The Truths We Dare Not Speak About Illegal Immigration
4) A Cultural Elite. We know roughly the politics of illegal immigration: the open borders libertarian and corporate right wanted access to cheap workers, with the ensuing social costs born by the state. In contrast, liberal Democratic interests favor the notion that millions of new constituents will need some public assistance, that hundreds of thousands of new federal and state employees will be needed to administer to them, and that both groups will record their thanks at the polls — especially important in existing 50/50 state and federal congressional districts of the American southwest.
But left unsaid is that such overt politicking is matched in the cultural sphere. Take away a half-million person influx of illegal aliens of the Hispanic underclass, or take away a permanent group of largely Spanish-speaking, largely poor, and largely undereducated Mexican nationals, and within 30 years the vast majority of Mexican-Americans will assimilate in the pattern of other contemporary minority groups — and, in terms of education and compensation, achieve rough parity. Unfortunately, that would also mean that the argument for a Chicano-Latino Studies program (rather than, say, an Irish Studies program), for the self-identified Chicano journalist, or for any activist who sees his Hispanic heritage as essential rather than as incidental to his persona simply disappears. (We do not have a National Council of Das Volk; nor a self-identified “wise Greek” on the Supreme Court.)
In short, without the arrival of the illegal alien in massive numbers without education, capital, legality and English, the Hispanic activists and cultural elite have no reason to be, since soon there would be no disparity that can be blamed on oppression or racism — and thus no need for self-appointed collective representation. La Raza would have no raza when a Hilda Lopez marries Larry Smith and their daughter Linda Lopez Smith marries Billy Otomo and so on.
5) Profiling. Of course, one can profile with some reasonable certainty who is illegal and who not. Do we believe that if 1 million French-speaking Canadians were invading New England, we would then be likely to suspect an African-American English-speaking citizen pulled over for speeding as an illegal alien? Ponder the current Border Patrol: it apparently profiles near the border any Mexican nationals who are spotted in the general vicinity (and who speak no English?), but yet at some magical spot — 10, 20, or 30 miles from the border — it mysteriously loses that ability or legal sanction?
If the Border Patrol can question those on the American side of the fence on reasonable grounds, then why cannot the policeman do so too a few miles distant? If not, the Mexican national, by reason of his stepping one foot on American soil, could say, “Wait, I am just walking by the fence, breaking no law, and so how dare you inquire whether I am legal?”
In fact, the Border Patrol makes millions of such inquiries yearly and in the vast majority of cases has developed logical criteria that are applicable as well a few miles inland. In passing, I note in a recent 7 day period (I counted), I produced an ID six times, once to gain admittance to a radio station, four times to validate a credit card usage, and once to check into a hotel. Were they profiling me as a credit risk, possible criminal, undesirable?
6. There is now no law. Reader, let us walk through the new immigration labyrinth: (a) the federal government has chosen not to enforce, or cannot enforce, immigration law, evident by the continual residence of over 12 million illegal aliens, and an annual influx of some 500,000 to 750,000 more; (b) neither the federal government nor states (nor the courts) can demand enforcement of an existing federal law; (c) those states that pass laws emulating federal immigration statutes will have their legislation either voided by the court or neutered by the federal government; (d) but those cities who pass sanctuary laws in direct violation of federal illegal immigration statutes will have their legislation either validated or ignored by both the court and the federal and state governments.
Conclusion? The federal government and federal courts prefer to ignore laws that violate their own, but void those that copy them.
We are in revolutionary times when the law is a malleable thing, its validity predicated only on its perceived social utility at any given moment.
This is how nations are lost.
Something very odd is going on, but it is not something new. I first noticed this oddity several years ago when Americans in many states, fed up with rising crime and revolving-door prisons, insisted on bringing back tough sentencing and the death penalty. As I recall, the DA of Brooklyn, NY, said he would not prosecute any cases that would lead to the death penalty. He decided that he had a right to pick and choose what parts of the law he would enforce. His conscience, not his oath nor the responsibility to his office, would be his guide. He would accept his salary, derived from the assets of citizens, and his perks of office, but he would not be subject to his responsibilities to those who elected him.
I was completely stunned by his revelations. The New York media of that day yawned.
Now, such an attitude seems to pervade the administration of the President and the US Congress. No, you no longer have to resign when your conscience says no to provisions of the law. No, you don’t have to work to change the law. Now you simply ignore the law in question. This is the death throe of democratic government. (Please, trolls, Bush me no Bushes. I am not saying Obama invented this travesty. Well I know the specious lib argument that things Bush did that were wrong become right when Obama does them because Bush did them first. I am saying it is growing and spreading on Obama’s watch, which is a horror to behold.)
As an American citizen living and working in Mexico City, I am befuddled by the response most of the American expatriate community has to this issue. They seem to celebrate the entire illegal immigration issue as reinforcing their version of ‘America’….Land of the Free and illegally populated. Most of the expats enjoy the good life here for sure….a Federally tax free experience where the dollar goes pretty far these days. The farther you are from the real impact of illegal immigration and its eroding effects on general society and attitudes toward law-keeping, the more idealistic you seem to become. I have had very intense conversations about the issue and particularly after reading Mexifornia and work ed. by H. Mac Donald on Illegal Immigration to which you Dr. Hanson contributed, I think I have my facts in order (unlike the opposition who seems to sentimentalize the entire debate). However, I would love a suggestion as to what to read regarding the Mexican elite’s desire to see large parts of the Mexican population (mostly Indian) immigrate to the States. Where can i find out about the ‘real’ Mexico, in terms of who is really running things here? My knowledge is for the most part anectdotal.
Take a look at ” An Empire Wilderness” by Robert Kaplan. The section on the US/Mexican border taught me a lot ,such as the idea that Mexico City/Washington have an understanding that allows this influx of illegals to act as a pressure relief valve for change in Mexican affairs. During the last Mexican revolution,an estimated 10% of the Mexican population crossed the border for safety during the war. How many would that be today ? By accepting these people,the US has helped the current style of Mexican government stay in power and maintained a cheap labor force for the region. Can we continue this policy,given the “recovery that never was” ? I don’t think so.
I too take offence at your referral to “Federally Tax exempt”. I am also expat living in Mexico by choice. I do enjoy a good life style, mostly because I worked hard to earn it. I pay federal taxes each year, even though the combined income of both my wife an I is not at all substanial and would place us just marginally into the middle class. Mexico is certainly not the end all in high livng. There are many things you cannot obtain here without paying through the nose for them, (Yes, gringos do pay more here than Mexicans do for many things). My wife and I made the decision earlier this year to abandon this paradise in favor of returning North of the Border, and towards that end we are selling our home. I simply can no longer ignore the problems I see happening to my home country and I will make the effort to be part of the solution when I return. When Mexican President Calderon decided that he could interfer with the internal politics of America and condem the effort by Arizona to inforce the laws against illegal immigrats then I lost any respect for the man and Mexico, and I for one will no longer sit by well Mr. Obama sells the USA down the river.
“Federally tax free”????? I wish I could drop a dime on you to the IRS!
If you earn ONE dollar from anywhere in the world, despite income exclusion rules, you owe MIMIMUM 15 cents of it in FICA, a Federal tax on your income.
An expat myself for many years, I really want looters and freeloaders, as you apparentlly claim to be, led off to jail!
You have a good point–there is massive disobedience to the law going on in many areas of American life, not just immigration. Tax cheating is just as rampant as illegal immigration. Under IRS rules, all US citizens are taxed on their worldwide income, so even if an American is living in Mexico, he/she is still liable for federal taxes. And the cross-border illegal drug trade is driven by Americans consuming illegal drugs, also in massive disobedience of federal law.
I’d like to know why Arizona isn’t also trying to enforce federal tax laws and federal drug laws. Why not give a drug test to every person whom Arizona police stop, detain, or arrest? And check to see if they have filed their tax return?
The Arizona state police do arrest people who are on crack. I’m awaiting a lawsuit for interfering with the Federal DEA.
Actually, I can see how many people could be less than enthused about paying their taxes while a confessed tax cheat holds the office of Treasury Secretary. In an ideal world, nobody would have to pay a dime of federal taxes until Geithner was sitting in a prison cell.
As always, the first thought should be to find out what the guys who won our independence in the first place thought (and, much more importantly, did) about these things. Public officials and judges who refused to honor their oaths? Did you ever hear of tarring-and-feathering? Riding someone out of town on a rail? The reason the Founders were able to win independence was because, in spite of the Enlightenment and the idiotic Social-Contract theory, they still understood that the only way serious disputes are settled is by violence or the credible threat of violence. Renouncing violence is only a euphemism/excuse for surrendering. The reason Jefferson’s yeoman farmers were the backbone of the Republic was that they understood from experience that selective breeding (‘racism’) and killing (slaughter of livestock, vermin, predators) were natural, normal aspects of real life. Not to be enjoyed, but to be done when necessary without apology.
Thank you, Professor Hanson, for your clarity and logic on this issue. It is indeed bizarre to watch first-generation Mexican-Americans proudly wave the flag of Mexico, a country their parents were happy to leave behind as they risked everything, including their lives, to get out. Moreover, the manner in which they can then automatically jump to the head of the Diversity Victim Line, bypassing children of Vietnamese boat-people and refugees from North Korea is more evidence that these kinds of “soft tryannies” are always whimsical.
If the flag represents the nation-state of Mexico, waving it around in the US seems strange. But if the flag represents the Mexican people (as Americans once believed the Stars-and-Stripes was their flag) then it makes perfect sense. Mexicans are Mexicans, in Mexico or in Iceland. They are Mexicans and their children and grandchildren will be Mexicans. As the Mexican Presidente said, truly: “Mexico is wherever Mexicans live.” People who don’t believe in ‘race’ make flat-earthers look like Galileo.
You have no idea how spot-on your comments are!
Here in El Paso, school children play “Who’s More Mexican?” in class. There are two versions of the game. If the children have lots of Anglo gene pool in them, the child who was born in Juarez is “More Mexican” than the child who was born in El Paso. The child who can speak fluent Spanish is “More Mexican” than the child who is English dominant. If the children are mostly at the Native American end of the gene pool, then the child with the darkest skin is the “Most Mexican” as is the child whose parent only speaks Spanish.
Mexicans in El Paso put Mexican flags on their cars, fly them on their houses, and wear them on T-shirts. Most of their children talk, turn their backs, or give the Mexican Heart Salute during the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. They also never say that they are Americans. They always boast, “We’re Mexican!”
Interestingly, one of our local disk jockeys was almost arrested for running down the bridge towards Juarez with US flags in each hand. It’s a violation of Mexican law to display a non-Mexican flag in Mexico.
Mexico passed a law a few years back that recognizes the descendants of Mexican emigrants as citizens of Mexico. So, you are right. Mexicans will always be Mexicans no matter where they live.
It’s an unfortunate situation for the US.
I’m an individual who’s “ethnic heritage” can assume to be (partially) of Mexican extraction (although Mexicans’ are a mix themselves). I’ve never identified myself as a “Mexican”, nor has my mother, nor has my grandmother, etc. We have ALWAYS been Americans. If you want to split hairs….take it all the way back. That part of my lineage is partially Spanish, French and Yaqui Indian. If you identify yourself as a Mexican, that’s fine. Good for you. I will not do that hyphen thing. I know where my ancestors came from. For over a century, my family have been Americans.
I admire your unambiguous loyalty to the country of your birth. I imagine if my lineage were ever truly investigated it would be a flotsam and jetsam of ethnicity in the manner of Bill Murray’s comments in the movie ‘Stripes’. My family has been kicked out of every reputable country on the planet. Having said this and having been raised in Arizona I will say that many Americans of Mexican descent have openly stated to me that this land is not ours legally. I have an uncle of Mexican ancestry that is a retired professor from Arizona State University and a retired Naval Lt. Commander. Despite his education and military service, He continues to insist that this is ‘their’ land, meaning of course people of Mexican ancestry. I believe this is where Mr. Hanson is slightly off. Mexicans come here because the life is better but also due to an entitlement feeling and less of this land is better than where we left. I believe the real issue is very divided loyalties. To paraphrase the song “This land is our land, this land is our land…”
“Mexico’s ruling elite is as about as racist a government as one can imagine — a Spanish heritage aristocracy glad to see its own indigenous peoples fleeing northward while charging their receptive host with racism.”
An interesting point, Professor Hanson. Perhaps it should be repeated frequently: Those who support an open border with Mexico simply enable Mexico’s racist caste, and are themselves stained, wittingly or not, by their complicity.
In 1965, I was a medical student in Boston. My wife met a young woman in the laundromat and they became friends. Her husband was doing a pediatric surgery fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital. They were from Monterrey, Mexico and I learned a lot about the aristocracy of Mexico from them. My wife did not speak Spanish and Rosa, the other lady, did not speak English, so they got along quite well in French. Rosa was befuddled by life in America and, for example, had no idea how to shop in a supermarket. She told my wife that the meat and vegetables were brought to her home in Monterrey where the cook made selections for the family. It was an interesting experience. They were really not rich or they would have brought their lifestyle with them but they were obviously of the elite, a fact immediately apparent by looking at them. They looked exactly like the people in Madrid, or New York for that matter.
I had a friend some years ago, who was a surgeon in Ensenada. He was a very good surgeon working in primitive conditions as Ensenada had very limited medical facilities. He was married to the daughter of a rich family. She and her mother ran a very exclusive shop in Ensenada, a common practice for well off families there. There was a problem, however. He was very dark complected with a lot of Indian blood. She was very fair and had been educated in a private girls’ school in California. This difference in color created many problems and eventually they divorced.
“This is how nations are lost.”
Spot on VDH.
1. As a lawyer, lay people don’t get it. The *opinion* of Judge Susan Bolton is just that: her opinion.
Legally, it is really, really weak.
The state AG’s should take a page from Lambda Legal. Pick about 5 states and pass laws exactly similar to Arizona’s. Then have Holder file more lawsuits and watch 3 or 4 judges upholding the law and 2 against. Then watch the federal circuit courts split. The US Supreme Court then is really forced to accept at least one case.
