Immigration Insanity

The insanity of the immigration debate can be put in three simple points.

1. We got jobs
2. They want jobs.
3. All of ancestors were immigrants just like them.

First off, when conservatives say immigrants they really mean Mexicans. America has too many jobs. Jobs that go unfilled. Jobs that need to be done for the economy to function. Cooking, cleaning, agriculture, timber, mining, factory, meat and poultry all depend on immigrants, both registered and un-registered. To punish factories for trying to survive and fill vacant positions is to punish the businesses for wanting to survive. They should be focused on that, not quizzing people on who the president is.

These immigrants want to work these jobs. They don't come here to commit crimes, use medical services. Last year I spent several months in the Southwest. I saw poor people of all shapes and sizes begging, except for one group: Mexicans. There were no Mexicans begging. They were too busy laying down the asphalt for the expansion of Albuquerque into the desert. They were too busy building the thousands of new houses for the exploding population. They were too busy working in the nursing homes, the fields, the plants, and doing the blue collar jobs that America is famous for having.

One family came to America with no money. The father lived on the street and he was homeless for quite some time. He ate, he found a job, he worked, he went to school. Then he brought over his wife. She ate, found a job, went to school and continued working. Then they brought over their kids. They ate, went to school, and are working. Now they live in a big house with several cars and three kids. They aren't rich but they are very well off and they did this in about 4-5 years. Incredible! They pay taxes, they work mid-range middle class jobs, they learned English. This was the story of many, MANY American citizens in the southwest who crossed the border without permission. They are working, eating, paying taxes, buying houses. Why in the world is this a bad thing?

Finally how many times was that phrase 'we are a nation of immigrants' shoved down my throat in civics class? It is completely illogical to try to 'preserve Americanness' when the very nature of Americanness is fluid, colorful, and continuously moving. It is trying to freeze something whose very nature is that of change. The only thing that's going to keep America around in the 21st century isn't old White people in Iowa. It's the browning populations in the southwest, on the West Coast and on the East. These are the people who are going to keep America and create a new concept of 'Americanness.'

Otherwise we will become a very large version of Switzerland. A nation of boring, old white people where nothing gets done or made. Where people pass through on their way to the party. We'll become the new Canada!