Daily Gut: Open Borders
by Greg Gutfeld
So I`ve been thinking that this whole immigration issue is like Easter Sunday at my family`s house. A bunch of people start showing up – a lot of them, mind you, I really don`t want to see. But the reason why I don`t want to see them has nothing to do with race, it has to do with being human. Human beings are weird creatures in that we resist things that aren`t comfortable – so when someone drops by unannounced, or perhaps with a date you immediately assume is pompous, stupid and covered in cheap cologne – you take an instant dislike. Essentially, we’re an irritable bunch, and the people we take it out on are the those unfamiliar types that show up without a proper invite.
But here`s what I know about parties: I`ve thrown a crapload of them, and yes, most of the time I’ve been drunk. But the key to a good party is accepting people into the throng not because of what they can do for you, but because they can`t do anything for you…yet.
You just never know.
See, it`s not about immigration, it`s about assimilation. Allowing people into this country, as Jason Riley of the Wall Street Journal points out in his book “Let Them In: The Case for Open Borders,” is where we`re all naturally cranky. We were cranky about the Irish, the Germans, the Italians. We`ve always relished being the world`s worst doorman. But once these folks assimilate, that crankiness goes away. It`s just like a party – once people get a drink into their hand and the conversation gets going – the more the merrier.
It`s time that we look at Mexicans not as irritants and illegals, but folks who are literally dying to get into the party.
If only to wash the dishes.
We should let them.
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277 Comments
Whatever happened to open threads?
For the most part, I agree with your points, except:
"We`ve always relished being the world`s worst doorman"
Bull puckey.
Look at Mexico's immigration policies, Canada's, most European countries, China, etc. America has been built as a nation of immigrants because we have had one of the most liberal immigration policies in history. And how we treated immigrants once they got here is certainly been open to criticism – except in comparison to other countries records, where immigrants have become permanent underclasses for generations.
That's a spicy meatball, John. For trade, I love open borders. For people – a bit different. It's not even assimilation for me – it's about benefits. If the party crashers left after an evening of drinking the keg beer, there would be no problem. Yet – to continue the metaphor – these party-crashers don't leave after the keg floats, and some think there's no problem with demanding more beer they haven't paid for, while criticizing the brand of beer in the keg.
And of course, the larger thanks is being called a racist for not welcoming uninvited guests drinking beer they haven't paid for while criticizing its flavor.
/Drinking heavily
But is assimilation happening or is this just one more Democratic voting block to be formulated by Acorn?
You can't have open borders combined with a welfare state. That would be like posting a sign in the town square "FREE ROOM and BOARD!" and your address. Your parties will be extremely well attended, but the hangover would be a killer.
I want the border secured, and a complete review of where we currently stand before we make any further decisions about immigration. Unrestricted immigration, even of people we have no quarrel with, is not desirable. Even Jefferson, a true Francophile, once said that as much as he loved the French, the thought of a million of them showing up on our shores at once scared the hell out of him.
I agree with you that we don't want to be too highly restrictionist, but we have to be cautious. We have great natural resources, but they are not unlimited, and with current government policy, those natural resources will become even more limited and unavailable to the public at large.
I posted on this subject the other day, and one of the things I said, and still say, is that immigration must come to a near halt until we have re-established the idea of assimilation, speaking the English language as the primary language, and English as the only language for legal matters such as voting. We must re-establish the "no divided loyalties" doctrine, and demand that the immigrants forswear any allegiance to any other nation, after proving at least a working knowledge of the Constitution. Our immigration process for legal immigrants could be sped up, but only after returning to the original concept of American citizenship. Then we can talk about the actual numbers.
And lest you think I am aiming this at any particular nation or ethnic group, let me paraphrase Jefferson: "The thought of five million Germans showing up on our shores all at once scares the hell out of me." My entire family emigrated to the United States from Germany, and exerted every effort to know more about America and become more American than the natives. We have no frontier, no unsettled West, no untapped farmland for new immigrants to spread out into as we did during the past great migrations. We must use our good sense before throwing our borders open to everyone who wants to come here solely because they want to come here.
Without assimilation as a firm doctrine, we get large numbers of people of good will and great expectations who have no concept whatsoever as to what the responsibilities of an American citizen are. We can't have even truly wonderful people coming into our nation and becoming citizens while thinking how wonderful it would be if the United States were just like the country they left.
And if you disagree, you, sir, are worse than Hitler!
Exactly. When the Irish, Italians et. al. were allowed in, we didn't have this massive FDR/LBJ welfare state behemoth keeping the government printing presses busy. To unrestrict immigration at this point, with the Ponzi scheme of our entitlement programs the ticking time bomb that it is, would be asking for unmitigated diaster. Do you really think the 50% which do not pay taxes will ever vote to end their entitlement programs? Do you think the political party which throws your tax money at them like candy will ever stop doing so and risk losing their cushy Congress gigs? Unfortunately, the landscape is much more complex than it was in 1880, or even as recently as 1970 (which is when my parents became citizens). We are already a disaster waiting to happen. Take a look at California. That'll be the entire nation before long. (i.e. bankrupt).
