Immigration reform
06/09/07 09:28 AM
Well, I for one was sorry to see the recent
immigration bill defeated. Lots of conservatives
opposed it, but many supported it for the same
reasons I did.
To get bills passed in a divided government, compromise is necessary. That means each side gets some of what it wants and gives up some of what it wants. Generally, when the final bill comes forward for a vote, purists on both sides denounce it because of the compromises.
My view is generally more pragmatic: we are never going to pass a bill that has everything we want and none of what our political opponents want. IIf the proposed compromise bill passes would we be better off than if we stayed with the current state of affairs, or would we be worse off. In other words, don't compare the bill to a perfect bill we will never see, but to current reality.
Some conservatives opposed it because they thought it would be worse than nothing. But most seemed to oppose it because it fell short of the ideal. Now we're stuck with the mess we already have and little hope of any change. If you don't like "amnesty", guess what? We've got de facto amnesty right now, just as we have had for a long time. If the Republicans who opposed this bill will come up with changes for the better that the Democrats will support (without which, nothing will happen), I'll say I was wrong. But I fear we're stuck with the current mess now for a long, long time.
Here's a good analysis: Link
To get bills passed in a divided government, compromise is necessary. That means each side gets some of what it wants and gives up some of what it wants. Generally, when the final bill comes forward for a vote, purists on both sides denounce it because of the compromises.
My view is generally more pragmatic: we are never going to pass a bill that has everything we want and none of what our political opponents want. IIf the proposed compromise bill passes would we be better off than if we stayed with the current state of affairs, or would we be worse off. In other words, don't compare the bill to a perfect bill we will never see, but to current reality.
Some conservatives opposed it because they thought it would be worse than nothing. But most seemed to oppose it because it fell short of the ideal. Now we're stuck with the mess we already have and little hope of any change. If you don't like "amnesty", guess what? We've got de facto amnesty right now, just as we have had for a long time. If the Republicans who opposed this bill will come up with changes for the better that the Democrats will support (without which, nothing will happen), I'll say I was wrong. But I fear we're stuck with the current mess now for a long, long time.
Here's a good analysis: Link
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