I was watching the news the other day and came across a news media talking head and a Republican congressman going round and round on the topic of immigration most specifically at our southern border. I have heard this discussion numerous times over the last several years and always ends the same way, the republican blaming the democrats for this problem. It’s like a broken record every time I hear this banter, doesn’t matter which congressman is bloviating, a republican or democrat, it’s always the same talking points.
I believe that no politician out there be it from any party has any interest in fixing this issue. It seems to me, that it is more entertaining to bad mouth each other on Fox or CNN and get some quality face time on national TV, than it is to compromise and come up with a viable solution to this issue. Don’t believe that? Here is a video clip from 1980 of George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan debating this very topic.
Forty four years and still the same talking points and still no solutions!
Over the previous weekend, I was hanging out with one of my oldest friend and Air Force brother, my friend Pasquale. Pasquale’s family immigrated from Italy in 1967. He was telling me about all the things his family had to learn and do to become American citizens. Many of these laws that Pasquale’s family had to follow are still in effect today. Enforcing them is really the issue as it seems that the immigration officials are being overwhelmed by the sheer numbers they are seeing.
The people we elect to public office are supposed to be statesmen. They should be able to debate and come up viable, bipartisan solution to this issue. Republicans have controlled all three houses of government from 2000 to 2006 and again from 2016 to 2018. Democrats have controlled it from 2008 to 2010, they all had opportunity to pass laws to help solve this issue but let’s be honest, solving this issue with a viable bipartisan solution doesn’t make for good tv on Fox or CNN. A bipartisan bill was recently squashed in the Senate because a republican presidential candidate wants to run on the issue that he also has no interest in solving. Truth be told, politicians are more interested in getting credit for solving problems than solving them. It’s more fun to go on TV, get your face time and insult the other side. It’s dysfunctional government at its best!
Nearly every person in this country apart from native Americans, migrated to this country in previous generations. Immigration built this country into what it is today. The are processes in place that allow for legal migration to the United States, I believe that is all people want to see happen in this country. These are people just trying to find a better way of life, and we should be able to give them this opportunity, but it is fiscally irresponsible to allow countless people to come across our borders and live off the fat of the land.
Is there any leader out there in our government who has any interest in solving this problem? My guess is no, we’ve be debating this topic since the 80’s, why fix it ? It’s makes for better Jerry Springer type moments on national TV than to actually solve this problem.