The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by Motorboat Cruiser

Yes, we have been weak on this issue but if I rob someone and don't get caught, haven't I still committed a crime?
...
A crime was commited and there should be a penalty, even if the person isn't caught immediately.

Yes, but outside of being here illegally, don't these people also do us a lot of good? ie. These people are working the fields in Salinas. I don't see any kids right out of high school picking artichokes...
I don't put illegal aliens and thieves and rapists in the same boat. I don't think it's a black and white issue like that. I think some good comes from them being here.

Originally Posted by Motorboat Cruiser

Still, replace the kind family you mention above with a rapist and tell me it's no big deal that they didn't go through the proper channels (which might have prevented it). Most people that come into this country are good, hard working people. Some are absolutely not though and we have no way of determining whether a person who snuck across the border wants to work, or detonate a dirty bomb at Disneyland. The legal process can determine if someone that wants to move here has a prior record and they can be prevented. Illegally crossing the border means that we have no idea what your background is. That is a major problem.

I don't see what you're saying here. Someone who comes here legally could rape someone. Someone who was born here could do the same. The legal processes fail us all the time. Your statement, MBC, illustrates to me that the fear tactics that have been used about this issue are working.

The real issue at hand is that Americans are in this weird space right now where people are rising up in fear of people who are different. Post 9/11, America is a tough place to be if you're Muslim, Jewish, black, Latino, gay... Everything is a threat to our country or a threat to our moral fiber. Well, are those things really a threat to us? ie. People have been coming over illegally for many many decades now. Have we crumbled? People need to have more faith in their country's ability to survive than that. If every person who comes here illegally has the potential to topple us, then something's wrong with us (the U.S.).