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Murphy Martin Commentary
May 18, 2006
"No Quick Support for Bush Plan"
President Bush finally got around to addressing the growing
problem of illegal immigrants that found their way into America
through our porous borders with Mexico. He was much closer to the
problem while Governor of Texas, but I guess he said at that time it
was a federal problem and did not really try to stem the flow of
illegals into Texas. Now 12-million illegals later, and in his
sixth-year in the top federal position, he decides to address the
issue.
President Bush called for five areas to be addressed: (1) Secure the
borders. (2) Create a new temporary worker program for immigrants to
match workers with employers for jobs shunned by Americans. (3)
Increase policing of employers hiring illegal workers and develop a
tamper-proof identification card for foreign workers. (4) Establish
an earned path for citizenship for the millions of illegal
immigrants already in the country who would have to go to the end of
the citizenship line after paying a fine and back taxes, learning
English, and establishing a good work record. (5) Improve
assimilation of immigrants in mainstream American
society, particularly through the English language.
Mr. Bush said: "All elements of the problem must be addressed
together, or, none of them will be solved at all!"
At no time did Mr. Bush mention what his programs will cost, or how
those costs would be met. Presidents--Democrat and Republican-- are
notorious for presenting programs without cost figures. It would be
helpful, however, to have a price tag for the perceived cost of the
massive correction plan.
What has the president done about this growing leaky- border, open
invitation to swim the Rio Grande problem? He has seemed to always
have plenty of time to play " footsies" with President Fox of Mexico
but apparently he never got around to urging Mr. Fox, in a
persuasive way, to encourage his people to legally apply for
citizenship in America---or stay home in Mexico. It seems to me it
is not that we lacked the laws to keep illegals out...it seems that
we winked at what was going on and never enforced the present laws.
How many people from OTHER countries have used the Mexico
unchallenged entry points to America? How many involved in 9/11 may
have come through Mexico? How many Al Quida members have entered
that way? Nobody seems to know and will hiring 3,ooo more Border
Patrol agents and sending 6,000 National Guardsmen in as back-ups
with limited policing authority--will that end the continuous
swim-meet that plagues the states bordering Mexico?
Will we finally really lean on companies that knowingly hire
illegals for cheap labor? We have laws to handle that now but they
are not enforced.
And, how many of the
illegal immigrants already here will actually be deported and told
they will be welcomed back when they apply for LEGAL entry?
Granted--it is reported that about one-third of the 12-million
illegals now here entered legally--BUT--they violated their student
or work visas and stayed past their expiration dates, and are still
here, according to the PEW Hispanic Center. Why would we believe new
work visas issued would not be violated?
The border states with Mexico will supply guard units to be used
according to White House reports. Governor Rick Perry of Texas has
said about 3,000 of those troops will come from Texas. Many of that
3,000 have already served more than a year in Iraq and another 1300
are scheduled to go there this summer.
There will be much discussion of the president's plan before--and
if--a plan is adopted. When the final version is voted---how much
will have been changed or eliminated? Again, what will be the costs
and where will they get the money?
In the meantime President Bush could ease the situation by ordering
STRICT enforcement of the laws now on the books.
That should be very simple: if they are here illegally, they should
be sent back home NOW! Get in line and apply for LEGAL entry. And
while they are waiting to get back to America, if they are not
already fluent, learn to speak English. They could be amazed how
much friendlier Americans can be!
We realize President Bush has a plate full of problems. The items on
his menu would be less in number if they were addressed when first
spotted rather than letting them become 12-million strong! That
sized problem could ruin one's appetite, and, scar his final career
summary!
Hopefully Mr. Bush will not join some of his predecessors who became
stubborn, and even a little arrogant, when things didn't go their
way as they neared the end of their stay in the most powerful
address in the world--1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington,
D.C.--United States of America!
Murphy Martin
Keep your comments coming!
murphy@murphymartin.com
Your thoughts and comments forwarded to my website will be
appreciated.
e-mail
murphy@murphymartin.com
Previous commentaries:
"Moussaoui
Meeting with Virgins Delayed"
"What the Hell Happened?"
"His Name is Still Magic"
"The Tallest Pine is Gone"
"Keeping America Free"
"Remembering"
"Christians vs Muslims"
"Bush Bucks Bashing"
"Early Look at 2008"
"Contrasting Memories"
"Reporter's Rough Roads"
"Another Cowboys Loss"
"People, Places and Things"
"Super Bowl Wasn't So Super"
"State of the Union"
"Is God Dead in Europe?"
"Remembering Dr. King"
"This Week in Review"
"New Year, New Challenges"
"The Party's Over"
"Democracy in the Middle East"
"Unfinished Business"
"Merry
Christmas Rules"
"Bush
Unveils Plans"
"Today is Special"
"Border
Security Now!!!"
"Stupidity Loses Financing"
"Crisis Christians"
"They
Led the Way"
"Sadistic Saddam Hussein"
"Bourbon Street Bashing"
"Hurricane Aftermath"
"Standing Tall"
"Never a Dull Moment"
"Another Hero Laid to Rest"
"Blame Game"
"Senior Thoughts For the Young"
"Role Model Challenge"
August 18 - "Network News Anchors"
August 11 - "Now All Three Are Gone"
August 4 - "Trust in the Media"
July 28 - "Television Then and Now"
July 21 - "The Mick"
July 14 - "Forty Years and Counting"
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