian uprising in the Chiapis.  There is a clear correlation between ethnic strife and large areas that do not integrate into the whole.  This is what will happen if we have entire cities with millions of new non-English speaking citizens spring up in the southwest.  And this will happen if we have an open border.  The 12 million that we're talking about right now is just a start.  What about the next 30 years???  \n\nThe homogeneous culture of America is probably what made America as great as it is.  It is the most populace country in the world with a homogeneous culture.  Yes, we are filled with different races, religions, and ethnicities.  But they all came in, interacted with the other ethnicities, and diffused into living side by side.  Small areas did spring up with primarily one race/religion/ethnicity -- and there was almost always some amount of strife in that area.  Fortunately the areas were small enough to not expand to the level of a national conflict.\n\nAnd don't be fooled by the "guest worker" program.  They'll still be dirt poor, but "legal."  Then they'll have a basis for petitioning for rights.  They WILL want citizenship EN MASSE.  It will be the exact same situation, but worse since they'll have been INVITED.\n\nThe best outcome would be that we can integrate them all in.  But that will not happen.  They are poor.  We are typically the product of our homes, and the homes will be uneducated and spanish speaking.  The second best outcome would be a peaceful secession.\n\nPersonally, I'd rather pay a dollar more per pound of oranges, rather than have my kids or grandkids bombed or have to fight a civil war.
280169
I believe that Bush wants to offer blanket amnesty to all illegal aliens in the United States, as long as they submit to background checks and make their presence known in the country.  He calls this his "guest worker" policy, much like they have in Europe.  Foreign immigrants, he says, will fill the jobs that no one else will take.  Although this sounds racist and perhaps elitist, it is common practice in every part of the world, including Europe and Asia.  He doesn't want to kick anyone out, as I understand it.  It is one of the few Bush policies that I agree with.
635780
No, I think he has business friends who think it would be a good thing to regularize less expensive labor.  I also think he honestly thinks it is the right thing to do, and wants the program to be part of his legacy.  He grew up in Texas, and I think he has put a good deal of thought into it, right or wrong.  He was talking about this from the first day he went into office, but got sidetracked by 9/11, in my opinion.
1160083
The guest worker programand visas  would work on another world. Here on earth people are not honest and do not follow the laws put in places.
1114465
NOTHING will change. \n\nThe reason it was even brought up was so it can look like Bush is doing something.\n\nNothing will change because us rich americans want someone who will mow our lawns for cheap and work in our restaraunts for cheap.    The majority of people in office benefit from illegals so it wont change.\n\nI get my car washed inside and out, completely polished for $5 right outside of NYC thanks to illegals.  Viva Mexico!
192253
there are jobs that dont make it worthwhile for some americans to take.  People on welfare make more in welfare than they would it they work, the system here needs to be changed.  Unions make it hard to hire employees who might do these jobs; prisoners, kids, etc.  companies that have to pay health care, insurance, etc for legal workers.  I think what bush means is that its bad for the companies profits not to be able to hire illegals, pay them low wages, give them no benefits, and tell them to get lost when the work is done.
957397
They are in favor of a "path to citizenship" (DNC Website) which is the same thing as Bush's "guest worker program".  Look for amnesty coming up.
