Under the headline, Break the Immigration Impasse, three gentlemen from the world of business took on the United States Congress in space graciously provided by The New York Times, a liberal publication always willing to bash Republicans.
Sheldon Adleson (biography.com)
Warren Buffett (telegraph.co.uk)
Bill Gates (Microsoft)
“The three of us vary in our politics and would differ also in our preferences about the details of an immigration reform bill,” wrote Sheldon G. Adelson, Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, “But we could without a doubt come together to draft a bill acceptable to each of us.” Sure you could. Now bring in 532 other business colleagues and let’s take a look at that bill.
Keying on the defeat of Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor as the reason immigration reform became hopeless, the trio criticized the 535 members of Congress for not coming together on immigration. They wrote, “Americans deserve better than this,” adding that “Most Americans believe that our country has clear and present interest in enacting immigration legislation …”
Really? If that were so, why did immigration rank so low when Americans were asked about the most important problems facing the country today in the Quinnipiac University poll conducted earlier this month? Immigration garnered just four percent.
While Adelson, Buffett and Gates were blaming Congress, last month’s Gallup poll revealed that President Obama’s handling of immigration had dropped to 31 per cent. Gallup reported that “two in three Americans (65 per cent) disapprove of his handling of immigration” and, in its bottom line stated, “Americans largely do not see immigration as a high-priority issue for the president and Congress.”
The president keeps saying the immigration system is broken. Yes it is, and he’s responsible. Not only has he failed to insist that existing laws be enforced, he chose to halt deportations when Congress failed to pass the DREAM Act. And he stopped the construction of the 700-mile double-layer fence called for in the Secure Fence Act signed by President Bush in 2006.
The naiveté of the three businessmen is unbelievable. “The United States should take all steps to ensure that every prospective immigrant follows all rules and that people breaking these rules … are severely punished.” That’s fantasyland, like the orders to report for court hearings given to the thousands of children and accompanying adults now flooding the Southwest. It is estimated that more than half of them – certainly the gang members – will never report.
We couldn’t even keep track of the two Boston bombers after the Russians tipped us off. The FBI interviewed them and closed the case.
“… a well-designed immigration bill … might well lift spirits and thereby stimulate the economy,” the Times piece writers predict as they say, “It’s time for 535 of America’s citizens (Congress) to remember what they owe the 318 million who employ them.”
When it comes to immigration reform, I believe those 535 men and women owe us a secure border that includes double-layer fencing equipped with lighting and surveillance technology, and sufficient numbers of Border Patrol and armed National Guardsmen. When the border is secure, and only then, should we consider other immigration reform measures.
It’s time Congress understands that not every issue requires “comprehensive” reform. Didn’t we learn a lesson with ObamaCare?