Congrats — it's not often I disagree with a Gregalogue!
Open boarders, open house. The only difference is you forgot to post your address!
John, I'm half Mexican of American birth and couldn't disagree more. It is about nationality, the people entering here illegally don't give a crap, for the most part, about the U.S.; we are merely a means to an economic end. I have distant relatives in Mexico City and the surrounding areas, but I don't feel any kinship with Mexico. If they want to come here do like my grandfather did, enter LEGALLY and sign up to stay, fine. He eventually joined the U.S. Army in WWII and was American to his Mexican born soul. I'd love to an illegal alien in Cancun, think they'll put up with that? Hell no, they'll deport my American ass.
That's very true. It amazes me that the people who harp on about our 'horrid' immigration policies don't bother to examine those of our neighbors. Having lived in Mexico and having been stopped by the Army so they can search our bus for 'Guatamaltecos', I can attest that we have a much more open-door policy than they.
California is drowning in it's own entitlement stew; the "payers" are being out spent by the "payees", it's receipe for disaster. The Dems see more ACORN led voters, hence total domination. Viva la (conservative) Revolution!
Absolutely, let them. As long as they obey the laws, apply for immigrant status and enter the country legally. The American Indians found out what happened to people who can't control their own borders. Maybe we should learn something from that?
Assimilation is exactly the OPPOSITE of what is being taught at southwestern universities, I know, I'm being feed their crap every tues/thur at 9:00. The doctrine is "seperate" and "what's in it for me". Most of these Mexican American kids ignore the rhetoric, get their grades and go on, but there are some "true believers" in the room. Remember giant soccer crowds in Mexico erupting in cheers at the spector of 9/11, I DO!
I'm sorry John. I normally love what you write, but this is just so wrong on so many levels.
I suggest you read Robert Rector's fiscal study of what illegal immigration costs taxpayers …this is the root of the problem, not Americans being cranky. We simply cannot foot the bill for tens of millions of additional people who use more services than they pay in taxes. It is a strain on education, healthcare, social security, and it comes out of our pockets–to the tune of thousands of dollars per household. Throw in Obama's new taxes and expansion of Gov't, and it is an absolute back-breaker.
And FYI, economic basket case California has a population that is 27 percent foreign born (Lost Angeles county = 36%) according to the 2000 census. http://tinyurl.com/6m4ej2
Since illegals are generally under represented in such polls, it's likely higher, possibly much higher at this point in time.
So tell me again what the functional difference is between "open borders" and the situation we have right now?
Let them in, LEGALLY, the illegals ARE NOT assimilating, the legal ones are. I spend 4 or 5 months of the year in Mexico City, I am approached for my "Papers" frequently" Open borders gains us nothing but, insecurity.
I have to disagree. I am a firm believer in immigration. I think that immigrants add so much to society. BUT assimilation is essential. Otherwise, we cease to be a nation and we become a balkanized geographical accident waiting to erupt into a race war.
Unfortunately, the current system makes assimilation impossible. It allows immigrants into the country in such vast numbers that they no longer need to learn our language, our culture, or our customs to fit in. Instead, they just move into little zones that exist like foreign colonies within our midst’s. That is not good for them and it is not good for us.
If we keep letting in enough people to fill Denver every year, this situation is only going to get worse and worse.
Ditto.
One of the powers of enforcing a border law is that you get to know who you let and in and who you don't. It is hard for me to see an alternate universe where this would NOT matter.
The United States has NO control of it's borders. It is sometimes talked about as if it exists but it doesn't really exist. I would agree with this article for the people who wish to assimilate. Assimilation means entering and living here legally, learning the language and taking part in the cultural/political process. No ghettos, no balkanization. If entering and living here legally isn't convenient then a person doesn't wish to assimilate. They're here for another reason, primarily financial. The immigration/assimilation issue is moot. As long as Mexico and points south are hives of villiany, Mexicans et al will escape north just to survive. There are too many illegal aliens here to do anything about it, our elected idiots will not secure our borders–their actions have proven that. They can't develop a 'fair and equitable' immigration plan. Although it won't happen in our lifetime, this country will one day no longer be a predominantly WASP country. It is morphing into some other hybrid culture which may or may not surive in the contest of global competition.
going – the more the merrier.
"It`s time that we look at Mexicans not as irritants and illegals, but folks who are literally dying to get into the party.
If only to wash the dishes.
We should let them."
