http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005 by the authors Sun, 14 Aug 2005 09:11:48 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/01/08/102531.php#comment-205704 can i get a green card by investing in US 205704@blogcritics.org Sun, 14 Aug 2005 09:11:48 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/01/08/102531.php#comment-35826 Victoria, you are substantially incorrect in saying that "most of the Republican-Conservative pundits have kept their mouths relatively silent on this issue." The good folks at National Review in particular are pretty much up in arms. However, some folks have kept their powder dry here for several legitimate reasons. For one, I don't see a clear right/Republican position on this stuff. Broadly, some more law and order conservative types will be for fences and increases in the INS. However, the more libertarian contingent of the right wing will be inclined to favor open borders. Then there are those somewhere in between who aren't sure just what to think. Also, it is certainly reasonable to be skeptical of the motivations of any politician, but perhaps you should consider the possibility that the president actually means well. Remember that Bush ran as a "compassionate conservative." Hearing his remarks on this immigration issue yesterday, he sure sounded compassionate to the position of the illegals. Liberals are always going on about the plights of the poor and suffering, yet many of you seem to exhibit little concern for these Mexican immigrants. I recognize that there are problems caused by their presence, but maybe you should credit the president for his concern- even if there is no really good solution on either side. 35826@blogcritics.org Thu, 8 Jan 2004 15:17:03 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/01/08/102531.php#comment-35790 "You should not have to: Marry a US citizen to get citizenship. Have to make a huge investment in business to get citizenship. Serve in the US armed forces to get citizenship." I thought that we did have a naturalization process as part of our immigration policy. You have to file an application, take an examination and then go to a court hearing. I think the requirements are that you have to be 18 years or older, have lived in US for at least 5 years, be of good 'moral' character (no arrest record), be able to read and write basic english, understand our government structure (I believe the test that you take in the naturalization process is a civics type test) and you have to swear allegiance to the US. They didn't do away with this, did they? The main point of the naturalization process is that you have to have immigrated here LEGALLY. By giving the 'temporary worker card or blue card' to illegal immigrants he is giving them a way to apply for citizenship even though they did not immigrate here legally. Being a retired police officer there is a big part of me that screams 'NO, DO NOT REWARD SOMEONE THAT BREAKS THE LAW' but then there is the small voice in my heart that says that our immigration laws do need to be reformed, there needs to be a larger number of green cards issued per year. The citizenship law needs to be changed to include that any child born to 'ILLEGAL' aliens in the US is not a US citizen. This would encourage people to come in legally and would save the people in California, Texas, Florida, New Mexico, Arizona, etc. lots in taxes to support these people. This is a tough situation, I want to be compassionate but we have to get control of our borders. We should have an amendment that says that police officers can arrest illegals and have deportation hearings. I know that the INS department can't handle the load. "ItÂ's not the illegal immigrants who stop companies from paying below the basic wage. It is the companies themselves. LetÂ's take this once step further: Say you do give temporary worker status and allow these illegal immigrants to receive social security cards, etc, how does that make them pay taxes? Taxes come out of your declared wages. If a company chooses to hire under the table, it doesnÂ't matter if they have a social security card. " I agree with what you are saying but the illegals can't negotiate any price with an employer because they will be deported and the employers can't list them on the regular payroll and pay taxes if they don't have a SS card. If they are here legally, the policy is hoping that this will change into the company paying the wage and having the taxes taken out, this will also give the immigrants a better leg to stand on in negotiating a wage. They won't have the fear of deportation and will have some rights. 35790@blogcritics.org Thu, 8 Jan 2004 11:32:42 EST