Dealing with Immigration

I heard a good line this week; I can't remember who said it.  It was, "I bet the Native Americans wished they had come up with a better immigration policy".

Pretty funny, but like all things humorous it is funny because there is some truth behind it.

Here are some of my musings regarding the immigration situation:

1.  I think it says a lot about the United States of America that we are even considering putting up walls on our borders.  What a great contrast between East Berlin and the former Soviet Union.  They had to build walls to keep people in.  We are considering building a wall to keep people out.  There is something very telling about that.

2.  With very few exceptions (convicted felons, terrorists, certain people seeking asylum, etc.) I am all for open borders.  I think people should register or have some type of ID when they cross borders, but in no way should we restrict anyone who wants to come here seeking a better opportunity for themselves. 

3.  Isn't there a quote at the foot of the statue of liberty that says, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.  Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"  Did somebody remove that when I wasn't looking?  Maybe someone added a line that says "except for the Mexicans".  When did we stray from this philosophy? 

4.  Why are we so uptight about allowing new immigrants here?  I understand the need to have them be registered; I realize that there are some national security threats associated with unmonitored borders, but why do most of us feel threatened by Mexicans migrating here?   Is it that they upset the economy?  Do we feel like they will put too heavy a burden on our government and/or health-care system (especially as the two become one in the very near future)? 

5.  My backyard borders a city park.  It is full of Mexicans every afternoon (Unfortunately, unlike Stephen Colbert, I still notice race).  They are either playing soccer in a big field or using one of the baseball fields to play softball.  I would have to guess that most days that there are between 30 - 40 of them in the park.  On the weekends there are even more - the entire family comes out.  They have picnics, have day-long softball games, etc.  I have to admit I am jealous of the community that they seem to have.  Families playing together in the fresh air.  Lots of laughing and meal-sharing.  And, BTW, they could not be nicer to me and my family.  We can't communicate very easily, but they always smile at us as we walk past and have even attempted kicking the soccer ball around with my boys a few times.  Something very right is happening in the park behind my house each day; I am guessing that this scenario is duplicated thousands of times all across our country.

6.  So, here is my solution to the "immigration problem":

a.  Open the borders, but have people register as they enter and leave with government issued, secure ID cards of some kind.  We don't want known terrorists, spies, and/or felons seeking asylum entering our borders, but we should never restrict anyone coming here seeking a better life for themselves.

b.  Get rid of the minimum wage.  What business does our government have in adjusting wages?  Anytime the government attempts to control wages and/or fix prices, the entire free market is compromised.  Let the market decide what wages should be - if someone doesn't feel like they are being paid fairly, let them find a new job that pays them what they think they are worth, or heaven forbid, start a business themselves.  The market will always figure a way to correct itself; in fact, in my humble opinion, the entire Mexican immigration issue is a result of the minimum wage.  The market demanded a way to pay lower wages, and the Mexican immigrants became the supply.   I truly believe our economy would collapse overnight if we removed the illegal Mexican workers from our capitalist engine and/or were forced to pay them minimum wage.

c.  Get rid of the income tax and replace it with a national sales tax like the proposed Fair Tax.  Is it fair that these Mexican workers get benefits from our government without paying any income taxes (state or federal)?  Is it fair that we pay for their education in public schools?  Is it fair that they receive welfare benefits?  No way, Jose (pun intended).  However, if we had a national sales tax, they would be paying for the services they are given.  Every time they buy something, they are helping to carry their own weight.  Doesn't that make more sense?  Doesn't that seem fair?  There are many reasons to go with a national sales tax, but this is one of the best ones.

d.  Of course, I say we get rid of all the government social programs anyway.  Our government exists to protect our freedom.  Why is it even in the business of providing social services?  History has shown us that no social program has been effective - all the problems they were designed to fix/solve have only gotten worse, and more importantly the government does not have the moral authority to implement any social program.  They are forcing me to contribute to charity-like activities, and force is the opposite of freedom.  So, if we get rid of all these social programs, then we really have nothing to worry about in regard to immigration - they won't be a drain on society by receiving all these government benefits - there won't be any government benefits to receive.

Please note, that my solution eliminates some existing government policies and programs; it does not create more.  We don't need a new "Immigration Policy"; we just need to dispose of some of our existing policies and let things take care of themselves.

The underlying problem here is our lack of respect for freedom.  Many people have died to give it to us, but we so willingly give it away, allow it to be taken away, and/or prevent others from experiencing it:

-why are people not free to come here to seek a better life

-why does the government force us to pay certain wages - why are we not free to determine someone's wages ourselves?

-why is the government forcing me to contribute to social-services and thus taking away my freedom to choose where I think my money should be invested?

The immigration problem is the perfect example of what a powerful force freedom is.  Despite our government's attempt to control and manipulate us through governmental programs and policies, freedom pushes through.  In this case from both sides - the Mexicans desiring the opportunities a free society offers and the free market demanding a less expensive labor source.  Freedom will always prevail - we either embrace that fact and have it manifest itself peacefully, or it will force it's way into our lives through conflict, strife or even violence.  Personally, I prefer the former over the latter.

 
 

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