Not sure what you are advocating here Gut. Are you suggesting that we should legalize all the mexican and other illegals who currently entered illegally? Ah, no, I think not!
Are you suggesting that we have not limit on immigration? Again, nada, nope zillch.
Have you been drinking?
===It`s time that we look at Mexicans not as irritants and illegals, but folks who are literally dying to get into the party.===
They can come in legally like the rest of us. Why should Mexican's get preferential treatment? And lets be frank, how many low skilled/no skill laborers do we need? Do we not have enough latinos loitering at Home Depot, 7-11 and street corners all across the US? Why is it that physicists, engineers, doctors, musicians, etc from around the world can’t get visas to enter? Because democrats prefer uneducated masses that they can exploit and will invariably vote democrat; it’s a type of 21st century slavery.
I do remember that. I was surprised, but not shocked. With both my sons-in-law of Mexican descent, and five of my grandchildren half Mexican-descent, this is a constant topic in our families. My younger daughter's husband is a State Corrections Officer and former L. A. County Deputy Sheriff. He once said pretty much what you said about most of the kids just moving on and becoming like their friends of many races and ethnicities. But he added: "It's that 10% I deal with every day, and their MALDEF and Mecha legal representatives that I have to worry about."
Hey Greg. Get some better material that's actually funny, or move back to Xinjiang with the rest of the Ouighurs.
I think it was actually a Greganolte.
No amnesty until the border is completely controled and no voting rights for ten years after amnesty.
Hey Gut, if you were not drunk when you wrote this peice then maybe you should get drunk and rethink your position on ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.
Greg: As a human being, you are right on target. As the practicality of the matter is, due to the change in some of the illegal immigrants outlook on America and the political power structure in America, you are way off base.
My grandfather( I'm sure his story applies to lots of our grandfathers)came here, the first time, in the mid 1890's from the Croatian region of Europe. He came to America for the work and the promise of freedom. He cut timber in Louisiana and saved and went back to the "old country" and married my grandmother. Then they came through Ellis island in the early 1900's.
Assimilation? They and their eleven children became the best Americans EVER. Still, Croatian(and English) was spoken at their homes and the food retained the "old country" flair. Some become Dems. Some became Repubs. Some are conservative. Some liberal. Some became professionals. Some worked in factories. They are Americans.
I don't get that same feel from the latest wave of immigrants. Sorry. I see a hand out and an almost aggressive demand that America change for THEM. That's not the way it should be.
America is(was?) the most generous nation on earth EVER. But, it takes work to keep it that way.
This hits the nail on the head! Gutfield's living in the past on this one. The Immigrants before the Great Depression weren't coming hear to sign up for social program handouts, or free emergency room medical care, etc.
The real reason no one in the government wants to stop the illegal worker trade, is that fake social security cards are contributing 7 billion/ year, lessening the coming SS crisis. http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/4/11/...
That used to be real money until Barrack Cliche Obama's puppet Bernanke started the printing presses rolling at the FED.
"If only to wash the dishes. We should let them."
Ooh. You'd best check your dishes closely the next time you eat out, Gutfeld. (Maybe with the pocket UV light on your key chain?)
But I do love equating responsible immigration policy with a drunken cocktail bash.
And speaking of which, when do I get invited to one of these drunken cocktail bashes? (Otherwise known as Red Eye…)
–GG
You used multiple obscenities in your post. Our language, Our culture, Our customs. These are dirty words to open border groups. We are told to respect other cultures and thier customs yet most of these people have no respect for American customs or culture.
My great grandparents came to the U.S. in the 1890's from Poland and Germany. They already new the language when they came. Both sets of grandparents told the same story of growing up in America. There parents taught them very little of there native language and where always told to speak English. They would tell them "You are an American now and should be like an American". They wanted more for there children than Poland or Germany could offer and did not want them to simply live in a transplanted little world like the old country.
This just isn't the thinking anymore.
Perhaps as an initial step we can agree to reciprocal immigration policies with other countries.
Since every other country has much harsher policies than ours, it would be a good move, I think. Mexico's own policies are utterly brutal. Immigrants–when they can get in at all–are forever second class citizens with restrictions on where they can live, what sort of property they can own, and what sort of jobs they can have. But if it's good enough for them, they should not have any complaints about us taking the same stance.
As noted above, immigration to the US in 1910 was a net good thing, with motivated people coming in and creating wealth.. But not in 2009 where we have a welfare state.
Hey, Skip! You're a real wiseass, huh? I LIKE IT! Even though I've had to take your crap in my posts here, I respect a good zinger
Just pass the Fair Tax and I could care less who comes to our country! Then they'll all be paying for my taxes.
Did Greg deny he is a real Ouighur? No, he did not, and this correlates with all the spaghetti I saw him eat on Saturday (he knows what I'm talking about. He's just trying to smooth the path to get his fellow Ouighurs released here, I know what he's doing.
