Thursday, June 28, 2007

Goodbye Amnesty, Hello Enforcement!

Reminiscent of the Boston Tea Party, the American People today achieved a victory against the elite power structure that is Washington, D.C.!

Although media personalities are doing their best to marginalize what happened today, the defeat of the Bush-McCain-Kennedy-Big Business amnesty bill symbolized that the People can defeat
special interests if the People push hard enough. So many Americans called Capitol Hill to demand the bill's failure, that the Capitol Hill switchboard was literally fried! For most of the day, all phone lines were down. But, of course, Lou Dobbs was the only person in television media to report this fact.

There is really no reason this bill should have failed considering the millions of dollars and thousands of hours committed by Big Business, Big Religion, Big Ethnic Interest, Bid Media, the White House, the entire Democratic Party, half the Republican party, the RNC, the DNC, and dozens of foreign governments (Ireland and Mexico have been very active), etc, etc...

But the will and determination of the People have overcome the big money and strong-arm tactics. It's truly impressive and something we're not going to see for awhile. Congress understands very well that the voters are furious and want to see enforcement, not amnesty.

So what is the next step?

It should be clear to anyone following the immigration debate that Americans want enforcement -- along the border and in the workplace. And if you believe everything the proponents of this amnesty bill have said, there is no disagreement on the need for enforcement.

So, it's time to call their bluff.

It's time to tell Bush that amnesty has failed (for the third time) and that we MUST now move forward with enforcement.

This White House has based its entire existence on national security. If there really are millions of evil-doers around the globe who want to kill us all, it would probably -- just maybe, maybe -- make sense that we secure our borders and make sure that people are entering only through legal ports of entry.

It just might make sense that we require all businesses to sign up for the long-existing DHS Basic Pilot Program so that they can verify exactly WHOM they are hiring. Remember, prior to receiving illegal alien amnesty in 1986, the '93 WTC bombers were illegal aliens working illegally as NYC taxi cab drivers. The non-enforcement of workplace laws allowed them to make a living; the amnesty allowed them to travel to and from the Middle East to gain terrorist training.

It's not that difficult to understand how non-enforcement of immigration laws harms national security. Not to mention the negative impact on American workers, the Middle Class, and the poor.

So, Mr. President: If we all agree that enforcement of immigration laws is critical, and since the amnesty is history, will you now begin enforcing the laws on the books?

Stay tuned.
"No amnesty? Aye caramba!"

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

White House: "Give us amnesty, or else!"

It should be obvious to most that the White House's push for "comprehensive immigration reform" is driven by Big Business' demand for cheap labor. That's really all the White House wants. If the current amnesty bill were to be amended in a way that it included ONLY border enforcement and employer sanction measures -- two elements of "comprehensive reform" that President Bush claims he supports -- you would hear the White House immediately claim the bill to be a failure.

The White House is only pushing the amnesty portion of the bill.

If Bush wanted more enforcement, he could have been working for more enforcement for years through basic enforcement of laws already on the books. There are employer sanctions for hiring illegal aliens. There is a worker verification program that could be made mandatory with a presidential decree. And look at the border fence bill Bush begrudgingly signed nearly a year ago. Of the 800+ miles of double-fencing mandated, about a dozen miles have been constructed.

If Bush really was concerned about security and ending illegal immigration, one would assume that he'd be working overtime to make sure the fence was constructed.

But the White House has put all political capital and energy in pushing for the legalization of 12-15 million illegal aliens. Bush is constantly giving speeches, the White House website has been converted into "amnesty headquarters," and numerous White House officials have been twisting the arms of Senators in order to get the amnesty.

Every time Bush talks about "security" or "enforcement" it is ALWAYS in an effort to advance amnesty. As Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies puts it, Bush's political posturing can best be described as, "a spoonful of enforcement helps the amnesty go down."

And now, the White House is threatening more lawlessness if the People don't give in to their demands of mass amnesty.

Here's what Joel Kaplan, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy said during a pro-amnesty press event just yesterday:

"...without immigration reform they're not going to get the tough new border security and work site enforcement measures that we need to get control of the border."

In other words, if there is no amnesty, the White House will make no effort at border security and work site enforcement.

When a White House that has built its credentials on national security threatens the People with non-enforcement of laws and decreased security, one must question the President's entire commitment to national security. Heck, six years after 9/11 our borders remain wide open -- that should be enough for one to question the White House's sincerity. How can the President claim that there are millions of "evil-doers" around the globe seeking our destruction, and at the same time be content with porous borders? The answer: Big Business wins out over security with this White House.

