Juan: Immigation in the forefront

With the immigration debate coming to ahead in America, I would like to drop my two cents, or pesados, on the topic.

I'm tired of hearing immigration described as a "problem." Immigrant workers do more for this country than the vast poplulation of white collar americans. The issue of illigal immigration is a problem of blind nationalism and elitism by american who have forgotten what our country was founded on.

Economically speaking, illegal immigrants are actually an advantage to our tax base. The right would have you believe that they are sucking money out of our welfare, health and education programs. What they fail to note is that the money for illegals use of service is trumped four fold by unclaimed payroll taxes. So when you hear that "illegal immigration costs the taxpayer a billion dollars a year" remember that illegals have paid for those services at a higher rate than the average american. Also, the US has less social programs and benefits than most of the G8 countries. Personally, I would rather obtain access to Cananda's public healthcare than deal with America's style of debt-driven healthcare. An immigrant in Canada has access to more than one in America.

For the right, immigration should be a non-issue. They are the supporters of free-market, supply side economics. Their argument against minimum wage hikes is that it contributes to inflation. (Not billion dollar inheritance and nine figure severences payments.) Although I don't not agree with their stance, they should realize that immigrant workers do the same to the economy as halting working wage increases. In an industrial society, there will always be undesirable jobs that must be filled to keep the infrastructure of economics in balance. Attempting to remove this employment base is a way to chipping away at the levees of inflation, unemployment and basic civil unrest. A flood of market distress is in the wings for our country if legislation passes.

Great, so what's my solution then? Make immigration a streamlined process. Set up US offices in border towns and capitals in Mexico and Latin America and in every country that an embassy or consulate exists where people can obtain valid work permits. Make all visas infinitely extendable, renewable and useful in a path to citizenship. Reduce the citizenship requirements from five years to two and allow immigrant service men and women to be granted citizenship after six months of service. Create new guidlines for visas for parents of American citizens. If your child was born in US, you should have the right to be an American as well. Do not treat our US citizenships as if it's some sort of elite club that no one else may join. That is not what our country was founded on. This land is your land, this land is our land.

Don't let the president and congress let you forget that these are human beings with the right to life, liberty and the persuit of happiness. If you live in a place where there are protests being held by Mexican-Americans, support their cause. Stand up for their rights. They are not criminals. They are here for numerous reasons, none of which is it to maliciously attack anyone's welfare. More crime is commited in this country by American than all immigrants combined. That's a simple fact that will never change. Don't let congress pass this nationalistic bill. Their is a fine line between patriotism and nationalism. Mussolini, Stalin and Hitler crossed that line. Don't let us. John McCain put it wisely:

"Are we going to continue our rich tradition of hundreds of years of welcoming new blood and new vitality to our nation?" Mr. McCain asked. "Or are we going to adopt a protectionist, isolationist attitude and policies that are in betrayal of the very fundamentals of this great nation of ours, a beacon of hope and liberty and freedom throughout the world?"

Well said Mr. President (please?)