United States Senate vs American Citizens

I have watched through several national elcetion cycles the Republican party gains which has resulted in them controling not only both houses of Congress but the white House as well. It never occured to me that this same majority would be so arrogant once they gained the upper hand.

Two days ago I watched the Republican controled judiciary committee which is chaired by Senator Arlen Spector completely ignore the will of the vast majority of Americans and pass an immigration reform measure that "spit" on the rule of law and granted amnesty to millions of law breakers who are living illegally in our country.

There were a couple of voices calling forth from the wilderness on the Repulican side, but the chairman rushed this piece of hubris out of his committee as if he was in complete lockstep with the will of President Vincente Fox of Mexico--not John Q citizen.

National polling data could not be more emphatic-- and has been so for decades. The American people do not want this type of legislation!

The Gallup Poll [March 27] finds 80 percent of the public wants the federal government to get tougher on illegal immigration. A Quinnipiac University Poll [March 3] finds 62 percent oppose making it easier for illegals to become citizens [72 percent in that poll don't even want illegals to be permitted to have driver's licenses]. A Time Magazine recent poll [Jan. 24-26] found 75 percent favor "major penalties" on employers of illegals-- 70 percent believe illegals increase the likelihood of terrorism and 57 percent would use military force at the Mexican-American border.

An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll [March 10-13] found 59 percent opposing a guest--worker proposal, and 71 percent would more likely vote for a congressional candidate who would tighten immigration controls. And-- an IQ Research poll [March 10] found 92 percent saying that securing the U.S. border should be a top priority of the White House and Congress.

Yet-- according to a National Journal survey of Congress-- 73 percent of Republican and 77 percent of Democratic congressmen and senators say they would support guest-worker legislation ! Is this a complete disconnect from the will of the American people or what?

The senators should remember that they are American senators, not Roman proconsuls. Nor-- is the chairman of the Judiciary Committee some latter-day Praetor Maximus.

During these past few days, we have all witnessed the "in your face" boldness of 100's of thousands of protestors waving Mexico flags and daring our elected officials to do anything about their brazen disregard for our rule of law and borders. It appears however that the senate judiciary committee got their protest message loud and clear. Who exactly are these senators representing?

What sense does it make to rob other countries of their hard working citizens and import these uneducated workers into our economy legally or illegally?

And as far as the the Senate's and the president's guest-worker proposals, The Washington Post's Robert Samuelson writes:

"Gosh, they're all bad ideas ... We'd be importing poverty. This isn't because these immigrants aren't hardworking, many are. Nor is it because they don't assimilate, many do. But they generally don't go home, assimilation is slow and the ranks of the poor are constantly replenished ... [It] is a conscious policy of creating poverty in the United States while relieving it in Mexico ... The most lunatic notion is that admitting more poor Latino workers would ease the labor market strains of retiring baby boomers ? Far from softening the social problems of an aging society, more poor immigrants might aggravate them by pitting older retirees against younger Hispanics for limited government benefits ... [Moreover], [i]t's a myth that the U.S. economy 'needs' more poor immigrants."

Since President Bush has been touting his guest worker program, millions of additional illegals have crashed our borders. Guest workers and the talked about proposals = amnesty and citizenship to anybody with an ounce of intelligence who has followed the mantra's message. Maybe the Republican led government has seen the writing on the wall and figured that they might as well push full speed ahead with this new world order of slave labor and amnesty because their days in the leadership position will probably end come November. But that idea doesn't make sense either. The Democrats have always been the ones chasing the poor immigrant community for additional voters.

Tom Tancredo in the congress seems to be one leader who has heard and understands the message Americans have been sending via comments and polls. He proposed plans that are called racist and unworkable by his fellow congressional members. He simply wants to send the law breakers home and stop others from breaking our laws. Now granted this could take some time since the President and his predecessors on a lessor degree have allowed over 11 million illegals into our country. Think of the traffic jam that would entail sending them all home at once!

Unfortunately---the dignity and humanity involved here is going unrecognized by many of the illegal immigrant supporters. How would you like to be forced to leave this country--the home of your ancestors and go elsewhere to live and work. Leave your family and culture behind because this same home countries leaders refuse to provide you and your family a decent opportunity at basic survival...the ability to earn and support your loved ones. That is exactly what is happening in Mexico and other Latin american countries. What ever happened to NAFTA and its plan to improve Mexico's standard of living?

Yodi and I have been scratching our heads for months over this issue. We live in a country whose leadership has dropped the ball on this issue and so many others. All we can do is pray and cross our fingers that our own elected representatives get the wax out of their ears and listen to the voters--not their own elitist egos.

Come on Yodi....we have a few more e-mails to send out to even more congressional representatives. Since Congressman Kolbe, Senator's Kyle and Mccain won't return any phone messages, answer our repeated letters and e-mails. Maybe we can talk Rep. Tancredo into moving to Tucson. At least his office responded to our e-mail.