Nov 13 2006

House Reps Gambled – And Lost

Published by at 10:41 am under All General Discussions

The pivot point in the last election was immigration. Actually, make that the break point. My assumptions on the outcome of the election resided in the belief the voters in the middle had not given up on the insufferable right wing of the Republican party. Obviously my tolerance is higher than the average independent voter, because I was still supporting the Reps when most of the middle voted for conservative Dems are stayed home. The point is, the House Reps believed they could ram down the nation’s gullet the idea that a penalty of paying back taxes and losing all the time spent working in America as now irrelevant to gaining citizenship was not a sufficient penalty (remember all those calls for ‘amnesty’?) for making a living in the US.
Well, the gambled on that and lost. Here are two articles for the far right to digest. First is from Michael Barone and it outlines how Bush will now ignore the minority party in the House so that he can get his agenda accomplished.

On immigration, House Democrats and a solid Senate majority favor the Bush approach blocked by House Republicans.

In the process, Bush is decoupling himself from the Republican Party. House Republicans, with little chance to affect outcomes, will be mostly ignored, as House Democrats were under Clinton.

Senate Republicans, with the leverage of filibuster threats, will be brought into the loop. But congressional Republicans will be on their own in setting a course for 2008.

Finally we will get comprehensive immigration reform and that is the best result of this election. And every cry of amnesty simply means more time in the oblivion of the minority party for the Reps. So I strongly, strongly suggest people realize this issue is over and the only thing left to do is demonstrate how to lose and win properly. The Reps need to get over this so their other issues (national defense, right to life, low taxes).

The second is from an organization called Family Security Matters. I am not endorsing them or everything in this article – except one thing. As we look forward to 2008 we must keep in mind that independent voters decide elections, and neither party represents an overwhelming choice to us in the middle. Idealogues on both ends of the spectrum diss those of us in the middle to prop up their image of infallabilty. Party’s tend to dismiss the independents once they have done the job of electing them. For the Reps, the 40 years spent in the minority translated into about 12 years of respect to the independents in the governing coalition. But not after that – the last 2 years of Rep control was a purity test. It really is time for whichever party wants to govern to stop dismissing and ridiculing the voters are in the middle. They are not muddled, incompetent, uninformed or moderate. They just don’t buy the party positions hook, line and sinker – and they demand people from either side to make a good case instead of measuring their purity. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few months in terms of professional courtesy and respect returning to the equation.

25 responses so far

25 Responses to “House Reps Gambled – And Lost”

  1. TomAnon says:

    The amnesty issue and guest worker programs will energize the former Buchanonites and Perotistas! What should we call them now, “Tancredidiots”? Can the Repubs. pull enough Hispanic and Mexican votes to balance the loss of the Tancredidiots? I think Immigration will be the big pivot point in 2008 barring a major terrorist incident. This issue alone will make a Hillary candidacy very potent as she can only win with a plurality vote. Her ceiling is 47-48%. A third party consisting of Tancredidiots will split the conservative vote. BTW, I am not saying Tom Tancredo runs, it is merely a way of capturing the movement. I hate third parties……

    Tom

  2. stevevvs says:

    Amnesty can not be stopped now. The Dems know that 69% of Hispanics voted for them this past cycle. Therefore, Amnesty will more than likely follow. I also think, because there is such a huge new voting block for the Dems, they will move to the Front of the line, rather than the back. These new Voters will be needed for the Dems to secure another 40 years in power.
    If you would like to learn more about our new Voters, check out
    http://www.immigrationshumancost.org
    Meanwhile, you can disguse what a great thing this will be for the republican party. I see no positives, but I live where the invasion has had a negative impact on our area.
    3 years ago Charlotte, NC. wasn’t in the FBI’s list of the 10 most crime ridden Cities. Last year we were #10, this year we are #8. I think weare going for #1. Most of the increase in crime here is from ILLEGAL Alien Gangs. MS-13, and others. But not to worry, “Comprehensive Immigration Reform” is coming to solve this growing problem. Meanwhile, 5 more N.C. residents were killed by Illegal Alien Drunks on N.C. Highways last week alone. But hey, they are our guests, we want them, we need them.
    Two weeks ago in Texas a Van with about 30 illegals rolled over in Texas. Many were seriously injured. They are now “Guest Patients” in American Hospitals. With no insurance, and certainly no accountability when it comes to paying their medical bills, the Texas Legal Residents will have to pick up the tab. Yep, comprehensive Immigration reform will solve this problem. Of course, once we grant Amnesty, the likely out come will be even more border hoppers will come. Why not? They see all their friends and family being made legal, what’s the incentive not to come?
    I now return you to the inevitable pro amnesty posters to come.

