Can we stop talking about friggin' immigration?

[classicman]

Originally Posted by bluecuracao

I just wished for a little break, that's all.

Take as long a break as you wish - Thats your prerogative. Just don't read the thread. I don't understand why that is so difficult. To further the discussion by creating another thread about discussing that which you do not want to discuss makes even less sense.
Perhaps you should have created a thread about something else of interest to you and hopefully others who would then give you the "refuge of intelligence and camaraderie" that you are looking for.

[sugarpop]

Exactly lookout. I have no problem increasing the amount of legal immigrants we allow in, but I get really upset about ILLEGALs. I know people who have been affected because of it. (jobs, you know?)

[classicman]

lol - this is so wrong Here is the link to the non existent thread

[TheMercenary]

No, here is the link:

http://cellar.org/showpost.php?p=547014&postcount=6

Modified Rick Roll.

[Shawnee123]

Nicely said, glatt.

[Shawnee123]

Originally Posted by classic

Blue could have ignored this thread if she didn't like it or didn't want to participate in the discussion. Isn't that the way its supposed to work?

I don't know. I'm not reading you right this second.

[lookout123]

The idea that it's only about illegal immigrants is a little disingenuous. If the only concern is about following the law, then where are all the threads against smoking pot, pirating music, breaking traffic laws, etc.?

There are other reasons that the immigrant/illegal immigrant debates are so hot. It's not about people breaking the law. It's about us versus them.

I'm going to throw the BS flag on that one. There have been threads about drug legalization and they will pop up from time to time based on how important someone thinks it is. Music piracy isn't an in your face issue with a vocal group of people saying "it's ok to steal it if you can't afford it", so that isn't even in the same ballpark.

The reason illegal immigration keeps popping up is because it is something that affects every one of us. There is a large vocal group who want amnesty/open borders/whatever, and a slightly larger group that want laws enforced/improved/whatever. Those two sides each feel it is a crucial issue for the country so will battle. Not everything is about race or country of origin. If Monster was here illegally I'd ask her to get right the fuck out now. She's here legally so I want her to take full advantage of any and everything the US has to offer. I've stated my position on the issue in a few threads, but my point here is that it is an ongoing issue for reasons beyond race or the us v them mindset.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

No, because we know that people that are caught, "smoking pot, pirating music, breaking traffic laws, etc." are punished, whereas these criminals are not.

That's not true. People are deported every day. They aren't catching everyone, but they also aren't catching all music pirates or drug users.

Originally Posted by lookout123

Music piracy isn't an in your face issue with a vocal group of people saying "it's ok to steal it if you can't afford it", so that isn't even in the same ballpark.

It's true, it's not an in your face issue. And that's my point. Music piracy is against the law. We all know people who have done it, or we do it ourselves, and nobody cares. I certainly don't. But we can't watch all the piracy going on and shrug our shoulders, and at the same time claim that we are all about enforcing the law.

Originally Posted by lookout123

The reason illegal immigration keeps popping up is because it is something that affects every one of us. There is a large vocal group...

The immigration issue is dominating the press, so it's also dominating the conversation here. That much is certainly true and understandable. But the question is "why is it dominating the press?" and I think the answer is because we see the country changing and it scares us and makes us mad. It's changing to something different. Because these people are different.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by glatt

That's not true. People are deported every day. They aren't catching everyone, but they also aren't catching all music pirates or drug users.

Whoopee do, a free ride home and the they waltz right back. They aren't catching them all, because they aren't even trying, the only ones they catch are the ones that get in their face. If they run afoul of the law the cops aren't even allowed to inform the fucking INS, like they don't work for the same taxpayers.
I know of a bunch of Nigerians in MA that have overstayed their student visas for 8 or 10 years. Every year the Federal Government sends them a letter telling them to leave the country, which they ignore. Can't find them? Bullshit, they ain't trying.

@bluecuracao, if you are bothered by people that don't agree with you on every issue, you must have a very small circle of friends.

[bluecuracao]

A) the INS doesn't exist anymore.

B) You're misunderstanding what I was trying to say.

[xoxoxoBruce]

I stand corrected, the USCIS.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Thanks UT, everything froze up and I didn't think even one went through. I even closed my browser and then couldn't get back in the Cellar, so I gave up and went to look at porn.

[lookout123]

BS. I live on the freaking border down here. I don't hear people complaining because popular baby names are changing. I hear people complaining because people (not just mexicans) are able to enter the country illegally, work illegally, throw their kids in the schools illegally, get free healthcare illegally with little to no consequences if they are caught. All the while a large group of people use the same arguments based on $25 hamburgers or racism to discount the very valid complaints of those who see the negative side of illegal immigration.

I'm strongly pro immigration. I want it to be easier for larger numbers of potential immigrants.

I'm strongly anti illegal immigration. I want to know who is here. I want to know they aren't criminals. I want them to get the same protections and benefits as all legal residents and to follow the same rules.

[Queen of the Ryche]

Originally Posted by lookout123

BS. I live on the freaking border down here. I don't hear people complaining because popular baby names are changing. I hear people complaining because people (not just mexicans) are able to enter the country illegally, work illegally, throw their kids in the schools illegally, get free healthcare illegally with little to no consequences if they are caught. All the while a large group of people use the same arguments based on $25 hamburgers or racism to discount the very valid complaints of those who see the negative side of illegal immigration.

I'm strongly pro immigration. I want it to be easier for larger numbers of potential immigrants.

I'm strongly anti illegal immigration. I want to know who is here. I want to know they aren't criminals. I want them to get the same protections and benefits as all legal residents and to follow the same rules.

I am in complete agreement. I pay taxes, I pay for my daughter's education, I paid to give birth to her (cash above and beyond what the insurance that I pay for didn't cover). Come on over, pay your fair share into the system, and feel free to receive the same benefits I do.

[lookout123]

o further the discussion by creating another thread about discussing that which you do not want to discuss makes even less sense.

I think it's pretty funny actually.