Guest Worker Program - How hard could it be?
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The battle goes on regarding immigration and open borders with few apparent results. Perhaps living in Arizona gives me a slightly different perspective of this issue than say someone living in the mid west. Anyone driving South on Interstate19 between Tucson and Nogales, Arizona will see busloads of illegals being transported back to the border. If one is standing at the border crossing between Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Mexico, one can watch the illegals exit the bus and be herded back into Mexico. The employees of the agency delivering the illegals to the border, know they will be seeing some of the same individuals again in a few days, weeks, or months. That is just the way it is, and it seems to never change.
Immigration issues and problems seem to be increasing, not improving. I often wonder why our Government seems to ignore the open border issue. To me, things need to make sense, and our current border situation makes no sense at all. So my brain went to work on this problem, and this is what it came up with.
Fact number one is farmers have crops that must be harvested or left to rot in the fields. Very few of our own citizens are willing or physically able to do this work especially for a small amount of pay. If these crops are left to rot in the field, a head of lettuce could suddenly cost $35 at the grocery store if there was any lettuce that made it to the market. The farmers have no choice but to hire illegals to harvest their crops, or the crops will not be harvested this year. The Border Patrol does the best they can, but have limited resources and many miles of border to cover. I have many friends who work for the Border Patrol, and they are all great people. They are now more involved with stopping the drug flow from Mexico to the US, and money flow from the US into Mexico, than stopping illegal border crossing. The Government is fully aware of what would happen if none of these crops were harvested and sent to market. The financial impact on the citizens of this country at the grocery store would be devastating.
This labor issue is so serious, the state of Utah recently attempted to enact their own guest worker program.
And like most proposed solutions to any problem, this one had those whom are very opposed to this solution.
There are also some articles stating that it is illegal for any State to pass legislation to do something that is not being done by our Government. Our attempt to do something about illegal immigration in Arizona has resulted in Arizona being sued by the Federal Government. It was however, another example of a State trying to do something for themselves that is not being done by our Government.
I'm not taking any right or wrong position on this attempt by Utah to solve their farm work labor problems. I'm saying this same labor shortage exists in almost every state, forcing employers to hire known illegals to get the work done.
Now I ask, how hard would it be for the Federal Government to create and properly administer a Guest Worker program that really works? Would this not be a far better solution than just turning a blind eye to a known problem? We have people willing to come here and do this hard labor for low pay, and farmers who need the work done, how complicated is that? We work this program in conjunction with the Mexican government, and there is a set date for arrival and departure of the guest workers. We get some assurance that those crossing the border legally to perform this necessary work is not a known criminal. Everybody wins.
I already see the comment stating this will take jobs away from needy Americans. To that I would say any needy American willing to do this type work already could have the job if they wanted it. The next argument would be that if the farmers paid higher wages, Americans would do these jobs. The minimum they can pay is the Minimum Wage as dictated by State and Federal Laws but still very few apply for these jobs. Most of the harvest work is paid on a piece work basis anyhow, so the harder they work, the more they make.
Many of the illegals coming to this country pay a coyote (guide) to smuggle them into the country. This may cost the illegal several thousand dollars. Those who can't pay are often recruited to carry packs loaded with illegal drugs in lieu of payment. At times the groups of illegals are abandoned by their guides and left to die of thirst and starvation in the deserts. Other times they are robbed of their meager possessions and the women raped by the very people they paid to protect them. The groups of illegals also are a threat to those living near or at the border where Arizona meets Mexico. In spite of what you may have been told there is not a 20' tall fence along the border separating the two countries. Many homes have been robbed, murders have occurred,and tons of trash litter the ground on private property near the border. A guest worker program would reduce this.
Not everyone coming across the border illegally is just a desperate and hungry person seeking work. Many are known criminals in Mexico who come across to practice their trade in the US where the pickings are better.
So what would we gain from a properly run guest worker program.
We would satisfy the farmers labor needs for harvesting their crops.
We would have better control over whom is entering our country, and giving them an exit date when they had to leave the country.
We would eliminate some of the needless deaths of those trying to enter the country illegally.
We would make our border safer for those living in close proximity of the border.
We might even be able to collect some SS and income tax depending on how the program was structured.
No doubt there are flaws in this plan, but nothing I see that couldn't be solved with proper planning and good administration.
As always, comments are welcome.