  3. sage says:

    Tancredo is a “useful idiot” for the left. Rush and Sean and Laura made it their mantra that enforcement first was the only answer. They hammered away at this for over a year and the President began to lose his base. The republicans spent most of their tim hiding under their desks!Sooooo,put these two things together and you have the dems taking over—big time. Talk radio is off my agenda for along time!

  4. patrick neid says:

    as long as they build this

    http://tinyurl.com/guk5a

    i could care less about all the other details. i trust the free market to work out the rest. without the above there is nothing, just as there hasn’t been for the last 40 years.

  5. bopbottle says:

    I am all for looking at the illegals that are here after we stop the flood. I do not believe that the “stop the invasion” portion of the GOP lost them many, if any votes. I think it it probably the opposite, regardless what the talking heads on TV are saying. Even my left wing friends are vehemently anti illigal immigration. They are far more anti illegals than I am. I suspect this may hurt the democratic party in the long run. I want a fence.
    I am not opposed to some form of earned citizenship, down the road, after the legals here are processed. It has taken friends of mine more than 5 years for a visa to come to this country. They now have work permits and it will be a minimum of 5 years before they can apply for citizenship.

  6. stevevvs says:

    Please tell me how making Millions of Illegal Aliens citizens, solves these problems:

    Zapata nightmare: One reported dead, 20 injured as immigrant-filled van flips over on farm road

    Posted by SwinneySwitch
    On News/Activism 10/26/2006 3:31:24 PM PDT · 19 replies · 433+ views

    Laredo Morning Times ^ | 10/26/2006 | CELINA ALVARADO

    Texas Border Vulnerable To Terrorists

    Posted by WatchingInAmazement
    On News/Activism 10/26/2006 12:48:41 PM PDT · 21 replies · 340+ views

    CBS 11 News ^ | 10/24/06 | Robert Riggs

    [Oklahoma]DHS employee says department isn’t enforcing [illegal alien] reporting laws

    Posted by John Jorsett
    On News/Activism 10/26/2006 11:12:17 AM PDT · 15 replies · 386+ views

    The Norman Transcript ^ | October 26, 2006

    Court rules against deportation of immigrant convicted of domestic violence (Ninth Circus)

    Posted by axes_of_weezles
    On News/Activism 10/26/2006 7:24:28 PM PDT · 15 replies · 560+ views

    The Arizona (Red) Star ^ | 26 October 2006 | Howard Fischer

    Ottawa rules out amnesty for illegal workers

    Posted by MassRepublicanFlyersFan
    On News/Activism 10/27/2006 8:07:53 AM PDT · 13 replies · 339+ views

    Toronto Globe and Mail ^ | October 27, 2006 | MARINA JIMÉNEZ

    Importing Poverty and Immigration..

