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"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32
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Author:  Larry Simoneaux
Bio: Larry Simoneaux
Date:  May 27, 2007
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Topic category:  Other/General

Everything Old is New Again

How to start this one? I think that forming a mental image of Nero "fiddling" (even though the fiddle hadn’t been invented at the time) while Rome burned would be the best way.

Such an image would help you understand what many members of the Senate were doing while they cobbled together their "Immigration Reform" (see also: "Amnesty") bill.

To make the image work, though, the "Rule of Law" would have to be used as the substitute for Rome.

Like many over the past few years, I’ve watched the illegal immigration situation go from really bad (it was never "good") to somewhere on the far side of worse.

Lawmakers tiptoed around the problem back in the ‘80’s when the number of illegal aliens hovered somewhere around 3 million.

Instead of fixing the problem, they passed a bill that proved to be long on amnesty (they at least had the guts to use the correct term) but woefully short on the promised "enforcement" side. As a result of that shortcoming, the number of illegal aliens present in this country is now 12 million and rising.

Minor aside: You can use the term "undocumented workers" until you’re blue in the face, but my brain will always register those words as "illegal alien." I’ll explain why.

Our laws lay out specific guidelines to be followed by those who wish to enter the United States. Unfortunately, millions have ignored those laws. That makes their stay here illegal and since they’re not citizens of this country, they would also be considered aliens. Hence, "illegal aliens."

Now, do I blame people for wanting to come here to better their lives? Not one bit.

If I lived in a country wherein it was tough to make a decent living for myself and my family, you can bet that I’d be looking for greener pastures too.

Further, no matter what many say about this country, it’s still a place wherein you can make a darned good life for you and yours if you’re willing to work at it. As proof of that, you can look almost anywhere in the United States and see millions of legal immigrants who’ve played by the rules and done just that.

Countless others worldwide have noted that one simple fact and have gotten into line for the chance to do the same.

Now, these same people – the immigrants who did everything properly and those still standing in line - are about to get slapped in the face for playing by the rules. Doubly galling is the fact that it’s our elected representatives who are about to look these people in the face and, basically, say: "Suckers."

These are the same representatives who seem to care not a whit that the majority of law-abiding people in this country – of all races and origins – are demanding that our borders be secured.

These are the same representatives who seem unwilling or even afraid to impose penalties on those who’ve broken our laws to get here and those who employ them once they’ve gotten here.

In truth, it appears as if one political party views these illegal aliens as a pool of future voters to whom they can throw an occasional bone in trade for a perceived lock on power. This while the other party apparently sees them as an endless source of cheap labor.

That the immigration "reform" they now propose will end up costing taxpayers trillions worries them not.

That they’re willing to mouth empty promises about securing our borders embarrasses them not.

Lastly, that they’re willing to ignore the results of the previous amnesty program brings to mind one definition of insanity - doing the same thing all over again while expecting different results.

I’d have more respect for the lot of them were they just to say that they’ve decided to pursue whatever advantages they think these illegal aliens represent and "Who the heck cares what all of you who play by the rules think."

So, a pox on them all.

And, for what it’s worth, if some three-legged, flea-infested, mange-ridden, sway-backed, one-eyed, flop-eared mutt runs on a platform of enforcing the Rule of Law and securing our borders with something more than harsh language, that woe-begotten mutt is going to get at least one vote in the 2008 elections.

That much I can promise.

Larry Simoneaux

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Biography - Larry Simoneaux

Larry Simoneaux is a regular columnist for The Everett Herald in Washington state. He is a retired ship driver for the US Navy and NOAA.


Read other commentaries by Larry Simoneaux.

Copyright © 2007 by Larry Simoneaux
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