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Congressional FailureCongress: Inaction In ActionCongress used to remind me of two old hound dogs growling and snarling over the same bone. However, lately Congress reminds me more of two ill-mannered kids fighting over the same toy. Both want the toy but for different reasons. One wants to play with the toy, the other wants the toy so the other can’t play with it. The only thing missing is a mother to step in and take the toy away from both kids and send them to their rooms. In this case, we need a mother that will slap each kid up side of their heads and tell them to quit squabbling and get to doing something. One side says "Don’t blame me - they are in charge". The latest "toy" is the immigration issue. Both sides want the issue but it seems for different reasons. Congress doesn’t appear to be listening to the legal citizen but are trying to appease the illegals. Congress is again more interested in an election issue than in solving a problem that even they agree needs to be fixed. To be fair, some in Congress are trying but because this is an election years, those members up for elections need the issue more than the fix. Those not due to be reelected for another 2 to 4 years figure whatever they do now will be forgotten by then anyway. I admit the illegal immigration issue is complex and a quick fix as done in the past will not fly with the American people this time - I hope. Regardless of the solution, you cannot fix the illegal immigration issue until you first stop and control who is coming into this country and find some way to keep track of them. Once the flow is controlled then you can begin to fix the problem. Both parties are afraid of alienating Latino voters but the poles show that those who have obtain citizenship are also in favor of immigrant control. This means that both parties are to some degree counting on the votes of illegal immigrants to support them. The illegal immigration problem has been building for years and both parties are to blame for the current state of uncontrolled illegal immigration through our southern border. Both parties need to be held accountable for their inaction and inappropriate response for at least the last 20 years. Both parties need to be held accountable for the cost these illegal immigrants have added to our local and national budgets. My solution is to find a way to penalize Congress and the best way to this is to reduce their paychecks. First, we must find a way to prevent Congress from voting themselves a pay raise whenever they deem it necessary. Second, we must find a way to demand that members of Congress pay part of the tab for the expense these illegal immigrants have caused. That means we must prevent Congress from just passing on the cost to us taxpayers. The way to do this is to immediately reduce the paycheck of each current member of Congress. Let’s start at a 15% reduction and that 15% will be paid to the state and federal governments to help defray the illegal immigration costs. Third, all past members of Congress for the past 20 years will have their government pensions reduced by the same 15%, which will also be donated to the government. Now, because we can never expect Congress to vote for limiting the time they can hold an office, we must revert to allowing the Legislature of each state to appoint the two Senators that represent that state. Also, the salary paid to these Senators will be determined by each state’s Legislature instead of by Congress. House Representatives will still be elected by the people of each state but again, the state Legislatures will determine the salary for these Representatives. This means some Senators and Representatives will earn more than others but that’s the way a capitalistic market should work. Where else but in Congress can the "workers" vote themselves a raise and determine their own salary? And as one last solution, driver’s licenses will be issued only to citizens or people holding a valid Visa or work permit. And the last step is no one will be allowed to vote in any of our elections without proof of citizenship. Being in this country legally is not enough; therefore, some form of voter ID must be implemented and verified, preferably by some organization other than the government. To reform our immigration policies, we have to correct the cause and that cause is Congress and its inability to act in the best interest of the country instead of the best interest of their party or themselves. These are harsh steps but the time of easy solutions has passed simply because our Congress has refused to act. This country cannot continue to exist with uncontrolled illegal immigration.
Author: Don Miller
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2006 Articles |
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