Immigration Indecision

Indeed, it's clear that if things had been better in Mexico and not enough laborers had made their way north that we would've figured out some additional incentives to bring them here... So to say now, "Well, they're illegal and should all be kicked out, others are waiting in line, etc., etc." is totally disingenuous. Moreover, can you imagine the nightmare police state that's implied in trying to round them all up? Are there any professional cat herders out there? On the other hand, it's also abundantly clear that if we allow a completely open border we would ruin what's left of America (I leave it to you to parse why that is so).

Rationally and morally we should find some way to integrate those undocumented immigrants who are here and then firmly close the border. Politically, however, that is a mouthful, as big business—agriculture, hotelkeepers and restaurateurs, construction, health care, etc.—won't have it: see, for example, last week's failed Senate 'compromise' which would effectively have added half a million or so undocumented workers. The illusion of a solution but bring those cheap workers heah, now! And neither the Republicans nor Democrats seem to know for whom the new unwashed brings more votes.

Money and votes. If we don't solve it, though, the southern and western tier of the country will soon go the way of the former Yugoslavia. And to that I must admit I'm tempted to say: Excellent! The northeast and northwest will do very nicely on their own, thank you very much... And let the midwest fend for itself...