For all the money available to our Congressional leaders from office budgets -- not to mention the money from pacts and special interest groups -- they (according to a recent national poll) are more interested in their own drumbeat than in the public they serve.
Therein may lie the rub.
Our leaders are more attuned to the highest bidder than to constituents -- they care more about feathering their own careers than the welfare of America. And this is a reality shared by democrats, republicans and independents across the board.
If our Congressional leaders were truly concerned about the issue of immigration, they would be cognizant of the realities (sans the political agendas promoted by Roy Beck and Gaylord Nelson) presented in this video: Immigration Gumball.
Where are our leaders? Feathering their own nests .... betraying the nation and the very people they were elected to represent.
How else can you explain their failure to recognize that approx. 75% of Americans objected to the immigration bill that they tried -- and almost succeeded in -- forcing upon us?
Since our elected officials don't want to listen to 75% of us -- who are they listening to? They are listening to big business lobbyists, PACs and corporations who thrive on labor -- cheap labor. They are listening to the bleeding heart activists who are represented by the likes of Teddy Kennedy.
And if our legislators have budgets for polling and access to government studies -- how did they miss this set of statistics?
Number of Illegal Aliens in the Country |
20,807,645 |
Money Wired to Mexico City since January, 2006 |
$22,213,001,672.00 |
Cost of Social Security Services for Illegal Aliens since 1996 |
$397,450,739,563.00 |
Number of Children of Illegal Aliens in Public Schools |
3,958,789 |
Cost of Illegal Aliens in K-12 Since 1996: |
$13, 965,063,431.00 |
Number of Illegal Aliens Incarcerated |
332,594 |
Cost of Incarcerations Since 2001 |
$1,398,127,42900 |
Number of Illegal Aliens Fugitives |
642,799 |
Skilled Jobs Taken by Illegal Aliens |
9,872,838 |
NOTE: the above data is updated continuously at the ImmigrationCounter site. Check it out. You might also watch the videos that MSM won't be sharing. (Note again -- this is NOT an endorsement of the politcal agendas promoted by the site affiliates such as Roy Beck and Gaylord Nelson.)
Continue to keep the pressure on our Congressional leaders to focus on what WE (not big business or special interest groups) want and need.
We live in a world where most Americans believe that most Members of Congress will sell their vote for cash or a campaign contribution. Only 16% believe the legislators' votes are not for sale. By a nearly 5-to-1 margin, voters believe that Members of Congress are more interested in their own careers and agenda rather than the public good.
In that environment, the only way for political leaders to prove they are serious about enforcing the border and reducing illegal immigration will be to do it. That's the next logical step in the immigration debate.
There are plenty of steps that could be taken quickly with solid voter support. Some may require new laws while others may simply require enforcement of the existing laws. But, voters aren't concerned about the specifics—they'll support serious efforts to reduce illegal immigration. This could include imposing employer sanctions, building a barrier, adding more border patrol agents, supporting local law enforcement efforts, and more.
Once the government actually enforces the border, then the debate can begin on all other aspects of immigration reform. Then, the same politicians who were stunned by their misreading of the public on this bill will probably be stunned to learn something else—most Americans actually do favor a welcoming and open immigration policy.
The United States is a nation of immigrants. It is also a nation of laws. Voters want to honor both aspects of the national heritage. And, like good parents trying to instill values in their children, voters want their elected representatives to do the same.
Keep up the pressure. Write and call your representatives until they realize their responsibilities to the people who elected them. And if they don't -- tell them that you will meet them at the ballot box.