There are millions upon millions of unemployed people across America. Many of them no longer even look for work; they have given up. Particularly for the less well educated in the workforce, it is a battle to find employment. The economy is stagnant. The media cheers the first estimate of growth for last quarter because it was just over 3%, but we all know that after the years we have been through we need 5% or 6% growth to start making a true dent in unemployment. Household income has been declining for most Americans for the last five years. Poll after poll of American citizens report that the single most important issue in the country is the economy and jobs. So what is the big issue under discussion in Washington? What is the primary focus of attention in Congress? What are the pundits debating? The answer is immigration. IMMIGRATION!!!!
I could understand if Congress were focusing on how to deal with the mess caused by Obamacare. The law which was sold as a way to increase health insurance coverage has worked so far to actually reduce the number of people with coverage. Costs have gone through the roof. Many people are now in extremis as a result. It is a "right now" kind of problem. Something has to be done. On the other hand, immigration has been a topic of discussion for the last 15 years at a minimum. Remember the 2000 election when George Bush pushed for his "guest worker" program? They talk and talk about this in Washington, but nothing has been done. Aside from a few activist groups, however, there is little focus in the country on the issue of immigration. In short, there is no need to spend much of the next three months debating the issue in Washington.
And what will the effect of legalization of the illegals be? Remember those jobs for the less educated that are so hard to find? Well there will be millions more folks seeking them, and the chances to get them will be made that much more difficult. Even president Obama's supposedly most important issue of income inequality will get a negative jolt. Imagine how equality will be affected by adding 12 million poor to the mix of the country.
Right now, Congress ought to be focusing on our economy. If not that, they ought at least to figure out a way to stop the bleeding from Obamacare. Instead, they are pushing for an immigration "fix" that will make the poor poorer, the unemployed less likely to find work, and........... (I give up. I can't begin adequately to express my annoyance.)
Please join me by writing to your Congressman to tell him or her to focus on what is important and not to waste time on immigration. There will be time enough for that once the real problems have been resolved.
I could understand if Congress were focusing on how to deal with the mess caused by Obamacare. The law which was sold as a way to increase health insurance coverage has worked so far to actually reduce the number of people with coverage. Costs have gone through the roof. Many people are now in extremis as a result. It is a "right now" kind of problem. Something has to be done. On the other hand, immigration has been a topic of discussion for the last 15 years at a minimum. Remember the 2000 election when George Bush pushed for his "guest worker" program? They talk and talk about this in Washington, but nothing has been done. Aside from a few activist groups, however, there is little focus in the country on the issue of immigration. In short, there is no need to spend much of the next three months debating the issue in Washington.
And what will the effect of legalization of the illegals be? Remember those jobs for the less educated that are so hard to find? Well there will be millions more folks seeking them, and the chances to get them will be made that much more difficult. Even president Obama's supposedly most important issue of income inequality will get a negative jolt. Imagine how equality will be affected by adding 12 million poor to the mix of the country.
Right now, Congress ought to be focusing on our economy. If not that, they ought at least to figure out a way to stop the bleeding from Obamacare. Instead, they are pushing for an immigration "fix" that will make the poor poorer, the unemployed less likely to find work, and........... (I give up. I can't begin adequately to express my annoyance.)
Please join me by writing to your Congressman to tell him or her to focus on what is important and not to waste time on immigration. There will be time enough for that once the real problems have been resolved.
No comments:
Post a Comment