    Posted by T.L.Sink
    On News/Activism 10/27/2006 4:40:30 PM PDT · 11 replies · 394+ views

    Heritage ^ | Oct. 25 | Robert Rector

    Suspect held in Zapata van accident[1 illegal dead, 52 treated in South Texas hospitals]

    Posted by SwinneySwitch
    On News/Activism 10/28/2006 6:35:13 AM PDT · 16 replies · 513+ views

    LAREDO MORNING TIMES ^ | 10/27/2006 | CELINA ALVARADO

    GOP sues for license records (NM-Illegals-voter fraud)

    Posted by CedarDave
    On News/Activism 10/28/2006 8:43:06 PM PDT · 30 replies · 941+ views

    KRQE News 13, Albuquerque ^ | October 27, 2006 | KRQE News 13

    Vicious MS-13 gang seen as growing threat

    Posted by Kimberly GG
    On News/Activism 10/29/2006 6:54:24 AM PST · 36 replies · 1,189+ views

    Dallas Morning News ^ | 10/28/06 | David McLemore

    AS MORE IMMIGRANTS GO TO NEW ORLEANS TO REBUILD, THEY’RE MAKING LESS

    Posted by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
    On News/Activism 10/29/2006 6:12:25 AM PST · 29 replies · 749+ views

    The Houston Chronicle ^ | 29 October 2006 | Jenalia Moreno

    School Bus Flips, Suspect Free

    Posted by WatchingInAmazement
    On News/Activism 10/30/2006 10:02:04 AM PST · 13 replies · 517+ views

    Ch 14 News ^ | 10/29/2006 | Stephanie Silvey
    25-year-old Gabino Gonzalez, courtesy Vanderburgh County jail. Reporter: Stephanie Silvey New Media Producer: Rachel Chambliss UPDATE, SAT 4:30 PM: Charges have now been filed in the school bus accident that injured a dozen kids and the bus driver. Gabino Gonzales is wanted on misdemeanor and felony charges involving driving while intoxicated and damage to school property. When 14 News reported police did not arrest Gonzalez immediately after the crash Tuesday night, viewers began calling and e-mailing us. Police say Gonzales was legally drunk when his truck hit the school bus. Police were confident they knew where to find Gonzales, but…

    More than 40 arrested on charges of running (human) smuggling ring

    Posted by calcowgirl
    On News/Activism 10/30/2006 7:39:06 PM PST · 2 replies · 256+ views

    AP – San Diego Union-Tribune ^ | October 30, 2006 | Arthur H. Rotstein

    Arrests of illegal immigrants drops by 9 percent in FY06

    Posted by SwinneySwitch
    On News/Activism 10/31/2006 1:20:37 PM PST · 14 replies · 356+ views

    Corpus Christi Caller-Times/AP ^ | October 30, 2006 | ALICIA A.

    ACLU Petitions For Illegal Aliens To Have Worker’s Rights

    Posted by Jay777
    On News/Activism 11/01/2006 9:28:28 PM PST · 34 replies · 533+ views

    Stop The ACLU ^ | 2-Nov-06 | John Stephenson

    Dealer gets 6 years in teen’s fatal overdose illegal

    Posted by Dubya
    On News/Activism 11/02/2006 3:21:53 PM PST · 6 replies · 241+ views

    The Associated Press ^ | Nov. 02, 2006 | The Associated Press
    DALLAS – The last of four people involved in the case of a 16-year-old Plano boy’s fatal heroin overdose was sentenced to six years in federal prison. Nathaniel Edward Gonzalez, 21, of Richardson, who was sentenced Tuesday, sold the drugs to Brenden Thayer the day before the high school sophomore was found dead in his bed last year. Gonzalez bought the drugs from Angel Sierra, who earlier this year pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and was sentenced to 24 years in prison. His brother, Alberto Sierra, pleaded guilty to distributing more than 100 grams of heroin and was…

    Al Qaeda Leader: Materials Smuggled Across Border

    Posted by TejanoJim
    On News/Activism 11/03/2006 10:54:27 AM PST · 136 replies · 2,693+ views

    KRGV ^ | Thursday, November 02, 2006

    Guilty verdict returned quickly in YVCC dean’s death

    Posted by ruination
    On News/Activism 11/05/2006 12:24:00 AM PST · 12 replies · 256+ views

