EckerNet.Com

I\’ve been keeping an eye on the comings and goings of the illegal immigration issue. I haven\’t put together a post for awhile on it for a number of reasons.

1. It\’s the last thing most people (including myself) want to see headlining my blog AGAIN
2. Pretty much everything has been contradictory
3. Working second shift, and 60+ hours a week is not conducive to being able to sit down, gather my notes, collect my thoughts and write a post.

But there have been a number of jumbled thoughts rolling through my head lately.

First, you can\’t trust a damn thing the White House says on the immigration issue. They\’ve been pushing out alot of propaganda for awhile now. Most of it seems to be centered around an attempt to create a feeling of momentum and warning Republicans not to get bowled over by it. I don\’t know how many times I\’ve seen the White House claim that it has a certain legislators support or so-and-so said this, and then right away the person in question will speak up \”Heh, no I didn\’t….not even close\”. I think the thought behind it (from the administration\’s perspective) is to make it appear hopeless to resist since they are winning so many converts. In reality, they are just demonstrating how desperate they are, and how little credit they have on the issue.

Secondly, when you compare the White House to Ted Kennedy, it\’s actually Kennedy that seems the most rational. To be fair, both have taken the approach that they want amnesty regardless of how much it costs the American people. However, when the White House pushes it\’s guest worker program, at least Kennedy is sober enough to say, heh, but can we make sure that this doesn\’t drive down wages for our people?!? So while both are out to bend the American people over and give them what for, at least Kennedy is wanting to whisper sweet things in our ear while it\’s happening.

Third, as I\’ve written before, Bush appears intent on making immigration part of his legacy, but he is definitely stuck between two forces that don\’t want to budge. While oddly enough he seems to have sold enough people on amnesty, it\’s the other parts that are causing him problems. As I stated above the Kennedy lead forces want protections for American workers. Meanwhile business allies of Bush reject anything that gives too many protections to workers. Both sides are demanding he come closer to their side. Meanwhile, legislators are hesitant to come on board because they are hearing from the American public who wants Bush and Congres to come to THEIR side. So while Bush seems intent on ignoring the will of the people on this issue, he can\’t do it without both Kennedy and the business community and neither seems willing to grant it without Bush fulfilling all of their demands. Now there is a easy way out of this of course….listen to the American people. But like I said, Bush seems intent on making this his legacy.

Fourth, and finally, I think illegal immigration opponents may have fallen into a trap and framed this issue wrong. While in a debate with someone on another blog on immigration, the debate quickly lead into who benefits more from illegals in the US. And it occurred to me later, that this was a moot point. It\’s not even the issue. Even if society did benefit more from illegals (which it doesn\’t), it\’s still the damn law. Sure there are laws that don\’t make sense, but that doesn\’t mean you just break them at will. Especially if it\’s your constitutional duty to enforce them (ahem Bush!). Even if society benefits from illegals it does NOT benefit by creating a culture of lawlessness by allowing illegals and employers of illegals to get off the hook.

Ok I consider these thoughts officially processed and they can stop bouncing around my head now.

I\’d like to remind everyone about the pro illegal immigration rally coming up this Tuesday. I\’ve already conned my way out of work that day so I\’ll be there. People are welcome to join me in attending and watching the craziness.