By Chic Hollis – Philosophical Musings
Did you have time to read Part 1? Not having a solution is the answer, of course! In Part 1, I listed three examples of major poltical / economic / social problems that have been poorly handled by our country’s leaders:
1. Public education
2. Illegal immigration, and
3. The Great Recession.
This musing is about Illegal immigration.
The political/economic/social solution for curtailing illegal immigration is obvious. However, the combined will of the majority of the members of our federal bureaucracy to do something comprehensive about this problem is weak. Both parties ignore the first principle that I laid out in Part 1.
Repeating those principles:
1.) Members of our government should be doing what is best for this country, not for certain groups and for themselves.
2.) Responsible adults should not be spending beyond their means to pay for what they buy.
3.) In a democracy where supposedly free speech is guaranteed, wary citizens should pay attention to whistle-blowers and make sure that they are legally protected.
Illegal Immigration
Politicians like every human who is gainfully employed strive to remain employed in the job they feel they worked hard to obtain. Unfortunately, in choosing the solutions that would truly benefit the majority of the citizens of this nation, they put their own interests ahead of the interests of this country. Their most urgent priority is the next election, not acting in behalf of registered voters in their district or state.
The failure to close our porous borders to uninvited visitors stems from a half-hearted approach to a never-ending problem: poor, hungry, active humans like any starving animal will migrate from a habitat that doesn’t support them to one that they believe will. By creating the illusion that this nation is kinder and more generous to the deprived, we are sending out a direct invitation to come here and thrive. Is that the image we want to present to the hoards of potential immigrants all over the world who are in desperate straits?
In Part 1 I identified specific weaknesses that could be found in many solutions that addressed general problems: 1.) The lack of agreement about what should be done which results in unsound premises for remedial action. 2.) The untimeliness of taking action, 3.) Unfair regulations to implement the law, 4.) Shoddy implementation, and 5.) Poor follow-up of the audit and inspection reports that evaluate the effectiveness of the legal solution chosen.
1. Deficient premises. There are laws on the books regulating immigration. Are they sound? Are they doing what we want them to do? Are they reasonable. Are they cost-effective? Are they enforceable? Are our policies creating more illegal immigration? Doing nothing is always a political solution to a serious problem. Of course that solution is always better in the eyes of politicians than doing the wrong thing advocated by the opposition!
2. Timely action. Is there any better time to correct bad policies than “as soon as possible?” Challenging the actions of the leaders of a state like Arizona whose legal residents are tired of the problem of immigrants traipsing though their wilderness is expensive and unsound government action. It is nothing more that a political tactic to delay taking corrective action.
3. Fair and just regulation. Is any law or regulation just and fair when it’s enforcement is spasmodic and lackadaisical? If the federal government can’t afford to close the borders and adhere to the laws that they approved, isn’t it time to do something more practical?
4. Flawed Implementation. Obviously, we have an economic system of paid uninvited guest workers in America who are offered minimum wages, some healthcare benefits, and an education for their offspring. The federal government has not delegated any power to the states to identify alien scofflaws. Therefore, states like California that are overrun by illegal immigrants shelter and protect illegal immigrants and house thousands of illegal immigrant criminals in expensive prisons. Not a prudent way to implement a comprehensive law to keep unwanted intruders at bay outside our borders.
5. Ineffective follow-up/enforcement system. With local hospitals and public schools being prevented from reporting to the “Feds” illegal immigrants who seek service from them, a vast colony of illegal aliens are interspersed throughout our society.
“Unregistered” humans may be productive and somewhat law-abiding adults. However, when you have a social contract that requires obedience to the law of the land, why do we citizens let the members of our federal government get away with ignoring reality and prosecuting only those they choose to prosecute? That’s not a very sound domestic and international policy, friends!
Remember what is more troubling than a serious problem. No solution or a bad solution – like the one we have!
