America's Paranoia
What has made America great? A recent Newsweek article suggests that openness, innovation, immigration, and flexibility has lead to new industries, new technologies, and new jobs. All of these things have made the USA the most productive nation in the world, and hopefully for next several decades.
However, politicians have chosen to become paranoid these years, moving to shut out foreign competition, more regulations on controlling the flow of immigration, and be less willing to collaborate with other countries technologically and economically.
Most of these reasons are based on the premise that something or someone out there is threatening our "national security." Terrorism is a bad thing, sure it is. We try to make everything 100% safe, but like or not, achieving perfection against it is impossible. No matter how many security cameras, guards with M-16 rifles, or an implant chip designed to monitor your location, an attack will inevitably happen.
What is the common sense thing to do? Be extra vigilant and do not take anything for granted.
Congress moves to prevent a Chinese company buying an oil corporation. Then it goes and prevents an Arab company owning a US subsidiary in controlling some of the nation's largest shipping ports. Then the problem along our southern border becomes the latest "national security" threat. We promise that we will not militarise our borders, but we are doing that right now by sending national guard tropps to the Mexican-US border. How about we send some to cover the Canadian border? No need to play favourites. Now there is talk about implanting immigrants with a chip so we will know where they are. Yes, we should combat illegal immigration, but with the politicians and groups like the Minutemen making it such a big deal, Americans are looking at each other to find out if that person is a legal or illegal immigrant. It seems that being a white caucausian person is the only way to avoid being scrutinised.
This is just one example of playing on the citizen's fears. Perhaps they do not want us to know that the country is really bankrupt, those social security checks are being paid out of China, and Iran will get blown up by Christmas.
So let me go take off my shoes for the TSA army even though they are complaint and does not contain any metal, but they still want you to take it off anyway. How about I walk in with bathroom slippers? Then I labelled as a non-conforming person and could be a threat. A catch-22!
Comments
Posted by: Chad
Posted on: June 8, 2006 12:47 PM
I find that your views on immigration are not informed. We are calling for tougher immigration legislation because of the following:
We need tougher because right now because illegal immigrants are spitting on the laws of our land. There are means of getting into our country legally. They should use those. There is a reason that they call them illegal immigrants. THEY BROKE THE LAW!
Do you realize that the Senate bill calls for amnesty so sweeping that they get more rights than the average American? This bill would forgive social security fraud done by ILLEGAL immigrants. It would allow them to move their accounts from their fraudulent account to their real account. This is a crime punishable by 250,000 dollars... and they get away with it.
Amnesty sets a bad precedent. Once we secure our borders, what stops the next group from getting in illegally and asking for amnesty 10 years down the road? The precedence for a such request would be there. Why should they get put ahead of all the people who have been trying to get in LEGALLY?
We need to document our immigrants so we know who is here and so we can deny citizenship to criminals, terrorists, and carriers of communicable diseases. We need to control what enters our country to maintain sovereignty
Posted by: James
Posted on: June 8, 2006 02:04 PM
Ok, for one thing, I did not go into details about the current immigration issue because it has been thoroughly documented by news articles, criticisms by both Republicans and Democrats, and so on.
Do not always assume that what I did not say means that I lack access to such information. I would gladly list the thousands of URL links that deal with the current immigration problem. However, I believe that is overkill.
I find it ridiculous that this immigration problem is being labeled the most dangerous threat to America ever since the 9-11 attacks. Getting blown up by a nuke is much more dangerous. Because of the hype and the fear generated by people like yourself, you are convincing the public that illegal immigrants are the ones to blame for the country's suffering.
It is true! You are so focused on the immigrants that are ILLEGALLY entering the country. However, by generating such paranoia, you are looping the LEGAL immigrants into the same mess because you are making everyone else think they are untrustworthy, and that is why I suggest that if you are white, you are less likely to be questioned, pulled over, and continually asked for your identification. This is why it is again exposing a rift in the social fabric of the citizenry.
The current proposals to deal with immigration are idealistic. You are calling for the arrest and deportation of an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants. You tell me how you are going to accomplish that? Local and federal law enforcement are not enough, so you need to bring in the military. There is no way around that. Do you want to see soldiers patrolling our towns and cities?
Social security fraud is irrelevant. You and I will never see that social security check because by the time we retire, it's bankrupt. I am investing in my 401k, thank you very much.
Securing the borders is a good thing but the problem is being exaggerated. Duh, of course it is a serious problem, but with all the televised coverage and protests, you are telling me that half of Mexico is invading America. I find the timing suspicious because of the proximity of the midterm elections therefore I doubt the full sincerity of our politicians. It was not an issue last year or the year before that, and suddenly it becomes a huge priority.
It's basic common sense, the politicians saw the polls, read the Minuteman's exploits, and decided that immigration was the issue for 2006.
Posted by: Canadian Immigration
Posted on: May 3, 2007 02:32 PM
Last year, Canada decided not to grant amnesty to undocumented (illegal) workers in Canada, arguing that it was unfair that they jump the queue for Canadian immigration. Now, given the skills shortage in Canada, the government is considering granting legal status to these illegal workers. You may be interested in this article:
http://www.canadavisa.com/undocumented-skilled-workers-in-canada.html