Although I can hardly believe I’m saying it….I find myself in agreement with GWB on this point. Updating the immigration system to allow people to work here temporarlily is a win-win situation for both sides: workers can go home with legally earned US dollars, and the Govt can tax them on it.
What’s not to like?
I find it increasingly ironic/scary that when the US falls on hard times, the xenophobia increases. Its not as if these people haven’t crossed the borders in the last few months – they’ve been doing it repeatedly for years. Why the moral outrage now? How much is it going to cost to deport up to 30 million people? how much is it going to cost to put a National Guardsperson every 50 yards along the southern border? Will it cost less than the legislation to allow these people to work here, legally? I don’t think do.
By all means, tighten the border, charge employers who hire illegal labour, arrest the vile ‘coyotes’ that feed on desperation. But if you don’t implement sane imigration policies to go with the security then it will all come to nothing. People aren’t going to stop coming over the border. You might as well accept it, and legisltate for it. That way, everybody wins.
Historically, it wasn’t all that long ago that all the same things said about the Irish, the Poles, The Chinese,etc… Each time thier children and grandchildren assimiliated into the culture. We’re all mongrels.
As for Europe – can’t speak so much for France, except to say that the Muslim population by and large over there are from ex-french colonies like Algeria, Morrocco and Francophone Africa. They have thier own bones to pick with the French govt that have little to do with Al Quaeda.
The UK has a different mix – most from ex-British colonies like Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc.. as well as a large population of Kuwaitis, Saudis, Yemenis on the high-income side.
The vast majority of the British Muslim population are law-abiding people who just want to get on with thier lives, and all this ‘home-grown terrorism’ is as upsetting to them as to the rest of the UK population. Crazy comes in all flavours, races and religions.
I’m with you PerryChase. I enjoy practising my Spanish too 😉