    Yakima Herald-Republic ^ | November 3, 2006 | CHRIS BRISTOL
    Jurors deliberated barely 30 minutes Thursday before convicting a man of vehicular homicide in the death of Yakima Valley Community College dean Peggy Keller last year. Marcos Ramos Medina, a twice-deported illegal Mexican immigrant with a history of drug arrests, did not react to the verdict. He faces a sentence of 2 1/2 to 5 years in prison, depending on his criminal record. Keller’s husband, Gordon Keller, said afterward he was pleased with the verdict but would withhold commenting on the case until sentencing, tentatively set for Nov. 16. Peggy Keller, 53, died Aug. 4, 2005, when a car driven…

    Mexico ambassador: We need N. American Union in 8 years

    Posted by CrawDaddyCA
    On News/Activism 11/05/2006 11:11:55 PM PST · 65 replies · 1,062+ views

    WorldNetDaily ^ | November 5, 2006 | Staff

    Cops: Actress slain after noise complaint (Illegal Alien)

    Posted by CrawDaddyCA
    On General/Chat 11/07/2006 12:26:22 AM PST · 22 replies · 1,159+ views

    NewsDay.com ^ | November 7, 2006 | Rocco Parascandola
    Her family’s insistence that actress Adrienne Shelly would never take her own life, a mysterious sneaker print at the Greenwich Village murder scene, and detectives’ discovery that the apartment beneath Shelly’s was being renovated — these were prime factors that police sources Monday said led to the arrest of a suspect in the slaying. Diego Pillco, 19, of Sunset Park, a handyman who was working in the apartment being renovated, was charged with second-degree murder in the popular indie-film actress’s death on Thursday, police said.

    ATF Arrests 2 Mexican Nationals for Purchasing 12,750 Rounds of Ammunition

    Posted by girlangler
    On News/Activism 11/08/2006 5:40:41 AM PST · 20 replies · 804+ views

    The Shooting Wire ^ | Nov. 8, 2006 | Jim Shepherd

    Officials say suspect in fatal car wreck is illegal immigrant (drunk driving; three Americans dead)

    Posted by ruination
    On News/Activism 11/09/2006 4:50:24 AM PST · 30 replies · 622+ views

    The Sun News ^ | Nov. 08, 2006 | Jessica Rocha

    Mexico’s Calderon Heartened By Outcome of U.S. Elections

    Posted by Kitten Festival
    On News/Activism 11/09/2006 3:22:17 PM PST · 18 replies · 379+ views

    The Washington Post ^ | 9 Nov 2006 | Nora Boustany

    Shooting An Accident, Prosecutor Decides (update about a raid at illegal immigrant methlab)

    Posted by pulaskibush
    On News/Activism 11/11/2006 12:49:07 AM PST · 14 replies · 493+ views

    The Morning News ^ | 11/9/06 | Robin Mero

    Gaston: No funds for illegal residents

    Posted by personalaccts
    On News/Activism 11/11/2006 5:59:21 AM PST · 20 replies · 491+ views

    The Charlotte Observer ^ | 11/10/06 | Amy Rainey and Franco Ordonez

    Speakout: Crimes committed by illegals fail to stir media

    Posted by radar101
    On News/Activism 11/11/2006 2:59:31 PM PST · 35 replies · 790+ views

    Rocky Mountain Times ^ | 11 NOV 2006 | John Andrews

    ’12-pack’ illegal in fatal car crash

    Posted by radar101
    On News/Activism 11/12/2006 5:16:46 AM PST · 55 replies · 1,316+ views

    WorldNetDaily ^ | November 12, 2006 | WorldNetDaily.com
    When Jose Trejo Encino lost control of his 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix late one night last month in Madison County, Tenn., killing one of his passengers and injuring another, he at least had the presence of mind to throw the cans of beer he had from the car into the woods before the police arrived, according to affidavits entered in court from witnesses. Encino, 27, who admitted to deputies at the scene “to drinking a 12-pack of beer earlier in the night,” is now facing charges of vehicular homicide and tampering with evidence after the one-car accident that killed Sergio…