Mike
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I agree completely - I can't understand how difficult it could be to have a guest worker program. On the Big Island of Hawaii where I live we have alot of illegal aliens who come to Hawaii from Mexico to pick coffee. How they get on the plane to come here, I don't know. However, the INS does periodic sweeps of the coffee plantations and rounds up the fathers of the children who are my students. The families are left stranded here with no means of support, scared and alone. There must be a better way.
Don't we have something like 20 million illegals staying here? Maybe if we get those ones out of here then I could go along with a guest worker program. I wonder if maybe lettuce should cost more and then we could have small farmers that can make a living rather than mega farms the need illegals to bring in their harvest. Believe me, if lettuce was selling for $35 a head, I wouldn't have grass in my yard.
Hey Jim, thanks for stopping by. Yeah, thought I would give it one more try before I give up on HP. Your right, there would have to be some good bucks in it for someone to make this happen. I may do a hub one day regarding the corruption involved with the old "Bracero" program here in our state. Some pretty high power politicians were involved with this and made huge bucks in the process.
I'm convinced our immigration problems are not going unnoticed, they are just being ignored like they are nothing more than a minor irritation. Oh wait, I forgot, the entire border is fenced now and all we need is alligators in the moat to finish securing the border.
Thanks for being here my friend.
hush4444 - I firmly believe a good guest worker program would eliminate the need to hire illegals. Increase and enforce the laws against hiring illegals and allowing guest workers whom would return home would greatly reduce the numbers of illegals currently in the country. Thanks for the comment.
michiganman567 - I doubt we have any idea how many illegals are really in this country at any given time. If we enforced the laws on employers hiring illegals, but made it possible for legal temporary employees to take their place perhaps some would go home. I don't even like lettuce so the cost per head means nothing to me. I see what you mean about not growing grass however. Thanks for commenting.
Okay Old Poolman,
I'm glad you're back too! (Honestly didn't know you had left! But I am really glad you're back. Fill me in later)
I'm the guy who has his head stuck in the sand, or up his you know what as some would say, but I'm gonna come right off the wall here and say, we're getting what we created. Ooh, I'm going to take some heat for that one but hear me out.
I believe we have priced ourselves out of the market. Our own greed for a standard of living that is not sustainable caused us to send work everywhere but here at home, no matter where you live. That's not to say there aren't problems that were created outside of our country, but there wouldn't be a job problem if we less greedy for more, more, more, and were as creative and innovative as we say we are. There wouldn't be a drug trade if there wasn't a market for it. We would be able to get decent medical services if the doctors, insurance companies, pharma's, governments, and educational institutions weren't raping the average family! $100,000 in debt and no jobs??? Why are we selling education?
Sorry my friend, I know I don't live in Arizona, but I will take some responsibility for creating this problem and unlike you, I'm afraid I'm unable to demonstrate any common sense as @ManWithoutPants so aptly stated.
I don't trust our government any more. It's run by people who, in my humble opinion, are out of touch with the realities of the common man and serve the interests of money rather than those of there constituents real needs. And again, we allowed that to happen!
We wanted more and we got it! More than we are apparently able to handle. I like your ingenuity and willingness to make hard choices when necessary and appropriate.
For my part, I have decided that I don't need all that stuff I once did. What do I need? To love and be loved, healthy, non-contaminaated food and water, shelter, clothing, medical help (or more importantly perhaps, preventative health care) and maybe even some form of transportation. That's a far cry from what Wall Street has been selling the people of this country through advertisements for the last 80 years. More has become less and now we aren't willing to work for less!
Sorry for the rant! I owe you one! (so that makes you the only one I owe. (except for my part of the national debt which I think is somewhere around $147,000 per person today!)
A fan of yours!
Bruce
I am with you on this one if Americans wont work the jobs that need doing then why shouldn't illegals take them, the reality is they are keeping our economy afloat a guest worker program would be great and I would welcome it. Also please don't leave hubs this is your first hub I have read and I would love to read more.
Hi Mike,
First of all, I am still a firm believer that to fix this problem we MUST secure our boarders. When you cut yourself, you have to stop the bleeding first, before you put on a bandaid.
I agree we must learn how to apply common sense to all of our government work. I don't ever see that happening.
We need to cut out some of the red tape involved in our legal immigration process...any federal criminal record what so ever they MUST be denied.
All guest workers MUST pay an immigration tax.
I think any employer caught with illegal workers MUST pay a very stiff fine.
but with that said, I think your suggestion is spot on...
a a properly ran guest worker program is very much needed.