This amnesty bill is allowing the People to see our elected leadership's true colors. Money, not logic or the will of the People, is currently dictating policy.

How dare the White House threaten to abdicate its responsibility of national security! If Bush cannot do his job without capitulating to Big Business, then he must resign.

"Give in to my demands!"

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Illegal Immigration = Modern Slavery

It is shocking how many parallels one can draw between advocates of illegal immigration and advocates of slavery 150 years ago.

Today's quote comes from illegal immigration supporter Thomas Saenz, counsel to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Here's the issue: The latest version of the Bush-McCain-Kennedy illegal alien amnesty may include an amendment that would prevent cities from requiring private businesses (read, Home Depot) to build day laborer (read, illegal alien) hiring centers on their privately-owned land.

Cities like Los Angeles, which have been forcing private businesses to help with the hiring of illegal aliens, are unhappy with the proposal. They want to make sure that the illegal hiring of illegal aliens continues.

Here's what Saenz had to say: "This is quintessentially a local decision. There is no reason for the federal government to intervene."

Sound familiar?

State and local officials made the same argument about slavery decades ago. They argued that states should be able to decide for themselves whether slavery should continue; the feds should play no role.

Of course, we all know the outcome of that debate. But today, we have new advocates for cheap labor, big profits, and exploitation making the same arguments once again.

And now, cities are forcing businesses to comply with aiding and abetting illegal activity as a prerequisite of opening up shop. Companies like Home Depot must either build a hiring center on their premises or find some other way to assist employers in illegally hiring illegal aliens.

And I know personally that Home Depot execs are not happy. They've spoken with the U.S. House Judiciary Committee in an effort to figure out what legal alternatives they have. They don't want to play a role in illegal activity, but they do want to open businesses in these pro-illegal immigration cities.

Villaraigosa wrote a letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) on this issue:

"We understand some companies may have expressed a concern to you about their financial liability. They might do well to consider their potential liability from injuries or accidents that could occur in their parking lots and driveways should a federal preemption leave it so workers would simply move in and around cars and customers to match up with those seeking their labor."

In other words, "if these businesses don't help employers break federal law, we'll make sure they get sued."

It is sad to see people who claim to be civil rights leaders work to undermine the rule of law in favor of exploitation.

"Los Angeles: Sun, sand, and slaves!"

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Senator Boxer Halfway There

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) is coming close to understanding how illegal immigration destroys the livelihood of American workers and the Middle Class, generally.

But as a press release available on her website clearly indicates, she's still thoroughly confused.

She is correct in noting that a guestworker program would "lead to the exploitation of workers" and that it would "exert downward pressure on wages at a time when we are already losing our middle class." This is precisely why Big Business has been pushing for this bill for years -- bigger profits.

But the Senator immediately contradicts herself when she says, "There are concepts in the bill I strongly support -- a path to legalization for the 12 million undocumented immigrants..."

So here's the simple question: Why would a legalization policy have a different impact on wages than a guestworker policy?

The simple answer: It wouldn't. Both guestworker programs and amnesty programs "exert downward pressure on wages." It's Economics 101: When you increase the supply of cheap labor (which both policies do), the result is a decrease in wages.

Repeated calls to the Senator's offices indicate that her staffers rightfully don't even want to attempt to explain her illogical statements. I've sent a letter and will post any clarification of the Senator's position.

For More Information:

Increasing the Supply of Labor Through Immigration:
Measuring the Impact on Native-born Workers
By Dr. George J. Borjas
http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/back504.html

"I really have no idea what I'm talking about!"

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Senator Feinstein = President Bush

In yet another example of how power and money transcends partisan politics, California Senator Diane Feinstein recently responded to an e-mail I had sent her regarding President Bush's illegal alien amnesty. The fact is, the President could enforce existing immigration laws anytime he wants. He's chosen against enforcing them altogether. Just like his father, I might add.

One would think that an opposing political party would take the White House to task for failing to uphold the rule of law. Especially when the failure to enforce the law has a negative impact on America's working poor and middle class. But we're talking about immigration law.

The failure to enforce borders and employer sanctions means an increase in poor laborers. An increase in poor laborers means lower wages; it basic economics. Lower wages means a greater profit margin. More profit makes the wealthy elites happy, regardless of whether they have an (R) or a (D) after their name.

