Former Governor Branstad Might Run Again, Hurray!! (immigration, illegal)

[Chris19]

As for Branstad, I am sure that he has done good things for Iowa and has his shortcomings. Each leader has their good and bad. His strengths may be that he is fiscal conservative and may sometimes make unpopular decisions, which leaders sometimes have to do to keep things running or in order. The weakness of Branstad may relate with progressive policies that would help with quality of life and retaining Iowa's best and brightest (as opposed to losing them to areas such as Colorado, Texas, etc.). Same goes for former gov. Janklow, which has traits to Branstad in leadership style.

To be fair, each politician has their good and bad, but depends on which area or areas are most important. Fiscal conservativism is very important but is somewhat inneffective if economic development, retention of the best and brightest youth, and quality of life improvements take a back seat. Iowa and many other states need economic development and quality of life improvements to aid in the retention of younger people and to foster the economic growth and creation of good-paying jobs that will go a long way to keep and attract young people to Iowa and retain its productive workforce as opposed to bleeding its productive population (key in paying various taxes) to other states and sunnier climates.

[mustang84]

Some of you guys are looking at the history of America's past immigrants through very rose-colored glasses. I think if you were actually alive in the 19th century you would find that many of the problems we face today were also faced by our ancestors in terms of immigration.

One of my relatives on my mom's side snuck onto a boat from Germany to the US in the 1860s. He came here illegally at the age of 18 because he didn't have enough money for both the trip over here and to buy land. He used what little he did have to purchase some farmland in Iowa for $11/acre and built a modest sod house. He spoke no English and settled in an area where other Germans were living who also spoke no English. He came here because Germany was fragmented economically and socially from years of war and hardship. He simply wanted to make a better life for himself. Kinda funny...there seems to be quite a few parallels between then and the present. I guess he should have been rounded up at gunpoint and sent packing to Ellis Island.

The illegal immigrants that are already here will be assimilated within a couple generations, like past immigrants. I used to live near a town that has grown to have a population of 30% illegal Hispanics, and many of the locals have nothing good to say about them except make racist comments and exaggerations their lifestyles. Yet, more than a few of them have contributed to the local economy by opening groceries, restaurants, working in construction, and filling jobs at the local food processing plants that the locals won't touch. Sure there are a few bad apples in the bunch, but are we really naive enough to think that there weren't also a few bad apples in the immigrants that came here 100+ years ago?

I'm not saying that we should leave our borders wide open, and I do agree with Chris19 on many points he has made about immigration reform (and they are very good ones that should be seriously studied and implemented). However, where I differ is on the illegal immigrants who are already here and have established themselves. They are contributing to society, doing the jobs that no one else wants to do, and trying to make an honest living. To make suggestions like rounding every one up at gunpoint, split up families with native born children, and ship them off to the border in handcuffs is frankly cold and disturbing. That doesn't sound like the America I grew up with.

[mofford]

Originally Posted by mustang84

One of my relatives on my mom's side snuck onto a boat from Germany to the US in the 1860s. He came here illegally at the age of 18 because he didn't have enough money for both the trip over here and to buy land. He used what little he did have to purchase some farmland in Iowa for $11/acre and built a modest sod house. He spoke no English and settled in an area where other Germans were living who also spoke no English. I guess he should have been rounded up at gunpoint and sent packing to Ellis Island.

The illegal immigrants that are already here will be assimilated within a couple generations, like past immigrants.

To make suggestions like rounding every one up at gunpoint, split up families with native born children, and ship them off to the border in handcuffs is frankly cold and disturbing.

Only a very small percentage of 2nd and 3rd generation hispanic immigrants are assimilated, it might be higher in some places but Im sure it's very low compared to the immigrants of the past. What I find cold and disturbing is when mexican nationals run thier flag up at a US post office and take over vast swaths of prime US real estate. Places that will never again be a home for real english speaking americans that might wish to live and work there. It's also disturbing to see such high birthrates from latinos when most of them do not want to do the work it takes to learn and assimilate into american culture, and by that I do not mean the gang culture. I don't care if you were born here or not, if you and your family do not want to become americans but just want the fruits of America, then you can get the fudge out.

Give them 30 days notice that they will be deported and if they will not go then force should be used, because you are not really american just because your mom sneaked in here and got papers for you, IMO. And those are the people that should be deported, because they can be replaced with LEGAL immigrants that will integrate and embrace the american way, and be less likely to engage in criminal activity. We should want the best immigrants we can get, and we can get alot better.

As for your german relative that came here illegaly in the 1860's, he had enough money to buy land here but he cheated the owner of the ship out of the fare for passage and skipped going thru Ellis Island. He should of been deported if he could of been identified as an illegal. What he did was not fair to the other immigrants that came here legally. If he was over here for 30 years and teaching his kids to speak only german and behave as german nationals, then his whole family should of been deported to Germany with thier property minus the fare for passage. If he taught his family to assimilate over that 30 years and then all the sudden the INS found out he was an illegal, a community meeting and hearing should be held to determine what if anything should happen regarding deportation.