Chris
OP - We used to call them migrant workers. They come and work and then go home. That's the way it needs to be.
The Frog
Bruce - Thanks for the outstanding comment. Man would I love sitting around the campfire with you and discussing where we are, and how we got here. You are so correct about us creating our own problems. It is like we climbed a mountain, reached the top, and the only direction we can go now is back down.
My main point in this is I feel the illegal immigration thing is almost with the blessing of our government. The process for applying for citizenship is so bogged down with red tape most of the illegals would starve to death or die of old age long before citizenship was granted. This needs to be fixed. So the government understanding the need for this labor just chooses to ignore the problem and hope that someday it will go away. They surely can't be ignorant of how serious this situation really is?
Thanks again for the comment and the great food for thought.
Mike
CMerritt - Chris, always wonderful to see you in here commenting on one of my hubs. Years ago there was a Bracero program that was like a Guest Worker program, but it was loaded with corruption. The ones who really profited were the labor contractors, all of whom were politically connected. I may write a separate hub on this after I do a little more research.
It is a big problem, and it will not fix itself. To ignore it like they are doing now will solve nothing. I have always been a believer in solving problems, not hiding them or hoping they go away.
Thanks my friend.
Mike
I was an illegal alien once...just saying...Bob
Another great Hub filled with profound thoughts and even better actual possible solutions! Believe a guest worker program would make a lot of sense if it is true that we don't have citizens willing and able to do the farm work. At least this type of program would provide a sense of control. What really makes no sense at all is Obama trying to stop Arizona from policing their own borders and then compounding matters by not only suing the state of Arizona but helping the Mexican government to sue Arizona. So glad that Obama recently took a major hit and slap down from the Supreme Court on several issues and all of the justices sided against him - can't remember that ever happening before! I remain grateful for people like you who are out there expressing themselves in such an impressive and informed manner. Keep up the good work - many are listening and also taking action. GClark
@FP - Could not agree more with you.
@Bob - Was your illegal alien status when you were living in Mexico?
@GClark - I seriously doubt many Americans could do this work 10 or more hours per day in 110 degree heat. I know they would be hauling me off in a meat wagon before the first day was over with. Many of these people work this hard in Mexico for $1 per hour or less, so Minimum Wage to them is a huge increase in pay. And there is not a great deal of work available to them in Mexico, so they are forced to seek work elsewhere.
This problem should have been solved years ago, not ignored. Thanks for the comment.
@Old Poolman - Great idea, and glad to see you on again.
But, as in all things government, the devil is in the details. As you mentioned, there was the Bracero program, corruption and red tape doomed that one.
But, yes another but... we currently have 3 different temporary worker programs in place. So I don't think a temporary worker program is the problem - its the government bureaucracy (and still program administration corruption), that is the problem.
The program for agri workers is only used for about 30,000 workers yearly, and the hoops the farmers have to jump through to use it make it more of a nightmare than a benefit.
As Cmerrit said, as have others, we need to control the border as a first priority, then address the other illegal immigrant issues.
Here's a thought, but it must be stupid and silly, as Nopants stated, because it uses common sense - why not have a day worker employment house at the border, (for border states of course. a similar concept could evolve for states farther away), drive up a bus, pick up the number of "checked-out" (no criminals), workers needed and take them to the job. Then bring them back at the end of the day-week-season
Of course that is a crude sketch of the concept - but this isn't a "rocket science" problem - it's a common sense problem.
You have planted a seed - now give it some thought and come up with something you can send to DC - I'll write you a letter of introduction to the Prez. We're playing 18 this weekend, so I'll warm him up for you.
GA
Old Poolman -- interesting idea and agreed it's been tried before in somewhat different form. In the 1960's I managed an upscale restaurant in Dallas, TX that employed mostly Mexican waiters, busboys, etc. I don't know what the program was but they were here legally, worked a specified period of time and were then replaced by another legal Mexican worker while they went back to Mexico and reapplied -- or however that worked. In any event, it was somewhat like job sharing, was legal and these guys were excellent employees. The waiters had to speak English but many of the busboys did not. As I understood it the group of them -- probably 25-30 all told, rented several houses, year 'round and shared them during their work time in the U.S. I found them to be dependable, good workers and very responsible. I think your idea is sound and agree, there'd have to be a bit of tweeks here and there to make it work but it would go a long way to solving a big problem.One of the tweeks I'd want to see is definitely contributing monetarily to this country while they were here. Excellent Hub and voted UP. Best, Sis
GA - I was aware there were some programs currently in place, but none that are working well. The corruption surrounding these programs exists on both sides of the border. I read where Mexican citizens wishing to enroll in the program are required to pay up to $2000 to get their name on the list, and may still end up with no job. The old Bracero program was completely corrupt. The labor contractors had to provide housing and transportation to the guest workers, but also ran "stores" where they sold alcohol, tobacco, gloves, hats, shoes, etc., to the workers. It was structured to where the labor contractors ended up with a huge percentage of the wages paid to the workers. One had to be politically well connected to become a labor contractor. I just don't see a problem putting a working plan together to resolve this problem. One of the primary objections are those who claim this type program just steals jobs from Americans. Put a help wanted ad in the paper for a farm hand, dishwasher, bus boy, or similar job, but don't expect your phone to start ringing off the hook.
