January 21, 2008
HB's Immigration Plan
Nothing gets the folks at Three Sources as riled up as a conversation on immigration. With that in mind, here is my immigration solution:
Do Nothing.
Okay, that is a bit facetious. In actuality, what I mean is that we should "do nothing" in terms of legislation. Here is why:
- The sheer magnitude of the task of removing 12 million people from the United States makes any attempt to do so nearly impossible. This should not be the focus of any immigration policy. We need to treat the problem, not the symptom.
- Secure the borders. There is no need for legislation. The United States government already has the authority, they have simply failed to do so.
Immigration
Posted by Harrison Bergeron at January 21, 2008 12:22 PM
@#$^%& ^&*^(* , HB!!!
Seriously, the Prosperitarian in me likes your plan a great deal, and it is probably going to draw more ire from some others 'round here. As with all government enterprises, it is much better to do nothing than the wrong thing. And my animation about the issue is driven out of the assumption that the government will (surprise!) likely do the wrong thing.
At the same time, I'd have to point out a few very serious problems with the status quo ante:
1) Breakdown of rule of law.
2) Capricious enforcement (I know you're a Bastiat fan. I don't think Frederic would find current law "understandable and avoidable.")
3) Barbaric treatment of workers we need and should encourage. These workers must give money to "coyotes" to get them across the border and then are completely at the mercy of these people. They are subjected to rape, torture and further extortion because our government cannot connect willing employers with willing workers.
4) I think the terrorism card is wildly overplayed by the nativists, but a controlled border would provide more safety than an intentionally porous one.
@#$^%& ^&*^(* , HB!!!
Seriously, the Prosperitarian in me likes your plan a great deal, and it is probably going to draw more ire from some others 'round here. As with all government enterprises, it is much better to do nothing than the wrong thing. And my animation about the issue is driven out of the assumption that the government will (surprise!) likely do the wrong thing.
At the same time, I'd have to point out a few very serious problems with the status quo ante:
1) Breakdown of rule of law.
Posted by: jk at January 21, 2008 1:35 PM2) Capricious enforcement (I know you're a Bastiat fan. I don't think Frederic would find current law "understandable and avoidable.")
3) Barbaric treatment of workers we need and should encourage. These workers must give money to "coyotes" to get them across the border and then are completely at the mercy of these people. They are subjected to rape, torture and further extortion because our government cannot connect willing employers with willing workers.
4) I think the terrorism card is wildly overplayed by the nativists, but a controlled border would provide more safety than an intentionally porous one.
Again, I ask, why do we limit the number of immigrant visas in this country?
HB says we need to treat the problem, not the symptom. As I see it the problem is that our immigration laws since 1952 have criminalized individual pursuit of the American dream for those not born in America. Like Fred! said, we need "high walls and wide gates."
Citizenship is a different matter entirely, but I doubt you'd see widespread fraud to obtain citizenship (i.e. citizenship by marriage) if simple and lawful procedures existed for aliens to come here and enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Those who want to vote or hold office could pursue a separate citizenship process.
But enough talk of pie in the sky immigration dreams. Let's talk about something that has a greater probability of happening, like Fred Thompson winning the Republican nomination.
Posted by: johngalt at January 21, 2008 3:14 PMI have to agree with Harrison except I would add one more change and that's make it easier to cross legally when you have no skills
I don't want to see specific work visas for hard laborers because then you have a permanent underclass who will never Americanize because we'd suck purposefully bring in serfs.
The reasons people cross over to work here in labor is because it's a heck of a lot easier and possible than coming across legally.
Continue to prosecute folks who knowingly hire illegals, secure the border and make it easier to cross with papers.
Posted by: Terri at January 21, 2008 3:17 PMThat would fix the problem.
jg, I will concede that I would repeal all legislation that limits the number of immigrant visas. I am much closer to being an open borders guy than an immigration hawk. However, my main point is that if we are not going to open the border, we should at least enforce it. I wholly support high walls/wide gates.
Posted by: HB at January 21, 2008 9:37 PMFred!'s candidacy seems up in the air as I type this, but he has united ThreeSources with a single phrase.
I suspect that if we dug a little deeper, we'd find that I want wider and jg wants taller, but we're all on board for "tall fences with wide gates." I hope the nominee adopts that line.
Posted by: jk at January 22, 2008 11:41 AM | What do you think? [5]