Are you passionate about the immigration debate, or rational about it?
609310
It is so ridiculous that congressmen are using statistics when debating on immigration, our economy and the illegals. I saw a show yesterday on MSNBC and they covered the false statistics being thrown by politicians; in particular that it costs 8 billion a year to "support" public assistance, health care, etc. which goes to illegal immigrants; researchers discovered that the same illegals are contributing $7.5 billion each year to our economy, so our tax money isn't funding that much in reality.  Why aren't they informing us about that?  For the same reason that there is the saying, "there are two sides to every story!" We are definitely contributing more money to the war in Iraq, than any other "program".
763530
It should be mandatory in order to prove your sincerety. Assimilate or get lost... You wanna have a better life ??? PROVE IT !!!!! What a great idea.... Solves so many problems simply !!! Those sincere should be afforded the express lane( citizenship ) for their willingness to support their new home. No more than right !!! Those that disappear when the announcement is made, well, we pretty much know where they are coming from...Forget the wall, we would no longer need it.....
513769
Great minds think alike ;)\n\n100% Agreed!\n\nYes, special interests that are behind these protests, etc. are trying to obfuscate the real issue, by making it about pro- or anti-IMMIGRATION, when in reality what we're talking about is ILLEGAL immigration.  They are not arguing based on the facts of the issue (because they can't win this way) but by name-calling and creating divisions.
188145
No.All that is done is done because of economic interests...\nI also believe that most of US citizens only care for their own country,if not their own state and county!!That is isolationism,that's right.\nBut I do have a question...Since no more immigrants are wanted,then why the internet in every corner of the world is flooded by the US government ad "Come to US,join the lottery for a green card"??
226520
well in a way you just did / they are every where  a bit of food for thought keep an open mind  and before you make up your mind  look at what would really be better for this country immigrants help grow this country and help create jobs and prosperity for all
1066291
Although, I was born and brought up in Britain, I feel, increasingly,  that I am living amongst people who's attitudes and views I simply cannot share.\n\nYou refer to people, who, all too easily throw the word RACIST about. This childish name calling, of course, is designed to silence those who hold a differing view. It implies, that if you don't conform to the "right on " political agenda, your opinions are simply beneath contempt. Many people who behave like that simply do not understand that creating a climate of fear, in which people are afraid to discuss perfectly reasonable areas of concern or perhaps express an opinion, leads us toward totalitarianism.\n\nOf course, most people who behave like this are pursuing an ideological agenda, generally associated with left wing or liberal politics. Others, particularly younger people, may feel that it is chic to espouse what seems to be the fashionable view. It's safer that way, your less likely to look stupid and you don't have to think.\n\n I know that your primary concern is - why do people behave like this?\nIf you consider the influences that are operating over people today, particularly younger people, you will be less surprised. eg. We have a government that is radical, if not revolutionary, pursuing a feminist agenda. We have a media which is also doing its level best to indoctrinate its viewers into left wing and feminist politics. The educational system is doing an even better job, and has done so for many years, of indoctrinating students with its feminist and left of centre politics. I could go on and include, The legislature, The public sector, etc.\n\nI suspect that you are concerned about immigration. That subject, above all, invokes the word "Racist" It's that kind of response that makes me believe that I am not living amongst realists. Do you ever remember being asked by any political party - what your views on immigration are? Have you ever seen the subject  included in any of their manifestos. No! you have simply been presented with a Fait Accompli.\n\nWhat many people don't seem to understand, is, that the issue is not a personal one, I am sure, like you, that  I would get on perfectly well with most immigrants. But that is not the point. Managing a country is not personal: It has to be managed at the macro level in the long term interest of the country as a whole.\n\nIf you tried to put that point to Matthew  Wright of the "Wright Stuff". TV. programme. He would probably put the phone down on you. I have watched him do that sort of thing usually after sneering at the Daily Mail newspaper.\n\n We observe similar sneering on "Question Time" that other TV programme with a rather lefty bias.\n\nSorry, for banging on, but your question cannot be answered simplisticly, one has to try and describe  the circumstances which have given rise to the attitudes underlined by your question.
1056368
Unfortunately, yeah.\n What originally got me so "militant" is that my youngest daughter was born with a genetic condition that caused multiple disabilities and health issues. If anybody out there REALLY wants details, I'll list 'em all. Our little girl qualifies 100% for "Katie Beckett" Medicaid, but we have to continually fight for it because of the large number of indigent illegals locally. That was my first turning point. My second turning point was that when after I took a stand by expressing my views on illegal immigration, I was labeled "racist" and "xenophobic". I don't care about race. I don't care about country of origin. What concerns me is that there's a whole influx of people into this country that don't want to be an American, they just want America. We return you now to our regularly scheduled programming.