Angela Blair - Great seeing you again and thanks for the comment. We often hear people complaining that employers who hire illegals should be fined thousands of dollars and/or put in prison. My guess would be that none of those doing this complaining have ever tried to run a business short on employees because no citizen wants or is willing to do this job. I'm not saying it is right to hire illegals. I'm saying that when all attempts to hire a person for a particular job have failed, the employer should be free to hire someone who is willing to do the job. It could be fairly easy to administer, would bring in additional tax revenue, and help employers operate their business's. For those who still think these illegals are stealing jobs from Americans, I suggest you try a day picking lettuce in 100 plus degree heat. Then come back and tell us if you would like to continue doing this job yourself or if it is OK for an illegal to do it for you.
Thanks again for stopping by.
VOTES & MONEY, VOTES & MONEY....
The base reason for politicians not wanting to stop the illegals is so that they can pander their votes during elections. The illegals want to earn more money here in the US because their own Mexican government is too corrupt and overrun with drug cartels.
You don't have to look too far to see evidence of illegals voting for certain political groups in this country. I have seen it.
Old Poolman's thoughts on a guest worker is a great idea to legalize the Mexican workers. So instead of these workers giving thousands of dollars to corrupt transport mules and other illegal entities, make it legal and collect a flat workers tax at the border. We have to pay income tax, why not collect a tax from the Mexican temporary workers.
The problem with such an intelligent and logical solution to this problem is that it IS intelligent and logical. Asking such of govt is like asking for magical powers. Do you know what will happen if such a program was instituted? Anyone applying for "Guest" workers will have to comply with a myriad of regulations: standards of pay, standards of accommodation, work-safety regulations, tons of paperwork and govt reports....
Here is a case in point: In Canada, many illegals work in domestic service as nannies, housekeepers and such. In order to combat this, the govt instituted such a guest worker program. When I looked into hiring a caregiver for my mother-in-law, here's some of what I had to provide for the guest worker: own bedroom (of course,) own bathroom (huh?,) strict hours of work (kind of defeats the purpose when you need 24 hour help in an in-home setting,) a ticket back home, regulated pay levels of $15-20 an hour, Workmen Comp, vacation pay accrual, reports to the Federal Govt, an affadavit swearing I couldn't find any Canadian willing to do the job, proof I advertised the job for six weeks, the accomodations and work environment had to be inspected by the Federal Govt, monthly reports to be sent to the Fed. Govt.... It went on and on. In fact, I had to provide better conditions than I and my family enjoyed in order to hire a "Guest" worker.
Now, I'm not saying many illegals were not abused by employers, but bringing the govt into the picture only made the whole thing impossible and unaffordable.
What seems like such a straightforward solution will only turn into a beaurocratic nightmare -- at least according to my own experience.
But then, like I said, you're thinking is intelligent and logical -- therefore doomed to failure once the govt steps in. Lynda
Lynda - As always, a real pleasure to get your input. Your personal experience with a Guest Worker program is no doubt exactly what would happen here in the US. I have looked into several programs offering tax credits and other benefits for hiring certain individuals or classes of people, and it just wasn't worth it. To sign up for one of these programs means you just took on a new business partner, and that would be the government. I'm sure the same type scenario would exist with our guest worker program.
But what the heck, it was worth a try.
Sorry for the long delay in responding to your comment, but for some reason I am not receiving notifications from HP like I used to.
Mike
Guest workers won't be voting for Democrats...illegals granted amnesty will.
That's your answer.
WillStarr - as always you are correct.