2. During Prohibition I’m fairly sure the local police were enforcing federal law. How could it have been otherwise? Maybe the states all passed statutes to implement the federal constitutional amendment banning the sale of booze. The result was the same: local police enforcing federal law. There were not enough FBI and IRS agents to begin to enforce Prohibition.
Why can’t local law enforcement follow federal law and enforce it when the state law is exactly the same as federal law.
3. Why is it the duty of the USA to allow Mexicans to flee a failed country?
Maybe the Mexicans should fix their own country.
4. Ignoring the law is the most dangerous thing here. We can’t have a nation without the rule of law. Or we can’t pick which laws we like and enforce them.
You touch on an even larger issue than illegal immigration. What do we do when the judges refuse to obey the law they’re sworn to uphold?
Larry J.,
Federal Judges, even those with lifetime appointments, are subject to impeachment, for high crimes and misdemeanors, including willful dereliction of duty TO the Constitution.
Likewise, Congress can defund individual Courts from the judicial appropriations, thereby abolishing the position. Thomas Jefferson did this. The only Constitutionally created Court is the Supreme Court. All others are created by Congress and filled by the Executive with assent of the Senate.
We right memos on how to use Executive power to circumvent the law makers.
As a Lay person, I get more than you realize. Just the facts…I lived 33 yrs in Arizona, paid taxes, and raised a family.
I kept insurance on my vehicle, and health insurance for my family. All of these premiums supported the illegals who used our resources for free. When I needed help, I couldn’t get any, I am white,a disabled veteran,and 4th generation AMERICAN.
Wonderful Works, Good Doctor. Whose Wisdom has become Prophecy.
While, meanwhile, Cornhead says that “As a lawyer, lay people don’t get it.”
Which is about as meaningless as it is elitist. (“Lay people” are, after all, for at least the main part, able to maintain something akin to a command of the English Language)
And Cornhead goes on to say that during prohibition (he is) fairly sure the local police were (policing) federal law.
This while probably also failing to notice that what he calls “during prohibition” is being repeated right now.
On steroids.
I think that you left out the biggest truth of all. That this has been going on for a long time and we are now trying to CHANGE it. That, for better or worse, is the controlling factor, here. Change vs inertia. Obama is obviously not the only one trying to bring about change. Either way, it don’t come easy.
Dwight did you miss the title? VDH is speaking of “unspoken” truths – the elephants in the room, as it were. That this discussion has been going on for several generations is well-known and oft mentioned, thus off topic.
On topic, however, is a truth VDH did not touch upon today. Border sneakers enjoy the best of both worlds in many ways. Not perfect worlds, of course, but two distinct worlds that may often be manipulated to their advantage. Not being required to swear allegiance to a new country allows them to be eligible for support from consular officials, etc., assigned to their home country. A not insignificant status in some situations. It also allows them an easier way to live under the radar and maximize undeclared income. There are some in this class that have no intention of making the move northward a permanent thing. What they are doing is – in their minds – “seasonal”. It’s just that some seasons last a few years more than others.
A question to ask the illegal immigrant who demands amnesty: if granted amnesty, how will you feel a few years from now when you find that you have been replaced at work by an illegal alien who is part of a new wave of immigration and who is willing to work cheaper than you?
On a smaller scale, but extremely widespread, local authorities routinely choose not to enforce vehicular noise ordinances against loud exhaust pipes and thumping stereos. The system is corrupt, broken and needs a house-cleaning of the most stringent sort. If the law is meaningless, then congress critters have the most to lose.
Please remind me why we make these people take an oath of office. Do the words “uphold the Constitution” ring a bell with anyone?
Do the words “uphold the constitution” ring a bell with anyone?
When swamp-drainer Pelosi was asked if the new healthcare bill was constitutional, she answered “You’re kidding, right?” Then there was congressman who admitted “We make it up as we go along.” I doubt the Senate OR House ever gives the Constitution a thought when “concocting” legislation, which is why they have no problem picking & choosing the laws they want enforced.
More lies by politicians.
They don’t make anything up in any manner. They give the barest instructions to their flunkies and they don’t even know what is in the actual bills that are produce. No wonder they are not concerned about voting for bills they haven’t read.
Those along whatever border that do not speak english could very well be illegal while they could also be second or third generation immigrants that do not care to assimilate.
When I work where the language is not english I learn as much of the local language that I can in order to communicate with those that live there. When you don’t care to learn the language it’s as if you are sitting at their dinner table but don’t care to speak to them.
The main point here is and I truly feel that no one can successfully debate otherwise is that if we all speak the same language we will get along better.
Macko, the English language in its written form includes punctuation. Especially useful is the comma. There also are rules of diction and syntax, which I am sure you will want to observe as a good example to your students.
You might be undermining your own argument, Macko: I have an easier time comprehending 1-2 paragraphs in grammatical Spanish than I did comprehending yours.
And, “macko,” along with grammar and syntax, you could also try to learn the rules relating to capitalization in English.
I think it’s safe to say that if you are in an area along the border, do not speak English, and do not possess an ID card issued by some U.S. governmental agency, you are most likely an illegal alien. The only other explanation that I can come up with, is that you are a member of some seperatist, nativist group such as MEChA, and you should be given all of the privileges and respect we would extend to the Aryan Nation.
What is happening is borderline insanity. The people of Arizona and other border states may just have to resort to a sort of vigilante justice in order to protect themselves. The Feds have shown their utter disregard for their own citizens. Perhaps it’s time for Arizona to disregard the federal ruling and do whatever it takes to keep the illegals out.
Toronto Girl, I think you are exactly right. The feds are the bigger law breakers than even the illegals. If Arizona ultimately ends up losing in the higer courts I believe the Arizonans will have no other recourse but to take up arms not only against the illeagals but possibly agaist the feds to. It’s going to become a matter of survival as I see it if Arizona loses in the high court. They will have no other choice that I can see. It’s definitely a shame that we as Americans can have no more confidence in our Government at any level. But this has been coming for a long time. I spend hours trying to convince people that they have got to keep pressing thier representatives to act on thier behalf instead of crying to one another about what’s happening to our country. If enough people would do that with intensity and persistance then maybe just maybe we might start to see a turn around.
The AZ legislature is trying to form the AZ Homeland Security Force, i.e., an AZ militia, to put on our border. See SB 1132 summary at http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/48leg/1r/summary/h.sb1132_05-02-07_astransmittedtogovernor.doc.htm
I agree. I think our biggest problem is we let the govt fail us for decades. we must remember that our system of govt was never meant to take the place of personal responsibility and self defense. If the govt will not protect us, then we MUST arm ourselves and learn to defend ourselves. I support these’vigilantes’ as some would call them. Because we we have lost our basic instinct for self preservation, then all is lost.
Toronto Girl… The Vigilantes have been working the border for many years, and arrested for it by the feds. The new Arizona immigration laws, putting the State in control, will save hundreds of lives. Vigilantes have been known to shoot down groups of immigrants attempting to run for the US border, leaving their bodies for the vultures. I don’t believe that is the answer. 3-4yrs back, Arizona passed laws that made it illegal to hire, or rent homes to anyone without a green card or better. The problem was that this couldn’t be enforced by Feds, the problem is too huge. The answer is for Arizona officials to take over enforcement, and that’s what they are being sued for trying to do.
The Canadian RCMP has a totally different structure. They are empowered to enforce any and all Canadian law, including immigration.
The RCMP is a National Police Force.
In regards to #5, Profiling, has no one considered that the people who are engaged in profiling are the very people who a) labeled an entire swath of people as “racist” for simply wanting to have immigration law enforced and b) an entire group of officers as wanting to engage in racial profiling because they would have to enforce the law? Both are even more pernicious because do not Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, and others want the law enforced (as evidenced by multiple polls above 50% that support the law) and do not Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, and others work for the various law enforcement agencies?
Hypocrisy from the Left knows no bounds.
Dr. Hansen:
Another unspoken aspect of the Federal-Arizona Immigration
issue is that it is now the Federal government that is dictating to the States that they must accept a “Peculiar Institution” that is dedicated to the continuation of a system of cheap labor exploitation of a minority group who are, as before, adjudged to be non-citizens.
The fact that the Alleged Hawaiian is the chief executive of that Federal government arguing for this modern form of slavery is indeed bizarre.
How far we’ve come from 1861, eh?
“This is how nations are lost.”
Well, that’s one way of looking at it. Of equal validity would be the observation that for those who stand ready and would secede from this Federal monstrosity, this is how nations are gained.
States can refuse to take part in federal programs. States can refuse to cooperate with federal officers( after all San Francisco does) and refuse to recognize federal officers right to carry fire arms ( FBI, DEA, Air Marshals and maybe DHS). States can refuse to withhold federal income tax from state employees and refuse to send 1099′s States can refuse the federal government access to state records, drivers information, state tax records and other records.Just keep pushing Obama ,Holder and the rest of of you butt wipes. Tic, tic, tic, tic…
You are right, Forgotten Man. The best way to overcome this particular enemy of our constitutional government is through the sovereign power of the states. We are a nation of states who gave up certain, explicitly enumerated powers in order to promote the general welfare. Overreaching by the federal government is a breach of the federal contract and is grounds for the states to reassert their sovereignty. Put it to the test. Is Obama going to send the federal marshals to arrest a governor? MAKE MY DAY!
The circular logic really bites itself on the tuckus when you have people like Holder, Rev. Wright, Barry & Michelle making sure to remind us we are a “raaaaaaaaacist” nation and yet, we have all of these people ‘other than white’ who would risk life and limb to get into this ‘raaaaaaaaacist’ country.
Unfreakin’believable.
But, this ‘amnesty for illegals’ talk has nothing to do with race or victim-status or ‘helping’ the poor/downtrodden folks. This has EVERYTHING to do with a whole new, HUGE [easy access] Dem voter bloc. and the Left being the criminals they are, have no compunction about ruining this country with an unsustainable (work? WHAT work?) influx of non-English speaking, low iq immigrants for their own power. Since when have the Left ever REALLY ‘helped’ the poor? The Welfare State has RUINED the black families of America and now they are going to ‘help’ the Mexicans? RIGHT. :roll:
What ‘grievance’ color/shade are the ‘Mexicans’ today btw? If they are Caucasoid aren’t they ‘white’ with more melanin? Don’t most ‘Hispanics’ count themselves as white people? What’s up with that? This crappola confuses the heck outta me.
The Left is EVIL.
No different from what the British Labor party did in inviting Muslims (and others) to England, where they were supposed to be so grateful that they would vote Labor for the rest of their natural days.
We have yet to see the end of this scenario in England, where the Elite will be forced to pay the dhimmi jyzra tax before this century is out.
Shall we have to cede the Southwest in order to maintain a viable America?
If all these illegal aliens are only doing jobs that Americans won’t do ( for those wages!), then if they are granted American citizenship, won’t they quit their jobs because Americans won’t do them. In that case won’t we have to bring in another 10,000,000 illegal aliens to take their place and start the whole cycle all over again?
Yes, Regan signed and amnesty bill while in office. Most of those people are now on the dole so it is time for the next batch. The next phase of the invasion starts the day after amnesty.
With nearly 10% unemployment, I think that phrase “doing the jobs Americans won’t do” needs to be relegated to the dustbin of history. You’d be surprised what Americans would do–and are doing–nowadays.
I hope you are just kidding! They work for lower wages paid under the table, no taxes are collected. Most of them do NOT want to be Citizens because then they would have to pay taxes, like the rest of us that enjoy paved roads, streetlamps and public schools. What is stopping them from coming into this country legally? Do they have felonies? Can’t their relatives already in the States sponsor them?(or are they illegal too) As long as there is no paper trail of their income, once they have their US child, they get welfare and other forms of assistance, supported by taxes. All the time sending money back to Mexico, to bring more friends and family across the border.
“They work for lower wages paid under the table, no taxes are collected.”
And the argument for this would be that they *do* pay taxes. Food, gas, land (via rent)…
“Most of them do NOT want to be Citizens because then they would have to pay taxes, like the rest of us that enjoy paved roads, streetlamps and public schools.”
Oh many of them enjoy these things just fine! Including the ways many public schools bend over backward to help the *parents* have an enjoyable & easy experience with the school!
I personally do not begrudge the children of these people for receiving what they do while here. It is not their fault who they were born to. But the parents receive services at the school as well — language classes, welfare aid, GED classes — and that is upsetting.
I know the argument for that is that doing so makes life for the children better, and I understand that. Common sense. But the fact that many children are born with this job — helping Mom & Dad stay in America — is disturbing & upsetting to me. And Mexico is not the first or only country to have citizens who admittedly do this.
“What is stopping them from coming into this country legally?”
Why fix what ain’t broke? You know? It works for them so why should they change it? Or better yet, why would they *want* to change it?
The most important thing left unsaid is that the left, over a 50 year period of time, has created a situation in which “aggrieved” parties, if they are approved by the msm simply don’t have to abide by either the law, or any standards of civil behaviour. It’s a double-standard of unimaginable proportions.
See it every day. Sharpton, Jackson, La Raza, Sherrod, Rev Wright, SEIU, Acorn, Code Pink and on an on. There are no limits for these people. They already get away with slander, violence, racism, childlike demagogery, and more. What’s to make us think that murder is off the table for them?
On the other hand, of course, if a Tea Party advocate so much as hints at disapproval of a position held by a minority, that person is instantly accused of raging racism and threatened with lawsuits, if not bodily injury.
So, the left has created two systems. Nothing is off the table if you are on the left. Everything is off the table if you are on the right.
This isn’t by coincidence. The same marxist architects who disigned and built the communist in the white house; the same people who enacted a 4-decade plan to conquer the media and education system; they are the same people who have created the situation where they can do or so anything they care to do or say, no matter how outrageous, whereas we have to play over here, in a tiny sandbox with impossible rules defined by them.
I’ve just about had enough of it.
How about you?
That’s how communism works, my friend.
All of these groups you mentioned all have a common denominator. One that they never mention, but adhere to very strictly. The Humanist Manifesto 2. Everything these steaming turds stand for and advocate is spelled out in this document. Abortion to homosexuality, tacit one world government to hatred of religion, euthanasia and radical environmentalism, the whole nine yards is in there. This document is rapidly becoming the basis for laws worldwide. You can see what i mean once you read it at:
http://www.americanhumanist.org/Who_We_Are/About_Humanism/Humanist_Manifesto_II
The first thing these people attack is religious faith, incidentally.
