The Z Spot

Again, this story is a little old, but worth discussing nonetheless. Basically, data shows that with the recession, migration from Mexico to the U.S. has fallen.

It attributes this to both increased enforcement along the border and the lack of jobs due to the economic downturn.

Now, let’s use a common phrase to explain this. Basically, it’s a twist on the idea of the carrot and the stick. Instead of working together, though, they compete. We can increase the “stick,” that is the threat of deportation or punishment, but obviously, for some, the draw of the carrot, a good job and better life, still manages to trump the stick.

Short of continuing the recession, however, what can we do to ensure there are not enough jobs to draw illegal immigrants over the border? And how can we ensure that there are still enough jobs to draw the legal migrants who contribute so much to our economy?

The answer is simple. Crack down not only on illegal immigrants, but also those that employ them.

Moreover, we now have a great opportunity to make real change on the immigration issue. I know that between the wars and the economy, people think we need to focus on other issues.

On the other hand, I’m sure it’s not just Mexico that has slowed the flow of migration. And we know travel is way down. Therefor, if we change immigration policies now, we will disrupt the flow of legal migration and travel less than at “busier times.” Moreover, we have time to troubleshoot and adjust new laws, training, and technology while the flow of both tourists and migrants over our borders is slow. Remember after 9/11? Showing up 4-6 hours before your flight?

So my plea to our elected officials is to make real changes to our immigration system, and do it quickl

Alright. This is an old story, but it go me fuming for a couple of reasons.

First, leaning toward the libertarian side, and having gone to school (originally anyway) with the intention of becoming a journalist, I tend to believe in a totally free press, which has both the right and the ability to challenge and question our government. As long as the press gives the government an opportunity to explain the photos, there is no reason they should not be made public. Both the photos and the actions depicted were funded by the public’s money. The public has a right to see the pictures.

The second reason is somewhat more partisan. Quite frankly, this shocks me. The left has been complaining for eight years about some conservative conspiracy. They’ve complained that not only was the war in Iraq wrong, but the way that terror suspects have been handled was wrong. Their detention and alleged torture was unconstitutional, as was the blurry and secretive way in which it was conducted.

In fact, Obama promised to close Gitmo (we’ll save that for another post) and make these terror trials part of the established, fair and transparent justice system. Not only is he now backing down on that, he is trying to cover up evidence, exactly like the Dems screamed endlessly about Bush doing.

This is just another example of the Dems being hypocritical.

I know I’m now a couple of days overdue, but I hope everyone that gets one enjoyed their three day weekend. On the other hand, we need to remember what the day is all about. It’s about the people and families who made the “ultimate” sacrifice serving our country. We really do owe them a lot, but for now, my thanks and gratitude will have to suffice.

On the other hand, there’s a lot of lost veterans that go forgotten. Watching In The Valley of Elah really drove this point home for me. We all recognize the sacrifice of the veterans who give their lives in service of our countries, and the sacrifices of their families.

What about those who physically come back, but who don’t ever really come back? The movie drove home the point that thousands of our young people go into the military (at an age where they pass from boyhood to manhoood, none the less) and come back scarred and changed by what they saw and did while fighting our wars.

To make it worse, because of the training we provide them, and the machismo culture of our society, and especially our military, a lot of them never really deal with these issues. They see things which most of us can never imagine, and are too proud, or too desensitized by their military training, to realize they need help.

They are also at an age where they may view the new realities they had to deal with, their new thoughts, their new fears, and their new attitudes as simply “part of growing up and being an adult.” We need to support these vets, and provide them with the help they need (for their own sakes, and that of the people they will come into contact with in civilian life). At the very least, we need to recognize that there are more than just the fallen who have sacrificed for our country.

Thank you to all of our military and veterans, both deceased and alive!!!

Kind of along the lines of my post on citizens being deported, this post is about the balance of what I believe are our government’s two biggest responsibilities.

Our government, Constitution, and laws exist (or at least should exist) for two reasons. First, the Constitution is there to ensure that we can live our lives without excessive government encroachment on our rights. Second, the government ensures that our lives, liberty and rights are protected from others.

Recently, a 16 year old was taken from his home by local law enforcement agents and FBI officers using PATRIOT ACT charges. So far, no evidence has been made public that he was guilty of the alleged bomb threats. He had an alibi at the time the threats were made, and police did not find any bomb-making tools or ingredients in the home. Unless you count his video game console, which was taken in the raid.

As inhumane and elitist as this may sound, what really bothers me here is that he is a U.S. citizen.

With the foreign individuals held in Guantanamo and elsewhere without real evidence, we don’t have a responsibility to protect their lives. Their governments have that responsibility. With our citizens, and especially minors, who will protect their rights if our government doesn’t?

This happened under a Democratic president, which although at first seems odd, really makes sense. Put aside the issues of war and peace (since the parties change on those anyway… remember Vietnam?) and you’ll see that the fundamental difference between liberals and conservatives (notice I did not say Republicans) is that liberals see a much larger role in our lives as appropriate for the government. If they are going to overly tax us and redistribute our wealth; dictate the health care we use, etc. why shouldn’t they raid our homes and take our children in the middle of the night?

In these tough times, even I have to acknowledge that publicly funded welfare services are important. But we also need to be honest and look at some of the obvious abuses in the system.

For example, people are required to show that they are actively seeking employment. People I know who interview a lot are saying people have started showing up for interviews in jeans and t-shirts. Do these people really want the job, or are they just showing up to say that they are actively seeking work?

My other example is perhaps unique to both Nevada and the unionized service industry, but maybe not. A lot of people in Las Vegas were not technically laid off, but went either to “Lay off on call” status, or were already part time, but getting full time hours and now get part time, if any, hours.

These people are allowed to collect unemployment, even though they are still technically employed, and are in fact working. The deal is that they have to turn in a form listing all of the days that they worked, and that is simply deducted from their unemployment benefit.

The problem is that these people who are “on call” are not taking shifts that are offered to them. Those shifts don’t get deducted from their unemployment. So, while there are people who are actually unemployed, struggling and looking to find work, there are Union employees sitting at home deciding when they do and don’t want to come in. And collecting unemployment.

Since unemployment is supposed to be for individuals who are “involuntarily” unemployed, why are we paying it to people who choose not to work? Instead of asking employees when they worked, they should ask employers when the employee was offered work. All of those hours should come off of their unemployment.