I don't understand the "conservative" response to the immigration issue

[BOSSHOG]

Why all the angst and hatred? They aren't being manipulated are they? "Conservatives" can very easily solve the immigration issue if they choose to do so. Bush backing conservative businessmen should stop hiring immigrants to work for them and the flag waving cosmically ultimate American Patriots amongst us (you know, "conservatives") should do the jobs that the immigrants are now doing (picking lettuce, cleaning motel rooms, etc.) I have to chuckle when "conservatives" audibly bristle when someone states that immigrants are doing the jobs americans won't do, and then they won't do those jobs. I guess you have to be solution oriented instead of hate oriented. Meanwhile, the "conservatives" amongst us continue to be manipulated by the party of criminals and hate radio. Incredible, considering they are independent thinkers.

[Virginia Dare]

1. All of these so-called "problems".....

drugs, terrorism, immigration, etc. could be stopped tomorrow if the powers that be really wanted that.

[FreakinDJ]

2. That is a Fact

[JHH]

3. immigrants are not the same as "illegal" immigrants

there is a large amount of fog and confusion on this issue. Helping poor and disadvantaged should not be confused with protecting corporate greed in their using "illegal" workers.

[BOSSHOG]

4. I intentionally do not use "illegal"

when referring to immigrants. My great grandparents were immigrants as were the crews of Christopher Columbus' ships. I don't believe there is any mention of "illegals" at Ellis Island.

[JHH]

7. As some one who has spent the last 7 years

immigrating including having a FBI background check and fingering printing flowing the law I do believe that there is a difference between Legal and Illegal immigration.

[exlrrp]

9. A law abiding immigrant!!!

Dang, too bad there arent a whole lot more like you.
Did you come to take a job that no one else wants to do?
I sorta doubt it but thats what they say.
Welcome to the US--and thanks for coming through thte front door

[Mass]

12. There are.

[JHH]

13. No I did not take any ones job

[BOSSHOG]

10. You are absolutely right

But republicans are using the word "illegal" to fire up their patriotic, flag waving base and they are using it now because they have to distract from their problems and weaknesses. They are using it now because hating homosexuals won't be enough for republicans to get elected in 06. Why didn't bush come into office in 2001 with this issue blazing? Drying up the job market for immigrants will help solve the problem and "conservatives" can do that now, if they were so inclined. It is much easier for them to hate "illegals" then to dedicate their efforts to problem solving (if in fact, there is a problem.) I sure do enjoy a nice lettuce based salad with my evening meal, don't you?

[unlawflcombatnt]

20. Wage Suppression

Some Republicans are also talking about illegal immigration suppressing wages. This is a surprise coming from Republicans, since they seem intent on keeping labor costs down (through outsourcing and hiring low-wage illegal immigrants.) Could it be they're now more worried about the wishes of their constituents, instead of those of Corporate America?

Illegal Immigration Suppresses Wages

[Mass]

11. Careful - Why you have only good intentions, some people are

not making the difference between legal and illegal for purely racist reasons. They want all immigrants unwelcomed.

I am against for immigration and AGAINST illegal immigration. Illegal immigration (and legal immigration attached to a job) are basically ways to get cheap labour that will not protest against poor working conditions. But I am definitively for immigration as long as labour laws are really enforced.

[JHH]

15. If the Right wing nuts are going

to be defeated then we need to point that they have no respect for the law and will do what ever they want so long as it helps their own interest If we take the same attitude then there will be no difference. We need to go beyond "what about me"

[primative1]

17. So tell me oh king of anti racism ...

What would you suggest be done with the category of people you call "illegal"? I dont think its exactly right that you can pompously spout your racist crap about people who oppose immigration without first admitting you are a racist.
I dont see anyone on my side of the issue making any notation of race. I am color blind. I dont care if your from London England. Stay home. We have enough problems. So come on. Admit it. Are you one ov those Deval Patrick supporters who is so based upon the fact that he is black or upon the fact that he is right? Which is it. If you even see color you need work.

[Mass]

18. As I said, you should be happy that they did not listen to this type

of arguments when your ancestors came in this country.

Sorry, we will have exactly the same pbs whether we have immigration or not. The problems are not with the immigrants. They are will the companies and they will do what they can to screw us.

BTW, I still have made no choice in for the guv's race and I am totally color blind, but all you have to do is to read the anti-hispanic posts on DU to understand that their pb is not with Europeans.

[primative1]

19. Then maybe I am in the minority ...

But my issue is in line with the Seira Club ... zero population growth. It can be done.

[Solon]

21. Zero population growth is only effective if done globally...

To be honest, it doesn't really matter how many people in a single nation achieve no population growth if others in other areas do NOT follow such patterns. We would still suffer from resource starvation of many different sorts, like oil now, food and water later. Even if the US built a dome and cut itself off from the world entirely, it will suffer the same fate as the rest of the world.

Now, the best way to achieve zero population growth, and even REDUCTION is to eliminate poverty worldwide. Problem is this seems impossible, we simply don't have enough resources to do this as the world economy is structured now. This is a difficult problem, and a world problem at that, so we need to act globally.

[primative1]

6. Immigrants are Immigrants ..

I dont buy the distinction either. But I also dont buy that we need to double our population in 20 years. We dont need ANY more immigrants, we cant digest the ones we have now.
Id like to buy the world a coke too, but we CAN NOT AFFORD IT.

[Mass]

14. I am sure that some people were saying the same thing when

your ancestors came in this country.

[primative1]

16. I dont know ...

It would be intersting to see in stastical terms if this has ever been done. Do you know of any source that presents population growth in percentage terms decade to decade?

[JHH]

5. CNN is now using the term "Immigration Battle"

instead of 'Illegal' Immigration Battle the right has given up on "LAW and Order"

[exlrrp]

8. It shows how the Reps bamboozle their own kind

The Reps have different goals and directions from different parts of their base to deal with, in this case, Business Interests versus whatever they have of the Lower Middle Classes.
BI want cheap labor, LMC wants more pay for their time--these are contrsdicctory, which the Reps sell to the LMC with Pie in the Sky (Follow out economic voodoo and things will get better for you as the bennies for the Wealthy Class trickles down on you). The Republ;ican LMC votes for the Reps on other than economic isssues, like "Christianity," and antigay propaganda.
this is what Winger Radio is about--to keep the masses whipped up in a fury about inconsequential things like gay marriage while the rich people get their pro-rich aganda pushed through.
The Bush era is really the first era where the Reps highjacked the LMC from the Democrats and they do it by distracting their electorate from the real issues with "shiny objects" like gay marriage and flagburning amendments. Right Wing radio and conservative blogs keep the focus on hate while the real action is all the economic manipulation they do to line their pockets.
Welcome to the Bush Era but the wheeels are starting to fall off this wagon, there's only so many ways to disguise their chicanery and its startiing to be noticeable--real noticeable.