It's not only the illegals who are taking our jobs. At the San Francisco airport everyday you see hundreds from China & other countries coming in on work visas. They come and take our jobs, and not only farm work. Look at the state jobs,the post offices jobs,hospital jobs every where you go from Dept stores to the high tech jobs. We keep letting em in, and if they don't take our jobs we pay their way with welfare and other benefits. Look at the nails shops, once American girls looked to a future of doing hair and nails,that's a laught. Work visas they don't work, we have enough people here already that don't go back where they came from.
I wonder if they even do medical & drug testing, background checks? Could we get hired at any big business without a resume.?
The illegals yes they are a BIG problem, we need those high fences and Like NOW, but we also to just say no more.
Obama gives em low cost schools, and wants them to stay here when they get out. Maybe they should go home and build their own countries.
KDee411 - I can tell you that in spite of the high unemployment numbers, employers get a very low response to their help wanted ads. If the employer put "drug testing required" in the ad, he may not get any applicants. I speak from experience on this subject. Perhaps that is part of the reason these jobs are being filled by persons from other countries. It will most likely never be fair.
Thanks for the comment.
I like the idea of a system that documents and tracks, but as TheManWithNoPants stated that makes sense so it's a long shot. This is a huge problem in TX too. While I do see the need for the farm work you speak of, I have to wonder what percentage of illegals said workers comprise. I suspect it's a low one considering the size of the whole group.
I want to see jobs go to Americans. While this type of work is back breakingly hard, I have two thoughts on how to help. They won't be popular. First, our prisons are full to past capacity and we pay out over 40k per year to house and support the inmates. I have zero problems putting them to work doing this. Second, and this will be more unpopular, the student loan debt crisis is about to explode. Most of these people are young and able bodied. Why not let them do some of this type work, maybe half a day a week or whatever in exchange for a lower student debt. I don't want anyone worked into the grave or anything but I do think the pool this labor should be drawn from exists right here within our own boarders. That's not to say I don't like the idea of temp. workers being brought in too, but we have people here who need to contribute as well. Thanks for a most thought provoking hub.
poetvix - Thanks for a most interesting comment. I agree on the prison thing, but have it in my head that forced labor of prisoners is illegal. I personally know several "Corrections Officers" who are employed in the contract prisons nearby. Their major complaint is the prisoners they watch over have more rights as prisoners than they do as employees. The employees must pay for their own health care, the prisoners get theirs for free. The employees pay for their meals at the prisons, the prisoners get theirs for free. I know that years ago some prisons used to rent out prisoners to do hard manual labor. The prisoner received almost nothing in wages, but the person doing the renting out got quite wealthy. Perhaps if they received time off their sentence for working some prisoners might be interested. As it is now, the prisoners have more civil rights than the employees who keep them from killing each other.
I know that many of us worked our way through college doing those jobs that nobody else seemed to want. There were no student loans when I went to college. It was pay or forget it. I recently read where a group of students plans to sue the college they attended, because they can't find a job now that they have graduated. One in particular had a degree in Egyptian Art. Now one would think a student would research the job market just a little before selecting a major, but I guess not.
Quite honestly, most students will not take the jobs we used to be darn glad to get. It is sad that we need temporary labor with our high rate of unemployment, but that is just the way the world is working now.
I can’t argue any of your points for you are right. I love the idea of offering time off a sentence to prisoners. It seems fair. Goodness knows your correct in saying they have more rights than the guards. They had student loans when I went to college. I refused to even apply for one, other than short term pay it out by the end of the semester ones, as I did not want to be in debt upon graduation and boy am I glad I did it that way now. It took me working three jobs and going to school on and off but I now have multiple degrees.
My father made me work in the fields on occasion as a child. His parents had a farm in MS where I was born. It was hard work! He never slaved any of us but he made sure we knew what real work was and how easy we had it. I resented it like all hell at the time. Now, I’m grateful he did. I think all youngsters would benefit from such an education. Kids today have it way too easy, not all of them, but too many.
Illegals granted amnesty probably will vote democrat infact i think most mexicans as a whole would vote democrat as their politics are more left wing and they have far less tolerance for the discrimination which parts of the Republican party espouse, having said that we had a Republican government until 2008, why didnt they do it? Were they worried about taking votes off the democrats?
poetvix - Thanks for coming back. Yes, in many cases, student loans were merely the easy way, not the only way, to get an education. Just like many of the younger generation don't think of Credit Cards as real money, few thought much about the debt they were accruing when they took those loans. Surprise, they expect them to be paid back and student loans are not forgiven by bankruptcy. I know this for a fact, I had to pay off my daughters student loans for her.