If the president is unwilling to uphold the constitution, can he not be inpeached?
By a congress that refuses to uphold the constitution?????
Them too.
That’s what elections are for.
~~in response to Proreason, Rik, wayne duffin, MarkTheGreat, PM and Odysseus:
Victor Davis Hanson plus guys like you, with spot on reasoning, is why PJM is the first mail I open each day!
PROREASON: ..”See it every day. Sharpton, Jackson, La Raza, Sherrod, Rev Wright, SEIU, Acorn, Code Pink and on an on. There are no limits for these people. They already get away with slander, violence, racism, childlike demagogery, and more. What’s to make us think that murder is off the table for them?
On the other hand, of course, if a Tea Party advocate so much as hints at disapproval of a position held by a minority, that person is instantly accused of raging racism and threatened with lawsuits, if not bodily injury ” absolutely true!
RIK:…”That’s how communism works, my friend.”
wayne duffin:…”If the president is unwilling to uphold the constitution, can he not be inpeached?”
MarkTheGreat: …”By a congress that refuses to uphold the constitution?????”
PM:…”Them too.”
Odysseus:… “That’s what elections are for.”
How could anyone argue with that? For months, I have ended my emails with this suggestion that we flood all Members of Congress with: EITHER HE GOES — OR YOU GO
…will it make an impression? who knows.. but we have to try. God knows that bunch of parasites sure don’t want to have to work for a living… not with this job market they’ve created.
Let’s look at this logically.
Say–just for the sake of the argument–that you get the Democrat-controlled House to vote on articles of impeachment. And let’s also postulate that the Democrat-controlled Senate votes to convict. Barack H. Obama is now officially out of office.
Who takes over?
Joseph “Gaffe” Biden.
Now, do you really think that’s an improvement?
We can say many, many things relative to the shortcomings of Mr. Biden. Being one of the Anti-American Marxist cabal is not one of them.
I would be happy to have Joe warm the seat for a year or two if it meant that Obama was no longer president.
There is no possibility whatsoever that he could do more damage than Barry.
Biden resigns _first_ and
Obama ‘chooses’ a competent
centrist replacement, then
is allowed to resign rather
than be impeached.
Replacement veep has to be confirmed by the House and the Senate. See Ford, Gerald Rudolph.
Now, do you really think Pelosi and Reid are gonna let a centrist in?
And you haven’t specified why Biden would resign if he’s that close to the big office himself.
Deja vu?
Yes it would be an improvement. Stupid can cause as much havoc and smart.
Y’know, 18 months ago I would have laughed out loud in derision at the idea that Biden could be a better POTUS.
Today, I’m not so sure.
Actually, yes, I think Biden would be an improvement over the current Nincompoop-in-Chief.
I’ve often thought that, however the problem is that Pelosi would then move to VP……something that I see as VERY dangerous as well. (That is if our current Idiot in Chief were thrown out of office).
I agree, as long as President “Gaffe” isn’t allowed within 10 miles of “the button.”
Any president can be ‘peached if congress is willin’ to do the ‘peachin’.
Mr. Hanson: as much as I disagree with you, you some very valid point here…
I was born and raised in Iran. In Iran there 4 different languages spoken and countless dialects. but we all speak Farsi. the national language.
this is an english speaking country and you must speak English. period.
I was born and raised in Iran.
So thats where all the Anti-semitism comes from.
You must be a racist.
What do you disagree with in Victor’s article? Every statement he made is fact, except for the last two sentences. Do you disagree that these are revolutionary times? Do you disagree with “This is how nations are lost?” These are opinion, but supported by fact.
Sorry I got a bit long. I’m interested in your opinion, though, being from someplace other than the US.
Tighten your seatbelt, Kathy L. Miriam’s reply may cause massive acceleration of internal parts and cavities…
Well, this isn’t really about the law except as a foil to hide the executive branches policy. As Andy McCarthy explains over at NRO, the issue here isn’t a conflict in laws between state and federal or preemption, which only deals with conflicts in the laws. The Arizona and federal laws are aligned.
It is about a conflict between the policy of the sovereign state of Arizona to enforce the law and the policy of the Executive branch of the federal government to be less aggressive, which is politics. Of course, if the administration lets this issue become politics, they lose. Fortunately, they found an acrobatic federal judge to perform the twists, turns and improbably leaps they needed.
November nears.
Yes, November nears, but my fear is that in mid-October, if the polls show the Dems losing control of the Congress and Senate, then there will be no election. A contrived widespread virus, a contrived power outage, a contrived terror attack or even the threat of one, or any one of many other theatrical events could allow the Prez to just say, “Americans are a fair people and since our families and friends in ……( you name the state)…..cannot vote because of …….(you name the contrived event)…….then it JUST ISN’T FAIR for the rest of us to vote. So, after great thought and legal study I have written an EXECUTIVE ORDER allowing the current Congress and Senate to remain in place until 2012.” And there isn’t an elected official anyplace with cahones large enough to complain……unless it is Gov. Brewer.
Oddly enough, of late, whenever the opposing side (Demon-rat or Re-pooplican) has throw the bastards out mentality close to an election, someone will drag this tired old ‘tyrant card’: The powers that be will orchestrate a crisis and suspend the elections. C’mon people. This is America, not a Third World craphole (yet). More like the side in power will resort to a twisting of the laws to their favor.
Dear ‘Constitutionalist’,
You say, “This is America…”
You are either painfully naive or you just aren’t paying attention.
News flash! – We are in no way functioning as ‘America’. ‘We’ aren’t even a vague shadow of that once glorious nation.
The powers that be don’t even bother to pretend any longer.
Many people mention ‘November’. Truly, it is do or die.
Dear “Constitutionalist”,
You say “This is America…”. – Really. REALLY?
Not showing up on my radar lately.
I saw a similar scenarios posted in politicial newsgroups around 2006 by apparent Democrats (or at least Republican-haters). They predicted that G. W. Bush would stage some kind of incident so that he would have an excuse to postpone the election and even declare himself President For Life.
At the time, it struck me as sheer hysteria. I don’t see that it is any more likely now.
That’s not based on any particularly high opinions of the ethics of politicians, believe me! It’s more a matter of the checks and balances built in to the system. I’m not aware of any provisions anywhere in the Constitution or US Law allowing elections to be postponed for any reason so wouldn’t any such effort have to pass not only the Congress but court challenges as well? And, even if all of those hurdles were passed, wouldn’t the military somehow ensure that elections went ahead as scheduled?
They had already conceived such a ploy; and, thinking it brilliant were concerned the Republicans would steal their thunder.
sawdust, no doubt, the ‘progressives’ would like to dispense with the election process all together. The little people can’t be trusted to vote ‘correctly’. However, the growing and underreported story is this: the ‘little’ people are extremely pissed off and it gets more intense with each passing day of the Obama marxist regime. If our man-child prez decides to cancel the election, there will be massive civil unrest, perhaps a second civil war. Our saving grace may well be that not only is the obama regime the most corrupt and unethical in history, but also the most inept. Liberals have no concept of unintended consequences, but they may be headed for a ‘teachable moment’
Or the Bamster decides to bomb the Iranian nukes the last week in October. The MSM will go all patriotic and wave the flag…”We must support our troops and our President in time of war”. That could twist the mid-terms back towards the dem’s.
Sawdust,
as mentioned below by another responder, your hysterical and paranoid statement about the government doing something to cancel elections is exactly what hysterical and paranoid leftists predicted would happen under Bush 43. Didn’t happen then and won’t happen now. It is silliness like this that makes us look childish. Stop it because you are embarrasing yourself.
We are in revolutionary times when the law is a malleable thing, its validity predicated only on its perceived social utility at any given moment.
Indeed, VDH, indeed.
Nothing says anarchy quite like a ruling elite that decides on its whim whether to prosecute the laws as written. And then, only to protect some of the people that it favors.
It seems that when enforcement of the law becomes more important as a tool to “redistribute unfairness”, we have lost our way.
Our justice department suffers from the same delusion, that somehow…if life was unfair in the past, then some unfairness must befall the “beneficiaries”…for whom life was not unfair enough.
Race and class warfare by Marxists is nothing new. What is new, is that the devotee’s of “redistribution”, have grabbed the hammer with both hands.
A friend of mine said to me the other day “What the seemingly Marxist inspired Sherrod concluded was…”at first I was racist, but now I see that my prejudice was misplaced. I now hate RICH white people only”. To him it seemed it didn’t appear that she held any animus toward blacks, no matter what income level.
I don’t know that I agree, however. It seems to me that the totality of “redistribution” is simply a new set of rules of engagement. If you are in the “right” group…the laws will be enforced in your favor, the government will prosecute on your behalf and never against you and even if you are a non-citizen…you will have rights and privileges over and above those in the “wrong” group.
The “wrong” group…will not have its rights protected, it will not be given to…only taken from. It will feel the sting of unfairness, so that it understands and appreciates the “experience”.
We are in the middle of a rather vehement theater of race and class warfare.
And all the Ernie Pyle’s at the front…are going to call you a racist if you complain. They have a conspiracy hotline…where they get together to pick their target. It might be Karl Rove or Fred Barnes yesterday.
Today…it could be you.
Tomorrow, it will be the rest of us.
Good points, I wish I I could write as clearly as you do.
we have to take turns crying about how life is unfair, i prefer to defer to another group and keep working.
I am so weary of hearing Conservatives bend over backwards to explain how the Tea Parties, or Republicans, or whoever are not racist. Just give it up. I would treat the accusation with incredulity and ask for concrete examples. I would ridicule the argument on its face. Please stop feeding the pigs, they love hearing your denials.
Another in a long line of superb posts, cf.
“We are in the middle of a rather vehement theater of race and class warfare.”
True, but race and class are only feints to distract the rubes. The real action is in the day-to-day drudge work of closing down American freedoms. You don’t hear about it, because the people in the theatre-du-jour are screaming so loudly. Nothing ever comes of that, of course, other than grist for the cable and talk radio guys.
Meanwhile, the Moron does more damage by 9 am on a typical day than the border cross-talk does in a month.
This isn’t going to end well.
True, this may be how nations are lost, but it is also how new nations begin.
We are all pretty sure that liberals have positioned themselves throughout the most influential positions of our country. Is it possible to restore a balance in academia? I simply see no way this can be done.
Take apart the labyrinth of uselessness that is the federal and state governments? If one person is inconvenienced by the closure of any department, the media will rush to the person’s house and hold candlelight vigil with the victim on 24-7 broadcast until the government succumbs and pulls back. We have to ask ourselves: is it even possible to deconstruct a government once it is in place? Has a single department ever been eliminated?
The hand of the left has even corrupted the purest thing that we used to trust and rely on for our future: science. Will we ever again be able to look at a scientific conclusion with confidence without the stench of political corruption tainting the outcome?
The left has taken the most highly held values of our nation–those that reflect the greatest ascension of human society: the enlightenment; objectivity and the scientific method; self responsibility and accountability and reduced them to the status of corrupting influences that deserve nothing but derision. Even God doesn’t get a pass. Somehow they’ve managed to turn religion into evil.
The left controls most of the media. And while blogs, the Wall Street Journal, Fox News, and a radio program or two have given a glimmer of hope for an opportunity for change, we remain miles away from seeing conservative voices broadcast or written about on an equal footing.
Is there hope for the future? Regardless of the blowback in November from the Obama administration’s over enthusiasm of pressing the inevitable, the sheer weight of immigration from central and south America will ensure a bright future for liberalism within our boarders.
So do we decide to continue slouching toward Gamora, or do we take what we have left now, while we still retain the strength to negotiate an acceptable division of the country? I realize that this sounds radical but I don’t believe that it is in any way out of proportion to having to live through societal suicide–and of a society I most firmly believe is mankind’s highest attainment of thought and culture.
Yes it will be hard to do this. A new boarder will have to be drawn and people will have to be ready to relocate. But Americans are uniquely designed to do just that. As a people, we move.
Do we have the confidence in our beliefs to carry it through? I, for one, most certainly do. And I confess I would like nothing more than to see the left get exactly what they want and then be able to savor the inevitable breakdown of their world, while knowing that western civilization and all that it teaches us will survive.
Moving writing Dr. Hanson and interesting commentary by all.
Keith, I’ve lived all over the Country, and each State has a uniqueness and culture of it’s own. And most are peaceful. Hell, we still wave at passing cars here in Flyover Country. We are a unique Country, which makes us exceptional.
When Health Care got rammed, I thought “Texas will have none of that”.
Maybe Succession of the States would be a good thing. People can hold on to their Culture and Resources. I trust local representation over Federal any day.
Hear hear!
Although it seems radical, even wild, to contemplate a division or devolution of the United States, I must confess that the idea is not as outlandish as it was when neo-Confederates were bantering it about during the Clinton years.
As you say, it would be very difficult, even assuming a general agreement between progressives and constitutionalists to separate amicably. One huge problem would be how to split the debt. I wonder how that could be managed.
Equitably and in good faith. (In fact, I’d be willing to bend over backwards just to get away from these people.)
“One huge problem would be how to split the debt. I wonder how that could be managed.”
I would suggest that the NeoConfederacy would owe absolutely nothing of the United States’ debt.
Now, if the US would be so kind as to promptly and peaceably evacuate their former military facilities and other infrastructure now located on NeoConfederate soil, I’m certain that we could come to some amicable arrangement.
(We would likely have most of the oil and coal resources, after all.)
True, this may be how nations are lost, but it is also how new nations begin.
We are all pretty sure that liberals have positioned themselves throughout the most influential positions of our country. Is it possible to restore a balance in academia? I simply see no way this can be done.
Take apart the labyrinth of uselessness that is the federal and state governments? If one person is inconvenienced by the closure of any department, the media will rush to the person’s house and hold candlelight vigil with the victim on 24-7 broadcast until the government succumbs and pulls back. We have to ask ourselves: is it even possible to deconstruct a government once it is in place? Has a single department ever been eliminated?
