I didn't think I had much of a stance on illegal immigration. A country has the right to keep out people it doesn't want and should do so. I was just questioning some of the emotional rhetoric concerning the current US situation. When you reach the point where you have 13 million illegal aliens/immigrants, who have been there for a while and are probably, in the main, productive members of society, I'm not sure it serves much purpose to demonize them. If the US wants to prevent future illegal immigration, then you should do so, of course. I'm just not convinced that the presence of the ones who are already there is as big a problem as some people think and was just questioning many of the assertions about them.
(And I don't accept the notion that I don't have a right to discuss these issues because I happen to be Canadian. This is a public discussion board, a Canadian one in fact, so if you don't want to hear Canadian opinions, you might be in the wrong place. Just saying.)
I very much respect this!
I have seen more then a few on this forum criticize the proposed immigration policies of the USA while being citizens of other countries with stronger immigration policies that what is being proposed here. I feel that many here have no right to do so, unless they themselves are willing to criticize their counties' policies, when we are doing nothing but trying to create policies on par with the majority of the rest of the world.
At the same time I though, I see so many of some of my fellow countrymen criticize immigrants for the differing cultures and changing of American culture.
The USA has no culture; we are a country of immigrants. We mix many cultures and what comes out, so be it, and this is always changing.
My last name makes it more than obvious I am Anglo-Saxon, so I should have a strong right to desire for the USA to be strictly Anglo Saxon,
the first major settlers of this country, in culture. I don't, because much like the rest of America I am a mutt, also part German and Italian (but ... I don't tan at all, so I whole-heartily believe all those genes skipped me and went straight to my brother who does
) and Irish (a sworn enemy of the English). My last name makes me feel more on November 5th then on March 17th, but I would not restrict my fellow Irishmen from celebrating St. Patty's day as my right to also celebrate Guy Folk's day.
My feelings on immigration though are that in a highly competitive world, precedence should be given those whom can provide most to the economy. Many other countries, including Canada, agree with this on policy.
The family based immigration policy I can sympathies with, since anyone would naturally want to bring his/her relatives to a country they have been successful within. However, this does little for that country if highly skilled and entrepreneurial individuals are held up due to a clog in the system from an influx of family members.
The USA has not always used a family based immigration policy. Returning to a merit policy, although a mild one, I think would do a great good for the USA.
Of course, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, so it would be best if the Reps and the Dems worked together on this.