    DRUG CARTELS TAKE OVER LOCAL POLITICS

    Posted by Nalu
    On News/Activism 11/12/2006 8:40:14 AM PST · 45 replies · 1,149+ views

    fulldisclosure. ^ | November 12, 2006 | Full Disclosure

    Media in ERROR — Immigration-Reduction did NOT lose at the polls

    Posted by AmericaOne
    On News/Activism 11/12/2006 10:01:22 AM PST · 32 replies · 847+ views

    Roy Beck E-mail from Numbers USA ^ | 11-11-06 | Roy Beck
    From: Roy Beck, President, NumbersUSA Date: Saturday, November 11, 2006 11:30 ET Veterans Day Get this info out to others — Toughness on immigration did NOT cost candidates their election DEAR FRIENDS, AMERICAN VOTERS DID not TURN AGAINST TOUGHER ENFORCEMENT OR LOWER IMMIGRATION. I have some important new statistics that should give you comfort — and that you may want to share with a lot of others. Oh, I’m sure you’ve seen or read discouraging claims from Fred Barnes, Michael Barone, the Wall Street Journal, the L.A. Times, Tamar Jacoby or dozens of ivory tower newspaper editorial writers since the…

    Media in ERROR — Immigration-Reduction did NOT lose at the polls

    Posted by AmericaOne
    On News/Activism 11/12/2006 10:01:22 AM PST · 32 replies · 847+ views

    Roy Beck E-mail from Numbers USA ^ | 11-11-06 | Roy Beck
    From: Roy Beck, President, NumbersUSA Date: Saturday, November 11, 2006 11:30 ET Veterans Day Get this info out to others — Toughness on immigration did NOT cost candidates their election DEAR FRIENDS, AMERICAN VOTERS DID not TURN AGAINST TOUGHER ENFORCEMENT OR LOWER IMMIGRATION. I have some important new statistics that should give you comfort — and that you may want to share with a lot of others. Oh, I’m sure you’ve seen or read discouraging claims from Fred Barnes, Michael Barone, the Wall Street Journal, the L.A. Times, Tamar Jacoby or dozens of ivory tower newspaper editorial writers since the…

    Not a citizen? No problem. Illegal immigrants meet little resistance getting home loans

    Posted by Sybeck1
    On News/Activism 11/12/2006 4:52:44 PM PST · 49 replies · 943+ views

    The Memphis Commercial Appeal ^ | 11/12/06 | Daniel Connolly
    Illegal immigrants meet little resistance getting home loans Marleny Carranza’s cell phone plays salsa music when a call comes in, and these days it rings often. She and her sister Sandra Carranza are doing a brisk business selling homes to Hispanic immigrants, and they don’t turn away people who may be in the country illegally. The Carranza sisters work with Su Casa Realty, a Century 21 franchise with an office in Hickory Hill. They are among many real estate professionals and bankers nationwide willing to sell houses to illegal immigrants. Giving home loans to illegal immigrants is a relatively safe…

  7. Ken says:

    Strata’s middle gets wiped out by Latino racist momentum and the backlash as surely as the hapless skunk in the middle of the road gets wiped out. But maybe he already has his Brazilian walled-community
    prototype for America mapped out, with his estate ensconced within.

    Tomanon, you should hate moderation in the defense of freedom more than you hate third parties. Sage , you are a useful idiot…
    for the Mexican government.

  8. AJStrata says:

    SteveWS,

    Who said anything about making the illegal aliens citizens? This is why the Reps lose people in the middle – ridiculous conclusions. Bush wants THEM DOCUMENTED. He wants background checks (any serious criminal behavior in their past and out they go). He wants them paying taxes. He wants them monitored and staying employed. He doesn\’t want to give them ANY credit for time spent in the US while undocumented in terms of earning citizenship. Whatever the current requirement is, they start at zero – at the back of the line.

    Please tell us why losing Congress helped any of those issues?

  9. Terrye says:

    Mort Kondracke sis an article on the loud right, as he called it, and he had data. It seems that the hardliners accomplished the following: the majority of Americans who voted support comprehensive immigration reform and Republicans lost all the gains Bush had made in regards to the hispanic vote. The hardliners lost even in the areas where they were supposed to win in fact. In other words they did more harm than good.

