More on politics..yawn..

Lately there's been a lot of chatter about the immigration issue. Should we build a fence? Should we position troops to enforce the borders? Should we make it a felony to enter this country illegally? What about the drain on healthcare and government assistance programs caused by illegal immigrants? "But they're only taking jobs Americans don't want. They're only trying to start a better life than what they had in Mexico. They're only trying to pursue the American dream."

The problem isn't that there are millions of immigrants here in the U.S. The problem is the government is ill equipped to handle the mass inflow of illegals coming to America every year. As such there is a toll taken on the ability of government programs to administer to all the people that have come here illegally. To want to come to the U.S. to start a better life for yourself and family is admirable, to break the U.S. law to do so is ironic. That is a portentous way to start your new life, under the shadow of darkness and evasion.

So what happens when the generosity of the federal government and it's funding of several programs is strained by the inflow of illegal immigrants who require medical treatment, living expenses, child care, food stamps, and social security? Larger debt, higher taxes, reduced economic growth, and a decrease in the governments ability to fund programs such as education, social security, defense, disaster relief and other programs that are essential. What happens when the demands of a population exceed the ability to finance those demands? Debt. When that debt becomes so heavy that there is no possible way that it will be repaid, there will be a day of reckoning that could cause serious financial consequences. It's a scenario that could affect countries across the globe unless this issue is addressed by clear, forward thinking people. What is needed is an immigration policy that allows the opportunity for immigrants to come here, while making sure they do so legally.

Now this may sound like a rally against immigrants but it's not. I support immigrants coming to the U.S. to start a new life, enjoy the freedoms we have, and participate in making our country stronger, but I favor it being done orderly and legally. There are people from other countries who do not share a border with the U.S. who have been waiting their turn to begin a life in the United States. After all we are a stronger nation for the diversity. However, we need to have a way to control the mass of people who are intent on coming to this country. To do any less could mean the deterioration of the country that has come to be known as the most prosperous nation on earth.