President Bush delivered his much-anticipated speech last night on border control and immigration reform. But did you notice the big gaping hole of omission.... big enough to drive an 18-wheeler through, or millions of illegal aliens?
Even by Bush's own admission, "More than 85 percent of the illegal immigrants we catch crossing the southern border are Mexicans." So, where was his insistence to the President of Mexico, Vicente "Your Land Is My Land" Fox, that Mexico participate as a full partner in the effort to stop his citizens from invading our county?
Believe me, Fox can seal a border when he wants to, as he does on his own southern border. Brutally. Bush could have used the mighty economic clout of the United States to show Fox the way... like placing a surtax on funds sent by wire or money order to Mexico by illegal aliens.
"Money sent back to Mexico from those working in the United States reached a record high last year [2005], $20 billion ,making remittances from migrants Mexico's second largest source of income, surpassed only by oil exports." Money not being put back into the U.S. economy...and much of it untaxed.
Other sticky details. According to the conservative Heritage organization's research on the Bush-blessed proposed Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act (CIRA S.2611), it would be the "most dramatic change in immigration law in 80 years, allowing an estimated 103 million persons to legally immigrate to the U.S. over the next 20 years..."
That's a third of our current total population!
Yet, many listening were warily hopeful about Bush's attempt to "reassure both sides with his speech." Such a feeling of desperation has descended over the country that we're looking for a sign, any sign, that we still have a government that is somehow functioning and able to look out for our best interests.
We accept less and less good governance and more and more promises. We snap at any bone of hope like the kicked electorate we've become.
Yes...it seemed his speech was heartfelt, full of feel-good lines. But when all is said and done....much was said, will anything really be done?
2 comments:
Pitiful, political platitudes were delivered last evening. Why didn't President Bush say we are closing our borders to Mexico until such time that Pres. Fox cooperates period. OR, we are going to jail and fine employers of illegal aliens. Follow the money and it leads back to Mexico and to employers who provide jobs. So what if we have to pay higher prices for food, lawn service, housekeeping, nannies, etc. We surely need some real leadership and I don't see any, from anywhere! jst
jst - I couldn't agree more.
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