Agree with your second sentiment.Farfromgeneva wrote: ↑Mon Sep 27, 2021 4:40 amThe chaos is a function of overly restrictive border policies in the first place. It’s pretty much that simple.old salt wrote: ↑Mon Sep 27, 2021 3:16 amThe question was not directed to you. He said that comparisons with distant past don't hold much water,MDlaxfan76 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 26, 2021 9:51 pmPerhaps because the vast majority of us in America, who like to consider ourselves "Americans", are the descendants of people who had no "legal" invitation to be here, indeed most fleeing some form of oppression or famine or destitution in their home country AND/OR seeking their "fortunes" in a land of perceived greater opportunity than their home country. Or are the descendants of slaves. Who among us can really claim to a greater right to be an "American"?
And if we really want to push the 'legal' status nonsense, those Europeans who were first here, indeed who came in droves, certainly had no "legal" basis for being here. For well over 100 years, every darn one of them was here "illegally" from a Native perspective. Still are...
prompting me to ask why he introduced them if they do not matter.
It is just an irrelevant diversion. Instead of tying yourself in knots trying to rationalize the chaos on our southern border & our inability to control who comes into our country, why don't you just admit you want to open our borders to whoever wants to enter. We always need more cheap labor for our plantation & to better serve us. Instead of enticing all those Haitian migrants from risking their lives on the trek through the jungle in the Darian gap, let's just send a cruise ship to bring them to the US. You've already assured us what good workers they are, just hire supervisors who can speak creole.
If you think legal status in "nonsense", just admit that you think every global citizen should be free to come & go as they please, to reside & be a citizen wherever they choose.
I'm already wracked with guilt that I was born white. Now I have to shoulder even more guilt for being born in the USA. How do I atone for my good fortune ?
What we need is more people that appreciate this country and not for stupid things like standing and holding our hand over our chests but embracing the principles of this country. That includes being a refuge from tyranny not being tyrannical. Core to our founding. Folks arguing for tighter and tighter border controls are anti American, not kapernick kneeling or such idiocy as some project. Form over function.
But I think the chaos is not just a function of overly restrictive border policies, but rather underly enforced policies for the past 25+ years. ANY policy enforcement is seen as overly restrictive when it's been essentially an open border for as long as I can remember.
I'm for all immigrants from any country. Its good for American society, its good for the labor market, and it's a way to shift the bs, lazy attitude of the country. Want a population that LOVES the country? Let in people who are fleeing persecution and looking to make a better life for their kids and families. Talk about people who appreciate the USA. Even with it's flaws.
My only caveat is to generally vet them for criminal backgrounds. I think immigrants make America awesome. I say, let people raise their hand, get in line to be here, get vetted, and welcome to the US. We have to shut down the open border. No other country in the world allows it. But the vetting and approval has to be a process we can streamline. Make the process shorter and easier so people stop thinking their only hope is to jump the line. No one likes line jumpers.