The hand of the left has even corrupted the purest thing that we used to trust and rely on for our future: science. Will we ever again be able to look at a scientific conclusion with confidence without the stench of political corruption tainting the outcome?
The left has taken the most highly held values of our nation–those that reflect the greatest ascension of human society: the enlightenment; objectivity and the scientific method; self responsibility and accountability and reduced them to the status of corrupting influences that deserve nothing but derision. Even God doesn’t get a pass. Somehow they’ve managed to turn religion into evil.
The left controls most of the media. And while blogs, the Wall Street Journal, Fox News, and a radio program or two have given a glimmer of hope for an opportunity for change, we remain miles away from seeing conservative voices broadcast or written about on an equal footing.
Is there hope for the future? Regardless of the blowback in November from the Obama administration’s over enthusiasm of pressing the inevitable, the sheer weight of immigration from central and south America will ensure a bright future for liberalism within our boarders.
So do we decide to continue slouching toward Gamora, or do we take what we have left now, while we still retain the strength to negotiate an acceptable division of the country? I realize that this sounds radical but I don’t believe that it is in any way out of proportion to having to live through societal suicide–and of a society I most firmly believe is mankind’s highest attainment of thought and culture.
Yes it will be hard to do this. A new boarder will have to be drawn and people will have to be ready to relocate. But Americans are uniquely designed to do just that. As a people, we move.
Do we have the confidence in our beliefs to carry it through? I, for one, most certainly do, And I confess I would like nothing more than to see the left get exactly what they want and then be able to savor the inevitable breakdown of their world, while knowing that western civilization and all that it teaches us will survive.
Keith
The left controls most of the media. And while blogs, the Wall Street Journal, Fox News, and a radio program or two have given a glimmer of hope…
Yesterday, Bill O’Reilly, who was on vacation at the time, was interviewing Juan Williams, who was at the same moment guest-hosting for Bill O’Reilly on the O’Reilly Factor.
I think they were in agreement that most people who do not believe that illegal immigration is a good thing are racists and that Barack Hussein Obama can indeed walk on water. That’s about as much as I think I understood from that “Fair and Balanced” presentation.
Fox News, Mike Huckabee, reality check time.
1. Rhetorical question (I hope): Why doesn’t Obama go all in and apologize for winning the Mexican-American War?
2. This is how nations are lost.
A nation that cannot or will not secure its borders is no nation at all. For that to become obvious is just a matter of time.
At the moment we have a big economy and an unmatched military. But our decline and possible fall are not due to our strengths; they are due to our weaknesses. The damage we sustain by indulging our weaknesses will eventually erode our strengths, perhaps much sooner than expected by the ‘sophisticated’ playas who benefit from illegal immigration.
3. VDH, while I understand that a commentator on current events must use words prudently, I wish you had been more explicit about the bipartisan cultivation of illegal immigration. Still, afaic your opinion is clear to an attentive reader.
4. Ten or eleven years ago it was claimed, correctly IMO, that the USA was in a position of strength unparalleled in history. The Second American Century seemed in the cards. My question to historians is whether the speed and magnitude of American decline have been masked by the fact that the starting point ca 2000 was so high. (In writing ‘starting point’ instead of ‘apogee’, I am being more hopeful than confident.)
Sorry. My post below (35) was meant as my reply to your post, gs.
1) The perceived collapse of the USSR and the change to a truly different system in Russia were seen as a) the result of America actions; b) permanent.
I never perceived it as permanent. However, Yeltsin disappointed me.
2) Nobody foresaw the re-rise of Islam, or Islamism, or Islamic extremism, man-made disasters, etc.
IMHO the re-rise of Islam and the illegal immigration issue are, for the time being, not legitimate challenges. They are artifacts of our confusion and incompetence. Get the Saudis wondering if the Arabian Peninsula will be recolonized, and expansionist Wahabi truculence will become wondrously muted.
Of course China is a legitimate and formidable emerging competitor, but I wouldn’t worry excessively about them if the USA played the A game it discarded because of postmodernism and/or compassionate conservatism.
As far as illegal immigration goes, off the top of my head:
Find pretexts to “temporarily” close a few Mexican consulates to get their attention. Build the fence. Tell Mexico that we’ll “help” them with their side of the border if they don’t do their part.
End the idiotic Drug War.
Then and only then, let Mexicans who are here know that something can be worked out if they transfer their primary loyalty to the USA. Remember, they want to come to a strong prosperous country–but they’re wondering if we’re still a strong horse.
gs,
Your statement “end the idiotic drug war” is the smartest thing I have read here so far. If we ended the drug war, that violence that we see in Mexico (and in our inner cities) vanishes as the profit margin for wildly inflated prices of high demand goods (in this case the illegal drugs) goes away. Any casual student of history can easily see the comparisons between the effect the drug war has had on society today and the effect prohibition of alcohol had on society during the 1920′s (when Al Capone and his ilk raged throughout the U.S.). Ending the drug war is brave, ambitious, and correct. Thank you gs.
Please stop this 12,000,000 illigal alien nonsense – a number that’s been used for the last fifteen years. If 700,000 to 1m people are sneaky into the U.S. every year, and fifteen years ago there were 12m aliens, how does this number not change? To my knowledge there are at least 30m to 40m illigals in this country, and this does not include the number of babies born inside the U.S. I defy anyone to point out a single town or city in this country that does not harbor illegals – mostly mexican nationals – who have, for all practical purposes,invaded the U.S. without firing a shot.
“Americans are increasingly confused by the tone of the debate, in which self-appointed spokesmen for illegal aliens and indeed, on occasion, illegal aliens themselves seem so critical of policies embraced by 70% of the American populace of all classes and races that they so eagerly wish to join. In cases of the May Day parades, why would alien demonstrators appear so critical of the country (or at least its law) that they so desperately wish to stay in, and so fond and romantic about the country that they so desperately wish to leave?”
I don’t see where the confusion is; 70% of Americans believe in the rule of law and the other 30% are liars who do not. The 30% also believes that they can take your wealth and the end justifies the means, the other 30% have a kindred spirit with Muslims in this regard. The media in this country mostly side with the 30% these days.
The funny thing is that those who scream the loudest about how the US has no right to those territories because they were taken from Mexico in war, ignore the fact that the Mexicans took those same territories from the original inhabitants, through war. And of course, the original inhabitants took the same territories through war from those who had held them previously. The only people who didn’t acquire the territory through war were the people who first migrated over the land bridge 25000 years ago. And they are long dead.
And they can’t even get their historical facts straight.
The Spanish conquistadors took the “stolen territories”, and they were unrelated to any group that now calls itself “Mexican”, other than a few self-styled “hidalgos”.
As for the claims of a pre-existing, Aztec- based “nation” called Aztlan’ in El Norte, the Aztecs never ventured north of the Rio Grande. Because there was already a “nation” there, called Apacheria’. The Apache believed the only good non-Apache was a dead one, and that went double if they were Aztecs. The Spaniards finally conquered the Apache (after a fashion) due to having two things the Apache didn’t, namely horses and gunpowder. (The Apache, being no fools, quickly adopted both.)
The modern-day “reclaim the Stolen Territories” crowd get a F on all counts.
Not that it matters. As Orwell said, “Facts no longer matter; lies will pass into history.”
clear ether
eon
read up on the Anazazi. Chaco canyon
Not to worry: cities in the northwest are ticketing people for jaywalking with your vigorous support while aliens pour over the southwest border, sucking up resources, occupying hospital rooms, teachers and taxes. Hint to markthegreat: stop being the barstool generalist with an opinion on everything, prioritize and be a help, not a pest.
My car insurance is up and due to be renewed next week. Increasingly, here in Los Angeles, it appears to me that the only people who actually carry car insurance are the white employed drivers. I was shocked when I first arrived here at how many hit & run’s there are, but it’s just an accepted thing to do because *none* of the illegal Mexicans, Armenians, Chinese, Filippinos, nor any of the other ethnically diverse inhabitants of Los Angeles seem to carry insurance.
And no one cares. Certainly, they don’t seem to have their cars impounded if/when they are caught for going the wrong direction because they can’t read English signs, or using the same rules of the road they used to in merry old Albania.
So I’m wondering to myself more and more as the years go by why on earth am I still carrying hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of car insurance. Now, that the courts are telling cops they’re not allowed to ask for ID when they stop someone, even more I’m thinking, “so if the brown guy doesn’t have to produce ID when stopped, why do I have to?”
Why do I have to have a driver’s license, why do I have to have car insurance, and why do I have to produce proof of either one with Pablo doesn’t have to? Am I the only one left in Los Angeles who is still stupid enough to be paying my taxes and writing a check for car insurance?
So, what happens in California if an uninsured motorist – legal or undocumented – is at fault in an accident that results in property damage or injury? Who pays the property and medical claims?
I’m Canadian and I’m curious how that works.
Who pays the property and medical claims?
The victim obviously.
Of course the taxpayer has to chip in for legal costs and medical expenses for the IA.
So the victim most probably ends up paying a higher insurance premium for claiming and also sees his taxes aiding and abetting people who behaviour does not conform to the states legal requirements.
“So the victim most probably ends up paying a higher insurance premium for claiming and also sees his taxes aiding and abetting people who behaviour does not conform to the states legal requirements.”
The victim also gets to go into debt (possibly over his head) for medical fees that his insurance may not cover, as well as receive a new & high car payment to replace his now totaled car.
Basically, the good guy eats it!
As far as I can see, the uninsured driver will just drive off if his/her vehicle is at all mobile. That’s the hit & run aspect. I know the cops won’t write a ticket because it jams up the system, unless there’s something serious like a fatality involved. Then with ObamaCare, if you end up in the hospital as the result of an accident, the taxpayer will fund your recovery.
For the last ten years, hospitals in the poorer parts of town have been systematically and quickly closing down their emergency rooms, because they were losing $1 million a month (and more) providng care to uninsured patients. “Uninsured” means both medical insurance *and* car insurance.
I’m not sure where perforated gang-bangers and squished dope pushers on the freeway end up now if they require hospitalization. Maybe the hope is that they’ll die enroute to the neartest emergency room an hour and a half away, and save everyone the trouble and expense of reviving them.
Ma’am, black, asian and a good many hispanic drivers carry insurance in los angeles. Your comments might be better directed to Mayor Villiagrosa and your city council, as opposed to pouring out a racial diatribe here. And drivers without insurance seems to have their cars impounded, as one of my kids discovered last week when the driver without insurance or a license was left on the curb. The problem is not racial: its one country that encourages its people to violate our laws and cross our border, and with our government that treats foreign nationals as more important than its citizens.
Silly person — you *do* know that the new Godwin’s Law states that the first person to hurl the lame accusation of “racism” has automatically lost the argument … don’t you?
I’ve seen your prior posts and they are almost entirely racial in tone. Nor am I the first person to flag that in a reply. I repeat that the problem is not racial, its a nation on our border aiding and abetting the violation of our immigration laws. The arguments you tendentiously make–replete with racial categories — divide good people that ought to be united. People like you make it harder for Hispanic citizens to stand with us against illegals. And no, you don’t get away as easily as calling me “silly” [oh that'll teach me and win the argument]. Want to do somehting useful? Complain to your congressman or congresswoman and demand enforcement of the immigration laws as they apply to employers. Complain to the mayor. And leave racial remarks out of it.
Excellent point Mr Smith.
nahncee,
seriously, leave your racist generalizations and misconceptions out of adult conversations like this one. your mindset went out decades ago. just because you got called out on your obvious racism does not make it godwin’s law. write like a racist punk, and you deserve to get called out on it. count on it.
I have nothing but contempt for the hypocritical and parasitic Mexican elites who are content to export their excess population north and thus defer dealing in any substantive way with the economic, social and political problems in Mexico. Remittances from el norte bolster the Mexican economy. And to add insult to injury these same Mexican elite have the audacity to pillory Arizona for wanting to enforce immigration laws that by Mexican standards in dealing with illegal immigrants are a model of restraint. Do the Mexicans intend to reclaim the land they accuse the US of having stolen? To what end? To convert it back to squalor? The labyrinth that Octavio Paz invoked to describe Mexico has become a carnival, and a shabby one at that.
VDH:
“Why the Sense of Exemption?”
Desperation often convinces individuals that the law is irrelevant. Illegal immigrants believe that breaking the law is acceptable when their ‘survival’ is at stake.
This is a far different mentality from our founders, who realized that laws, especially in times of hardship, are what keep a country together. Illegal immigrants, almost by definition, are unable to comprehend this.
Something no one seems to consider in this debate is that given the option, Mexicans don’t want to live in the USA. Do you know how far away Oaxaca is to Ohio, or the difference between a Mariachi and Madonna.
If I ever lived in crushing, often violent poverty in say Compton, Ca and someone said to me “Hey there are jobs in Beverly Hills, but it’s illegal to go.” You could not stop me from hoping the first chain-link in order to buy myself a new Chevy or a good school for my daughters. It would not matter to me that the Government of Compton wanted to open a pressure valve by making it easy for me to go, or that the Government and people of Beverly Hills made it easy for me to come with open factories, and open McMansions that needed scrubbing.
Everyone says they are against illegal immigration, that they are taking jobs away from the next generation of hard working Americans, but let me ask you this, why is it that my son is the only kid on our ENTIRE block who mows our own lawn?
You are right, working man. Crushing, violent poverty. And they are the best laborers you could ever hope to get. But they come from a culture of official corruption, disrespect for law, limited education, and class resentment; and they bring that with them, too. They come here to make money and send it home, not to immigrate and assimilate any more than necessary. They are too proud as Mexicans to want to become Gringos.
Is that good for us? And we have a million a year of God knows who – fleeing criminals, drug gangs, M13, hezbollah and who else, because all those types know how easy it is to cross the border with the others. Nobody is going to look out for our interest if we don’t do it ourselves.
First generation are hard workers, many of them. Second generation, being a little more sophisticated, take a look at the concept of “racism”, and the living off of welfare / dropping out of school / having babies lifestyle, and think that looks a lot more promising that picking beans in the hot sunshine. So you end up with black / brown turf wars fighting over the spoils of drug money because there just aren’t a lot of unskilled jobs in 21st Century America that don’t require being done in the baking or freezing or soppy wet outdoors.
excellent essay.
