Quoting:
Seems like a good figure to me.

And lock down the borders.  Place troops on the Southern and Northern borders.  The president of Mexico has done this on his borders.

And crack down strongly on illegal immigration.  And make the USA English only.  Every society needs an official language to encourage assimilation.

While still allowing newcomers the freedom to perserve their respective cultures.  Such as Chinatown, Little Italy, places like that in a town near you in the USA or other nation...
End Quote

Ringer, I like you more and more everytime you post. ;D


But seriously, limiting immigration is a wonderful idea in theory, but, it has to start with illegal immigration first.  There are millions of legal immigrants who contribute to society, work, pay their taxes, and are an asset to this country.

However, there are also millions of illegal immigrants who, in my opinion, are nothing but a drain on our economy and who should be booted out as fast as they snuck in.  California I'm looking at you! >:(  California seems to welcome illegal aliens, and it ticks me off! >:(  Thats where it needs to start.  

I say leave the legal immigrants alone until the illegals are dealt with.  And yes that begins with sealing off all of our land borders (even the Great White North ;)).


As for making it English only.  I have no problem with that, but, as long as politics exist, it will never happen.  Unfortunately.

Quoting:
Where the heck is DC?  Another thread I'm sure he'll contribute to! ;)
As for me, I'm staying out of this debate.
End Quote

DC's an immigrant. I'm sure he'll be happy to debate with you.

Quoting:
What's wrong with immigrants and what's so great about the English language? What does language have to do with national unity. India has 12 different major languages and it seems to do alright.

Immigrants are the best kind of Americans, because in their old countries, they would work their a**es off for nothing. Here, if they work hard enough, they can pretty much do whatever they want. Immigrants are one of the few groups of people that have work ethic to spare. I know I wish I worked as hard as the Tran's do (Vietnamese family that goes to my Church.)

Foreigners built this country and they continue to do so. It is ridiculous to shut them out or force them to "Speak English!" Immigrants are also some of the most patriotic Americans because they can appreciate what life would be like without American opportunities. To them, the Statue of Liberty means much more than it does to us.
End Quote

I totally agree....wow you took the words right out of my mouth!  :-*

Quoting:
And make the USA English only.  Every society needs an official language to encourage assimilation.
End Quote

You - must - assimilate!

I can understand having an official language, but forcing everyone to speak it is just like forcing them all to become Christians. People should be free to speak in whatever language they like, just as they are to follow whatever religion they like. As far as I'm aware, the USA is a multicultural society; as such, there's no restrictions on what language people choose to speak in.

Quoting:
But illegal immigration must be stopped.

It is out of control in California.  And is a threat to national security.
End Quote

Illegal immigration is a problem everywhere. I agree that it needs to be stopped, but the problem is how to deal with it. Many people leave their home countries for purely valid reasons: religious or political persecution, poverty, war. Sometimes they can't wait for a visa to get out.  The government here in Australia throws illegals into concentration camps for years on end. It has even sent many people straight back to where they came from. But they keep trying to come in, because the dream of a better life in our country is worth the torment they endure to get here.

Quoting:

And those immigrants who you talk about succeeding, speak English I am sure.
End Quote

Sure they do. But they do it from choice, and because they live in a country where the official language of the majority is English. I bet they speak their native tongue a lot too.

Quoting:
What's wrong with immigrants...Immigrants are the best kind of Americans, because in their old countries, they would work their a**es off for nothing. Here, if they work hard enough, they can pretty much do whatever they want. Immigrants are one of the few groups of people that have work ethic to spare. I know I wish I worked as hard as the Tran's do (Vietnamese family that goes to my Church.)

Foreigners built this country and they continue to do so. It is ridiculous to shut them out or force them to "Speak English!" Immigrants are also some of the most patriotic Americans because they can appreciate what life would be like without American opportunities. To them, the Statue of Liberty means much more than it does to us.
End Quote

John, I think the main point was to stop the illegal immigrants from flooding in through our non-existant boarders.

As I said, those immigrants that come in and become citizens, work, and contribute to society are an asset to this great country.

Those that just come in and leach off the system illegally, should be booted out immediately.

Quoting:
Where the heck is DC?  Another thread I'm sure he'll contribute to! ;)
As for me, I'm staying out of this debate.
End Quote

After a nice overnight sail on my boat, DC IS BACK  ;D and with LOTS to say  ;D Read on.

Quoting:
Seems like a good figure to me.

And lock down the borders.  Place troops on the Southern and Northern borders.  The president of Mexico has done this on his borders.

And crack down strongly on illegal immigration.  And make the USA English only.  Every society needs an official language to encourage assimilation.

