I'm curious what those on the left (on this board) think about the illegal immigration issue and the proposed reform. Are you for or against it or is it one of those issues where you don't feel strongly either way? If you would be so inclined to also discuss why you feel the way you do. Thanks. (I'm not asking this as a set-up to some response I have in my mind. I'm just curious about people's opinions.)
cawacko, it is an exceedingly complex issue, and I don't pretend to know all the answers.
There's a lot of competing interests. As other have noted, there is the xenophobia and racist lobby. They hate brown skinned people. On the other hand, there is the Union lobby, which by and large does not want a massive influx of low-wage people. Then there's the Business lobby, who wants mass quantities of cheap labor.
I don't think building a wall is a solution. Show me a twenty foot wall, and I'll show you a twenty one foot ladder.
I think we really have to crack down and impose stiff sanction on employers. But, since our government is largely bought and paid for by business interests, I have little faith that this will actually be done.
On the other hand, I am fully aware that there are certain, discrete sectors of the american economy that need migrant labor. Especially agriculture. Unless we are all willing to pay a LOT more for produce.
Finally, morally I can't stand the though of breaking up families and children through deportation. There has to be reasonable rules on deportation. It can't be a black and white issue.
