Amnesty and my membership in the Republican party

[sleepyjeff]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070518/...SSLZULcYoE1vAI

The Unity '08 effort, led by a group of veteran political strategists from both parties, was inspired by the idea that both parties are dominated by their most extreme elements and a majority of Americans are looking for a centrist approach.

Too bad they don't really have a handle on what the problem really is....the parties are too much alike and not extreme enough. This third party is like RC cola saying "try us, Coke and Pepsi are too extreme".

Frankly I don't like this; flashbacks of Ross Perot handing Clinton the White House.

[Scrooge McSam]

Yeah, good luck with that, Leo.

And peace to all the Libertarians that continue to vote Republican. Whatever gets you through, babe!

[Morrigoon]

What she said

[scaeagles]

Morrigoon and Alex have stated my major reasons against and why I am not so against the national ID card.

I hate the concept, but in essence we already do have one. In all reality it is next to impossible to do anything without your social security number, and that, as we know, isn't very secure.

I am against big government. However, since one of the only Constitutionally mandated functions of the feds is to protect and control our borders (and therefore control the flow of people into it), it might be a valid function as a tool to get people out that don't belong.

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

I am against big government. However, since one of the only Constitutionally mandated functions of the feds is to protect and control our borders (and therefore control the flow of people into it), it might be a valid function as a tool to get people out that don't belong.

But do you understand what enforcing that would entail? What it already entails? Everything we do to "get them" is going to "get" us. It's like airport security - in order to TRY to filter out less than a dozen bad guys, millions of Americans have to go through and enormous amount of hassle, annoyance, and inconvenience, which, in turn, affects how free we really are.

[Capt Jack]

hence this weeks 'sig' line

[scaeagles]

Freedom does not mean freedom from inconvenience, does it? I am free to fly as long as I am willing to go through airport security. Does it make me less free that it takes time and is a hassle? I have a choice as to if I want to fly.

To drive I need a license and insurance. To leave the country I need a passport and must endure customs. There are many inconveniences that do not make me less free.

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

There are many inconveniences that do not make me less free.

True, but where would freedom end for you? Routine unannounced searches of your home that presumably would not ever turn up anything (unless you mouthed off) but might at the fellow's house down the street? Police with batons on every street corner telling people to move along? Listening devices to check in on your harmless conversation?

[Alex]

No, but making sure that only authorized people cross a border doesn't seem like an unreasonable pinch point.

Considering the depressing effect that illegal immigration has on pay I'm always amazed that there is more progressive opposition to it.

Amnesty's have been tried all over the world (here previously, most European countries) and all the evidence indicates that they simply promote greater illegal immigration in the future under the belief that if you stay long enough eventually you'll be normalized.

One immigration change that I think should be made is so that citizenship is not granted merely for the coincidence of being born on American soil.

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

One immigration change that I think should be made is so that citizenship is not granted merely for the coincidence of being born on American soil.

Oh, and what would you have the requirements be, then?


Directed not solely to Alex, but to all other who have expressed this rather puzzling (to me) opinion.