Illegal immigration at "THE" border -- how BIG an issue is it to you?

[Sparkly]

Poll question: Illegal immigration at "THE" border -- how BIG an issue is it to you?

Consider all the issues we're looking at (off the top of my head -- and some overlap):

- national debt
- Iraq war
- veterans' benefits
- environmental issues
- eroding Constitutional balance of powers
- eroding the Bill of Rights
- multi-national corporatism
- civil rights (gays, minorities, women)
- our position in the world
- stem-cell research
- renewable fuels
- theocracy at home
- loose Soviet nukes abroad
- healthcare
- Social Security
- education
- illegal wiretapping
- illegal seizure, detainment
- torture
- corrupt lobbyists
- media consolidation
- unverified voting
- unsecured chem/nuke facilities
- unsecured ports
- fubar FEMA
- international loss of credibility
- lack of local resources for bio attacks
- overstretched military
- terrorist networks
- genocide in Darfur
- need for living minimum wages in the US
- corporate wealthfare

Given all the issues, where is illegal immigration at "the" border (note they only mention one), and everything it involves, on your list of specific, isolated concerns?

[niyad]

1. it's nothing but a distraction and red herring--to keep people from

focusing on the real issues.

[Chipper Chat]

3. CNN besa-ing Bush's rear on it right now.

To CNN the immigration issue is more important than the second coming.

[July]

6. How long has this even been in the public conversation? A month?

Immigration issues have been discussed before, of course, but they haven't been talked about nonstop and everywhere until the last few weeks. We've just experienced another ramp-up of a national talking point (remember gay marriage before the last election), capped by the pResidential pronouncements. And once again, the Republicans have steered the national conversation, with plenty of help from the "nonpartisan" media.

When are we going to stop falling for it?

[blondeatlast]

13. Exactly. How soon before the debate fades because the Rs realize they

losing on this one, too?

[leftstreet]

2. If it's a big issue for voters, it needs to be a big issue for Dem party

Just sayin.

And if they had a credible stance on the issue, they could use the opportunity to get out some talking points about the importance of:

- national debt
- Iraq war
- veterans' benefits
- environmental issues
- eroding Constitutional balance of powers
- eroding the Bill of Rights
- multi-national corporatism
- civil rights (gays, minorities, women)
- our position in the world
- stem-cell research
- renewable fuels
- theocracy at home
- loose Soviet nukes abroad
- healthcare
- Social Security
- education
- illegal wiretapping
- illegal seizure, detainment
- torture
- corrupt lobbyists
- media consolidation
- unverified voting
- unsecured chem/nuke facilities
- unsecured ports
- fubar FEMA
- international loss of credibility
- lack of local resources for bio attacks
- overstretched military
- terrorist networks
- genocide in Darfur
- need for living minimum wages in the US
- corporate wealthfare

[Justice]

8. All about framing the issues; if asked, voters would say care about

health care, retirement, war, deficit etc etc long before illegal immigration.

I think without lou dobbs and the right wing republicans it would get zero attention.

[burrowowl]

4. 20% of the "illegals" are Mexican

who in the hell are the others!
Chinese in NY clothing sweatshops, etc.

[unschooler]

5. I was just thinking what a non-issue it is for most people.

Ever heard someone say, "gee - illegal immigration is really having a negative impact on my life"? :eyes:

[sandnsea]

7. Labor exploitation is an issue

As it relates to that, it's important to me. But since we're not making that connection anyway, it doesn't matter. Well, except that these folks aren't going to understand the sacrifices they're making with these low wages until it's too late for them to do anything about it.

[Inland]

9. I think it's because enforcing "the border" is the EASY part

of the immigration puzzle that I put it low.

To me, the tough part is coming up with the decision on what immigration to allow, the formulas, etc. The discussion of values, the effects of immigration, who pays, etc.

The ENFORCEMENT of that decision at the border---the part that's a fence or monitoring employers---is relatively easy. Enforcement shouldn't be controversial, but we have a president who decided to simply not enforce it and then present us with a fait accompli of ten or twelve million illegal immigrants, and has a vested interest in telling us that nothing can be done.

That's my thought. "The border" isn't the immigration "problem". Bush is. Don't mean to repeat themes again and again, but it's true.

[lumberjack_jeff]

10. Push poll much?

Economic justice is #1 on my list. Our poor performance is primarily the result of healthcare, tax policy, education funding, corporatism (e.g. the bankruptcy laws) and wage stagnation. At the lower end of the economic ladder (where my sympathies lie) immigration keeps the labor supply artificially high, and is a primary contributor to declining wages.

Making big improvements to our general welfare will require addressing each of those things. We can't pretend that any of the problems don't exist.

[roody]

11. I am dreaming of some discussion of

living conditions in Mexico that drive people to risk so much to cross the border. It could start with some analysis of NAFTA.

[blondeatlast]

12. Having been at the official crossing in Nogales many, many times,

I wish everyone who is "worried" about the issue had the same opportunity.

Unless we go after the employers, it's never gonna stop.

They cross illegally at the OFFICIAL crossings, people--aand the BP is too damn understaffed to do a thing about it.

Until then, I'm worried about my very smart, science inclined son's future.