Border Control

[ChristensenCT]

What does everyone think about the solutions to border control? A lot of option are in the works right now, does anyone prefer one and why.

I personally dislike them all, becuase none of them ACTUALLY close the border, they just deal with the immigrants already in the US. I liked the idea of establishing a Border Defense Regiment as part of the Marines. By god you tell a group of Marines to guard the border...well...you can use your imagination.

[Silent262]

border control should be slightly upgraded from the frieaking CHAIN LINK FENCE.... seriously we defend our country with something bolt cutters can do in.

[ChristensenCT]

Yeah it's a real shame and very disrespectful to our country to allow people to simplywaltz across the border. Really, I don't think I have to explain WHY it's a bad thing. It's breaking the law, and it should be dealt with, this is not some complex situation. You have a border, you protect it, how hard is that?

You put some soldiers with firearms (not just binoculars) at the border and nobody will get through, is that too complex or anyhting?

[theTurkey]

I think the very fact that it would be so easy to close the border yet it remains wide open is very telling. It tells me that our government and current powers that be recognize our countries economic dependence on this cheap and willing labor pool. Ask restaurant owners how they feel about shutting off their supply of busboys, line cooks, chefs, and dishwashers. Ask our agribusiness CEOs who will be planting, harvesting, doing all of the hands on back breaking labor required to supply the demand for organic produce. A huge segment of the less glamorous jobs that our society depends on are filled by those you seek to seal out. To paraphrase Fight Cub, "They cook your food, they clean your floors, they watch your children..." The consumers in America demand low prices from our service sector industries and especially on our necessities like groceries. Americans don't refuse these jobs out of laziness, but because the pay and benfits not to mention social stigmata often associated with those jobs makes them unattractive.

I find the hypocrisy, of a country built on and comprised of primarily immigrants, calling out to seal the borders laughable. I don't often see an anti-immigration rally populated by native americans. I see a lot of people whose parents, grandparents or recent ancestors came to this country either during its period as a colony of England when immigration was a part of conquest, or during our countries formative years when we encouraged everyone who could survive the boat ride over to come on in. Our countries current demand for immigrant labor far outstrips the ability of legal immigration programs to supply that labor. Those folks running across the border aren't doing it to become homeless; they find jobs and are often employed before they cross the border through family or friends already here. As long as this demand exists people will come.

[ChristensenCT]

No matter what, having an open border allows murderers, drug-dealers, and even terrorists into the country. A sealed border does not mean that nobody from Mexico/Canada is allowed in, just they have to simply apply first.

[Eversman]

Just keep the mexicans out, the canadians rarely have illegal immigrants to the U.S. I hate the illegal mexicans, I am tired of seeing spanish labels on stuff. This is the United States, we did not fight for our freedom and set a National language for nothing. They want to live here illegaly they should suffer the difficulty of learning how to speak english. I know it is one of the hardest to learn but tough, they deserve the challenge for ruining our economy.

[LuciferDMD]

yea and English is clearly the native language here, and everyone here sprouted from the ground. if they honestly closed off the border and made it so ppl just applied for citizenship, maybe got some help finding work. then i'd be all for closing the border anyway you needed to, but if we're honestly trying to keep ppl from other countries out just because we HONESTLY believe this is ours and no one else. then we're all insane and we need to think about how everyone got to good ole America and our history. ALSO maybe letting in some hard working immigrants legally, would allow them to find work and bust their ass for minimum wage unlike a lot of ppl i see around now, also if they're here legally and have an ID why the hell would they go do illegal crimes to get a buck? most ppl don't want to commit crimes, they just don't know any better

[fallen1]

ummm....the US has never had a national language. in fact the founding fathers believed that every educated person (and at the time, only educated landowners could vote..therefore everyone who was allowed to vote) should be multi-lingual in order to be able to better communicate with both people from other countries and other Americans who spoke other languages (at the time the US was much more multi-lingual than it is now).

English may currently be the most common language in the US, but it is not the national language.

[dwinx]

I heard a great line from a comedian regarding this. The gist of it was not that we have too many immigrants...but too many in the same places. If we shipped them all up to Montana, no one would worry about it and they could make a living in peace.

