08-18-2015, 05:00 PM
Too bad the Democrats and Republicans won't simply work together and negotiate a smart immigration reform package.
I agree with user that the benefits provided by illegal immigrants exceed the costs. Financially, the benefit is largely estimated at +1%, but finances are not the only consideration for me.
I wouldn't object to an immigration reform package which included deporting all convicted felons, better training and more resources for border patrol, an easier path to citizenship for those law-abiding illegals who are already here and contributing to the culture and economy, and even a cap at the number of new immigrants that can enter per year (based on a rational criteria). I don't care one way or another about the wall, other than it's a huge expense and one that doesn't eliminate the need for border control agents and immigration reform.
However, rather than working towards a reasonable immigration reform package as promised to the American people years ago, some in the GOP are dancing to an extremist tune. I think it's one that will hurt the Republican Party and would hurt the country if it came to pass.
A couple of the GOP presidential candidates have opposed repealing the 14th amendment's birthright citizenship guarantees in the past (Paul, Graham) for good reasons. Like Trump, they are now supporting modifying the 14th amendment. I'm glad Rubio, Fiorina, Bush, Kasich....are not blindly following, at least not at this point.
On the plus side for Democrats, if the shortsighted (IMO) rhetoric gains any traction, the door will be wide open to discuss amending the Second Amendment for similar reasons -- essentially, that times have changed, the Constitution doesn't cover today's reality, and there are too damned many of them (guns, immigrants) now. I think Democratic candidates and thoughtful members of the public would waste little time sauntering through that door, armed with solid rationale for increased regulation of guns in today's society. That could be done in the process of declaring their opposition to stripping Americans of their birthright citizenship (thereby likely increasing Democratic support within the Hispanic community).
I agree with user that the benefits provided by illegal immigrants exceed the costs. Financially, the benefit is largely estimated at +1%, but finances are not the only consideration for me.
I wouldn't object to an immigration reform package which included deporting all convicted felons, better training and more resources for border patrol, an easier path to citizenship for those law-abiding illegals who are already here and contributing to the culture and economy, and even a cap at the number of new immigrants that can enter per year (based on a rational criteria). I don't care one way or another about the wall, other than it's a huge expense and one that doesn't eliminate the need for border control agents and immigration reform.
However, rather than working towards a reasonable immigration reform package as promised to the American people years ago, some in the GOP are dancing to an extremist tune. I think it's one that will hurt the Republican Party and would hurt the country if it came to pass.
A couple of the GOP presidential candidates have opposed repealing the 14th amendment's birthright citizenship guarantees in the past (Paul, Graham) for good reasons. Like Trump, they are now supporting modifying the 14th amendment. I'm glad Rubio, Fiorina, Bush, Kasich....are not blindly following, at least not at this point.
On the plus side for Democrats, if the shortsighted (IMO) rhetoric gains any traction, the door will be wide open to discuss amending the Second Amendment for similar reasons -- essentially, that times have changed, the Constitution doesn't cover today's reality, and there are too damned many of them (guns, immigrants) now. I think Democratic candidates and thoughtful members of the public would waste little time sauntering through that door, armed with solid rationale for increased regulation of guns in today's society. That could be done in the process of declaring their opposition to stripping Americans of their birthright citizenship (thereby likely increasing Democratic support within the Hispanic community).