There, I said it. I feel queasy and a little out of sorts, but I have to give credit where due…
Watching our president struggle through one of his rare Q&A sessions with reporters (the 15th of his administration), I actually found myself shaking my head in a new direction. When the talk turned to immigration, I was nodding.
Bush is apparently planning to spend a bit of that Red State political capital on a very un-Red policy initiative: the guest-worker system proposed early in his administration. He said Monday that such a system was "a compassionate way to treat people" who come to the United States to perform jobs Americans don't want, but also noted "one of the important aspects of my vision is that this is not automatic citizenship." Bush said allowing legal guest workers, who must eventually return to their home counties, would relieve pressure on U.S. borders.
My major qualm is that I suspect from his privileged position, Bush overestimates how many jobs Americans won’t do (and, doesn’t have much in economic growth policy to create / retain jobs we might rather do…). That short-sightedness may hamper his ability – and, certainly that of his lock-step staff – to build a policy that protects / grows American jobs. Nonetheless, there is much to be enthusiastic about here…
Bush talked about the struggles of wanting to work and care for your family and having to sneak across a border to do it. He talked about making it possible for America’s present-though-undocumented workers to return home to visit family, to cross borders with freedom, to be a legitimate part of the American economy…
He’s undertaking something previously thought to be impossible in Washington – a critical rethinking of a mammoth institution in an attempt to do better with resources and lives. Better. Not different or more. But, better. Instead of creating impossible directives, building bureaucracy or typing out more fine print, he’s actually attempting to empower border patrol, workers and employers with a radical change in policy.
I did say radical. This is a huge departure from the core hierarchal values of his party. This may be one issue where Bush shows true independence and delivers meaningful change…imagine this type of rational policy [that makes best use of available resources and recognizes humanity] in other key institutions… for example:
- Significant legal reform that slashes prison populations by de-criminalizing minor drug offenses and abandonning mandatory minimums (enabling prisons to reform and educate rather than just warehouse; that focuses law enforcement resources on significant crime …)
- Rethinking the tax code with a half-page, flat tax, no deduction return (reducing the opportunity for cheating, normalizing the burden, getting the government out of the business of advocating certain lifestyles over others…)
- Getting smart about transportation security by focusing on securing areas of terminals and air fields and worrying a little less about scissors…
This immigration direction is something I’ve been hoping to see from the Left; Bush is certainly an unexpected torch-bearer for this fight…
And this is what I don't like about Bush. So many people say he is a rightwing radical. Nonsense. Matter of fact, he's sometimes a little too far left for me.
These are not the olden days of Ellis Island 100 or so years ago. This is a different time all together and this is a different wave of immigrants. These are illegal aliens sneaking in over the border totally undocumented. This is suicide to allow these people any kind of amnesty.
I'm sorry, but there is a way to come here and do it legally. How long can we allow this to happen? Until there's no difference between Mexico and the United States?
No, these people do not help the economy either. They live 15 to a house, and send all their disposable income home. Many also work off-the-books and pay no income taxes either.
Unreal. We can not have this.
I am against the amnesty. However, maybe I would support something like amnesty for the ones who are already here, but from also focusing on the borders. Bush has not done much in that respect. Meanwhile, thousands and thousands get in.
We don't need another 9/11 and Bush needs to stop pandering to these illegals. I don't get it. He already won his second election. There is no more. Who is he pandering to?
Why does a President I respect so much have to be such a SCHMUCK when it comes to our borders????
Posted by: BillyKess | December 23, 2004 at 07:22 PM