And because Bush and Feinstein are both multimillionaires, they find companionship in pushing an amnesty bill that will perpetuate high profits at the expense of the taxpayer and Middle Class.

Compare these statements:

"The bill provides a path to legalization for the undocumented people now living in the U.S. It is not amnesty."

-- Senator Diane Feinstein (D-California); letter to constituents on Bush amnesty bill


"
With this bill, it is not amnesty."

-- President George W. Bush (R); speech pushing amnesty bill on June 1, 2007, available, here.


The pair doth protest too much, methinks. An amnesty by any other name smells just as sour.

Unfortunately, the elites have joined forces against the Middle Class. It is more evidence that we will return to the days of kings and paupers if we don't protest more.

But the second statement in Sen. Feinstein's letter is even more shocking:

"
I believe this bill helps restore the rule of law."

Really? So not enforcing laws on the books, giving illegal aliens and their employers a pass by not holding them accountable, and erasing 20+ years of immigration law will "restore the rule of law"?

It is one of the most preposterous statements I've heard from a policymaker in a long time.

The only thing that helps restore the rule of law is enforcement of the rule of law. The White House, the entire Democratic Party, and a group of neo-conservative policymakers have been working to destroy the rule of law for years. It's time we demand our laws be enforced.

"I said, it's not an amnesty!"

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Idiot or Liar?

White House spokesman Tony Snow said just moments ago on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews that we need the Bush-Kennedy-McCain amnesty bill because it will give employers a way to verify the legal status of potential employees.

Matthews, a former government employee himself, asked Snow how an employer currently can verify employment eligibility status.

Snow said it was "virtually impossible" for employers to verify legal status due to a growing flood of false documents entering the black market.

But Snow missed a crucial fact that makes him either an Idiot or a Liar:

The DHS Basic Pilot Program, which provides verification of worker eligibility, has been in existence for over over 10 years! Employers simply enter the potential employee's name and social security number into a database. Within a short amount of time, the program lets the employer know whether the name and number match up. If not, then there's a strong likelihood that the id is fake.

There's only one problem: the program is not mandatory.

With one swift stroke of the pen, President Bush could require all businesses to sign up for the program through an executive order. Illegal hirings and false document rings would come to an end. For national security reasons alone this would be a good idea.

So is Snow an idiot, simply not knowing of the program's existence? Or is he a liar, pushing the amnesty bill on behalf of Big Business with the false claim that it is the only way to make sure illegal aliens are not being hired?

For more information on the program, see:

Preventing Illegal Employment:
Federal "Basic Pilot" Program is an
Effective and Business-Friendly Tool

http://www.cis.org/articles/2007/jmvtestimony013107.html

"Look into my lies... I mean, eyes!"

Goodbye Middle Class

More evidence that the political parties could care less about the Middle Class and working poor was the firing of RNC fund raisers from the telecommunications department two weeks ago. The fund raisers are paid about $7 an hour and have the task of calling thousands of donors across the country asking for donations to the RNC. These calls are made to donors that give, on average, anywhere from $25 to $150 -- in other words, the fired fund raisers are looking for handouts from the Middle Class, not from corporate interests. Read all about it, here.

But the entire office of 65 people was fired because they just weren't bringing in the dough. We do know that the #1 issue potential donors were complaining about is the immigration, Bush-McCain amnesty. People don't want it to happen. As explained in a previous post, the immigration issue isn't one of "Left v. Right" -- it's an issue that divides people between the Wealthy and the Middle Class. Well, the donors simply stopped giving because they simply are tired of Bush avoiding his job of law enforcement. It's my assessment that the politicos in the RNC came to the conclusion that the constant phone calls from their office were more effective in stirring up emotions than in raising money.

But the RNC still needs money, of course. The result? The RNC is now focusing ALL of its fund raising efforts on the wealthy donors. This is mostly special interests and the business community. In other words, the RNC wants nothing to do with the Middle Class and is tired of hearing the voters complain. They falsely believe that the Republican Party can exist solely on the support of its most wealthy donors.

They underestimate the power of the vote. The Party will lose in 2008 like it did in 2006 as a result of people simply not showing up to vote. The only hope for the RNC is that it begins listening to the People. Under Mel Martinez's leadership, however, this is unlikely to happen.



"Goodbye, Middle Class!"