[ShiftyDevil]

Originally Posted by Eversman

Just keep the mexicans out, the canadians rarely have illegal immigrants to the U.S. I hate the illegal mexicans, I am tired of seeing spanish labels on stuff. This is the United States, we did not fight for our freedom and set a National language for nothing. They want to live here illegaly they should suffer the difficulty of learning how to speak english. I know it is one of the hardest to learn but tough, they deserve the challenge for ruining our economy.

My grandfather and his three brothers came to this country to get away from the fascists. All four of them joined the military as soon as they were allowed. My granduncles served as translators in the armed forces, all three of them died for this country. Only my grandfather lived through it.

They all took on the responsibility of serving the country that gave them a fresh start.

However, people like you are the reason my grandfather refused to speak Italian around his children, he was afraid they would learn it. He changed his name to Roy because no one would hire a Rosario, thats a wop's name. He rarely spoke because he had a hard time dropping his accent.

Fortunately I've never had to deal with that, I'm a white male born in the US. But how hypocritical would it be for me to say that no one else should have a chance to come to this country.

Also, if anyone can show how illegal aliens are killing our economy I would be interested in reading it. If you are so very worried about illegals killing the economy then you should lobby your local representative to drastically increase the fines on businesses that employ them.

As a little tidbit, I strongly doubt that our illegal aliens want to be illegal. I went to school with a lot of kids who's parents weren't legal when they first came here, none of them, not one wanted to be an illegal. They all wanted to be citizens with all the comes with it.

Our country, on the surface has a proud history of welcoming the underprivileged from across the globe and offering them the chance at something better. No more, no less, just a chance. Too bad that under than lofty ideal is stupidity, racism, and arrogance.

Building a wall wont do a damn thing.

[Eversman]

The U.S. National language is English, look it up. If you live in the U.S. You have to be able to speak the language. I dont care if you talk to your family in arab, itailian, french or f*****. I could care less, but when you talk to another person that does not speak that and only speaks english. I dont want to hear some german guy talking to me in a language i dont understand i find it offensive. LEARN ENGLISH, I hate listening to people talk to me in other languages cause they can say bad things behind your back like that.

[ShiftyDevil]

Originally Posted by Eversman

LEARN ENGLISH, I hate listening to people talk to me in other languages cause they can say bad things behind your back like that.

Are you serious?

Thats your big concern about people in this country not being able to speak English?

You're actually worried they are calling you names behind your back?

Not something more pertinent than simple communication with the people that live in the same country as you? I mean, god forbid you get in a car accident and need to exchange insurance info. Or ask directions, or give directions for that matter. Or something huge, like being able to ask for help in an emergency.

You're big concern is that maybe someone will call you a jerk in "f*****"?

[Eversman]

NO I could care less. I think people should speak english because I rather not need a translator to understand what my doctor is saying, or Listen to the constant complaining of people who are too lazy to learn something new. I know 3 different languages but I should not have to use them in my own country. Our fore fathers, fought for the right of freedom, but our nation was brought up to speak english which is why it is our national language. To some people it is offensive to have some guy get mad cause they cant understand spanish. There are too many things I have seen happen because people come here illegally and cant speak english which only hurts our country.

[ShiftyDevil]

Originally Posted by Eversman

NO I could care less. I think people should speak english because I rather not need a translator to understand what my doctor is saying,

What hospital did you go to? I've hurt myself plenty of times, I've never once had a language issue with a doctor.

Originally Posted by Eversman

or Listen to the constant complaining of people who are too lazy to learn something new.

Where I grew up we had a large segment of migrant farm workers, I went to school with their kids. I've hung out with them at thier homes. I have not once seen/heard any of them complain that not enough people speak Spanish.

Originally Posted by Eversman

I know 3 different languages but I should not have to use them in my own country.

Thats very impressive, I wish I could say the same. Learning another language can be very difficult and time consuming, as you would know.

Originally Posted by Eversman

Our fore fathers, fought for the right of freedom, but our nation was brought up to speak english which is why it is our national language. To some people it is offensive to have some guy get mad cause they cant understand spanish. There are too many things I have seen happen because people come here illegally and cant speak english which only hurts our country.

All citizens should at the very least have a rudimentary understanding of the language and we should make available to our immigrants a place to learn our national language. It would help them become fully part of our society. They could then get a full time, legal job and pay taxes like everyone else. I believe that would solve part of your frustrations. It would also prevent those hurtful scenarios you mentioned.