1113335
If the Senate bill is passed you can say"Good by to the USA as we once knew it".  Illegal immigrants will be free and the American citizens will have gotten a rude "\nGo to HELL" from their (our) government. Here is what that bill will give to the illegal immigrants:\n\nSenate Bill-- the rights illegals will get:\nCurrent Bill:\n\n1. grants amnesty to the MILLIONS of illegals already here!\n2.grants amnesty to illegals FAMILYS,who live OUTSIDE the country\n3.admits HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of unskilled "guest workers",through a new "guest worker" program,with a direct path to permanent resident and citizenship!\n4.admits 1.5 MILLION\nagricultural "guest workers" with a direct path to citizenship!\n5.increases the number of employment based, immigrants admitted to the U.S. each year,by 400%!!\n6.gives the Dept.of Homeland Insecurity,the discretion to waive fines for employers who knowingly hire illegals!!\n7.allows states to give ILLEGALS,in-state tuition benefits that they can DENY to citizens who live in other states!\n8.requires consultation with the MEXICAN government,before we begin construction of a fence along OUR border!\n9.creates new student visa programs,with direct path to citizenship!\n10.allows ILLEGALS to claim Social Security benefits,for work performed ILLEGALLY!!!!\n11. Adds a 10 year 'statute of limitations' to give amnesty to illegals coming in in the future if they provide documentation saying they were here for 10 years at any future point. (This to people who have been using false documents all along.)\n12. Each of the guest workers in each of the 1.5 million person PER YEAR and 200,000 unskilled person PER YEAR program would, upon obtaining residency or citizenship be able to bring their families as well. This includes indigent parents at a time when we already don't know how we will fund old age requirements for the baby boomers.\n\nThe Wall Street Journal just touted a poll saying Americans are beginning to prefer Bush and the Senate's view to immigration reform. However, I've read the questions they asked. Had I not actually read the Senate Bill and had I been asked those questions, I'd have ended up being counted as supporting Bush and the Senate in this. People only approve of the Senate Bill if they don't know what it says.\n\nThey are not looking out for legal American Citizens. They don't listen to us. They are listening to freeloading illegal immigrants. If enough of the voting legal population will get their heads out of their butts and let their senators and representatives know how they feel about this atrocity to the American people they just might start to listen to us. \nThe laws on illegal immigration are already on the books, they just need to ENFORCE THEM
545339
Typically I think Bush is sincere and sticks to his guns.  Here I think his National Guard to the border band-aid will drain needed border security funds for permanent improvements.  Worse, I think it is an insult to our intelligence.  When the Guard goes home, nothing will be left for that expense.\n\nI think he is carrying water for big business here, to be honest.  He has always wanted a guest worker program going forward to get the cheap labor, and I suspect he will work hard to get it.  I think it may result in no bill being passed, however.  It is unfortunate for the illegal immigrants here if that happens since their legalization has been tied to the going forward authorization to bring in a perpetual class of cheap labor.  The fact that the cost of that labor (education services, etc.) would be paid for by voters is what may kill the bill.  If employers want that going forward expansion of legal immigration, they should truly fund ALL costs of that program.  Meanwhile illegal immigrant legalization is being held hostage so long as the going forward immigration plan is tied to legalization of current illegals.\n\nI would support legalization of current, qualified illegals with roots if I knew the border is going to be truly secure.  I think we need to see how effective border security actually is before we add on a future guest worker program to bring in new people who may not leave, however.
412850
well Bush is going to do what he does best and that is make a mess and leave it for someone else to clean up....it won't be during his presidency he will leave it for the next guy to deal with
1080761
I wonder how many nurses, teachers, or high-tech workers would work for $8 an hour. Wait, you didn't know that Bush's "guest worker" plan would be open to those people too?\nThat's what they have in mind. And, there would be no wage-related restrictions on it other than the minimum wage. So, employers could offer a teaching job for $8 an hour. American teachers would either take that rate or, more likely, they wouldn't. So, the employer could hire that "guest" worker from Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi would consider that a king's ransom. All the requirements of Bush's plan had been met: there wasn't an American willing to do the job.\nBush's plan would force millions of previously higher-wage jobs down near the minimum wage. What phrase would most Americans use to describe such a plan?\n\nWhat exactly does he mean by "families"? Will their immediate family come with them or not? If not, are we going to be able to split up families? Not all people coming here would be Mexicans or from the parts of Mexico near the border. Is Bush going to require men to travel hundreds of miles to see their immediate family?\nIf, however, they're bringing their immediate family with them, there will no doubt be hundreds of thousands of children born, and those children will be U.S. citizens. Who's going to be able to make them go home after they've had a U.S. citizen child? And, won't most "guest" workers intentionally have children here so it will be harder to make them go home?