So, about President Bush's new immigration policy?

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2004-01-10 12:29am

What do you think about President Bush's new immigration policy? If you aren't familiar, here is a link on the issue, covering Bush's speech and reactions from people.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/01/ ... index.html

Post by **Vympel** » 2004-01-10 12:38am

Sounds like a good idea to me, probable motivations aside.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-01-10 12:47am

I'm still undecided on this.

Bush is probably trying to snatch a larger chunk of the Hispanic vote with this. Expect to see a split in both parties over this issue; business conservatives will support it, law-and-order conservatives will oppose it, and there will be little party unity on this issue among the Dems also.

Hamel · Post by **Hamel** » 2004-01-10 12:53am

Sounds like Bush threw yet another bone to big business. If he truly opposed illegal immigration he'd make a real effort to tighten the borders.

He's doing this to artificially drive down the price of labor.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-01-10 12:57am

Hamel wrote:Sounds like Bush threw yet another bone to big business. If he truly opposed illegal immigration he'd make a real effort to tighten the borders.

He's doing this to artificially drive down the price of labor.

Actually, giving migrant workers increased legal protection would likely make them more capable of earning higher wages.

Hamel · Post by **Hamel** » 2004-01-10 01:09am

Joe wrote:
Hamel wrote:Sounds like Bush threw yet another bone to big business. If he truly opposed illegal immigration he'd make a real effort to tighten the borders.

He's doing this to artificially drive down the price of labor.
Actually, giving migrant workers increased legal protection would likely make them more capable of earning higher wages.

Though it still leaves the issue of Americans and legals getting fucked out of jobs, it's an improvement from under-the-table bullshit businesses love.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-01-10 01:19am

Though it still leaves the issue of Americans and legals getting fucked out of jobs, it's an improvement from under-the-table bullshit businesses love.

There's still job creation. Immigrants create an increased demand for goods and services, i.e., more jobs for all.

The most revolting thing about this, however, is that Bush is also proposing allowing formerly illegal immigrants to return to their home countries and still collect Social Security benefits. That's right; to all you folks who were born in this country and have obeyed the laws of this country your whole life, well, we can't guarantee you'll be getting squat. But to illegal immigrants not born here who broke the law coming here and broke the law again by seeking employment? No problem!

We're rewarding people for breaking the law; I just can't get excited about this. I'm all for copious amounts of legal immigration to drive down wages, but not this shit.

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-01-10 01:31am

I prefer to wait and see if he does anything for my country. FYI I come from one of those countries blacklisted as sponsors of terrorism and seekers of WMD. This puts me at a lot of disadvantage when applying for college education in the US. Currently the list stands at 26 nations but I heard Bush is thinking of reviewing it and removing four countries from the list.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-01-10 01:33am

There's also the homeland security issue to consider; making our borders even more porous than they already are is not a good idea when there are plenty of kill-crazy Islamists who'd love nothing more than to come here and blow up Americans.

Marcao · Post by **Marcao** » 2004-01-10 04:02am

Personally, I think its an election year ploy to get the hispanic vote which as far as I know (I am hispanic) has generally been fairly Democratic (at least here in NYC). The three year expiration date business is not terribly enticing for some people that have been in the underground economy for over 10 years and so. The whole social security aspect irritates me as well. *shrugs*

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2004-01-10 09:00am

Stupid motherfucker. All dean has to do is start pratting on this sort of like

"George Bush wants to let illegal immigrants into the US without any
consequences whatsoever."

And he'll wipe out about 10% of Bush's lead, I'm annoyed with Bush over
this fucknutted move.,

theski · Post by **theski** » 2004-01-10 09:27am

The INS can't even decide if its 8or 12 million Illegal or not. 4 million is a big spread.....and yes I called them "ILLEGALS" not "Guest workers"

and they will never be sent back after the work period is up... This is a bad idea and just more pandering.

Glocksman · Post by **Glocksman** » 2004-01-10 10:33am

theski wrote:The INS can't even decide if its 8or 12 million Illegal or not. 4 million is a big spread.....and yes I called them "ILLEGALS" not "Guest workers"

and they will never be sent back after the work period is up... This is a bad idea and just more pandering.

Indeed.

GWB seems to be bound and determined to piss off a lot of his grassroots support in order to pander to the Hispanics and the Soccer Moms.

Screw Him.
This alienated ex-Republican is voting for Dean in 2004.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-01-10 01:24pm

Regardless if I agree with the word of it, I am happy with it for anothe reason: it brings the issue to light and forefront with a Prez election next year.

I want this to be a center-stage, key issue. Enormous levels of reform are needed.

EmperorChrostas the Cruel · Post by **EmperorChrostas the Cruel** » 2004-01-10 01:50pm

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/editorial/2345396

Said far better than I ever could.
We gave up a long time ago.

KrauserKrauser · Post by **KrauserKrauser** » 2004-01-11 01:41am

What other alternative is there?

I know that they are illegal but the sad fact is that they are an integral part in the US economy and there are millions of them. At least he has the balls to make some kind of official decision on the matter. The only other alternative was to deport them and if you do that the political fallout would be loads worse with having to find and deport in excess of 4 million illegal immigrants. Something like this had to be done.

What needs to be done now is a drastic increase in the security of the borders or millions upon millions more will come into the country.

Oh and as to the Social Securit thing, that is simply fucked up, but if he takes it out the libs will cry that he is denying the immigrants their hard earned social security money. Don't lie, you know you will.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2004-01-11 04:37am

While I understand his reasoning, I also think that the efforts should be spent in making it easier to acquire green cards, rather than making it easier to obtain SOME legal benefits for being an illegal alien. Someone with a green card would be much better off, and have the considerable benefit of being in the US legally.

StarDestroyer.Net BBS

So, about President Bush's new immigration policy?

So, about President Bush's new immigration policy?

Heh