[RonnieJonez]

mofford - this is the only issue you really care about. is it because it allows you be racist without repercussion?

to you, the problem seems strictly with Mexican immigrants, illegal or not, because you can't tell the difference, and the 2nd and 3rd generation according to you "refuse to assimilate", so even if they're citizens, they're basically illegal too.

every post you make, you reinforce what others already think of Iowa. great job.

[Chris19]

Not all people from Iowa and the Upper Midwest are narrow-minded. Immigration is very important to our country's history and important to the fabric of the country, but we need to have a smart immigration policy that removes some of the red tape, streamlines the process, but has teeth to it. There definitely needs to be a greater allowance for legal immigrants and have them come and get IDed, fingerprinted, and have a background check when coming to the country (then it is easier to keep track and may allow for a smoother and quicker path to citizenship).

The problem is not with the immigrants but with an immigration policy that lacks common sense and direction. I am more mad at how our government is not addressing the issue than with the immigrants. As the US population ages, it definitely needs immigrants to fill the some of the labor void left. But we need to get a handle on the problem of illegal immigration and do a better job of allowing and insisting on the immigrants to assimilate into society. A fractured society, which if immigrants choose not to use English as the standard language, will lead to potential problems in the US in the future in economic and social terms. We need to be united in the United States of America, and a keep to having a united country is a standard language, which traditionally has been English and continue to be so.

I have come across a lot of immigrants in Sioux Falls, SD area: some Hispanic, some Bosnian, some African, and some Asian. Many of them are very nice people and want to be a part of our society. We need to help them assimilate or encourage them to assimilate and become proud, productive, and patriotic members of the great Amercian society.

[mofford]

Originally Posted by RonnieJonez

mofford - this is the only issue you really care about. is it because it allows you be racist without repercussion?

to you, the problem seems strictly with Mexican immigrants, illegal or not, because you can't tell the difference, and the 2nd and 3rd generation according to you "refuse to assimilate", so even if they're citizens, they're basically illegal too.

every post you make, you reinforce what others already think of Iowa. great job.

I feel strongly about this issue, and do not feel that my views are racist. I am opposed to gangs no matter what race you belong to. It's not about money, it's about quality of life. I am of the mindset that it would be better to keep Iowa the way it is, or was, and keep the towns safe and clean. That will attract outlanders....ooops, I mean people from out of state that might appreciate this kind of environment.

Terry Branstad is the best shot we have at getting someone in there we can trust to keep the state budget balanced and make the hard decisions that will be necessary concerning fiscal policy. We don't need a rubber stamp man in there, we need someone with a backbone. Thats Terry Branstad. And he may not be as solid about immigration as King, but he's not going to throw out the red carpet for illegals like Vilsac did.

Yes I do care about other issues besides immigration reform. Healthcare reform is also of great concern to me and the future of our country. I feel that our healthcare system operates like a monopoly and has been ripping us off for 40 years. I think it's time to cut them off at the knees and tell the insurance companies and hospital administrators to get the fudge out. I think the government should take it over and run it the way Japan does it. Get a bunch of accountants together and find out what it really costs to run a hospital, calculate the expense of everything down to the tongue depressors and find out what a reasonable proffit would be for every surgical proceedure that can be done and every drug that can be prescribed.

They pay half what we do for the same medical care in Japan, they have a government medical price book and review board that adjusts rates as needed. Very efficient and they adjust rates for inflation, but they also try to cut costs too, such as the mere $100 you (your national insurance) pays for a MRI scan or a one night stay in a hospital room. If Steve King is reading this, sorry dude, I'm not a commie or anything but I don't see any other way out of this mess that will bring down costs to standard world rates that all the other good countries are paying.

[RonnieJonez]

So you support a Gestapo-like sweep at gunpoint of every illegal? A full systematic removal of each and every single one, regardless of age, whether they've been good people in this country?

Don't you even feel bad for children who were brought here in backpacks as babies? Do they deserve to be sent back too in your eyes? You seem like you have instant disdain for any Hispanic, because they're all illegal to you, even if they're US residents or citizens. You see one, and think illegal.

[Chris19]

Originally Posted by mofford

I feel strongly about this issue, and do not feel that my views are racist. I am opposed to gangs no matter what race you belong to. It's not about money, it's about quality of life. I am of the mindset that it would be better to keep Iowa the way it is, or was, and keep the towns safe and clean. That will attract outlanders....ooops, I mean people from out of state that might appreciate this kind of environment.

Terry Branstad is the best shot we have at getting someone in there we can trust to keep the state budget balanced and make the hard decisions that will be necessary concerning fiscal policy. We don't need a rubber stamp man in there, we need someone with a backbone. Thats Terry Branstad. And he may not be as solid about immigration as King, but he's not going to throw out the red carpet for illegals like Vilsac did.