Footnote to Special Pleader v United States: This was a unanimous five to nothing decision. Justices Scalia, Roberts, Thomas and Alito were unavoidably detained.
Only in Klingon makeup with the brown nose stripe, Graham.
Great post and great book by Jason Riley. For all the arguments against (especially those mentioned in these comments), read the book. Riley shoots them all down. In particular, the "they're not assimilating" argument doesn't hold water. In spite of the crazy multi-culturalists, Mexican immigrants are assimilating just as quickly as past waves of immigrants from other countries, including learning English. I find particularly ironic the posts saying that their immigrant ancestors were different. FYI, a lot of people hated your ancestors too.
Thanks, Gut, for taking on the issue!
ATTENTION CALIFORNIA TAXPAYERS TAX REVOLT SATURDAY MAY 16 4-7 PM AT TOMS FARM 23900 TEMESCAL CANYON ROAD, CORONA, CA. 92883 BE THERE
http://www.tomsfarm.com and John and Ken @ 640KFI radio
Here's the thing, Greg – I know you know I think you're the USA's funniest conservative, and that I love your show(s) and sites – illegal immigrants aren't knocking at the door to get in, they are crashing the gates.
When I have a party – fat chance, as I'm an equal opportunity hater – I'm happy to let uninvited guests in (I would actually be thrilled if anybody showed up), so long as they knock or ring the bell. That's called legal immigration, and the USA is really good at it (Or, used to be). The beer is always chilled at Casa de Huc.
However, if a group took a battering ram and smashed my front door down to get into the party, I'm never more than three or four steps from a loaded firearm in my house (The guns are always loaded at Casa de Huc as well): Game over. That's called illegal immigration… and the solution to it that the US ought to rightfully pursue.
Questions?
Jason Riley shoots me down when I say that it is ILLEGAL to ILLEGALLY cross the border. Oh, please, do tell!
Shoot it down.
Just because there is a law doesn't mean it is correct. I think we can all agree that the immigration laws are a mess.
===No amnesty until the border is completely controled and no voting rights for ten years after amnesty.===
It's unfair to American citizens and those of us that played by the rules, waited years, were fortunate to have sponsors and then allowed to enter. No voting rights for illegals whatsoever unless they leave and enter the lawful way. They should be grateful we’re allowing them to stay and take jobs from Americans, over crowd our schools, overcrowd our emergency rooms, bankrupt our local municipalities and ghettoize many of our neighborhoods. Voting rights, no way.
I'd love to see you sit next to Bill Schulz in that make-up!
The difference being that at *your* party, *you* get to wine, dine, tolerate, and pick up after *your* guests.
With open borders, you're inviting them in to go raid OTHER PEOPLE's houses, pantries, and wallets.
So. Mr. Gutfeld, unless you're posting *your* address, and volunteering to feed, clothe, shelter, and clean up after 20 million of the world's most illiterate peasants, please either put a sock in this sort of 4th grade logicfest, or go out and buy the world a Coke and keep it company, and leave the grownups to deal with big-people problems.
Ya but Hitler sucked at badmitton……
Just saying
Plus as an artist he could not color within the lines……. and not in a good way.
On the otherhand he evidently had a good signing voice…….. So it's all a matter of what is important to you.
I have an unusual answer to the immigration problem. We cut a deal with Mexico for a new treaty. I call it
LAND FOR ILLEGALS
IF you think about it if all the Mexicans move to California, Arizona, parts of Kansas and the farmlands just Southwest of Orlando Florida what happens to all that unused real estate in MExico. Plus have you heard. They have Oil.
It's simple Mexico and the US have a census and count the number of citizens and the square miles of land in their country. We calculate the area of land by citizen. At the border we tell all that in both countries that is is free to go to a border station and change one's citizenship. Each year we determine how many US immigrants to Mexican emmigrants. The country getting the most people then takes control of that much land of the other country. Each year a calculation is done audited of course by my favorite accouting firm (they do such a good job with the lottery) and the land changes hands. Once either countries population becomes less than five million bingo they cease to exist and all the land is controlled by the winning country.
Greg, point two. When my great-grandparents (the ones from Poland and Ireland) came to these shores THEY WERN'T going back! This isn't the old song and dance where I'm in one country this minute, the old country the next minute. I live THREE miles from Mexico, it would take me less than 10 minutes to be in MEXICO! These people don't HAVE to be vested in OUR country. SORRY ABOUT ALL the CAPS! Please, come to the border, no, run to the border…see what we're talking about. To reiterate, I'm half MEXICAN. I'm in, I get it, I know these people. My people ARE these people…you wanna piss off my Mexican Mama? Suggest open borders to her, then duck buddy, this shoe's for you!
We do this of course Mexico will build the border fence, Five Stories high with landmines and machine gun turrets.