…frustrating isn’t it VDH.
don’t think it will get better any time soon. sort of like Mad Max unfolding.
regards
Fascinating piece, comments Dr. Hanson and many posters who comment more eloquently than I’m afforded.
The Left’s reactions, actions to matters such as allowing. Wait, encouraging illegal aliens to cross or remain within our borders (This goes for the elected/appointed officials who are SWORN to uphold our laws/structure as well.. sadly) with the intention of ‘bettering’ our society is insane.
The present Republican Party is often referred to as ‘The Party of No’ by those who disagree with their actions. Well, the present Democratic Party can be known as, ‘The Party of Fiction’.
Ray Bradbury’s’ Fahrenheit 451′ has a great line whereas the ‘Captain’ speaks of the ‘necessity’ of burning books (in essence, removing all forms of expression, discussion, difference in opinion, approach, resolve, growth, bulding upon one’s knowledge etc.,) to his fledgling, Guy Montag.
‘You see, it’s… it’s no good, Montag. We’ve all got to be alike. The only way to be happy is for everyone to be made equal.’
This example is a footnote, for me, the tragic mindset Left leaning people consider the aforementioned quote to be applicable to themselves. Not the burning books of course, but many instances they, and WILL live yours.
When in reality the counterproductive result is cancer-like. California and numerous U.S. cities are going bust in their multi-generational attempt in ‘making everyone equal’. Or destroy everything in the process..
Quite a litany of truths, Dr. Hanson.
I would add one: the enablers who game the system.
With the obvious exception of the pamphlet-publishing Mexican Foreign Ministry, these folks mostly work from the inside. Lawyers and social worker types who knowledgeably advise on any matter which the illegal is likely to encounter. Watch Spanish-language TV programming in Southern California and count the number of spots by attorneys pitching unemployment or disability advice, or agencies offering help obtaining WIC, food stamps, AFDC, etc.
One memorable ‘article’ in a San Diego advocacy weekly advised ‘undocumented foreign travelers’ involved in an auto accident to abandon the vehicle and have the owner immediately report the vehicle stolen, so as to avoid responsibility, charges, possible deportation, etc.
Not exactly the stuff that builds national (or individual) character.
I think two factors are among those relevant:
1) The perceived collapse of the USSR and the change to a truly different system in Russia were seen as a) the result of America actions; b) permanent.
2) Nobody foresaw the re-rise of Islam, or Islamism, or Islamic extremism, man-made disasters, etc.
In retrospect, both assumptions about what had happened in Russia were fundamentally flawed. Gorby was probably a front man to bring about a reorganization of the oligarchy, and the change which was not in fact far-reaching could not last since it did not really happen.
The Islam stuff has been covered to death (so to speak).
Believe me, it ain’t just capitalists who enjoy cheap illegal labor. The dems here in Texas lap up every wetback they need without a question. The illegal alien is ubiquitous. A huge percentage of the in-home ‘health care’ ( read elder care-maid-nurse-cook ) workers are illegals. All the ranch and farm workers are mexican illegals. Most painters and dry wall installers the same. All the janitors. About half the restaurant kitchen staff. Hospitals. Yard care. etc etc etc.
And believe me … this is not going to change.
“A huge percentage of the in-home ‘health care’ ( read elder care-maid-nurse-cook ) workers are illegals. All the ranch and farm workers are mexican illegals. Most painters and dry wall installers the same. All the janitors. About half the restaurant kitchen staff. Hospitals. Yard care. etc etc etc.”
‘Nother Texan, here.
I have an uncle who used to make a living dry walling! And who doesn’t remember the single mom who used to be a local favorite waitress? Or being the kid who got their first job busting tables? How about the kind, old beloved school janitor? School lunch lady? All jobs illegals do now that Americans *supposedly* won’t do… yeah, right!
scot,
“wetback” is a racist and offensive term. civilized and serious people in civilized and serious conversations do not use them. like I wrote to nahncee above, that kind of racist mindset went out decades ago. be an adult.
There is no paradox regarding illegal-immigrant assimilation. Simply, they are here for the wealth, and are not loyal to America. Period.
I say we hire the illegals to do border enforcement………so they can do the job the Federal Government won’t.
Is it or isn’t it relevant that both Abe Lincoln and Ulysses Grant considered the so-called Mexican American War the very model of an unjust, aggressive land grab? Asking, that’s all.
re: 39
No! The fact that there as a war is an historical FACT. There were megalomaniacs on BOTH sides of that conflict, and neither side has totally clean hands. When has it ever been different?
But the war WAS fought; and we WON! They signed the peace treaty. Under duress? Sure, the losers in a war are ALWAYS under duress from having their asses kicked. It doesn’t change the facts!
Seal the border militarily. PERIOD! Make it illegal to hire illegals, and enforce it with punitive, repetitive fines. Deport any illegals caught immediately. Employers with a genuine need for migratory workers can apply for expedited green card workers, which will necessarily be health screened. Enforce the minimum wage laws, and, yes, costs will go up, but so will the unemployment rate of unskilled citizens go down. Perhaps some teenagers will be seen mowing lawns instead of idly playing on their ipods!
curtmilr:
Have you contacted President Obama to share your advice with him? I’m certain he would act on your suggestions immediately.
It’s certainly interesting, though not strictly relevant. Lincoln & Grant’s subsequent actions make them abysmal role models for self-determination and anti-imperialism, mantras of the “Aztlan” crowd. Also, since the CSA actually claimed the Arizona & New Mexico territories, Lincoln & Grant would later find themselves fighting for (among other things) the RETENTION of these Mexican War gains.
The Mexican War was a shabby business all around, and America’s conduct in gaining the Southwest deprives it of certain upper strata of the moral high ground in the current debate. On balance, though, we’re looking considerably better than the corrupt cynics heading up modern Mexico, and better than the cloudcuckoolanders who fight to keep the immigration pipes wide open. Small comfort, but there it is.
A final note: Mexico wouldn’t thank us if we returned the whole Southwest to them tomorrow; they haven’t the skills or political culture to keep the infrastructure they’d inherit working, and the most disaffected & restless of the masses, whom they’d been exporting to America, would once again be THEIR problem.
Sorry to change topic but this is huge:
Just in!!
Major Jewish organization totally shakes things up.
Comes out against 911 Mosque.
Mosque supporters in shock.
http://jewishdailyreport.wordpress.com/2010/07/30/major-jewish-organization-comes-out-against-911-mosque/
The illegal Mexicans are less problimatic to our country than are the corrupt politicians in DC. Let the revolution begin with hanging (voting against any incumbent) our own politicians and by cutting the size of government in half.
I suspect the approval rate for Mexicans is higher than the approval rate for Congress. I personally would trust the average illegal on the street more than I would Obama, Palosi, and most others in congress.
So VDH, will you lead the revolution ?
KRC:
“So VDH, will you lead the revolution?” Thanks, another voice on my side. The beginning is the most important part of the work.
VDH in 2012. Tea Partiers, listen up.
Not a left vs right issue. It’s the cultural elite vs the rest of us. Drop back a couple blog entries. Most of us are decent people who harbor no resentment against those who wish to better themselves. By far the majority of us also have the common sense to know its the cheap labor elites who are running us into the ground because it serves their own interests, not ours. We just want to make a decent living without having to compete with illegals. And I can clean my own house, raise my own children, cook my own food and tend my own garden thank you. Check out Sen McCain. He changed his tune very quickly with the hot breath of defeat breathing down his neck. Why can’t our government even agree to stop birth tourism and a right of citizenship merely if you are born on American soil?
Americans concerned about the “anchor baby” phenomenon might want to consider imitating German citizenship law. (NOT Nazi-era laws but those of the modern, democratic Germany.) In the aftermath of World War II, with so many of its men killed or maimed in the war, (West) Germany suffered a huge shortfall in labourers and started looking outside of its borders for people to do the work that wasn’t being done. They ended up importing a lot of Turkish workers. Those workers, for the most part, ended up staying in Germany. However, they didn’t get citizenship. Now, I’m not entirely clear on exactly what rights and responsibilities they DO have – do they have to do military service? do they have full rights to social programs? – but apparently they STILL don’t have citizenship. [I understand that there have been some changes in recent years to allow SOME of these people, especially ones that have been there for more than 20 years to have a path to citizenship, but it is certainly not automatic.]
By contrast though, “ethnic Germans” apparently have the ability to claim full German citizenship with relatively little in the way of obstacles. A documentary I saw a couple of years ago showed a family of ethnic Germans from Russia arriving in Germany and claiming German citizenship. Now, you have to understand that in the 1700s, Tsar Peter the Great appealed to industrious German farmers to help open up new areas of Russia to agriculture and some substantial number of them took him up on this. Some of their descendents still live in Russia today although they have been almost completely assimilated at this point (mostly as a result of suspicion of the Germans during Stalin’s day). The family depicted in the documentary had only one person who knew any German language at all but they DID have an old family bible that listed births and deaths; they were using this as the basis of their claim for German citizenship. The documentary did not say that the family had been granted German citizenship but it certainly looked promising.
I found it very ironic that Turks who had lived in Germany for generations – and their children who had been born and raised there and never known anywhere else – were not automatically German but that distant descendents of Germans who had been almost entirely assimilated into Russia apparently qualified for “instant” citizenship. Frankly, it struck me as somewhat bizarre.
But maybe Americans need to rethink what citizenship means and who gets it. At the very least, Americans may want to scrap the idea that birth in the US confers automatic citizenship. At least one other civilized country, Germany, does not give people born on its soil automatic citizenship…..
What it all boils down to is that illegal Mexicans, if given citizenship (amnesty), can be depended upon to vote overwhelmingly for the Democratic party. That is the bottom line.
It shows the failure of the free market. The free market does not produce a sufficient number of voters who want to vote for “Progressive” policies. That is why it is necessary to import them from the Third World.
“What it all boils down to is that illegal Mexicans, if given citizenship (amnesty), can be depended upon to vote overwhelmingly for the Democratic party.”
Not necessarily. In this country – Canada – the conventional wisdom among politicians is that immigrants always vote for the party that was in power when they came to the country. Therefore, if the Liberals were in power when a particular immigrant got here, that person would vote Liberal for the rest of their life but if the Conservatives were in power, that person would vote Conservative for the rest of their life.
Now, I don’t know if that “conventional wisdom” is actually a verifiable fact or if it is just something politicians believe (or say they believe). It might be a good idea if some American researcher studies this to see if people admitted to the USA during Republican administrations vote Republican while people admitted during Democratic administrations vote Democratic.
If that all turns out to be true, maybe the Republicans can turn the situation in a favourable direction by admitting/amnestying illegals, hopefully with reasonable safeguards to prevent these new citizens from becoming an excessive drain on social support mechanisms.
It strikes me that the fear that Republicans might do so successfully and win the allegiance of these new voters might make the Democrats think VERY hard about their own eagerness to allow unfettered access of foreigners to American soil and American citizenship. In short, if every wave of Democrat-supporting new Americans can be matched or exceeded by a wave of Republican-supporting new Americans, the Democrats may decide that it is not in their interests after all to encourage illegal immigration in the first place….
Government is outside the law. Sad but true.
I am married to a legal immigrant from Europe, a well educated hard working professional, a Professor of Mathematics at our local college.
We went through the all the legal hoops and bounds to get here legally. It costs us thousands of dollars in fees and many months of time to do it the right way. Why is it okay to spit in our face and grant citizenship to anyone who breaks the law to get here through the back door?
The pro-illegal groups are killing me.
BTW, the notion that these illegals are doing jobs Americans won’t do is crap. I subscribe to a weekly lawn service that is done on a spare time basis by one of our local police officers to earn extra money for his kids education. There are plenty of Americans who want to work.
JB
You are correct. Every person that knowingly hires an illegal is stealing from a honest person. When you hire an illegal you are supporting poverty and in effect supporting the new slavery. If amnesty comes about we will have a large new group of the permanent under-class that will suck the tax system dry.
So glad you wrote this. We have a duty to defy unlawful laws. Yes. DEFY. The trouble with people on our side is that we obey court decisions. And we can be counted on to be obedient. The Civil Rights Era was about resistance and defiance. If we no longer have a government that has our welfare as the chief paramount obligation, then it is up to us to push them aside. What would be wrong with the representatives in Arizona to simply tell the Feds screw you. That people’s lives and property are being put in danger by the lawlessness of the Obama administration and the defiance of ONE STUPID FEMALE JUDGE beggars belief. If the court ordered Arizonans to turn over their houses to illegals in the interest of “fairness” would they comply? At WHAT POINT DO PEOPLE RESIST TAKING PART IN THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION? The bottom line is this: if the Arizona bordered was being invaded by white people from Europe who tended to vote conservative, Obama himself would be photo opted sitting in a tank, with the newly completed electrified wall as a backdrop. Non enforcement of this law is racial politics pure and simple. And then the left wonders why the majority of Americans despise the invaders and want them just to get the hell out. Over the past few months we have seen the riffraff that is demanding they get their way and the hell with us. Not a good public relations campaign. Illiterate, criminal, parasitical, demanding, threatening, violence prone,and on and on. Oh yeah. Go back to the cesspool you came from because America is too precious to overload with sewage.
On the one hand I feel for these folks, on the other I feel most strongly they have broken the law and violated my country. The fact it appears many of these illegal aliens do not have any remorse or sense of responsibility for breaking the law speaks volumes about their character and morals.
I say you came into this great country because you want something, you feel it owes you something? That is not how it works.In America respect for the Rule of Law counts for everything.It is time for these people to go back to their country and create a democracy or republic of their own, create something in their own vision instead of bringing their mistakes and problems with them and making these things our problems too.
Charity and generosity is a hallmark of Americans. It isn’t something that is owed or a right. You who have trespassed on my country, you want America to give you something? Earn it the old fashioned way with hard work and respect! Go back to Mexico, Guatemala, where you come from, fight for your freedom liberty and prosperity, you will earn the respect and help from America.
Another tightly-reasoned and timely article from Dr. Hanson. As usual he is highly perceptive, cogent and tough-minded……and all for nothing. I can guarantee that nobody as incisive as Dr. Hanson was making arguments in that federal courtoom.