\nAnd, given that, doesn't this plan consist not just of an amnesty, but as a massive incentive for a huge chunk of Mexico's population to come here? Was any thought put into the consequences of this plan at all?\nNo, no guestworker program should take the place of following the law! This still allows the law-breaking illegals to go to the head of the line and disrupts the ability of legal immigrants to get their chance! Until such time as all able-bodied welfare recipients are put to work, all homeless people, all college and high school students have the chance to work, we don't need to import anyone to take our jobs! Stop pandering, stop giving handouts and stop lying to the American people!\n\nhow can an American be expected to do a job that has had the wage undercut by cheap illegal labor from Mexico? How will legalizing this cheap labor change that situation? Of course, it will not. In fact, it will only encourage more border crossing, which will result in more Mexican citizens and others living in the United States and having children who are U.S. citizens, and who are thus harder to deport when their “temporary” guest worker visas expire. Given the fraud, incompetence, and bureaucratic lethargy that mark most government programs, how can the public have any faith that such a plan would work even remotely as advertised? \n\n\n\n\nAll of these illegals will eventually stay, become voters, if the DNC has their way, their population will continue to grow and they will become a voting block that has NO interest in our language, history, military, or patriotism, only the $$$$ that are available will be the main interest.\nThat scenario is not totally here yet, but it is lingering in the future if our national course of extreme liberalism continues to erode the very fabric of our nation.\n\n\nWe only "need" illegal immigrants if we "need" to maintain a peasant class in the United States. I would strenuously argue that we don't - even if it means that a few amoral capitalists will be driven out of business and we have to pay a few cents more for our strawberries
1182705
Bush is trying to play the American people for fools.  He is not serious about stopping illegal immigration and never has been.  If you have doubts examine his proposal for a guest worker program.  This program is a way to ensure a permanent supply of cheap labor for the business elite, whom he represents.  Sending troops to the border won't solve the problem, and he knows it.  Again, just trying to play Americans for fools.  Proposing an ammendment to have English be the official language does NOTHING to solve the problem.  It's just Bush telling the American people, "Oh, you're upset because my corporate buddies are taking away your jobs and giving them to foreigners to increase their profits, here I'll throw you this bone, maybe you'll settle down, and we can all go back to screwing you in the butt."  And all the while, he has the audacity to propagate lies like " the illegals are doing jobs Americans don't want."  I think it's time for all Americans to wake up and see what our government is doing to us and whose interests they are really looking out for.
705824
This is not called justice, but democracy. Unfortunately, though, Bush will be there for the entire maximum time he's entitled, because you Americans did not vote against him on the last elections.
570909
your facts are not correct.  first bush wanted a guest worker program prio to 9/11, his reasoning was workers are paying taxes and bieng miss treated, rejiestered workers can exist above ground.  the fence thing, is not something bush advocated until it came out of congress in both the senate and house verisons, thus it looks like he has to accept it--do you understand how laws get created in the US?  Hitler and the wall, funny. again you got your facts wrong, hitler wanted the jews, gay, and un pure out of his country he deported them.
628600
I don't think anyone wants to see 'guest worker' ANYTHING until about 1/2 million mexicans go HOME. After that starts to happen,then we can start talking about work permits and all that jazz....but right now, Mexico's got a problem, they forgot they LOST the war of 1848 and that americans are just going to stand idly by while they walk back in en masse. The border patrol says Bush's plan is horse%%%%,so we'll have to wait and see what's really going on with this issue, and whether or not this administration's going to carry off the kind of reforms that will make Mexico sit up and take notice...Mexico doesn't just want 2 bites, they want the WHOLE enchilada. They use their people as tools for their policy goals...hold the baby CLOSER to the camera LOLOL
1037324
1) There is no guest worker program. furthermore,guest implies you were invited, you were not. \n2) Can "gringos" sue you for all your racist remarks.\n3) To be slander, the statement has to be false.\n4) If you hate the U.S, why are you here?
1453
I believe that like it or not nothing effective will ever be done and for this reason... illegal aliens usually come here to make money and create a better life for themselves. With the knowledge that they are illegal they are very willing to take jobs that pay under the minimum wage in order to even have a job. since this is illegal there is no way to get help on raising thier pay so they are stuck. This situation is appealing to the owners of agriculture because they can pay them very little for very hard labor increasing their profits. this in turn helps our economy as well as filling jobs that most americans do not want. So bush probably doesnt feel the need to address this problem.