Either they changed that, or I need glasses. In any case, I liked your response better than mine! +1
So we go from "separate but equal" to "desegregate with all deliberate speed" to "separate and unequal"?
If the court ever issues that decision, I will join you in firing the first shot. . . and it'll be a doozy.
I fully support legal immigration. I just don't understand why we should reward illegal aliens who have such a blatant disregard for the laws of this country.
I'm big on wrong-thinking.
I think you're right. It appears that there is now pressure to retain "your culture" rather than become an American, and I that has disasterous consequences.
Just because there is a law doesn't mean its right or the best policy. There were no laws against immigration until the late 1800's. I'm sure we can all agree that our current immigration laws are a mess.
What makes you think current Mexican immigrants are any different than your Mexican family members who immigrated? What makes you think their children or grandchildren are going to be any less assimilated than you? What was good for your family is not good for them? I don't understand that.
Very well said Lawhawk.
=== Without assimilation as a firm doctrine, we get large numbers of people of good will and great expectations who have no concept whatsoever as to what the responsibilities of an American citizen are.===
Agreed and assimilation requires a controlled immigration policy, as practiced by every nation on the globe except here in the land of unicorns and unintended consequences. You cannot have wave after wave entering illegally daily and expect to assimilate them all as evidence by the serious balkanization in border states. In Santa Ana 80% of the residents speak Spanish only.
We need a 5 year moratorium on all immigration.
I was replying to your 1st post.
if you mean legally let them in, by all means. the more taxpayers the merrier.
My immigrant ancestors OBEYED the LAW. It's fairly fundemental bud, if they got here illegally the already broke the law to kick off their "immigrant experience'. You understand that? What part of illegal is so hard for liberals to understand? Let's spell it out ok? I L L E G A L! Got it? Good.
Thank you for pointing that out. When we think of illegal immigration we're trained to think that it's just poor Mexicans striving for a better life just as our ancestors did. It's not just Mexicans it's everyone else in the world as well.
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
The desire to leave ones own country and move to, immigrate to, or sneak into America should be the prime indicator that America is not evil, but I digress.
The getting into America part for anyone from South America is the easiest part of the long walk to cross our southern border. Mexico is so good at border security that they should be teaching us a thing or two.
Then again the brutality leveled against anyone from Guatemala, El Salvador and any other South American Country would make Gitmo Water boarding look tame. Mexico decried the treatment of their people in our country but intentionally left out how they maliciously handle illegal immigration in their own country.
Alas, it doesn't mean that. Simply look at the data. Most US residents pay little to no taxes to the Feds. The system relies on the top 20% of income earners. New immigrants are loss leaders. You cannot make it up on volume, it doesn;t work that way.
We accept close to two million legal emigrants a year. Many of the illegal emigrants come here for food stamps , rent assistance, fee health care and any other benefit that can get. Close tto 40 percent of all Food stamp monies go to illegals, the US government does not verify if you are a legal resident or citizen on your application for food stamps .
The MSM should ask, why the Mexican government does not do more for it people? How come 50 per cent of homes in Mexico lack a water connection.
I also take great pride in being wrong-thinking. Being PC really get's up my sleeve.
But to your point on "disaterous consequences" I think we are there already. People are no longer just Americans, they are Chinese-American, Japanese-American, African-American, Mexican-American, Arab-American. Some of these same people are second, third, and even fourth generation Americans yet still refer to themselves first as Chinese, Mexican, whatever.
Calling yourself an American has been reduced to a woman keeping her last name after she is married. It's an okay name but I prefer my original.
From here on out I want to be referred to as a German-Polish-American. I am over a 110 years removed from my "Native Land" but who cares!
Although, I will say that I do agree with the larger point. Embracing immigration has helped make this country the greatest nation on earth. We should continue to allow immigration; it's just the way we go about it.
I've heard one proposal to grant citizenship to any Mexican who has no criminal history, agrees to and successfully completes 3 years of service in the U.S. military, and passes an English test prior to becoming a citizen. Yeah, everyone wants to come to the party. And let them! But not helter-skelter. Require them to have some skin in the game.
Just because there is a law doesn't mean it makes sense or is the right policy. That's why sometimes we CHANGE laws. It's called the LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. I think we'd all agree that our current immigration laws are a mess. No?
Sorry about the multiple posts if you see them. For some reason, my replies disappear and then reappear, and I don't know how to delete them.
The article makes some dubious assumptions, for example that all illegal immigrants are Mexican. They aren't. Further, while I haven't read the book, I doubt very much it has all the answers to the problems of open borders.