The entire “debate” on illegal Mexican immigration (lets call a spade a spade) has entered a realm where the traditional rules of the rhetorician and logician simply don’t apply. VDH describes the “Alice in Wonderland” quality of all of this beautifully but none of it matters to our policy-makers and, in particular, the present administration.
The “pro-illegal” movement (again – call a spade a spade) will settle for nothing short of open borders and mass legalization of illegal Mexican aliens currently in the U.S. The whole process has nothing to do with the law or the mechanics of legality. It is driven by opportunism, historical grievance, faux-romanticism and and a racial hysteria that is impervious to argument. We have a huge group of nationals fleeing their homeland so they can assert their “native heritage” within what they claim is a hostile national environment. Of course it doesn’t make sense but sense has nothing to do with it.
As Churchill said in the debates on rearming to face the Nazi threat – “So they [the Government] go on in strange paradox, decided only to be undecided, resolved to be irresolute, adamant for drift, solid for fluidity, all-powerful to be impotent.” I’d say this describes our attitude toward the illegal immigration situation very well.
chambers:
“Another tightly-reasoned and timely article from Dr. Hanson. As usual he is highly perceptive, cogent and tough-minded……and all for nothing. I can guarantee that nobody as incisive as Dr. Hanson was making arguments in that federal courtoom.”
You are absolutely correct. And that’s why Dr. Hanson should select the next Solicitor General who could then make those arguments in that federaal courtroom. Then, maybe the “American People” would have some hope again. VDH in 2012.
VDH in 2012.
Much of the confusion Americans have about illegal immigration is the misnaming of what is actually taking place. The one point that stands out rather starkly in this debate is that the term ‘immigrant’ really does not apply to it. The movement of so many Mexicans north is, in fact, an act of colonization in every sense of the word.
Most of the illegals are from Mexico they tend to be very emotional about the US Southwest, as in expressing a proprietary interest in it. I know this to be the case because I have talked to them about it. It doesn’t matter to them or their advocates that Native Americans were here before the Spanish arrived.
And the hostility of Mexicans that march in the illegal pride parades, or whatever they are called, is so evident that it should be regarded as a national joke for anyone to describe this movement as solely advocating in support of immigrant ‘rights.’ The right they are really advocating for is the unlimited movement of Mexicans into the US for the eventual purpose of dispossessing Americans of their rights and of their property.
For the time being I would say that ‘immigration reform’ is good as dead. Whether Congress will ever do something to end the colonization is another matter.
LGoPs @ 38: Heh. I am so stealing that. And to the revolutionary fervor: how bout a reset button for the AMERICAN people?
I agree with everything Mr. Hanson said. I would however hit two points a little harder than he did. He spoke about cheap labor and it is more like slavery for most. Packed into trucks to maybe make it across the border in 100 degree heat to arrive here with nothing. Some live 15 to a garage. Some of the young girls are abused. They stand on the street corner auctioning themselves for minimum wages. does this sound much different from the African slave trade? Then they send money back home to Mexico to their relatives. Sometimes it gets there, sometimes not, with fees taken all along the way. It is estimated that one-third of the Mexico economy is money sent home from the U.S. And you wonder why the President of Mexico wants them to stay here? There has to be a better way.
I do know (living in Texas) that before welfare there were illegal workers from Mexico. Men, only, came north for work. They went home in the winter to their families with the money they earned. This was humane. Maybe that is a start of an idea.
That is the biggest irony in all of this. People look to the past to interpret the future, as “those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it”, right? Whether that is true or not (as it seems you repeat the past regardless – abstracted) there exists two main attempts to make that connection, though they are very far apart in meaning:
Does the illegal-immigrant issue most resembles the African slave trade and slavery, or does it resemble more the Civil Rights era?
ione,
of course the illegal immigrant work force is different than the enslaved workforce of our slavery days. the illegals are here voluntarily while the enslaved Africans were kidnapped (often by Arab slave traders and other African tribes) and transported in brutal conditions by European slave traders and then sold by European (and later American) slave merchants/owners. These are two different things. I bet you know that and was just equating the two to be dramatic (I hope you knew that, anyway). I believe that we need to debate issues only using facts, not hysterical hyperbole. Otherwise we seem silly and unserious and uneducated.
And this is what happens when theinmates have the keys and the controls to the insane asylum.
Dear Dr. Bones,
Just for some good clean Comp. Lit. fun, sir, far removed from icky politics, let us take our very favorite Blimp in all the world at its own word. How many of the good rear-colonel’s Six Theses on the War Against the Wetbacks (®) do they [1] really [2] “dare not speak about”?
Presumably Victor D. H. B. itself must be excluded. The geistlicher Militärist fears nothin’ on G*re’s green earth, or at least must carry on in that vein in public. However, VDHB bein’ the only G.M. left in North American captivity, this is not an important exclusion statistically.
So then, ad rem!
[I] Have you ever noticed (any other) freelords and kiddiemasters of Foxcuckooland goin’ on about what Blimp calls a “sense of exemption”?
VDBH is not exactly pellucid, I fear, on what its SOE actually amounts to, but if you read this scribble the way you would read a physics textbook, sir, I think you can work things out from the illustrations and the problem set despite the unintelligebilitity of the formal statement. It certainly appears from Paragraph III that only wetbacks proper, native speakers of Indocumeñtol, the former Cathtilian or Andaloser, can qualify for the exemption. Heathen Chinee need not apply.
Now surely even fiendish lieberals and demonocrats like the Muses and you and I must admit that there is a certain refreshin’ novelty to that bologna.
The bad news is that Blimp has obviously not thought its latest little destructive creation all the way through. Thesis One is irreconcilable with Thesis Six (“There is now no law.”)
Not to keep anybody in suspense, Thesis Six is where the rear-colonelly truth-tellin’ programme breaks down worst. The one thing you can absolutely count on any randomly selected sweet puppy of Redarkenment barkin’ is ¡Currat lex! Kiddie Selfservatism just (sic) wants to see existin’ Rulalaw enforced even-handedly all across the board.
That nifty neododge must have been stale already when M. Anatole France spoofed it by pointing out that Bill Gates and M. le baron Georges du Soros are not permitted to sleep under bridges any more than Quasimodo and Lazarus are.[3] Omne tulit punctum to rule that vagrancy is OK for M. de Q. because his name happens to end in a vowel.
Now I know, Dr. Bones, that you’ll tell me that V. D. H. Blimp was once again practicin’ political Freudianity without a license, that this Wetback Exceptionalism tripe is not somethin’ kiddies an’ kiddiemasters believe themselves, only a brain disease it amuses them to diagnose in decent political grown-ups.
But that will not do: the Grand Old Militarist very plainly says “The Truths *W*E* Dare Not Speak About Illegal Immigration.” Given all that Laffin’ an’ Grief in the rear-colonel’s background, I refuse to conceive that it could sink so low as to deploy that curious form of the first-person plural pronoun that includes neither the speaker (Kiddiemaster Blimp itself) nor those addressed (the PJM kiddies).
No doubt Wally Wombschool and Cindy from Wasilla are most unlikely to have developed the Wetback Exceptionalism product for themselves, but now that Blimp has done so for them and kindly brought it to their attention, the idea that they would not ‘dare’ to holler it at poor Barry O’Bama and “the Democrat Party” every chance they get is silly. [4]
[II] Next comes “The Great Paradox,” wherein Blimp treats of a subject of undeniable importance for any neocomradologist trying to grub up the roots of militant extremist Republicanianism. However from the we-dare-not-utter-t point of view it, the GP is a bust. Kiddie selfservatives of the meanest intelligence utter it all the time, though naturally in their words rather than in Blimp’s. The junior-birdman version is tiresomely familiar, six little words, “pay taxes … play by the rules”, should be enough to remind anybody awake during the past degeneration of how the whine goes.
Wally and Cindy are appalled indeed to find that the Bad Poor are not always properly stigmatized as such, though I fail to see right off why anybody should want to speak of ‘paradox’ in this connection. “The race is not always to the swift” may be a bit of a stumper, but what is so hard to understand about qui enim habet, dabitur ei et abundabit; qui autem non habet, et quod habet auferetur ab eo, for Pete’s sake? [5]
[III] Affirmative Action. Well, of course one NEVER hears a wingnutette or wingnut take on that topic!
[IV] Or hears ’em revilin’ “A Cultural Elite” either!! ’Tis Blimp the Victor alone that possesses the sublime neocourage to bloviate thereof!!!
[V] Profilin’? Have you any idea what that would be, Dr. Bones? I can’t recall ever hearing that noun used as a neoverb myself.
[VI] And Rulalaw we have already sufficiently mentioned.
Healthy days.
___
[1]
[2]
[3] … la majestueuse égalité des lois, qui interdit au riche comme au pauvre de coucher sous les ponts, de mendier dans les rues, et de voler du pain ….
[4] They probably won’t actually, but that is because (1) they have plenty of similar factional barks and bellows and bumperstickers already, and (2), let’s face it, Master Wally and Mizz Cindy are not that fond of learnin’ anythin’ new — too much like School, that is.
You are to remember, sir, that although Blimp has been soarin’ ever lower and lower since the day it drifted into Hooverville and somehow got itself decerebrated, it is still well over the heads of Wally and Cindy. Most of the time.
Nowadays one can scarcely tell VDHB from all those nieces and nephews of G.O.P. Geniuses puttin’ in some time after college (and before attendin’ the H*rv*rd Victory School) at some Wingnut City Tank of Thought. Nevertheless, by Party-an’-AEIdeology standards, all those nice neoexurban boys and girls are an intellectual vanguard themselves.
[5] Lib. Eccl. IX:11 and Ev. Matt. XIII:12, respectively.
From a slightly less Scriptural source come the words of St. George of Orwell:
Thanks for reminding me of the left’s love affair with using obscure references, bombastic hyperbole, and self-referencial bouts of ego-stroking to obscure the profound naivete and simplemindedness that can only emanate from the dumb, unfortunate children of otherwise smart parents.
I’d *love* to see Ruben Navarrette try to answer these points. Hah!
Very good article, Mr. Hanson. Frankly, I think federal immigration policies are racist at root and based on arbitrarily set quotas. It’s an offshoot of affirmative action. For decades they have been geared to favor the poor and uneducated from the “third world” (in which I’d include Mexico, which is third-rate in terms of culture alone) and biased against Europeans seeking to flee their own oppressive governments. How many years must a Briton or a German or Italian endure to obtain citizenship here? But Mexicans? Poor babies. Let’s advance them ala Rawls’ “original position” and give them an advantage over others. Another facet of the issue is how Cubans whose parents or grandparents managed to flee communist Cuba had and do not now have problems becoming genuine Americans who speak English, appreciate the country, and are as a rule accomplished in their careers and don’t wish to be patronized by the State.
In the past an immigrant had to 1. show possible employment and/or have a sponsor. 2. had to be physically fit and healthy,3. be able to speak English and understand it. What made these elites in Washington believe that we, the greatest nation in the world should lower our requirements? Insanity is all I can come up with.
Our border with Mexico and the south west is Americas “Gaza Strip”. An Mexicans are Americas ‘Palestinians.’
The paradigm is the same. We won’t talk logically about the invasion, border control or national sovereignty. The people themselves are spiteful and resentful of the fact that we (and in the case of the middle east the Israelis) have been able to make something of true greatness in such a short period of time. While they have a much longer history, that includes dismal failure after humiliating dismal failure.
They refuse to accept the fact that conquest may mean (and did in their and the Israeli cases) a loss of territory. It was that way in their historical past and in the case of the Arabs (Palestinians) with regard to Israel. This is a type of self delusional behavior. But in the world of today, where one world government is being pushed in front and from behind the scenes Israel and the U.S. are the real pearls that must fall to global “governance” first. Mexicans and Palestinians are the tools to achieve that end.
WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM PLAGUING US RIGHT NOW AND THAT IS THE RESIDENT IN THE OVAL OFFICE HAS TO BE PUT IN HANDCUFFS, ARRESTED AND REMOVED FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. HE CANNOT BE IMPEACHED; THAT IS RESERVED FOR LEGAL HOLDERS OF OFFICE AND HE IS NOT. HE AND ALL BILLS/LAWS HE HAS SIGNED ARE TO BE ERASED FROM HISTORY AND ARE NULL AND VOID AS IF THEY NEVER EXISTED. THEN WASHINGTON HAS TO BE SWEPT CLEAN OF ALL THE CZARS.
Nancy,
I don’t want to spend any time or energy answering your paranoid conspiracy theorist birther nonsense. you wouldn’t understand or listen anyway. however, i think that even you can understand that writing in all caps does not emphasize your points in the slightest. it just seems like you are yelling at the top of your lungs much like a crazy homeless person on a big city street corner. so do yourself a favor and stop doing that.
In response to a couple early posters, I too live in Mexico, Puerto Vallarta. Daily, I witness a total disregard for the rule of law, so why do we expect illegals to have any for ours? Mexico is also much more racist, than I ever witnessed in the U.S. Blacks, Indians, and poor Hispanics are treated as servants.
As one of the few Conservatives here, I have had my car defaced, by Americans, for my anti-Obama stance, and bumper stickers. Many of the ex-pat crowd, have the ‘hate America’ attitude, some who have not lived there for years, and only know what CNN, and CNN International, spew forth. And, Canadians are by far the worst!
Funny, since many live here to escape what America was, I escaped because of what America is becoming. I will, however, move back to the first State, that secedes.
By the way, I get ‘pulled over’ often, as do most ‘gringos’ with U.S. tagged car. Usually, $20 ‘for coffee’ gets me going again. I do occasionally call my Mexican friend, who has high contacts with the police, and they ‘take care’ of bigger issues.
I’m still looking for the local office of Mexico’s ACLU.
Obama isn’t going to be satisfied until he sees America as one big slum. One in which he will be the slum lord, of course.
Why haven’t the hypocrites at the ACLU sued the federal government for not enforcing our laws ?
Why isn’t the whole Obama administration been charged with treason since they have been not keeping their oath to defend the Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic ?