  10. stevevvs says:

    Aj,
    Please, study this issue! Bush may want them “Documented”, which can mean anything! The Dems will want them ( at least those not currently) VOTING! They (illegals) are voting here in N.C. currently. All they need is a Mexican Metricular card. From there the go to the DMV, then get a Drivers License. On the way out the door, thanks to Motor Voter laws in N.C., they then can register to vote. No one in N.C. is asking or checking on their Immigration status. The Dems will push Amnesty, then those not currently fearful of voting, effectively can.
    I don’t believe there is ANY evidence the Reps. lost because the support enforcing the laws on the books now, or a fence for that matter. In N.C. Heath Schuler ran as someone AGAINST Illegal Aliens, for a fence, and tough on those here. In AZ. J.D. Hayworth ran against someone paroting him! He was For a fence, FOR enforcement, etc. And despite media reports, they are still counting the votes in his district, and no Winner has been declaired. Americans still want a wall, still want enforcement, and still don’t want Amnesty, Pathways to Citizenship, Amnesty, whatever you wish to call it. Rush Limbaugh just mentioned this on his show moments ago, talking about Michael Barone, etc. You remember him, he’s the one who now links your BLOG in his daily Stack of Stuff.
    The Dem. House candidates (the new ones) ran as MORE Conservative, than the Reps. Weather they are or not, at this point, doesn’t matter. The House leadership will be Liberal, and the libs. views will prevail on most issues.
    I fail to see the wisdom of the Law and Order Party to ignore the Immigration Laws, as a way to expand their Voter Rolls. But who knows, the Dems. ran an empty Campaign. They had very few discernable positions, and still won. But the new House Dems. ran as More Conservative than the Reps. Off to work. Thanks for your time.

  11. AJStrata says:

    SteveWS,

    What in the world makes you think I have not studied this issue? You never answered my question: how did the suicidal position on immigration (with all your false facts and hyperventilating) make the current result better? It didn’t. The far right has no credibility on this issue, so please don’t come in with all those tired old anti immigration ghost stories. The Reps lost and the House gambled they wouldn’t. I for one am looking forward to finally getting an immigration bill passed, because that is more important to our security than Hastert as speaker. Whether you guys get it or not is irrelevant. It is now a done deal. The far right on immigration is impotent for two years. On this issue – see you folks in 2008.

  12. Ken says:

    Buchanan made clear on Drudge last nite, the American Majority will result to non-parliamnetiary means if the two major parties continue to capitulate to the Hispanic insurgents.

    One local talk show caller labelled it “voting from the rooftops.”

  13. AJStrata says:

    SteveWS,

    And another thing. A law can have a penalty like paying back taxes and a registration fee and be well balanced to the infraction. It doesn’t have to be more than that to be legal and reasonable. Let’s just say my tolerance for a righty coming here and imlying I am not for law and order after this election is really, really low. It is that kind of hysterics that brought the dems into power.

    Now with Al Qaeda revelling in the Dems win and the libs planning to surrender Iraq and my son heading to the military after he goes to college, I have no tolerance for idiotic partisan games. The ‘fence only’ crowd could abide NO compromise. So now that they have put is in this position I abide them NO credibility in return. They got what they wanted – a referendum. Case closed.

    As I said, this issue is over for the far right. And I do not need to be told what to think by Rush – he doesn’t even like the concept of a family. The idea of sacrificing all he has amassed for children is something he outright rejects. He says so regularly. So why would I listen to someone like that for my views – which I am more than capable of developing on my own. I suggest you rethink what happened. Because a lot of us non-aligned voters are not moderates at all, and are very serious and passionate and will throw down any useless argument whether it comes from left or right.

  14. AJStrata says:

    Ken,

    Your lunacy is tolerated here because you’re the perfect foil. But if you think you are going to start an anti-hispanic movement on my site – forget about it. This site will not play host to bigotry. Hispanics are not ‘insurgents’. Consider this a fair warning.

  15. Squiggler says:

    AMEN! AJ.

