The question, my friend, is do we CARE what the typical working conditions in Latin America are – or should we care? Especially if it means a decreased standard of living for those of us who were born here and have the right to be here – we're called citizens. And most of us would say we should come FIRST.

Just because other countries have huge poverties and unemployment doesn't mean we need to bring those problems here and decrease our standard of living, too. Whenour own people don't have health care, we shouldn't be giving it away free to the rest of the world.

Do you think the US should be more responsible to help the rest of the world – or to help its own people?

Why do we so desperately want to punish undocumented workers and their children?
Presidents and Governors have the pardon power to remedy vast injustices and travesties. We offer criminals deals all the time. Prosecutors have traditionally offered leniency to some defendants in order to get them to testify against other defendants. Leniency can be immunity from prosecution or reduced charges and recommendations for reduced sentences. Offering leniency is a long-standing and important aspect of the legal system. Law enforcement would be paralyzed without it.
Clemency, leniency, pardoning is not a departure from our justice system. A pardon is not a private act of grace. It is a part of the Constitutional scheme. When granted it is the determination of the ultimate authority that the public welfare will be better served by inflicting less than what the judgment fixed.
For four years now, a new view of undocumented workers has been forming in the hearts and minds of Americans thanks to Lou Dobbs. This emerging picture is that illegal immigrants have brought gangs, drugs, graffiti and murders to cities, draining police and fire resources and taking services away from legal residents.
Lou Dobbs, Mayor Lou Barletta and Rep. Tom Tancredo believe that undocumented workers and their children deserve no legal rights. They entered the country illegally therefore they have no human rights and deserve no amnesty, leniency, or pardoning.
Many basically echo what Dobbs, Barletta and Tancredo have said when they ask ‘what part of illegal don’t you understand’. A simple question, but when the dust of anti-immigration hysteria settles, this simplistic question will prove to offer less enlightenment than hoped.

Hardly anyone would argue that America has the right to protect its borders. But what is fundamentally wrong with this simplistic question that Lou Dobbs and others have presented is that it ignores the root causes of this massive immigration influx. Has anyone asked what the typical working conditions in Latin America are? All Latin American countries offer long work days 12-14 hours or more and wages that don't even support the cost of basic living.

When it comes to immigration reform simplistic thinking will not do. Hate will not help. We need a vision that will stand the test of time.

The story of our evolving country, which grows in magnificence every day, gives us an indispensable foundation for addressing such divisive issue.

America has enjoyed no greater triumph than the discovery that justice must be accompanied by a sense of compassion. In America we don’t cut the hands of those who steal or stone women for having an abortion. America has found a truth that unites many. We care for others in ways that exceed our ancestors.

What is wrong with the question ‘what part of illegal don’t you understand’ is that it’s incompatible with democracy, prosperity, and civilization in general. It is a destructive and prejudicial question that is founded on deception and has no place in the modern world.

An assembly-line of 15 workers has to make 15 t-shirts every 3 minutes, producing 3,400 shirts each day for US$7 per worker – a paltry 3 cents per shirt.
Sweatshops can be found around the globe. Crowded t-shirt sweatshops are filled with dust, lint and noisy machinery. Some of the worst t-shirt factories are concentrated in poor Central American countries like Honduras and El Salvador where the average annual wage is less than US$2,500.
Central American sweatshops are subcontracted by large apparel manufacturers like Gildan Activewear (Honduras) and Fruit of the Loom (El Salvador).

IMPEACH CHENEY!!!!!!! FIRE ABU GONZALES!!!!

The democrats have let all of us that had hopr for change down. Both parties pander to big buisness. Screw the middle class right? We need to vote independant. Just need a good candidate.

Thanks, yet again for selling America out to your big money corporate golf course pals aka your "base".

Et tu, Brute? The Republicans are now saying. The Democrats were trying to tell you all along, maybe now you'll listen.

What's that saying? "Better to say nothing and keep them wondering than to open your mouth and remove all doubt of possible intelligence." errr maybe not exact quote but the interpretation is right on in this case! Too Phunny!!!

Why don't we enforce the laws that we already have on the books, especially those that pertain to those employers who hire people illegally. Take away the illegal jobs, and we may stand a chance in securing our borders.

But what the heck? This President has nothing to lose. He can't run for President again. But we as citizens can remember those politicians who will be up for re-election that back this worthless piece of legislation.

But Americans won't do the jobs illegals do. Business and the White House have said this at least a million times. They've said our economy can't function without illegals.

Here come the new illegals.

So what about all the Republicans who voted against the bill, and the Democrats who voted for it?

All of you liberals out there (who I agree with by the way) can someone say something negative about Kennedy?

He is after all also the moron that shoved that anchor baby fiasco through in the 60’s, the one where an ILLEGAL spits out a baby and that baby becomes a freakin’ citizen because it was born on our soil????????

This bill has Kennedy’s name on it, where is he speaking out in support of it? This phony, bleeding heart will surely be there when it is signed off on though. Can't miss a photo-op.

I am a conservative and I do find it healthy that many of us from both sides disagree with this trash bill, we are not acting as two parties, we are acting as AMERICANS.

None of this bill effects ANY of the people that are voting on it, NONE.

I dare someone hammer Kennedy.

I am sorry to say I voted for him twice.

Mr. Bush, you are wothy if being IMPEACHED AND DEPORTED.

Mr. Bush, you are really showing your illegals colors now, aren't you?

Excuse me while I get this knife out of my back.

Immigration Reform – NO AMNESTY!

Below is a link to each states Senators offices. Please call your, and as many other offices as you can and give them you view!!

http://www.theorator.com/senate.html

Call and inform the following offices of your opinion!

Senator Tim Johnson
605-341-3990 Rapid City, SD

Senator John Thune (I know he's against it but call regardless)
605-348-7551 Rapid City, SD

US Rep. Stephanie Herseth
605-394-5280 Rapid City, SD

http://hersethsandlin.house.gov
http://thune.senate.gov
http://johnson.senate.gov

NSPD-51 anybody??? He wants to be King Dictator. Look it up, look it up!!!

WAKE UP! NSPD-51 NSPD-51 NSPD-51

we're going to become a fascist state.

American taxpayers, pay out the nose for this program. My social security and medical costs will be reduced , in one sense and increased in another.

I am a citizen, born and raised. I'm a veteran. To give up anything, for the benefit of illegals, is preposterous!!

Do our "Leaders," have any concern, for the American Citizen?

It would appear, NOT!

The President is a traitor and so is his polictical party.

He actually called it what it is AMNESTY, I am sure he did not mean to say it because then he cannot push it through and keep the slave labor here.

Lets say you go home and water is running out from under your sink you have bursted a pipe what is the first thing your going to do, "turn off the water" you do not grab a mop and start mopping first. The border is the pipe shut it off first then deal with the mess that has been created, you cannot deal with the mess before shuting off what is creating the mess first.

Too bad politicans care more about potential hispanic votes than lawabiding AMERICAN CITIZENS.

If He wants to come to America then he must serve a tour in our military. Give him a soldier's pay while he's there and tax him on it. After his tour, he will be allowed to become a citizen since he defended this country, her people and ITS LAWS. He will also be registered to be taxed.

This will probably deter illegal immigration. It's not amnesty but it will help the aliens trying to make a better life for themselves in America. But, If they refuse to serve, ship them to Iraq anyway, without the canteen, rifle or ammo.

Problem Solved.

How about we secure the borders and then deal with who is here after that. I know thats just crazy talk but most people with common sense would want to plug the leak first.