Where are the voices such as Prof. Bonhoeffer and Dr. King who should be raising a chorus against this outrage? When politicians in Europe advocated these same ideas, the churches and intellectuals were in strident and vigorous opposition for twelve years. A survivor named Meyer wrote a book titled “They Thought They Were Free.” If the director of ICE does not have to obey Federal immigration law, why does any citizen have to obey the Federal tax law? Laws apply to everyone or to no one, this is not a Solomon and the baby situation. HOPE for peaceful CHANGE in November. GBUSA
Maybe the invasion of Mexico could solve all these problems-the 51 state! Think about it for awhile.
# 28 Nahncee, Reardon and Smith want a little California auto insurance education? Reardon desires to know what happens when an illegal hits your car in California?
This is what happens: The illegal leaves the scene of the accident, the white cop arrives and take the statement from you, the illegal arrives back on the scene just as the cop is about to leave, the cop interviews the illegal in Spanish (for which the cop gets paid a bonus for knowing, undoubtedly), the cop tells you the sad story that the guy is likely illegal, and “Golly gee might ‘er get deported, and after all you do have insurance and he doesn’t…” and you discover in the process that the illegal has no license, not title to the car, no insurance, no registration.
The illegal is then let go without so much as a warning or a fine for leaving the scene of an accident (a courtesy you know would not be extended to yourself), and then your auto insurance jumps from $1200 annually to $3700 annually, despite the fact that you have had neither a ticket in 28 years nor another accident in 17, and neither accident was your fault.
You are also left with a new car payment that destroys your already-tight monthly budget. By the way, you must switch insurers because being punished by a hated corporation for something for which you are not at fault makes you momentarily consider becoming a leftie, and that is not a good feeling. In addition, all of your closet leftie acquaintances have more sympathy for the illegal than they do you, which reminds you of that Dickens character of Mrs. Jellyby who lets her own chldren perish because she sends all of her money to the African Milk Fund.
At least that’s what happens in the Bay Area, Nahncee, Reardon and Smith, but then the Bay Area is populated by the descendents of Mrs. Jellyby. Perhaps the rest of California is different; then I wouldn’t know beacause I no longer have any money — or the desire — to see the rest of it, for I am sure it resembles the Tijuana I once visited years ago. Perhaps I could bankroll a new Donkey Lady and put her and her pal on YouTube and in that fashion make up my financial losses. If you can’t beat’em, join ‘em.
Prof. Hanson: Great admirer of yours, bought many of your books for my son, 2nd Class Mid. at the Naval Academy, but on this topic you let emotion carry away your reason. Here’s my response to your list. You could call it truths conservatives refuse to hear.
1. You ask “Why and how exactly do the supporters of illegal immigration justify massive disobedience of federal law?” Maybe for the same reason that people drive faster than the speed limit, in disobedience of State law. What’s really puzzling about your hypothetical regarding the Chinese is that the same people who are so offended by Mexican illegal immigration never mention Chinese illegal immigration.
2. The Great Paradox. If you can explain to me why we celebrate St. Patrick’s day, and why people whose ancestors moved here more than a hundred years ago still refer to themselves as Irish, and still send money back to Ireland to fund illegal terrorist activities, then I will resolve your paradox. I agree that Mexicans should detest the Mexican government, but then I think American’s shouldn’t have voted for Obama, but there you are.
3. The distortions of affirmative action. I don’t understand how in Imperial County, a few hundred miles to your south, a county who’s population is 85% hispanic, how only two out of five Supervisors are hispanic and until this last election that number had been four out of five. If you can explain that improbability to me I will explain to you why some people think there is ongoing discrimination against hispanics, not just historical, discrimination.
4. Cultural Elite. I agree pretty much with your points here, but what you fail to realize is that this is the same argument you can make about racial discrimination. It would be just as “rational” to argue that:
‘We know roughly the politics of opposition to Mexican immigration: the closed border conservatives and economic mercantilists wanted to restrict access to cheaper and more productive workers, with the ensuing economic costs born by the consumer. In contrast, conservative Republican interests favor the notion that millions of new workers will increase crime, and the consumption of social services, without increasing tax revenue to pay for those services, and also serve to dilute the historic cultural identity of the United States as a white northern european nation.’
Both your statement and mine appear to be proving something but neither does.
5. Profiling. You say ” Of course, one can profile with some reasonable certainty who is illegal and who not. Do we believe that if 1 million French-speaking Canadians were invading New England, we would then be likely to suspect an African-American English-speaking citizen pulled over for speeding as an illegal alien?”
Well are there a lot of French Speaking Canadian Americans living in New England? If there were I think your analogy might be more apt. The question conservatives refuse to answer or even deal with, I’ve asked quite a few and been studiously ignored, how do you identify a citizen of the United States? With his national ID card? With his passport? With his birth certificate? By his accent? By the color of his skin? By his ability to speak english well? If you can explain to me which of those you use to identify yourself as a citizen when you’re pulled over by the police, then we can begin our discussion of profiling.
Two photos for your very much amusement, one is a citizen and one is not, see if you can identify, i.e. profile, which is which.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4094080&id=94274618090&ref=mf
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/Mark_Steyn.jpg
Greg Marquez
Greg Marquez:
“The question conservatives refuse to answer or even deal with, I’ve asked quite a few and been studiously ignored, how do you identify a citizen of the United States?”
I’m very sorry you’ve been ignored up until now. I’m a conservative and I will try to answer question: Based on a legal need to know, if I wanted to know, or had a duty to find out, I would ask the person in question, are you a citizen of this country?
If the answer was yes, and I had reason to believe that the answer was false, and I had a legal right to pursue the matter, I would ask him or her to show some documentation to support the assertation. Everything else would fall into place.
Hope you find that helpful. Have a great day.
Post #27 To EON
It was a pleasure to read your post, because you absolutely knew your facts. I am always amazed when people think that the Aztecs ever came north of the Rio Grande. Between the Apaches and the Commanches they would have been massacred. The point is that they never came north.
Where are the unions in all of this? If they are truly champions of the “working class” they should be more upset then anyone. However, the public sector unions are bought off with excessive pay, unimaginable (to the rest of us) pension plans, ridiculously favorable work rules and – as the author points out – a whole new wave of clientele for their services. The private sector unions are going to get card check and favorable government intervention in anything that threatens their power over their various industries.
So the other elephant in the room in the immigration debate is that it exposes in yet another way, the Progressives rush to government with impunity. They realize that once they have certain constituent groups locked up, they can do whatever you want to the rest of us. They can govern badly and it doesn’t matter. They can foist all manner of bad programs and policies on us that will change our society for the worse and lower the standard of living for everyone but themselves and their favored groups. Accountability is essentially out the window.
This is why we are so frustrated. They have us trumped and they know it. If you are a professional or middle class working American who has not joined them, get ready for a hosing of a lifetime. Tell your kids to become aligned with government in their careers and hope that everything doesn’t implode before they have a chance to squirrel away enough of other people’s money.
Sorry Mike…Arizona is a ‘Right to Work State’. There are a few unions among national companies, and licensed tradesmen…
Elsewhere hours and overtime pay are determined by the employer, with very few rules.
BILL PERON, correct you are and will forever be so. The ACLU, an organization consisting of virtual communist/socialist lawyers who have a view of themselves that it is their destiny to destroy the most fundamental laws that make AMERICA, AMERICA. And the more fundamental they are the better. This organization that has become so ingrained into the legitimate legal system itself is a lot like a metastasizing cancer. It has grown, split, and grown and split apart again. An organization that should have been declared as something deadly to AMERICA and should have been stripped of its assets.
Elite here floods the country with Mexicans, elite in Europe floods Europe with Arabs and Turks. Seems the same approach.
Prof. Hanson’s arguments are based on a flawed premise; the federal immigration laws are themselves illegal. The United States Constitution gives the Congress the limited power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization. Nowhere in the Constitution is the federal government given the power to regulate immigration and the laws which Congress passed on immigration, starting with the Chinese Exclusion, have all made a uniform rule impossible.
Further, the only clause with potentially any bearing on immigration limited Congress until 1808 from prohibiting “[t]he Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit”. So now Congress can prohibit the migration or importation of persons into the thirteen original states IF NECESSARY AND PROPER FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EXPLICIT POWER. Of course, this was meant to prevent the importation of slaves, whether explicitly or through the charade of “migration”. But, even if taken at face value, the elastic clause cannot stretch far enough to grant Congress a right to limit immigration of free persons. Congress can prevent persons from being brought into this country as slaves, but it cannot prohibit the immigration of free persons, nor can it manipulate that immigration in a de facto establishment of a non-uniform rule of naturalization.
Who was it who said:
“There is a word for immigrants who come to a country and refuse to adapt to the local culture and language; the word is ‘colonists’.”
Greg Marquez,
First, best of luck and thank you to your son’s studies, serving in our military.
Comparing ‘Chinese illegal immigration’ to ‘Hispanic illegal immigration’ is a joke, right?
Statistically speaking, our Asian counterparts, albeit illegal and legal are exceeding their white counterparts in all facets of education, careers. Whereas they’ve exceeded their Hispanic counterparts far sooner.
As for comparing St. Patties Day to.. what, a Mexican Saint Day? For being a Catholic country I’m sure there are many. Which is why YOU should know the significance for another Catholic country finding pride in this holiday.
What holiday are you comparing to St. Pats for you hadn’t mentioned it.
Anywho, most Americans with Irish lineage can claim pride in their Irish ancestry for many though I’ll name but a couple reasons.
1. Ireland, up until recently had one of the most robust economies in Europe.
2. Ireland is often voted by tourists as the most friendly country in Europe.
Ireland now has MANY unemployed and have had to resort to taking jobs in the UK. I dare you to find ONE article of the illegal Irish aliens suckling on the UK largesst teet as severe as the Hispanic aliens in the U.S.
As for ‘Imperial County’ possessing the ‘majority Hispanic’ representatives for the county – you sound as if you signed off on the ‘wise Latina’ bit as well.
Why does it take someone of Hispanic heritage to ‘better understand’ Hispanic people? If this is the ‘logic’ you incorporate, you Sir are an identity politic, small minded person. Apparently lack of or greater melanin is a big deal to you on this planet of ours where most of us are ‘mutts’ nationality speaking.
As for your ‘Cultural elite’ comment and diatribe… what are you talking about?
I’m an Independent voter, thinker. The notion of ‘preserving a Northern European heritage’ as your distorted validity/explanation is ridiculous and asinine. If that’s what you see, then you don’t see me or other Americans exceptionalism. You can’t.
For America’s ‘Cultural Identity’ you so ignorantly speak of has nothing to do with our former roots. Remember, absolutely. But to improve upon our former law, rules. Possibilities. Accomplishing this by establishing a rule of law and encourage free market principles and pro-growth ideals and self persevere. Not to flee a locale and live off the work of others and in the same instant cry ‘foul’ ‘racism’ or other nonsense.
As for your ‘profiling’ jab – are you purposely being obtuse?
Let me ask you, Sir. Late at night you find yourself walking down a poorly lit street in an unsavory part of town. You see some unruly, seemingly up to no good young men on the sidewalk along your path. Do you tell these men to step aside while you cross their path? Or cross the street to avoid any possibility of confrontation?
Or let’s say you have a teenage daughter, dating age. She brings home a guy with multiple facial piercings, a nearly non-existent conversation skills and glaringly disregard for adults is touching your daughter inappropriately in your presence. She later explains to you his intentions afor her are purely ‘gentlemanly’. Do you go along with her assessment?
Next you’re going to say that we shouldn’t profile 20-40 year old Muslim males as the majority candidates for terrorist aspirations..
Lastly, show me the 11 states that border Canada ‘inflicting’ the kind of educational, financial and life threatening episodes as the FOUR states that border Mexico?
Mr. Hanson sums up the hypocrisy of racial profiling very well. AZ has great law enforcement, well trained and capable of aiding the Feds to get the job done.
This whole mass invasion is about votes for the Dems in the short term and reclaiming the southwest for Mexico.
http://www.strausnews.com/articles/2010/07/30/warwick_advertiser/news/22.txt
I am concerned about illegal immigration from Canada. But the New York government seems to have a handle on it. Maybe Arizona and the feds should get more border patrol border collies to round up those illegal aliens.
http://www.tauntongazette.com/archive/x98867375/Border-collies-chase-off-Canada-geese
It gets frustrating to see the same empty argument about how (x) person feels profiling is no big deal since they are subjected to frequent identity checks every day.
People who look and act like Victor David Hanson do not get deported.
When we as a country have decided to selectively treat groups differently, whether it be Japanese, German or Blacks it’s never really seen by history as a shining moment of American Exceptionalism. No one in Congress is actively pursuing “Operation Wetback II”
“It gets frustrating to see the same empty argument about how (x) person feels profiling is no big deal since they are subjected to frequent identity checks every day.”
Oh, but it is not an empty argument. If you are not breaking the law & do carry your proof of identity as you should, it tends to not be an issue for you when asked to show it. Why is that frustrating, because it makes sense?
“People who look and act like Victor David Hanson do not get deported.”
“Look”, not true. “Act”, I would say true. Why? Because I am assuming that people who act as he does actually do not do things requiring deportation.
“When we as a country have decided to selectively treat groups differently, whether it be Japanese, German or Blacks it’s never really seen by history as a shining moment of American Exceptionalism.”
Yes, there are many things we, America, have done have not been seen historically as “exceptional”. That does not mean that all of those things were neither necessary nor beneficial at the time.
Greg Marquez,
Congratulations on your sons studies and much appreciation, success to his future military service.
I have to disagree with a large portion of your comments though.
The “..Chinese illegal immigrants”, have these very same people made the type of poor impact as the Mexican illegal immigrant? I say ‘No’. Reason being this: The Chinese student of legal/illegal parents has far exceeded Mexican students of legal/illegal parents for generations. Not to mention these same Chinese, Japanese etc., have exceeded their white counterparts as well recently.
On a disappointing note though only goes to show the Chinese tablet, look at the Chinese mafia. it is the largest criminal enterprise on the planet. While Blacks, Mexicans/South American/Latinos are fighting for table scraps and a mere few blocks of power.. albeit temporarily, the Chinese mafia is, again sadly, a well oiled machine.
