Immigration
I am not going to be long winded here. I may make this into a couple of shorter blogs.
So let's talk about one of my big personal disappointments in Obama; that is immigration.
There is a very small way in which I might be considered as having an axe to grind. Let me get that out of the way first. I am speaking about my son's mother (we are divorced and I am a single dad). We are on pretty good terms. She has a 10 year unlimited entry visa and can come and go as often as she pleases, but, and this is a huge but; she can only stay six months at a time. If she leaves before six months, she can have her passport stamped and turn around and come back. Absurd. Expensive. My point here is this, those who do things legally are made to pay the price, usually literally. What's up with that? It only encourages illegal immigration.
Now what about Obama? He is not really in favor of helping immigrants. He is just in favor of keeping them out a different way; that is through stronger border protection. That is also expensive and a waste of money, just like the other two wars he is waging; and yes, he sees immigration issues as a war just like the right wing.
When anti-immigration people talk about the perceived problem, they usually talk about national security. I can't tell you how many times in my life I have heard pols hide behind that phrase. (My first memory of it is from Lyndon Johnson.)
The truth is, they don't mean national security at all. If someone wants to get into this country, they will. Even a "Great Wall of America" isn't going to keep them out. What these people are talking about for the most most part is Mexicans. The immigration policies proposed and even already in place are racist, plain and simple.
They are also fool hardy economically and reflect a profound lack of understanding about the USA. That is, these people don't know where their food comes from.
Have you ever worked in the fields with Mexican workers? I have. It is beyond difficult and it is done for zippo in remuneration and even less in benefits (which are nil). 99% of Americans won't and can't do it. (Check out this article: http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/07/news/economy/farm_worker_jobs/index.htm?hpt=T2)
What do I propose? Open the borders and make immigration a lot more simple. This will save vast sums of money, keep food at a reasonable price and give the disadvantaged a chance in life; a chance like our ancestors had.)
More on Obama later.
So let's talk about one of my big personal disappointments in Obama; that is immigration.
There is a very small way in which I might be considered as having an axe to grind. Let me get that out of the way first. I am speaking about my son's mother (we are divorced and I am a single dad). We are on pretty good terms. She has a 10 year unlimited entry visa and can come and go as often as she pleases, but, and this is a huge but; she can only stay six months at a time. If she leaves before six months, she can have her passport stamped and turn around and come back. Absurd. Expensive. My point here is this, those who do things legally are made to pay the price, usually literally. What's up with that? It only encourages illegal immigration.
Now what about Obama? He is not really in favor of helping immigrants. He is just in favor of keeping them out a different way; that is through stronger border protection. That is also expensive and a waste of money, just like the other two wars he is waging; and yes, he sees immigration issues as a war just like the right wing.
When anti-immigration people talk about the perceived problem, they usually talk about national security. I can't tell you how many times in my life I have heard pols hide behind that phrase. (My first memory of it is from Lyndon Johnson.)
The truth is, they don't mean national security at all. If someone wants to get into this country, they will. Even a "Great Wall of America" isn't going to keep them out. What these people are talking about for the most most part is Mexicans. The immigration policies proposed and even already in place are racist, plain and simple.
They are also fool hardy economically and reflect a profound lack of understanding about the USA. That is, these people don't know where their food comes from.
Have you ever worked in the fields with Mexican workers? I have. It is beyond difficult and it is done for zippo in remuneration and even less in benefits (which are nil). 99% of Americans won't and can't do it. (Check out this article: http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/07/news/economy/farm_worker_jobs/index.htm?hpt=T2)
What do I propose? Open the borders and make immigration a lot more simple. This will save vast sums of money, keep food at a reasonable price and give the disadvantaged a chance in life; a chance like our ancestors had.)
More on Obama later.
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