Yes I do care about other issues besides immigration reform. Healthcare reform is also of great concern to me and the future of our country. I feel that our healthcare system operates like a monopoly and has been ripping us off for 40 years. I think it's time to cut them off at the knees and tell the insurance companies and hospital administrators to get the fudge out. I think the government should take it over and run it the way Japan does it. Get a bunch of accountants together and find out what it really costs to run a hospital, calculate the expense of everything down to the tongue depressors and find out what a reasonable proffit would be for every surgical proceedure that can be done and every drug that can be prescribed.

They pay half what we do for the same medical care in Japan, they have a government medical price book and review board that adjusts rates as needed. Very efficient and they adjust rates for inflation, but they also try to cut costs too, such as the mere $100 you (your national insurance) pays for a MRI scan or a one night stay in a hospital room. If Steve King is reading this, sorry dude, I'm not a commie or anything but I don't see any other way out of this mess that will bring down costs to standard world rates that all the other good countries are paying.

I agree with most parts of your argument, especially with the healthcare component. Our healthcare system and insurance is in need of improvements. I support a public-private partnership for universal healthcare but am somewhat hesitant of the US government taking over the entire thing. Those with hard to insure conditions such as Autism, down sydrome, etc. will be put into an insurance pool that will allow for coverage and adequate treatment. There would be also an option for people to go with a Federal plan but it would be required for all to have at least a basic health insurance plan, public or privately-held.

I also suggest that a pool or series of insurance pools are created for small business owners where a number of small businesses can coop together and buy at group rates just like the bigger companies. If the big companies have that power, why cannot the smaller mom and pop businesses.

As the current system is, the uninsured go in and get treatment and the hospital eat the loss or considers it charity care and pass the costs to everyone else, driving up insurance rates. The way things are going now, we need the health insurance system improved or the health care woes will sink and stagnate our economy.

[mofford]

Originally Posted by RonnieJonez

So you support a Gestapo-like sweep at gunpoint of every illegal? A full systematic removal of each and every single one, regardless of age, whether they've been good people in this country?

Don't you even feel bad for children who were brought here in backpacks as babies? Do they deserve to be sent back too in your eyes? You seem like you have instant disdain for any Hispanic, because they're all illegal to you, even if they're US residents or citizens. You see one, and think illegal.

No, the ones that have jobs in which there is a labor shortage should be able to stay under a guest worker program. They should eventually be able to become citizens provided they meet certain criteria. They must be in good health to begin with and be paying for their health insurance, car insurance if they own one, be disqualified from collecting welfare or living in public housing. They should learn the english language within 10 years and have thier children enrolled in school to learn english, and be able to pass the INS exam in english before full citizenship will be granted. Those that fail to pass should be deported when they are 18. A minor with attitude problems in school or one that becomes involved in gangs should be grounds for deporting the whole family unless the family can send their kid back home for other relatives to raise him/her.

They should be expected to obey all the laws and local city codes about litter, junk cars, loitering, vending food on street, ect. Any felony should be grounds for instant deportation, and enough misdemeanors should also warrant deportation. It should be illegal for an immigrant to send money back to their home country, the money they make should stay in the american economy. They should be required to report to the INS at regular intervals to be interviewed, DNA samples should be taken and they should be checked for their current status. Being AWOL from an INS interview should result in an APB and deportation.

As for the very large percentage of illegals and their offspring that won't make the cut, then yes, they should be sent back (the whole family) the nice way or the hard way, whichever they prefer. I feel bad for the kids but they are their parents responsibility and will make due when they return to their home country. And new guest workers from other countries that are more willing to play ball will come in from Europe and Asia to replace them, if they are needed.

Alot of these jobs should pay better anyway after the labor pool dries up and can be filled by american citizens that we kick off welfare, or people that are relocated and assigned to work there to avoid going to prison. Or they could use prison labor to perform some of this work. If your rich enough to own a home and yard so big you can't clean it and take care of it yourself, then get ready to pay $15 an hour to hire a legal american worker to do it for you. If your that rich, you can afford it and should be arrested if you hire an illegal worker that does not have the INS guest worker ID.

After these measures are adopted and put into effect, as I begin to see the remaining hispanics speaking english at the store, my thoughts about them will change from "Alien culture illegal immigrant that hates gringos and might be in a gang" to "Smart law abiding immigrant like those people from India over there in the produce isle that worked so very hard to get here the legal way"

[Cyborg13]

Why are accusations of racism the only way people can defend their open-border stance? I wonder if you have even been to Mexico.
I don't think it is too much to ask that this country's immigration laws be enforced. If you read the immigration laws of Mexico or many European countries, ours seem lenient by comparison, we don't even enfoce them, and yet people are still upset. It's really too bad that we can't realistically have open borders with Mexico right now, but for some people common sense does not exist.