Capitol Hill Blue Forums Life and Moral Issues Crime & Punishment Illegal Immigration and Appropriate Penalties

It's a matter of moral values Schlacky. It's a matter of moral values .

i think youre doing it again Rick

commercial break in 5.4.3.2.1.

Rick, your country has "cheated" these people of a way of making a living in their own country.
I understand what you're saying and in philosophy I agree with you. I don't like it when folks cheat the system either....particularly people who cheat on their taxes and then whine about others being a drain.

I think what some of the rest of us are trying to say, is we 'owe' them.

Instead of all the hatred, we need to think of a way to help them. Afterall we did 'claim' this whole hemisphere all those years ago. Don't you think we could be better stewards?

I don't know about "owing" anyone anything, I certainly don't think we do. First, I have difficulty hearing pious insistence on obeying the law (that is not aimed at you, rick) from those who routinely break any law to their advantage.

And beyond that, the law has increasingly been shaped to give advantage to those who already have advantage, wealth to those with abundance. Our laws regarding immigration have been carefully designed to preserve the advantage for a few investors who profit from the illegal status of immigrants. It is just one part of a comprehensive system of keeping those without weak and requiring them to take great risks just to survive.

This system is global and pernicious. I just cannot get at all excitied by undocumented workers when we allow 535 thiefs in Congress to walk away with riches while permitting the plunder of the world.

of all the problems we face today, undocumented workers is in fact maybe number 500 at best.

In what way has the United States cheated people making a livable wage in their own country?

We are good stewards, we have an immigration program that allows those who want an American life to do so.

Oh rick, cmon man, think for a bit. United fruit. General electric, General Motors, etc etc -- the government/corporate juggernaut is raping the world and has for over a century

But, see, that's why there is a thread on whether or not immigration is a factor in the politicians low poll numbers. Seventy-seven percent of Americans feel that immigration is an issue.

Is it not a slippery-slope argument that there is so much law breaking going on, might as well let this one pass as well?

Everyday, we hear people going to jail, or some sort of sanction being applied because they've broken the law - therefore, law scofflaws aren't getting away with their shenanigans.

Every since the Monroe Doctrine we have pretty much 'had our way' with our neighbors south of us....intervening in many different ways.
There are many books on the subject.

...and I am supposed to know this how? None of this was ever taught in primary school, or college - at least the classes I took.

Remember, I'm not a child of the sixties - I'm simply a product of the '60s.

I agree.