641909
Honestly when it comes to this whole debate about immigration I'm a bit torn.  \n\nHere are some of my thoughts (whether they make sense or not is another story):\n\nToday I was able to order lunch at McDonalds today and they got my order right thanks to the illegal immigrants not being at work because of the boycott.\n\nOur nation was built by many great people, most of whom were immigrants. But the immigrants who came here previously worked hard to learn the language and make a better life for their families.\n\nToo many immigrants don't understand why they are really boycotting anyway.  Seeing someone draping themselves with a Mexican flag doesn't scream "I want to be an American and make a better life for my family" it says more that they want to bring everything that is Mexico with them even though they are running from it by coming here in the first place.\n\nAmerican students are held back to make sure their immigrant counterparts are able to get up to speed which proves difficult because of language and cultural barriers.\n\nSome immigrants like one of my neighbors do work their tails off to learn english, contribute to the community and help their neighbors out when in need.  The neighbor I am speaking of mows the elderly woman across the street's lawn and shovels her walk during the winter.  His wife will often cook dinners for another neighbor who is pregnant and whose husband is in Iraq.\n\nTo answer your question would I boycott a business that closes to support the Hispanic community?  I don't know.  It would probably depend on what I knew about the business and their motives for doing so.  It's a tough call, at least for me.
256156
I let my children know that God is a God of order and that \npeople should not do crimes or break the law.\n\nI tell them of the 10 commandments and how they apply to life.\n\nRace is not an issue since we are a multinational family.\n\nBut I can see how some people might be biased in favor of Illigal Immigration.
904892
I think this debate is a complex one that has been oversimplified on both sides.  Personally, I see the Statue of Liberty as inspiration, " bring me your cold, huddled masses" as a benchmark for what we are supposed to be striving for.  Regrettably it seems that the sign should be updated, "give me your highly trained, educated professionals (the ones your developing state can least afford to lose) ready to get all entrepreneurial up in this hizzy".\nThat is just my lens.\nI also have an issue with the term, "illegals" exceptionally dehumanizing.   No other lawbreaker carries such a label.  Take me, nobody calls me an illegal and I steal puppies (just ugly ones).\nResponse to Daisy:\nI tend to agree with your general characterisations of those who would support undocumented or illegal immigrants.  Though the terms you've used for each category I find a little dismissive.  Am I a "bleeding heart"?  Possibly.  I would call myself an empathizer, one who believes the world is unequitable and can understand why someone would try about anything to gain access to the United States.  I'm not saying it's right, just that I think I understand.\nAnother thing we should be mindful of, the U.S. has enjoyed hegemonic status in this hemisphere since WWII.  Some policies employed by the U.S. have decimated infrastructures in Latin American countries.  This includes the wide-spread counter-insurrgency efforts or "dirty wars" fought by American trained militaries and the current interdiction efforts in the Andean Region.  These are understandable policies as regards our national interest, but they are the outgrowth of an American need that have very real consequences in these countries.\nSo, my support is more a by-product of empathy, but it can be called a bleeding heart, my position I consider to be a (not the) moral one.
438736
No.  And those that do have the most pathetic arguments in support of it.  It's always "compassion." Or they try to tie it to the civil rights movement of the 60.\n\nNEWS FLASH\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.  There is a clear correlation between ethnic strife when large areas do not integrate into the whole.  this is what will happen if we have entire cities with millions of new non-English speaking 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\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\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.
641137
There are SO many I respect on immigration.....YET do not agree with.  \n\nYou mentioned DAR.....he is perhaps the only one who isn't 100 percent one sided.  By that I mean so Pro he can't see Con....or likewise.  \n\nI love the passion of some of these people.  I wish this passion could be bottled and sent to DC.  That is the only place we (any of us) are going to make a difference.\n\nAlso....my stance on holding the employers responsible has never wavered.  If you choose to call these people felons....well than you damn well better call the employers felons.  \n\nStill everyone uses the race card....that is not significant in this crisis......until you get a poster who says...."Because a Mexican did this to me.....or because I lost my job to a wet back".  Well than how do we not expect racism and call it out. \n\nGood question.....I probably could have answered better....but I happen to be one of those "bleeding hearts" that get posted about so often.\n\nPeace
937143
I completely agree with you, it was a win-win situation. Besides, immigration is what has made this country the economic Juggernaut that it is as well as keeping us vital.
482039
No, we've had the same amount of illegal immigration for the last 120 years.  The only reason that this is even getting press is because certain politicians are looking for a hot-button issue to distract the dumbest in our society so that they don't demand that the politicians deal with real issues like war, debt, health care and social security.  Nothing will change with immigration and no one will notice when it no longer makes the news.  Just smile and ignore those stupid people when they get angry over this non-issue.  We're waaaaay to smart to get suckered into a BS argument about something that's not going to change and doesn't really matter at all anyway.  Besides, you and I are to busy worrying about real issues to be bothered with this crap.
494160
On one hand, I feel compassion for the undocumented immigrants who are really just trying to make their lives better by coming to America.  Many of them are not bad people.\n\nOn the other hand, I also feel that they must face the consequences of staying in the US illegally.  They must get punished for that, but such punishment must be done in a humane manner.
1175719
You can ask that question with a name like yours? Interesting. I guess we all feel passionately about our viewpoints. Can you be open minded enough to understand why this issue is so important to many people? We are talking about our rights and our lives.
1094090
Nope.  I enjoy a good debate and monitor politics closely but I have many other interests and hobbies.  It only occupies one area of my life.  Sometimes though I will argue for something I am against just to get a good, lively conversation going!