Immigration Reform & The Loss of Common Sense

Immigration reform is a pretty hot topic where I live here in southern Arizona. Some folks compare this current uproar to the civil rights movement of African Americans that started in the 60's or so. But that movement was based on trying to protect and equalize the rights of citizens and not people that have entered the country illegally. There is no comparison.

Down here in Arizona we do hear too many stories of American citizens that have had to do without, with less or pay more because these resources were consumed previously by illegal immigrants. It is a dire human right issue from one perspective.

I don't think the guest worker program would work. The reason illegal immigrants work jobs no one else will is because of the illegality of their status. Do you really expect me to believe that any "guest worker" that can work in U.S. legally will settle for picking lettuce at less than minimum wage if offered a choice? Will any employer pay more to their current workers if they can pay less for a highly replaceable, expendable and more cost effective "guest worker"?

It's odd how we react sometimes. If you were waiting in line at the grocery store, a government office or even Disneyland and someone just walked up and cut into the line in front of you, your wife and kids and your grandparents, you would probably have this sense that they did something wrong. But if someone enters the country illegally, there is somehow a moral gray area?

If you saw someone shoplifting some food would and the security guard stopped them, would you feel some sense of indignation and protest for their civil rights to be able to steal food just because they are hungry? No. Would you rush to them and offer to pay their attorney fees and supplement their future grocery bills? No. Of course not.

Let's quit kidding ourselves and just stick to some common sense.