The southern plague

By Robert Meyer

Virtually everybody knows the dirty little political secret that plagues this country, but few politicians in either major political party are willing to discuss, namely the topic of illegal immigration. Of course, this has been a problem for many years, yet it has largely been ignored for political reasons.

Both parties are interested in catering to this largely Hispanic minority, seeing it as an opportunity to commandeer this ethnic group as a voting block, in order to put their own political party over the top, in what have been relatively close presidential elections over the past few cycles. Of course this influx in population could also change the electoral balance, if all of these people are granted amnesty. Furthermore, many conservatives understand that their wealthy constituents in border states, like the idea of hiring these immigrants for the inexpensive labor they provide. It is often said both rhetorically and earnestly, that these people fill the void by doing those menial jobs which other naturalized Americans won't do.

The recent border watch by the Minuteman organization, proved to be effective, and presented a model for peaceful deterrence of illegal border crossings. This "demonstration" gave the general public greater awareness of an issue, that has been a concern for those on the southern border for decades. It is an issue that is irresponsibly being hidden under the rug.

While it may be true that many who cross the border are just people yearning for a greater opportunity in life, and to escape the cycle of poverty they faced in their native countries, the bad elements can come in just as easily. Criminals, and those with bad intentions also come here. With the need for greater security prompted by 9-11, this aspect of illegal immigration, has become all the more amplified. How difficult would it be for those of a middle eastern dissent (as were many culpable in the 9-11 attacks), to mingle with the throngs currently coming across the border? Thus a grave security problem, representing a large measure of hypocrisy is part of the equation. Anyone with a lick of common sense asks why we are spending so much money and other resources on homeland security, only to be lax on our porous borders. After all, this is much like turning the air conditioner on maximum cool, then on a hot day, opening the window on the other side of the room.

And yet another problem is the substantial drain on public resources that threatens to break municipalities and larger governmental units; namely counties, states, and ultimately the federal government themselves. How many illegals will eventually end up on the welfare roles, or are currently receiving free medical care, burdening the solvency of many hospitals? What about the extra police protection and regulation that is necessary to manage this burgeoning population? What if illegals can collect on social security? And what of children born in this country that become automatically naturalized? These are just a few of the problems.

Now of course there will be some who will want to shame us for taking positions like I have taken here. Accusations of racism will be flung around like darts at a sports bar on Saturday night. We will be lectured that we are mean-spirited and selfish for trying to deny others the very rights and privileges we were fortunately born into. We will hear rhetoric about how we were all once immigrants ad nauseam.

But there are simple answers to these charges. Why is it racist to ask someone to do something according to the proscribed procedures? Is that some sort of cultural bias? In the earlier periods of emigration to this country, immigrants often needed to have a sponsor before they could come in. Though America is a melting pot of various cultures and ethnic backgrounds, America has always had a culture uniquely her own. In the past, those who came here understood that concept, subordinating their old world ways to embrace the new. They assimilated into the American culture publically, while ignoring their own in private. That kind of acceptance is now foreign, pun intended. The new immigrants often want to keep their own ways and force others to adapt. Are people selfish for not wanting their quality of life diluted overtaxing the system. Perhaps so. Yet we know what happens in an overcrowded life boat: everybody sinks.

Now you can't blame them for wanting to come here, but if enough of them do come here, the original reason for them risking it all will no longer exist. Instead of bringing more people here, we ought to export our system of government and economic principles. We can't pile everyone in the single lifeboat, but we can build more lifeboats before the ship sinks.

If people in other lands want to enjoy freedom and lift themselves out of the political and economic quagmires their countries are in, then they must build the moral, political and economic infrastructure to get them there. As it is often said, give a man a fish, he has food for a day. Teach him to fish, he has food for a lifetime.

© Robert Meyer