'Amnesty' El Parte Dos

So if the forum on The Politico would work, this is what I was going to write in response to the many who called me out earlier:

Allow me to defend myself ...though I'm sure I will not change hearts or minds:

Bruce
Frykman: May. 30, 2007 - 10:33 AM EST

JPBarnett: May. 30, 2007 - 9:28 AM EST
If they speak the Spanish, they must be illegals! Let's send 'em back to Spain." Idiots.

What? All of Latin America, with the exception of Brazil speak Spanish, most of the Carribean, Spain, the Philipines etc all speak Spanish...its a lovely language and a fine culture but then so is Chinese, so should we let the Chinese flood across our borders by the tens of millions as well?

Sorry about this one. This was sarcasm. I realize it doesn't always play well in written text. I was merely referencing a suggestion by a previous poster who said that Mexicans were created by
Spaniard who raped their native tribes, so we should send them all back to Spain. It was a throwaway point anyway...

What we've got here is a complex situation. 12-25 million people are in this country illegally, most from Central and South America. Roughly, 98% of these people look and sound different from white-bread Americans. I will continue to assert that if these people spoke English and had lily-white skin, this wouldn't be a tenth of the problem people make it out to be now. I know I'm not going to win that argument, but I will assert that as truth for the record. With that out of the way...

Many of you have thrown out portions of truth. Without question, there are people here reaping benefits they are not paying for. It is a problem. Part of the proposed immigration reform act will deal with this. Another poster summarized better than I can:

Equalizer: May. 30, 2007 - 6:42 PM EST
Just keep the good ones and return the rest. Anyway the change of status program it is only a temporary 6 months to 1 year, if they do not qualify for more, they wont be citizens at all; I do not think all who qualify for Zamnesty visa will want to pay $5,000 + $1,500 fees to become citizens, can you imagine to wait 13 years to
be Zegal (Legal),

That's the sum of it. Everyone who is here will "touchback" home. Those that can afford the costs and want to brave what is a very difficult system will have every opportunity to earn citizenship, the same way that any other non US-citizen may.

Many of you talked about fining employers. I agree. Let's hold corporations, and even Mom and Pop-type stores accountable, if need be, for hiring people without proper identification. Also, let's crack down on people that are making forgeries
of documents like SSN's and Green Cards and what not. While it does not excuse the illegality of lying to an employer, it would be much harder to do so if someone else was not complicit in forging these kinds of documents.

Many people also talked about how this bill is a pathetic attempt at reform. And you know what? Maybe you're right. The bill is certainly far from perfect. But think about the way legislating works. In the Senate, 100 people get together and have to agree on a way to approach a given situation. Each member of that body has a different idea of what is right wrong. Hell, most people on this forum have different ideas about what is right and wrong. Now also keep in mind that there is another legislative body to deal with, and a President that you must also get to agree before anything can be done at all (a simplification, true). Therefore, neither
this bill, nor any other will be everything for everybody! Good legislation is all about the careful art of compromise. Certain barriers exist on both sides of the issue. In the end, you end up with a bill that has enough support to pass, even if it is not the 'perfect' bill that some may have imagined.

I hate to sound like a civics teacher, but that's the way it is! When was the last time the US Government ever passed an act with unanimous approval, not just of those legislating and executing the laws, but also of the laiety? I can tell you; it never happened!

To me, what this comes down to is an honest attempt by leaders on both sides of the issue coming together in a way Washington hasn't seen in years to accomplish something. I will never tell you that you can't disagree with their final product, but let's give credit where it is due. Sens. Kennedy, Kyl, Graham, Feinstein, Lott, as well as Secretary Chertoff and WH Chief of Staff Josh Bolten deserve credit for coming together on a difficult compromise. They have also tried their damndest to convince members of their respective caucuses (to varying levels of success) that it is a workable compromise. You may disagree, but what they have done was not an easy task.

One last note (for now):

Anti Rep/Dem American: May. 30, 2007 - 3:10 PM EST

I know that is a hard concept for you America haters to understand but there are still some people that care about this country.

Don't you EVER try to tell me how I feel about my country! You and I may disagree about how things should be run here, and that's fine. I am happy to debate about any of it. You may not change my mind, and may not ever change yours, but we can debate civilly all day long. At the end of the day, you and I will both be countrymen. I love this country with all my heart, and I hope that with that love in mind and soul, I will be able to do, think, and say what I think is best. That's the greatest part of this country. Don't you ever ever ever forget it!