Posted by
Hank Rearden on Saturday, June 09, 2007 10:50:42 AM
As you all know, this past week the immigration bill stalled in congress. Conservative talk radio played a major role, as congressmen were deluged with phone calls and emails demanding this thing be killed, and it almost completely has been. This is truly a remarkable turn of events; a democrat congress, combined with a willing president, were unable to ram-rod this thing through. All because conservatives were mobilized in a way not seen since Harriet Myers was appointed to the supreme court by President Bush in 2005.
The outcry against Myers was so severe the President eventually had to withdraw the nomination. It was because of conservative muscle-flexing that Myers was nixed, and the eventual outcome of that whole situation was Samuel Alito, a true constitutionalist who was head-and-shoulders above Myers in the arena of jurisprudence. Now this immigration bill which was almost universally opposed by conservatives has also been defeated in much the same fashion. As such, it is appropriate to ponder the possibility that from this perhaps we might see a new immigration bill that is as satisfying to conservatives as was the nomination and eventual confirmation of Alito.
What would such a bill look like? Well we know what the lawmakers wanted to pass, even if not all of us read the behemoth bill that has seemingly been defeated. We have heard them say that you can not address the border without dealing with the however many millions of illegals that are here now. Of coarse many of us have said over and over that if you just enforce the current law we can cut down the current flow of illegals. Naturally lawmakers ignore this logic and proceed on the notion that we MUST do something right now to make the illegals legal, as if we owe these people something. They then contend that we have to do something and that critics offer no viable solution of their own, and are racist to boot.
Well here is my idea. I came up with it last year when the debate was raging, and today I am convinced it is still the best idea. We make a very public announcement, perhaps in both english and spanish. We introduce a one year solution. All illegal aliens are given one year to apply for citizenship. Part of the application process will be that all such applicants are to learn english. To be sure, they must submit with their application a three hundred word essay outlining why they want to become citizens. It is not important that it be grammatically perfect, just that it is sincere, and written in english. Application forms can be found at every government office in the country, so there is no excuse not to apply. Only in circumstances of fraud or insincerity will applicants be denied, and of coarse there will be a fee so that the government can wet their beaks. If at the end of that years time you have applied but have not yet been processed, that's fine. At least they have demonstrated a sincere desire to become a part of this distinct American culture.
Also, during that years time, employers will be given tax credit to assist those illegals who work for them to complete this program. This is a key incentive for employers to cooperate. Especially since after that years time the penalty for hiring an illegal alien will be a heavy fine along with a five year suspension of their business license. A second offense would result in a permanent suspension. In this scenario, the employer has ample time, opportunity and incentive to get their people legal and english speaking, and the employer will not have to worry about abruptly having to replace their workforce.
Third, during that period of time we will build a border fence, one that is inpenetrable by foreign invasion. Do not even try to tell me that we can not do it. We are America. We can build a damn fence.
Finally, all illegal aliens who do not attempt to take advantage of this opportunity to become Americans will be deported. Period. A year is plenty enough time to at least start the process of becoming legalized citizens. They do not have to be totally processed by the end of the year but they have to at least applied. If they are not interested in becoming a part of the American culture then we should deport them, and do not tell me we can not deport illegals. We are America. We can deport illegals, we just do not.
Oh, and one more thing, any illegal who joins our armed forces is granted immediate citizenship upon completion of at least one tour, or short of that in the event of an honorable discharge. So there it is. With this plan we seal the border, we cut off illegal employment opportunity, we provide a pathway to citizenship which is predicated on their volition to assimilate. In so doing, we would be safer, and we would preserve our distinct American culture.