The Question of Immigration

Yes, they failed. Both sides are responsible for the failure. By intent or hapenstance failure abounded in the middle of the 19th century America. From a Southern perspective most did not own slaves and thought the same of the issue as the northerners. The issues were economic between the elite of both regions and as you say no ones handfs are clean. Yankee businessmen profited from the slave trade and the produce of southern farms and plantations. Southern planters, owned the majority of slaves in a world where slavery was common. I don't excuse the practice but just recognize the reality of the practice. So who is guilty of subverting the intent of the Constitution, Southern interests who adhere to a corrupt practice out of fear of economic ruin, or yankee interests who fear Southern expansion of slavery into new states for economic reasons. 

The election of Lincoln, who was an abolitionist to his core, was notice to the South of an intent to expand the regional war from Kansas to the entire country. Lincoln took the first opportunity to expand the prospects of a wider war when he called for 70,000 volunteers to invade his own country. Lincoln said some great and noble words, and he deserves  his place in history. However, the issue is not black and white and even the shades of grey have shades. 

The South did not iniate a textbook civil war. The South resigned from the union. A true civil war would have one group attempt to overthrow there legitamte government and institute another in its place. The seceeding Southern states did not seek the overthrow of the Lincoln administrationm. They exercised their right to not belong to the union. Lincoln forced the firing on FT Sumpter to justify his call for an army. 

What will the world say when California and other Democrat enclaves  secede from the union? Will Texas or Florida become the new capitol of America? How long will the new hot real civil war last? Abortion and immigration will be the key issues. Will you be able to live as you do in a state where war has been ignited to defend on demand abortion and unlimited immigration ?

It's interesting to get the Southern perspective...which is by no means new to me. But I remain unconvinced by it.

What we have now is a Federal government that quite arguably has grown way outside of its legal bounds. And as I've noted before about any forthcoming (perhaps necessary) civil war, the comparison with the Civil War (War of Northern Aggression...yadda yadda yadda) is that there are no clean geographic boundaries in this current war. There is no relatively clear and coherent "North/South." We don't even have the relatively clean muddle of "border states."

What we have are enclaves of very populace liberal/leftist cities and the more conservative areas outside of them. Everywhere. This is probably true in all places to some extent, even California. VDH, for instance, was (is) a rural conservative.

What state is not so infected by progressivism that they wouldn't first need to cut off an arm and a leg before seceding? And then what would be left? A few states, such as Texas, are relatively homogeneous enough to be a candidate for secession. You could build a big wall around Austin or something. But most states to secede would have to cut out a complicated patchwork of large urban areas...areas which tend to be the big drivers of the economy as well as the hub of import/export.

Texas, maybe. But there is no such solution in the other states. The big liberal enclaves are the cities and large suburbs. Add to that the flood of illegal aliens who (at least in California) are doing a fair job at even wiping out or scaring off the more conservative rural folk. We can sit on our stockpile of guns and talk big, but how do you start, much less manage, a patchwork civil war, especially when one side (the progressives) are going to have most of the money and control the media and propaganda?

And they have a fair amount of guns as well via the state. And tanks. Etc. But history is a long time...as is just a year in politics. When (as I think we will see in our lifetimes) major cities are set on fire by Antifa (and other) rioters, it's certainly possible that people will say "Enough is enough." That is, perhaps the idiot women and emasculated men voters among us will activate their desire for "safety" (or compliance to Mother) and actually apply it to something sensible like keeping looters and rioters out of cities instead of Karening us to death in what is becoming a bubble-boy culture.

I have a dream.

That's an interesting story. I hadn't heard that before. It's sort of the counterpoint to the invention of the cotton gin which, as I understand my history, invigorated plantations in the South, as well as slavery.

But I don't think slavery was by any means a purely economic function of the South.

Anyway, reading my current detective novel set in the later 19th century, our hero is an admirer of Gladstone. A little reading at Wiki reveals that he dealt necessarily with the slavery issue and was for a gradual elimination.



The solution (at least in British colonies) was for the government to reimburse slave owners.



In hindsight, I'm surprised that they could get that kind of money appropriated. Certainly it was a pragmatic solution. Arguably through entitlements and other payoffs, we continue to spend money on the problem. We might have been better off arranging a buyout….and then installing GE generators.

It is 6 right now (20:26) after a high of 12. The forecast is for cold through Wednesday and maybe warming on Thursday all the way to 40. First  spring rains begin next week with low temps in the mid 30s and high into the high 40s or even 50. Second winter begins shortly thereafter. After second winter week we will have second spring week then third winter into March and finely third spring about St. Patricks Day. Spring will continue until first summer about a week later. Although it is not uncommon to have forth winter days in late March and early April. First tornado season begins in March. 

It's about 17 degrees here at 10:30pm. Tomorrow morning should be around 12 degrees and it should reach the mid 20s during the day. Wednesday morning it is projected to be 16 degrees and it should reach the 40s during the day. By that time, we will have had 3-4 days of hard freeze, which is what we need to kill the bugs which would otherwise swarm us starting in the spring.

I think he is positioning himself for a position in the Trump cabinet. I don't see him as Sec of State but that could be interesting. More likely something Dir of Homeland security with control of the border he moght be really effective. 

Well, that could be a definite sign that the Trump team is in contact with him for some future role in a possible administration, precisely as Artler said.

My fifth piece for ST. As bad as the below is, it appears that the Lankford/Schumer proposal coming out of the Senate is even worse.