As for Americans celebrating St. Patties, I’ve a few reasons to put out there.
‘St. Patrick’ or the Scot ‘Maewyn Succat’ supposedly converted a pagan nation into a Christian nation.
Not to mention Ireland has long been known as ‘The Friendliest Country in Europe’. As well as producing great drink, music and a strong sense of ‘blue collar pride’ amongst its people.
As for sending money for ‘illegal terrorist activities’ by all means provide evidence of such. I’m not refuting your claim but only wish to see some validity to such a statement.
Besides, the U.S. Governement sends billions of dollars to Mexico to, ahem, ‘fight the Mexican cartel wars’ and a myriad of other humanitarian, peacekeeping missions throughout Mexico’s southern neighbors. Can Mexico boast of such actions?
You then lose a lot of credibility when narrowing down your summation with Imperial County possessing so few Americans of Mexican lineage as representatives until of late.
Mr. Marquez, that is pure identity politics.
Do tell, how is the 100% Mexican body Governing the Mexican people? How about the small city East of L.A. (I can’t recall the name) consisting of nearly 100% Americans of Mexican lineage on the Governing board who broke the city’s kitty so severely their city police department is going away! WHy, oh why can’t the Governing body be judged on their education, accomplishment rather than being a member of this special interest group or another? Again, identity politics, empathy is a straw man’s argument.
As for your ‘Cultural Elite’ diatribe – you couldn’t be further from fact.
The ‘opposition’ is due overwhelmingly to the majority Mexican illegal aliens stealing FAR MORE government largesse/ ‘entitlement’ prgrams and monies than they EVER contribute. FYI: That’s not conducive for sustainability.
You speak of ‘illegal Chinese immigrants’, the Chinese were persecuted far more recent than the Mexican, Hispanic classes. Yet, have shrugged off the past, surpassing the Mexican illegal and their former tormentor long ago. With not nearly as much Government coddling programs. As a matter of fact, the Chinese/Asian people are discriminated against for college entry (see berkeley for one example) and a myriad of other aspects/prospects.. because we have to give ‘all races’ a fair share. Not the most qualified, mind you but an ‘equal share’. Riiiight, that’ll improve American dominance.. yikes!
Oh, and, ‘..serve to dilute the historic cultural identity of the United States as a white northern european nation’ – WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
Why do you think Anglos left Western, Northern Europe for the USA? It wasn’t to spread the ‘historical cultural identity..’ nonsense. What a weak, twisted outlook. That’s a comment expected from a sheltered North Korean or a moronic UN ‘official’.
As for profiling, show me the ‘even keel or majority of’ 20-40 single white males who participate, encourage acts of terrorism. Oh, what’s that? Oh, they’re overwhelmingly Middle Eastern Muslim males? Hmph, ‘that’s weird’.
As for the Canadian/Mexican ‘comparison’ – provide the ‘evidence’ of the 11 states that border the Canucks whose schools, jails, entitlement programs, Canadian special interest groups and P C nonsense effecting said states? O.k., now do the same to the 4, ONLY FOUR states which border Mexico. Ohhhhh.
Profiling works, Mr. Marquez. Last example. Let’s say your son brings home a woman who’s ‘in between school, work’, possessing multiple facial piercings, the ever-so classy tramp stamp tattoo you observe below her too-tight and small belly shirt, and so on.
Hey, sure this is fine for a high school/tweener who hasn’t yet found their niche. Let’s be honest, at 23 and up – it’s nonsensical and speaks volumes. Now, would you encourage your son, who’s attending a very well respected Naval Academy, entertain such folly?
No, I’m not some stuffy Conservative who gets out of the shower to p ee. I’m an Independent married man who TRIES to use both sides of his grey matter.
Greg Marquez,
You should rethink your comment. It is nonsensical on its face. People DO get upset about Chinese illegal immigration. However, that immigration is a mote compared to the massive beam of Mexican illegal immigration.
JHM: You are one of the best examples I’ve seen for why PJM needs an “ignore” button. In its absence, your verbose, pretentious and illogical emissions are best handled by quickly scrolling past. You and the unlamented David S. are of the same foul and contemptible ilk.
The attitude that we (who can get away with it) don’t have to obey laws we don’t want to obey comes naturally from the behavior of Members of Congress and the President, especially Obama. The oaths of office are ignored. In most cases, their crimes go unpunished, they abuse the authority given to them for their personal gain, and they look upon the process as a right they have earned by being elected. Schools are weak in teaching personal responsibility and morality. This attitude used to be more invisible, but especially in the last year or so it is blatant – and sure enough, there is little downside.
Dear Professor,
What nobody’s mentioned is the analogy between the Mexicans and the Palestinians.
They both want the prosperity and wages from the land next door.
At the same time there is constant derision of the land next door.
You’ve said it a bunch of times. We hate you…give us jobs.
And there is the added hypocrisy of Mexico and PLO controlled territories rejecting outsiders yet expecting to be accepted by their neighboring states.
VDH: I have tremendous respect for you. But, please, examine that phrase “open borders libertarian”. I have been a Libertarian for 30 years and have yet to meet a Libertarian who advocates open borders. Some might advocate a guest-worker program(which I don’t), but, in my experience only the one-world Left celebrates illegal immigration.
first;as i told the bush administration,and,my political leaders,how to defeat terrrorist;”cut them off from the vine;how do children learn? from trying to continue dis-obeying,their parents? give-in to their tantrums?try buying their obedience?hell no;but trying to buy obedience,is what the clinton administration did with north korea;billions of taxpayer dollars and nuclear technology,including nuclear reactors, and madelyn albright ballroom dancing,and praising him as a greatworld leader.results today? north korea is a nuclear threat;to the world.same with radical islam,,and iran.the democrat party’s solution? americans must deny their beliefs and their rights.while building a shrine to osama bin laden,and the 9/11 hi-jackers.because the clintons, the obama’s,and the mayor bloombergs;believe that those who do evil can be bought off;especially if those who do good,or right are cut-off.liberals see all evil as victims,and all good as evil oppressers the same with illegal immigration;liberals don’t care if illegal immigrants are hard working,drug dealers, pedophiles,rapist,sex traffickers,or terrorist.they see illegals;as desperate,willing to do anything to survive,and that is whats necessary for liberals to maintain power,desperato’s,and lawless activist.liberal political/corporate/unions/religiousspecial interest,swine;who putevil over good,wrong, over right,lawlessness over rule of law cut these from the vine,and all who profit,or harbor them.that is their intent against us.to call what they are doing against america,in experience.or their just wrong;is ignorant,or cowardly.our country is being intentionally and maliciously hi-jacked by the democrat party elite.the next 4to6 years will decide america’s fate either they succeed cutting america,from the vine.or america succeeds cutting,socialist programs,lawlessness,socialjustice marxist liberation theologies.and seperatist activist collective heiarchy’s.back to one nation,one people,one language,truth,equal justice,and the american way.
Criminalize all lying and there will be no truth that we dare not to speak.
Such a simple thing. Every fibre of common sense in our bodies declares it right and just.
Logic supports it. Science is based on it. Justice is based on it.
Criminalize all lying. Just do it.
BTW. It is not a lie to admit” I don’t know or I believe”.
There is a solution!
Today’s Federal Government has grown into a massive malignant tumor which has KILLED (past tense) the nation created by our founders.
Through whatever means necessary; WE need to FIRE the entire ‘cancer’.
New day, fresh start, restart button, do over; however you’d like to term it; WE need to build anew from the ground up.
It must be done. It can be done. It may seem impossible; but, the only true impossibility here is the status quo.
Once again; all together – “In God We Trust”.
“(a) the federal government has chosen not to enforce, or cannot enforce, immigration law, evident by the continual residence of over 12 million illegal aliens, and an annual influx of some 500,000 to 750,000 more;”
That’s not actually true…they are rigorous and brutal in enforcing the law from any country except Mexico. In fact, if a US citizen were to marry a foreign national from any country, except Mexico, they will find out very soon exactly what that marriage means to the US…nothing. The US State Department assumes the marriage is fraudulent…the petitioner must prove the foreign spouse is legitimate…not the other way around.
So, just have the spouse come to Mexico and cross the border…along with the drug smugglers and terrorists and general criminals that do it every day.
God, up is down and down is up.
dilemma or solution: drivers licenses issued to illegals are expiring here and not being renewed without the appropriate documents. So now we have illegals driving without valid drivers license which means no insurance on the vehicle…
Another excellent piece by VDH!
11/2010 won’t come soon enough for me…
with an encore performance 11/2012!
The attorney in question submitted her assertion in a special article in the Canada Free Press. Her argument states in part,
“Does anyone read the U.S. Constitution these days? American lawyers don’t read it. Federal Judge Susan R. Bolton apparently has never read it. Same goes for our illustrious Attorney General Eric Holder. But this lawyer has read it and she is going to show you something in Our Constitution which is as plain as the nose on your face.
“Article III, Sec. 2, clause 2 says:
“In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction.”
In other words, the Judge in the Arizona case has absolutely no Constitutional jurisdiction over the matter upon which she ruled. As the Constitution makes abundantly clear, only the U.S. Supreme Court can issue rulings that involve a state.
This means that neither Judge Bolton nor the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, to which the case is being appealed, have any legal standing whatsoever to rule on the issue.
Thus, U.S. Attorney-General Eric Holder filed the federal government’s lawsuit against the state of Arizona in a court that has no authority to hear the case.
Illegal Aliens Demanding Amnesty Now!
Like Home Invasion Robbers Demanding Supper!
Is there even one real leader saying AMNESTY?, How about NO!
The territorial acquisitions the US made from Mexico as a result of the Mexican-American War, seldom given much thought her in teh US, have never been forgotten by the Mexicans and especially their elites. For those of you who have forgotten about this obscure little war, it started in 1846 as a result of a dispute about the southern border of Texas and resulted two years later in the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo whereby the US acquired most of what is now the southwestern part of the United States, some 525,000 square miles including California, from Mexico, for the sum of $15 million. That territory then comprised about a third of their country, though it was thinly populated. It was not a willing exchange.
Mexican- American relations can never be understood, and should not even be thought about or discussed, in the absence of this context.
I am a life long Republican and consider myself a conservative. I believe in the sanctity of marriage, limited federal government, the sanctity of life, and that wealth redistribution is economically unsound in general.
Having said that, Republicans have it wrong when it comes to immigration issues.
To answer the author briefly:
1. The U.S. policy toward immigration as been schizophrenic at best. On the one hand we have invited illegal immigrants with open arms, and on the other hand, we have feigned alarm on the other. I believe that our policies have resulted in an open invitation to illegal immigrants over the greater part of the last twenty-five years. They have constructed our roads, built our homes, cleaned our yards and homes and we have enjoyed the benefits of cheap labor. Their arrival here can be directly attributed to the “wink and a nod” approach to immigration that we have adopted de facto regardless of what the statutes have said.
2.Assimilation is an non issue. It will always occur with the second generation as his has throughout the course of American history. The paradox that I see is that we celebrate China Towns in various locations in the country, Irish holidays, little Italy etc. but when it comes to Mexicans, no way. Why the inconsistency? It becomes rapidly obvious to any immigrant that if one wants to maximize on the opportunities that the U.S. affords, the ability to use proper English is a definite advantage. The display of Mexican, Peruvian or flags of other countries is diplomatically speaking, just plain stupid and fuels the racist tendencies that permeate the U.S. We all recognize what is politically correct and we generally act in accordance with political correctness, but when immigrants act stupidly, political correctness is quickly cast aside. We have no problem when our English friends or other European friends display their flags of origin because we understand that the celebration is at once a celebration of familial roots and a show of gratitude for the welcoming arms of the U.S. When Mexican flags are displayed, it is assumed that such a showing is a thumb in the eyes of Americans when I think that there is another way to interpret the display.
3.The affirmative action argument rings hollow to any thinking Republican. It is a straw man. Republicans believe that we should all earn what we receive and that when a hand is extended, it should be based on need. Why should any other rule exist regardless of what color one is or the country of origin of a given individual? This argument is simply silly.
4.I simply do not understand the argument that there is something inherently wrong with La Raza, Italian American groups, or even the Daughters of the American revolution. Hispanic studies,etc. may hold the interest of some just as the history of the Jews is intensely for many Americans of whatever lineage. I see no causal link between stemming the flow of immigration and the need or even the desire for such programs. I am 1/4 Belgian. I have an interest in my heritage. Why should that be a problem for anyone?
5.I know nothing of the author, so I cannot speak to his experience. I live in Arizona and have had the good fortune – nay, blessing, of working with the Hispanic community in Mesa where there is a large number of immigrants (both legal and illegal) The fact is that profiling goes on all the time. American citizens of Hispanic appearance are stopped all the time. Sometimes there is a pretense of a blinker not working, but often, no excuse is given. It should be noted that SB 1070 supposedly precludes profiling. Profilng Spanish speaking dark-skinned people is reprehensible not because cops are looking for illegal immigrants, but because that net violates the constitutional rights of citizens. The author suggest that stopping someone on “reasonable grounds” should be permissible. How can one assert that color, accent, or even poverty is reasonable grounds when so many in Arizona fit that category who are citizens?
6. We ignore all kinds of laws in the U.S. How about sex between minors? Do you want your minor son in jail because he “fell in love” with his girlfriend. The author is correct that the police an prosecutors often look the other way for some crimes (note that overstaying a visa is not a crime). They have enough on their plates in many cases and need to concentrate on violent crime. That doesn’t mean that there is no law. That’s just silly.
Although many comments are in order I will focus on just one in the interest of time. The author does not understand “profiling”. He was asked for ID to be sure of his identity. The key is that ALL people would be asked for ID by that person in that situation. If they only ask for ID from white males then that is profiling. But that is exactly why its seemingly always the white males and females who scream that profiling is ok – because they are never subject to profiling. Everything seems ok when you are exempt. Secondly, there is a high proportion of Hispanic-American citizens living in areas close to the border. This would be like the police in other states stopping Caucasians frequently for ID to be sure they did not illegally immigrate from Europe. Sounds ok to most caucasians because it has never happened to them. I wonder how many, however, complain while waiting to get thru security at the airport? Oh, now you see…….
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