Given that in some countries, Mexico for example, it is illegal for non-citizens to be politically active, including marching, protesting etc., while in the US it is is not, it would cause tremendous upheaval and instabililty to our political system while placing restrictions on US citizens that chose to go to Mexico. Assuming open borders means open both ways anyhow. Then many countries, Canada for example, after a recent change as I recall, do not consider all children born in that country, citizens of that country.
Are the other countries, for example Mexico, willing to print all official documents in mulitple languages to support the open borders, at which countries expense? If open borders require sacrifices from one country at the expense of others then it is not a reasonable solution. There lies an issue, many in some countries, do not want or desire open borders if they have to be fair and equal, they only want open borders that will benefit them at the expense of others.
In summation, the world isn't ready yet for open borders, perhaps if the government, big business, and lobbiests did not see such a huge advantage that they kept on pushing the issue and just let it happen naturally it would with much less expense and strife. Rather they see so much money and power in open borders that they push instead of letting people learn to work together. Perhaps they don't want them to work together to much.
Nor are many mexico citizens assimilating, rather this nation is assimilating and losing our culture. While they may learn English in the long run, there is really much more then that to assimilating into a culture. The US is to politically correct to be able to assimilate cultures anymore, instead we become the culture they left.
You're fine. I wondered why John's picture and name appeared on a Gregalogue, but I figured it was a spoof. Two minutes later I refreshed, and Greg's picture and name were there. Presto-change-o.
When I was growing up, we had plenty of different ethnic backgrounds represented in every class. Nobody was expected to abandon his or her family's identity. We were taught about the Constitution, and the great migrations, and the beauty of the melting-pot which took people of entirely different backgrounds and frequent hostility and helped make a great nation. We did occasionally hear the "hyphenated" American usage, but it was not used as a divider. It was a convenient way of describing the many backgrounds which made up America. Today, that hyphen is used specifically for the purpose of dividing Americans into competing spheres of victims of American oppression. It's disgusting.
True story. When I was in fourth grade, we were having one of those discussions about the great migrations. Since German was still spoken occasionally in my family in private, I went home and asked my mom if we were German-American. It was one of the few times I ever thought she was really going to haul off and whack me. "We are Americans," she said, "and I don't ever want to hear that in my presence again." Later she explained all the reasons her family and my father's family had left Germany, so the migrant story now had a personal aspect to it. She spoke of those German things they proudly brought to America, and yet how important it was to understand that they left Germany for freedom, opportunity, and a government that didn't intrude into every aspect of their lives. "American" would never be an ethnic identity, but a carefully made choice of a nation built on ideas and the rule of law. That ideal may very well be gone forever. I hope not.
SPOT-ON!
I heard a great conservative black guy speak on immigration about two weeks ago. He's a bit unusual looking in his dress, but very articulate and makes a great case for his conservative views and how immigration is hurting the black community and all of us as a country. The all white audience loved him! His name is Ted Hayes and he's from L.A. and you'd be smart Greg to get him on Red Eye.
Hey Greg, I heard a black guy named Ted Hayes speak to our an all white group here in greater L.A. a couple of weeks ago on illegal immigration and you'd do well to get him on the show. Being the intelligent and well versed conservative that he is, he could enlighten you as to what the invasion is doing to our black community.
Let's be honest-when our grandparents came to America, mine from the Ukraine, they came to work and did not believe in help from anyone. Certainly not from the government. The point is we do welcome working immigants, those who obey our laws and those who do not come here to change our laws to suit them. We welcome those who come to be citizens from dictator countries. We welcome those who learn the English language. But catering to different ethnic groups is wrong-why must I have a drugstore that feels it necessary to have a department strictly for the spanish speaking-it's your job as an immigrant to learn our language, not visa versa. It offends me that illegal aliens come here and drive up the medical costs and school costs without any desire to become a citizen and pay taxes. Cities are going broke because of this. We give to these illegals what we deny our own children and families and that is not fair or moral. . My view is that if you are an illegal alien, you should be thrown out every time you sneak into this country, every time you commit a crime and it should be only one crime. Welcome those who come legally, follow our laws, learn our language and study to become Americans.
I have lived my entire life in Southern California and illegal immigrants don't really worry me.
Why? Because the vast majority of them come here and work hard. And they work hard at crappy jobs for low pay and they are grateful for it. Yes, grateful. Somehow, they work for minimum wage (or less!) and still manage to send some of their earning back to family in Mexico. And they are happy to do it!
Go to Home Depot and ask a bunch of guys if they will help you put up a roof or paint something for $50 and they will be competing with each other to get the job. They might not be the most educated or skilled, but those guys will work.
On the other hand, imagine asking that of a group of typical suburban American teenagers. Imagine asking that of a group of welfare recipients.
To be honest, I would gladly trade the 10 million poorest Americans for the 10 million poorest Mexicans. Of course, Mexico is too smart to make that trade. The 10 million poorest Mexicans would be a boost to our economy. The 10 million poorest Americans would only be a drag on theirs.
