IMMIGRATION NOT COMING UP IN THE DEBATES

After three debates involving the Obama-Biden and McCain-Palin candidates, the one subject that has not come up is immigration. And I don't think it is a coincidence. Public opinion polls are showing the issue has dropped dramatically on the list of important subjects for Americans. And this is a good thing since people can make intelligent choices when they are not being whipped in to a frenzy on the issue. Immigration is now about where it has historically been in terms of the public's attention to the subject and this will hopefully send the message to Congress that it is time to get back to business and attend to modernizing the immigration system as needed. The paralysis we've seen over the last two years needs to come to an end.

Comments

[Mike McCormick]

2 Voting Blocks - Must Choose One.
There are two voting blocks that the candidates are vying for; retirees and Immigrants (especially Latinos). But there is one issue that neither has been able to address to satisfy both. They cannot, but it is an issue that is quietly becoming a major economic crisis. In 2006, the Congress passed the "Pension Protection Act (PPA)" as a response to the Enron debacle. The PPA mandated much stricter levels of funding for a pension to be declared "Fully Funded." They gave pensions 2 years to reach a level that they never had prepared for. But, most hourly workers' pensions are funded and determined by hourly contributions. I am on such a pension (as disabled). I recently had my annual COLA rolled back and FROZEN at the level I received in 2002. But, Congress and I started out, the candidates did not address the main reason pensions have been under funded. My employers cannot compete against contractors who hire illegal (even legal0 immigrants and pay no pension, medical or other benefits. So we continue to lose the man-hours required to fund our Pension, Health and other plans. The candidates MUST be made to clearly choose who they want to protect? Retirees and near retirees who are having their pensions slashed in these horrible economic times, or illegal immigrants. I repeat they must state CLEARLY, which group they feel is more important? Those who have paid taxes and contributed over their lifetime, or those who have not!
Mike McCormick - NYC

[George Chell]

Interesting! In Europe and elsewhere, during economic crisis, anti-immigrant feelings run high. But, in the US it is pretty muted and immigration is not even a major issue!