Josak - There is a huge difference between Amnesty and a Guest Worker program. With the Guest Worker program the workers have exact entry and exit dates when they come into the country. I would assume those who ignore the exit date would have warrants issued for their arrest, and would have a very difficult time staying in the country. And, Guest Workers would have no voting rights, unlike many of the illegals who are in the country today.
Thanks for stopping by and the comment.
I am going to follow my previous method (Cause and Effect) on making comments by remarking first on the Hub itself, then after reading the comments, add my two cents to those. The downside with this is I may unintentionally duplicate what someone may have already said with my first comment.
I think your and evidently Utah's solution to the need for cost effective farm labor is extremely viable. Furthermore I think all such solutions are in the purvue of the individual states and our Federal Government should keep its interference sequestered to violations of "Border Protection". If for instance Utah had the documentation and transportation of alien workers appropriately legislated and regulated by Utah then Federally monitored by say, "Border Patrol", then it is something that could work well for all concerned.
Good Hub...
Merwin
2 All...
Not much to add here to all these great comments.
I noticed that the consensus was in favor of some kind of program or a slight variant of what Mike suggested, and my comment above shows my support.
I would like to re-emphasize the duty of the individual States in need, taking ownership of the responsibilities of keeping the operations in line, with the costs being handled by perhaps a farmer cooperative or some other service cooperative like restaurants, with State oversight.
The Feds would attend, in the sense that they would monitor the coming and going migrations of these "guests", thereby "protecting" our borders.
The actual "pick up and return" of these workers could actually happen in their own countries by the cooperatives and respective States would have their "ride alongs".
Merwin
Merwin - Thanks again for stopping by one of my hubs.
I have brought this up many times, but never get much response. Consider that many illegals purchase documentation to include drivers license and Social Security cards. Now the main problem with this is there will be a few hundred Social Security cards with EXACTLY THE SAME NUMBER. Now one would think that when a couple hundred employers send in the SS withholding on the same SS Number, the computer would at least ring a bell or flash a light. But they must think this is one heck of a hard working guy to be working all these jobs at the same time. They also have the employers names and addresses that could be provided to INS or Homeland Security, but that doesn't seem to happen either. Perhaps they don't talk to each other. My guess is the first one with this SS number who turns 62 and files for SS is going to do very well. Or could it be they are so thrilled to be receiving all this extra revenue they would rather not say much about it?
This sounds like some great ideas. it would be great if something like this would work. we do not have a lot of choices any more. thank you for a great hub
Debbie
Debbie, it would take some planning to work the bugs out of the program, but it could be done. Thanks for the comment.
I agree with you. Your Hub is outstanding and makes perfect sense.
I think we should give everybody in the country illegally 90 days to come forward and register as a guest worker, with some kind of proof they are working. Anybody who does not come forward would be subject to immediate deportation—period. Anybody who runs out of work must leave the country.
I will add one thing about the jobs Americans won't do. I bought into that until I took a trip across the United States on US 2. There I saw busboys, waitresses, cooks, landscapers, maids, and people lined up to pick apples. They were ALL white. Somebody has to do those jobs and up there nobody is around but white Americans. So, they do the work.
TheManWithNoPants Level 7 Commenter 4 months ago
Hey Mike,
Welcome back buddy! Damn we miss those little pearls of wisdom that can only come from you. There's just one problem to this little solution of yours Mike. It makes a lot common sense, and when's the last time you can remember Washington exercising any common sense? Personally, I don't trust the bastards to be completely candid with you. I imagine when the right pockets get greased something like this could happen, because nothing really happens unless somebody in a suit up there on Capitol Hill make some money or returns a favor. Now that's all negative sounding, but there is a positive side and it's this: This country is starting to wake up. You can hear it, you can see it, and you can feel it. The next 10 years or maybe some exciting times.
Yep buddy, when it comes to immigration we see the same old thing happening day in and day out. Sorta reminds me of that old cartoon where the coyote and the roadrunner are at odds all day long, then at the end of the day they both go to the time clock and punch out. Then the next day they both punch in the start the same old thing all over again. I find comfort in the fact that I do see people waking up, and I see new people, new blood stepping into the game up there in Washington. We may go through some tough times, but I truly think our best days are ahead.
Welcome back Mike. I hope the hub pages treat you right because we love you man.
Jim