I see illegal immigration as an economy issue. Japan, Spain, France and other countries are paying their immigrants to leave, as there are no jobs for their own people…they say "immigrants", so I have no idea if they are illegal or not……but here the ones we speak of are illegal.
We allow more legal immigrants to come here each year, than any other country, even though our own citizens are losing their jobs, our Congress still want 500,000 more Visa workers, and more guest workers!
SCHIP just had illegal alien's kids put into the bill to provide their health care…..
The millions of us that are against illegal immigration, it's because of the costs of them and we should not be forced by our government to pay the way for them…welfare, food stamps, education, incarceration….besides since the year 2000 we have lost over 45,000 citizens due to illegal's crimes.
I want our politicians and our reporters to cover those stories, talk to the families of those we lost to their crimes and talk to our own citizens that have lost their job or seen their wages depressed because of this flood of illegals.
It's time Mexico and countries like her, to stand up and reform to help their own people, instead of taking our money and doing nothing at all.
Good point.
Yeah, I gotta say…the big difference here that is getting ignored by EVERYONE is that the immigrants that came here all throughout our history did so legally. The Irish, Italians, Germans, etc….weren't sneaking in and then living off of the government "teat" (always good to use teat in a sentence). I don't understand why people are so eager to overlook just basic facts.
We could build cinder block Sec.8 housing for 10 million welfare recipients in Mexico for a tenth of the cost in the states, and do a straight switch. Good idea this would also lower the unemployment rate, crime, illegitimacy, win-win.
As a third generation American of Mexican descent, I appreciate your viewpoint, Gut. If Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney are trying to engage Republicans on the future of the party, they should start by reaching out to people of color. We need to have an easier path to citizenship…The process now is so convoluted and lengthy, its a joke!
You are right. I don't think the tax laws are "correct" so I am going to disregard them.
Thanks for the OK.
Yes, Ken, I think we should make public policy based on visits to Home Depot. From your previous posts, I know you are much smarter than this post makes you sound.
The fact is we have to start any logical policy on immigration by stopping illegal immigration. You can do that by simply declaring everyone legal. I don't think you would support that, at least I hope you would not.
Lets close the border, sort out the 20 Million illegals we have now and address immigration policy from the perspective of what's good for America.
As I said in an earlier post, there are virtually NO illegal immigrants who are coming close to paying their own way. Not gonna happen in the current tax structure.
Imagine that, using the legal process to achieve something. My grandfather would be proud.
Good point!
Why? How easy SHOULD it be and WHY?
Any "legal" immigrant is welcome, ALWAYS!!! ILLEGAL immigrants are NOT!!!
Have a nice day
Well, for one thing, it should take less than 7-10 years! Last year, Reason magazine published a "roadmap" of how one becomes a citizen. I am completing a Ph.D. this year and I could not make heads or tails of it… It was so freakin confusing! As a conservative, we should be outraged that illegal immigrants are being exploited by business owners who pay them subpar wages. Its a modern form of slavery! If we are going to beat the libs at their own game (they are trying to give amnesty to all illegals for voting reasons), we have to come to illegals' defense.
Hey Greg,
Then let's drop the Cinco Del Mayo crap celebration and the Mexican flag waving. I don't want to celebrate some other countries holiday of independence. America's occurred on July 4th. Hey Chicanos, get a clue. Assimilating means not celebrating a worthless 'holiday' that honors the corrupt country you feld to come to AMERICA. Besides it's just another excuse to get drunk and crash your car. We got enough of those already.
Dispite what Janet Nutcase said, if you got into America illegally, YOU ARE A CRIMINAL. Get over the PC crap and just admit it. I think also, America treats Illegal Aliens better than any other country when they are caught. But like any other cockroach I don't want them in MY home. That includes ALL of America. From sea to shining sea. So I don't hire illegals to do my lawn, wash my car, or from the Home Depot parking lot to help with projects. Just say no is my motto when it comes to Illegals. I can live life without the cheap labor. Would you allow someone to break into your home, move into your kid's room, take their possessions and eat their food? Then why the double standard? Assimilating means being here LEGALLY in the first place.
In case you didn't get this before; my Grandparents immigrated LEGALLY. If the Mexican immigrant wants to start his journey to being a fellow citizen BY LEGAL MEANS, I'm in. I support and cheer for the hard working man or woman here legally. If their first act as a future American is to BREAK A LAW, we're off to a bad start. Many of these illegals want nothing more to do with the U.S. than to collect a bigger pay check than they did in Mexico, I understand that. The law is the law. If the "open border" advocates think that they have the support of every American with Mexican blood coursing through his or her viens, they better think again. Let me repeat, LEGAL IMMIGRATION=GOOD ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION=BAD, OK?
Thank you. See above.
