Ring--

You--and Tancredo and Dobbs--want to put the genie back in the bottle. We need some evidence--as opposed to wild predictions-- from any of you that this wave of immigration is more a danger than any of the preceding ones. Specifically, why do you not think that succeeding generations of Hispanic immigrants will assimilate, just as has always been the case in the past?

And if you don't like illegal immigration, the obvious solution is to make more legal immigration possible. Instead, what I hear from Tancredo, etc. is exhortations to slam the door shut.

Re: Social Security: many illegals are paying into Social Security, which as you know is a program funded by workers for retirees. As long as they are illegal, they will never see any benefits from their contributions. They are lopsidedly not of an age which would benefit from the program. So I would think the illegal immigration opponents would be pushing for a program to legalize them as quickly as possible--to encourage even more to pay into the program.

Also, we both agree the bill as it stands is fatally flawed. However, if the restrictionists would start thinking, they would realize that when this one officially goes down in flames, the problem will not be solved. And-- legal-- Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic group in the US. Both the Republicans and the Democrats will be pursuing that vote. The next bill will reflect that.

So far more Republicans than Democrats seem to be restrictionist. To current Hispanics--thanks to Tancredo particularly-- it looks like the Republicans at this stage are more than willing to write off their vote. Hence my earlier thread: "Tancredo: Democrats' Best Friend".

I'd be interested in any rebuttal of the above--from thinking individuals like yourself.