While still allowing newcomers the freedom to perserve their respective cultures.  Such as Chinatown, Little Italy, places like that in a town near you in the USA or other nation...
End Quote

I would simply point out that there is a poem on the base of the Statue of Liberty, by Emma Lazarus, that states, "give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breeth free...".  

And let me ask you, Ringer, where did YOUR family come from, or are you a native American?

And English only?  Well, the only group of people made citizens by act of Congress speak Spanish as their native language, so I would say that Spanish should be our official language, since those gringoes back in 1917 loved use "spics" so much as to give us citizenship without our asking for it.  Clearly absurd.

A diverse country, either "melting pot" or "salad bowl" needs to get beyond this xenophobia.

Quoting:


Ringer, I like you more and more everytime you post. ;D


End Quote

Not surprising.

Quoting:

Illegal immigration is a big drain on California, whether people want to admit it or not.

End Quote

Actually, it depends on how you look at it.  The majority of illeagal alliens in our boarder states, and beyond, are encouraged ( and employed) by growers who would prefer not to deal with the United Farm Workers' Union, or small scall business folk who would prefer not to pay U.S. citizens the minimum wage.  Many studies show that, since these people don't want to be deported, they don't make waves.  They take whatever "the boss" gives them and keep their mouths shut.  They DON'T get welfare, as a rule, they DON't get labor law protection, they DO get short pay, exploitation, and the shaft, because they are vulnerable.  And their labor provides us all with (relatively) cheap vegetables.

Read the reports, Gov't and otherwise, before you make unsubstantiated assertions.  Get the facts before you spout off.

Quoting:

DC's an immigrant. I'm sure he'll be happy to debate with you.
End Quote

Actually, JH, I was born & raised in New Jersey.  My mom went there in, I think, 1945, engaged to my dad  who had been sent to England for the invasion.  She was "Rosie the Riviter" at the Curtice Wright plant in Fairfield N.J.  She was already a citizen (thanks to Congress).  But YES, this is certainly of interest to me. ;D

Quoting:


I totally agree....wow you took the words right out of my mouth!  :-*
End Quote

;D  ;D  ;D  ;D 'nugh said

Quoting:
Yes, that's true.

But illegal immigration must be stopped.

It is out of control in California.  And is a threat to national security.

Stop all illegal immigration (as much as you can) and cut legal immigration to 250,000.

And those immigrants who you talk about succeeding, speak English I am sure.
End Quote

If it weren't for CA, TX, AZ, etc growers, it would be easy to stop illeagal immigration.  But as long as these dudes are willing to employ illeagal ( at sub-standard EVERYTHING), they will continue to come.  And have you ever seen the boarder between the U.S. and Mexico?  Stop the employers and you'll stop the illegals.

And why 250,000?  And which 250,000?  Who is it you would restrict (we Latinos are now the largest minority in the U.S. - we could become a majority.  Then maybe Spanish should becaome the "official" language. (?)

Quoting:
Latinos are white.  Technically.  Sort of swarthy Anglos.  Like ItaliansEnd Quote

???

Quoting:
The majority of illeagal alliens in our boarder states, and beyond, are encouraged ( and employed) by growers who would prefer not to deal with the United Farm Workers' Union, or small scall business folk who would prefer not to pay U.S. citizens the minimum wage.
End Quote

Pay people a fair wage.

Quoting:
They throw people in Australia in internment camps for being illegals?
End Quote

They throw Middle Eastern and South East Asian refugees into concrete and weatherboard prisons in the middle of the desert. The thousands of British, Canadian, American and western European people who overstay their visas every year are escorted politely to the airport and put on a plane at the taxpayers' expense.

Quoting:
Oh, oops. My bad. I thought you said something about moving to the states in a previous post. My mistake and my appologies, fellow American.  ;D
End Quote

No offence taken, no prob.  ;D

Quoting:
Latinos are white.  Technically.  Sort of swarthy Anglos.  Like Italians

And greedy business people are to blame (in a big part) for illegals coming to the USA.

They want cheap labor to exploit.

Don Carlos...you are a sailor?

 
End Quote

I have several cousins whom you would identify as black if you saw them, although I get my blue eyes from my mother.  Actually, we latinos are a mixed bag.  We combine European, Native American, African, and Asian genes in our makeup.  We also define race differently than it is defined in the states.  To us, race is a continuum, not a bi-polarity, and dark skin is not a disadvantage.  Throughout Latin America, the saying is "money whitens".

Yes, I am a sailor.  I sail an O'Day 25.  Great boat - love it.  By the way, after two outings my skin has turned a few shades darker - those genes will out.  ;D