Illegal immigrant is the wrong term. That term implies a certain legitimacy to them and takes some of the shine off of the legal immigrant's pride in their achievement of citizenship. The fact is, illegal aliens are criminals simply by violating the laws of our country. In the end I believe as Teddy Roosevelt said "a country without strong borders is no country at all". My apologies for probably mangling his still relevant sentiments.
bruce, that's true but everybody pays sales taxes and fees and if they eventually own real estate they'll be full participants in the tax system. I'm not an open borders guy, I live a few miles from the Mexican border. Many LEGAL immigrants buy into the system and become productive members of society, some don't.
I live here in LA and I am of the opposite opinion. You sir, are part of the problem. If you want to improve your quality of life with cheap labor MOVE TO MEXICO. Don't take my resources away from my family so you can Fell like a humanitarian. If you hire Illegals you just broke federal law and that makes YOU a criminal. I hope you like that. You are just being selfish and it has nothing to do with 'generosity'. I bet you don't pay the going rate for your illegal labor, either. So how is that helping anyone? You encourage illegals to steal from the system. They don't pay income or property taxes. They use social services illegally that are funded by working American tax dollars and are a drain on our public resources and a burden to our society. One of the big reasons California is bankrupt is this fact.
These 'dish washers' had a brick fight and smashed up our car a week after backing into it in our drive way. They get complaints from all the neighbors for their noise, beer drinking and littering. Mexican, Russian and all other neighbors hate them. Nobody wants to admit it but a LOT of these immigrants ARE those men. The men who stack up on top of each other in apartments while giving landlords MORE than the asking price since they can split it among 4-6 people. These individuals are scum bags and should not be handed the keys to this country.
I agree that families should be given a chance and that we should be open to newcomers. That said, I don't want clones of myself getting a free ticket so why should my neighbors? Let's get rid of those guys and create a system that lets people with skills and respect for the land to come in.
Interestingly enough, I know of a Hungarian woman who is locked out of the US due to an expired Visa and she was a model citizen. She cannot marry her boyfriend unless he moves out of the U.S permanently. I feel for them, and hard working model citizens, not the millions of beer drinking dirt bag men who have no respect for this nation. To be too open is to be exposed to often. We are trying to short cut a solution that requires real thought, real planning and real work. We can't be P.C and we can't be too tough but we also can't half ass it either. Not it we really value this country and what it represents. Anybody who disagrees can post your address and set up housing for my neighbors who are one of MANY I have encountered in my life.
That said, the family in the same building is one that might be here illegally but one I would never report. Families are what this country need, not individual poor skill-less un-documented men. If you look at history your realize that this nation was built on men with families, not men with beer cans and a sense of entitlement.
This applies to ALL cultures, by the way. It's how my family did it, they came together, dirt poor and worked. They didn't have brick fights at 3 am and blast their music and live off the government. If it makes me a bad person for wishing for closed borders until THAT problem is fixed then I guess I am one.
Yes, it used to be that a crime was simply a crime. Now, when I don't pay my taxes, I can consider myself to be a tax protestor, and a patriot. See, I feel better already.
Of course, the IRS is fine about locking ME up but many are not OK about locking up and deporting the criminals we call illegal aliens.
Hey, If I sneadk into France and they find me later, it doesn't go well for me at all. They know what they want and don't want.
And right after they take that $50 job, they move grandma up here for her never-paid-a-cent-into-it Social Security checks. Then mama and Tio Pedro go to the state assistance office and sign up for rent assistance and food stamps, mama is on welfare, the kids are in your schools, not learning English, destroying the opportunity for other kids – and their parents who paid for the schools in their property taxes – and at 5PM, the entire clan shows up at the ER with a bucketful of conditions and diseases, and neither the means nor the intention of paying for anything they receive.
You're brighter than that post, Ken. Open your eyes, and stop parroting Gutfeld's infantile pseudoanalysis.
The simple solution is to throw the bums out, and jail those who abet them.
That would include you, BTW, for hiring that illegal for $50. Your criminal action saves *you* money, and screws any number of American workers who'd do the job to code, feed American kids with the money, and contribute to a better America, including paying taxes on the income and spending it at local businesses, rather than sending half the cash to bring more poor peasants up here.
As one of the payers, you sir are correct.
What is the limit? Is another 300 Million OK and if so, why?
Re: this proposal, Skin in the game. Hey, you broke the laws. But, its OK.
How about go home and reapply but at the back of the line. Why reward criminal behavior"?
Still no word from Mr. Gutfeld on when he's publishing his home address and opening his home to everyone that wants to move to America.
Could someone ask Mr. Breitbart to move this sort of "Do as I say, not as I do" pseudowisdom over to DailyKos, where it belongs.
I don;'t think Greg was THAT drunk when he wrote this piece!
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