Our Dishonest Amnesty

15 Aug 2013 by Kung Fu Zu

During and after passing S.744 in the Senate, members of the “Gang of Eight” (including McCain, Graham and Schumer) made numerous claims about the bill, such as it “secures the borders,” “adds thousands of border agents,” “is not amnesty,” and “it will take ten years before illegals can become citizens.” The dishonesty of these and other claims are rebutted below.

After going through these points, I believe most readers will be outraged at the duplicity of those involved with this legislation. More importantly, Americans need to wake up to the contempt in which many of our elected representatives hold us. The proliferation of 1000+ page bills, which are passed before anyone can read and analyze them, clearly shows our federal laws are written for special interests and not for the American people. The list is long, but there is so much wrong with this bill that it takes many lines to expose the complete corruption of those who voted for it.

Amnesty

Current illegals are granted the right to stay in the USA once the Secretary of DHS gives notice that he or she has begun to implement a strategy to secure the border. This will take place within 6 months of passing the law, not after border is “secured”.

The bill immediately authorizes illegal aliens to work in the USA and obtain a social security number, driver’s license, and travel outside the USA.

The bill authorizes class action lawsuits against the government by illegal aliens suing to obtain amnesty or prevent border security measures from taking place.

The bill requires illegals to pay only US$2,000 in fines, which can paid in installments and a processing fee which is to be determined by the Secretary of DHS and can be waived. Compare this to the present costs of obtaining a legal green card which can range from US$8,300 to over US$30,000 for an employment-based immigrant and an additional US$6-12,000 in legal fees.

Allows 2.5 to 3 million illegals to become citizens within 5 years and many millions more to become citizens only three years after receiving green cards.

Creates a loophole allowing some people who have been here on a work-authorized non-immigration visa for 10 years or more and overstayed their visa to obtain a green card without returning to their country.

It creates de facto affirmative action for illegals. They will be eligible to work, but not eligible for Obamacare subsidies. As such, amnestied illegal workers will not trigger a US$3,000 penalty which most employers will be required to pay for employees that receive a healthcare exchange subsidy. This will incentivize employers to hire amnestied illegals over Americans.

The government will pay for lawyers’ fees of illegals fighting deportation.

Unelected executive branch immigration judges can exercise discretion and allow illegals to stay in the country if they decide it “is against the public interest or would result in hardship to the alien’s U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident parent, spouse or child.”

The Secretary of DHS has the same power as the judges mentioned in point 9 above.

The bill requires the Secretary of DHS along with entities he or she approves, to advertise and promote the amnesty program in various languages on TV, print, radio and social media. Thus using taxpayer dollars to encourage illegals to seek amnesty.

Border Security

Secretary of DHS is to submit a “plan” to Congress on how to achieve and maintain “effective control” of nine border sectors. The determination that all metrics used to measure success — so-called triggers — in controlling the border are left to the discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security, i.e. to the President who has shown himself willing to break laws.

Various triggers which are to insure border control include phrases such as “deemed necessary by the Secretary”. Again, do you trust any politician or bureaucrat with such latitude?

A previous bill in 2006 required 700 miles of double-layered fencing to be constructed on the southern border. It is still not completed. Under S.744 the original bill requiring 700 miles of double-layered fence is watered down and the Secretary of DHS only has to build a second layer if “he or she deems it necessary and appropriate.” Additionally, the Corker-Hoeven amendment to S.744 says that “nothing in the bill should be construed to require the Secretary to build fencing in any particular location.”

The bill states the Secretary of DHS must have “implemented” the new employment verification system. It does not say that all employers are in fact using the system.

Not a single new border agent will be hired before amnesty is granted. The Secretary of DHS has until 2021 to implement these new hirings and McCain is already speaking out against them. The increase may never happen.

Border and security enforcement triggers can be ignored if in 10 years after enactment, litigation, or an act of God has prevented just one of the triggers from being implemented. The rest go by the wayside.

The new technologies which are supposedly going to be used at the border will all be implemented at the discretion of the Secretary of DHS.

The deal is also full of pork which has nothing to do with immigration.

A new federal agency is created. The Office of Legal Access Programs will provide illegals various services including legal services in deportation hearings.

Non profits will be paid by the government to implement amnesty. “Initial Entry, Adjustment, and Citizenship Assistance” grants will be given to non profits to help illegals get through the amnesty process. The first five years are funded at US$100 million p.a. and this can grow thereafter. Can you say La Raza and the American Immigration Lawyers Association?

There are numerous other grants and agencies created to help illegals learn how to use the system and become citizens.

Alaska (only) gets cheaper foreign labor for seafood processors. Unlimited foreign workers for that industry.

Bernie Sanders got a Youth Jobs Fund to provide summer and year round employment opportunities to low income youth.

Orin Hatch got a rule which appears to preclude SS credits for unauthorized work, but in fact allows illegals to attest that they authorized to work even if they have no records to prove it.

Schumer gets provison which allows public universities the right to hire H-1B visas without trying to hire Americans first.

Leahy got provision which grants special treatment to Hollywood by waiving fees for artist visas if not processed within 14 days.

Kirk got a provision that allows someone who has served for at least one year in military and honorably discharged to become citizen without meeting English language, knowledge and fundamentals of history or good moral character requirements. How did someone serve in US military without speaking English?

US$46 billion blank check to the Obama administration with no strings attached. Not for immigration or border security.

If the above information doesn’t inspire you to get more involved and take a closer look at your government, then nothing will. People need to contact their House Representatives and let them know that they should do nothing on immigration. In no case should they pass any bill/s in the House and then go to conference with the Senate. If they do, any law they pass will likely be as bad as S.744.

We the People are being spit on by the Washington D.C. crowd and too many of us think it’s a shower.