    And stevevvs, how is building a 700 mile fence to the exclusion of other solutions going to help with anything? The “my way or the highway” attitude just lost us the House and the ability to set the agenda. Hope you are happy with that result. It also ignores that 3000+ miles of Northern border, or are terrorists too stupid to look at a map and see all those miles of wilderness and unprotected border?

    Truth Laid Bear is running an open question database where you can post questions to those seeking leadership positions or vote on questions already submitted. There is one that caught my attention. We hear from time to time the suggestion of mandatory “alternate service” such as the Peace Corps instead of military service. Someone suggested that “alternate service” could include a “volunteer border patrol” type service. I think this would be a novel idea that might get some traction if structured well. It is sort of a middle ground between the Code Pink “peaceniks” who join the Peace Corps and those who seek the more aggressive route of military service. In other words, all those in the middle. I could see a scenario where an organization like this could provide the logistics and support thereby freeing up the Border Patrol Agents to do the actual policing and apprehension duties. With the ever increasing use of technology, it would open up a whole area of service to the techy types who tend to get left out of the service loop. Curious if anyone else thinks this might be something to consider?

  16. TomAnon says:

    Ken, Steve,

    Guess what, politics is all about getting what you can today and still surviving to being around tomorrow. Purity of thought gets you thrown out of power so you get nothing tomorrow…nothing.. And yes, third parties form on a purity of thought and break up just as quick from them and the fact they get nothing accomplished. What did Buchannon and Perot get accomplished, nothing, except eight years of Bill Clinton and convincing the rest of us they where either a racist or a nutjob.

    Fact is with an unemployment rate of 4.4 to 4.6% we have no labor force left sitting around with nothing to do. We need a guest worker program. No one is saying throw open the doors and let in everyone. The industries of tomorrow will be discovered in the USA today. Our culture rewards creativity and ingenuity and was founded on continuos renewal threw the melting pot of cultures. It does not reward same old, same old status quo. When an industry matures it gets sent off shore to make room for the next entreprenuer.

    Tom

  17. Ken says:

    Tomanon

    Neither you nor Strata can dispute the historic fact that America
    was built to greatness during a hundred years of ethnic-specific
    immigration legislation weighted to favor northern Europeans,
    until the 1960s.

    The melting pot was NOT created pell-mell,nor by amorphous market forces, and the melters melted into an extant English-dominant culture.

    I would sooner force the welfare recipients to work than lower
    or at least stagnate working class wages and transmogrify a third of America into a unassimiable Hispanic-dominant ,revanchist
    region.

    Failing that I abide by the wag’s aphorism “work that can’t get
    done (by the native population at fair wage) shouldn’t get done.”

    And Strata, how can I be a good foil when the pessimism coming to
    your fore belatedly is because of the election results I broadly predicted at least by indirect inference?

  18. The Macker says:

    TomAnon,
    I agree!
    And free markets liberate people. The successful assimilation of the past had everything to do with free markets and little to do with ethnicity.

    Buchanan and Perot have done us no favor. Multiple parties weaken countries and make their governments indecisive.

  19. Ken says:

    Macker

    Better indecisiveness than rushing into defeat as Bush did in Iraq.

    Europe is sophisitcated enough to have multi-party systems. The
    ballot access prohibitive system in America is designed for comparative simpletons, and the parties are trusts of one another.

    Finally,nothing wrong with a constrained free market system, but if you believe it could have been created in a polyglot nation ,you’re dreaming.

  20. The Macker says:

    Ken.
    “nothing wrong with a constrained free market system”-
    1) An understatement. Free markets are essential for human freedom.
    2) “constraints” are necessary to keep them free ( ie. from monopolies and government interference).

    Europe’s “sophistication” has crippled it. It is an island of welfare, living off the past and descending into nihilism. And immigration isn’t its only problem.

    True, our economic ideas came from Scotland, but the Irish, Italians, Portugese and now, the Mexicans and Asians , are quickly making free market ideas their own. And, the Latinos and Asians are readily learning English. I see it, here in California.