If nothing else comes from this blog, I'd simply like to see a liberal viewpoint that can logically debate the _real_ issue behind the resistance of Arizona's immigration law. The debate seems so absurdly illogical that is offered up by liberals in support of illegals that just once I'd like to see someone with common sense debate this (which I clearly can't get by watching Fox or CNN because the guests they have debating this are idiots).
My problem with this entire debate:
1: Clearly this entire issue, for politicians (not the common people) has been about votes. You'll never convince a reasonable person that democratic politicians are somehow more concerned about the poor plight of the illegal immigrants than independents or republicans. Right and wrong are never split down party lines, nor can anything in life be categorized into 2 small boxes which is what's wrong with this entire country right now, but that's for another debate.
2: What is the real logic behind the liberal viewpoint? The debate points they offer (sympathy for the poor immigrant who only wants a better life) is not only faulty it's downright hypocritical. Everyone on this planet wants a "better life for their family", certainly including the millions upon millions of foreigners (yes that includes Hispanics well) who try to get into our country legally, and respect our immigration laws and borders. This line of thinking is essentially telling these people "I'm sorry that you respect our country, and our laws, and you are trying to come here legally, but you aren't deserving. The people who break our laws, who sneak into our homes at night when we aren't looking, those people are more deserving of a place in American society than you are. Next time, don't ask to come in, just sneak in, and then you will be equally deserving" Clearly, a 5 year old could poke holes in this argument. Where is your bleeding heart for all the want-to-be immigrants we have to turn away because the 18 million illegals have taken their rightful place in line? So if this is your argument, a logical person can only conclude (#3)
3: So you must think that we should have no immigration laws at all? Because obviously you can not reward 18 million "criminals" as defined by our laws(even if you don't agree with them) with a reward for having broken those very laws. If your argument is for no laws at all, this is equally naive and again, a 5 year old could poke holes in that argument. No country on earth can function without immigration laws, or laws in general. There is no point in having any laws, if your laws are not enforced. These truths are truths even to the most ignorant of us. If you don't agree with certain laws, you have the right to attempt to get those laws changed (legally). What you don't have is a right to ignore laws you don't agree with, which is exactly what liberals want to do, and is exactly what both republicans and democrats have historically done on this issue for many years and it is shameful. In a perfect world, everyone would have millions of dollars, we would all live in lollipop land, and money would fall from the sky, there would be jobs for all and everyone would be happy. We don't live in that world (though sometimes I think liberals think that's possible this side of death). If you have no immigration borders and laws, then you have no country. News flash, half the planet would come to America if they could. Unless you personally plan on giving 90% of what you own and ever will own to all these people, it's completely illogical to suggest this is even possible.
4: Both the right and the left has supported what essentially amounts to the enslavement of these immigrants in general. We ignore the fact that most crimes against immigrants can't be prosecuted and that they work for what amounts to slave labor. The irony to me is that so many Hispanics vote Democrat because they want that amnesty for their family members, many of which may be illegal, and they think the Democratic party will give them that. Ironically that doesn't even solve the real issues at all (described in 5). In fact, exactly the opposite, it just perpetuates the system where these people are treated as slaves to American Society (albeit voluntary slaves).
5: In the end, you can not reward criminal behavior, regardless of your sympathies to the person or persons involved. You can not logically say "You broke into our country illegally, and have been breaking our laws for so many years, but because you are just interested in improving your life, we will now reward you with citizenship." Would you reward a child with money for putting his finger in a light socket? If you make 18 million immigrants legal, then tomorrow you'd have 50 million more crossing the border laughing even more at our ridiculous immigration enforcement. Women cross the border for no other reason to have children so they can then be 'attached' to a citizen baby. What a ridiculous rule. It was never the intent to allow that in the 1800's when that Amendment was made, and INTENT is what matters on those types of constitutional issues. It wasn't the intent of the Amendment to allow Chinese business charge $35,000, often the life savings of a poor chinese woman so they can sneak her into a US territory resort for a week for her to have her baby and thus gain citizenship. If a woman breaks into your basement in your house at night and has a baby, are you suddenly that baby's father or mother? The very concept isridiculous, and the people abusing it know this. There are many situations that justify this Amendment thus it should stay in place, but every rule has exceptions. One of the main reasons people are so angry at government is that left and right have no middle ground based on common sense to address issues exactly like this.
6: Liberals are never going to win this debate when they spit in the face of the very laws we, as Americans, have created. How ironic that the Arizona law, whose only purpose to is to enforce the EXACT same federal law, is taking such heat, but amazingly the Federal law you have no issue with? Ridiculous, unless you believe laws should not be enforced at all, which is equally ridiculous.
So please, by all means. Enlighten us. Explain to us why people who break our laws should be rewarded?
Patrick McDonald