REACHING AGREEMENT ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION!

Even on a controversial topic, it is possible to REACH AGREEMENT. 

The debate took time. 

It started here. 

When Katherine started talking about Thomas Paine….well, I had to say something.  :-)

Then Katherine posted her revised immigration plan.

And I countered with my own post here.

Finally, I offered a three-point plan.

1. We need to do whatever it takes to secure the border.
2. We need to give everyone a tamper-proof ID. This ID should be required for employment.
3. We need to punish employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. Of course, we can fine and jail employers. However, the most effective trick would be not allowing employers to write off the wages they pay to illegal immigrants on their taxes.

And Katherine/kgotthardt concurred with it. 

Here’s what is interesting about our debate: we CAN have totally different philosophies and still come to some solutions we agree 0n. However, this has not happened in our community and the results are destructive. We have such extremists and hateful rhetoric mixed in with opposing ideologies that the solutions are neither logical nor practical–to say nothing of the environment which has become outright hostile. (from here)

As Katherine pointed out, because we treated each other with mutual respect, we were able to reach agreement in spite of our different political philosophies.

Would what I suggested make everyone happy?  No.  Of course not.  Nonetheless, I seriously doubt the vast majority of people would have difficulties with any of the things I suggested. 

So what is the problem with the plan I suggested? 

• Are there many people who do not want our borders secured?  No.
• Is there really a problem with having a tamper-proof ID.  No, but there is a problem with not having one.  Have you heard of identity theft?  Would you like to be able to stop worrying about someone stealing your identity?  When you are on the job, are you afraid somebody might recognize you as an American?
• Are you worried about being punished for hiring illegal immigrants?  Have you any right to expect many people to be sympathetic?

There is nothing original about what I suggested.  I borrowed all the ideas.  So why doesn’t Congress do what I suggested?  The problem with these ideas is that they would work and powerful people do not want the problem of illegal immigration solved.  There is only one solution for that problem.  Write your congressman.  Get involved.