Jeb Bush Latest to Push for Conventional Paths to Citizenship

The media is largely getting the story wrong and saying some of the more pro-immigration folks in the GOP are against a path to citizenship. Jeb Bush, the former governor of Florida and the brother and son of two Presidents (and very possibly a candidate for the presidency in 2016) is the most recent Republican to speak out against a "special" path to citizenship. This is not the same thing as being against illegally present immigrants being able to eventually get citizenship. It means that we don't create a system that is easier and faster than that available to people currently in line. He has been telling reporters that the key is for people to apply through existing categories which then need to be expanded so there is a realistic chance to get a green card in a reasonable period of time.

Comments

[USC]

"One common pro-unskilled immigration argument is that's the only way to support the existing social security"

See below:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/richardsalsman/2011/09/27/social-security-is-much-worse-than-a-ponzi-scheme/

[George Chell]

"Those who are crying foul and pretending to be holier than thou should know that you have been a beneficiary of low prices because farm laborers from Mexico have been used as slaves."

Would be much better importing food products from Mexico. Basically ag subsidies championed by Charles "Assinine" Grassley have priced the Mexican farmers out of the global markets.

"Stop buying spinach from your local store if you are that holier than thou."

I only buy imported vegetables from Mexico and Central America. Even the shrimp I buy is imported from Thailand and Mexico.

"Also, don't hide your guilt behind they should have e-verify and business are to be blamed...these businesses exploit because people like you are creating demand for cheap food that is coming from the sweats of these poor laborers. Look yourself in the mirror, once."

Cheap food can and should be imported. If the American farmers need subsidy to survive they need to find another line of business...I agree...Wipe out the subsidies, we will cut illegal immigration by at least a third.

[Sid]

@What-tha-eff

People can only make that choice if the spinach is tagged with that sort of information. I do not think it is the role of ordinary citizens or legal immigrants to enforce federal immigration laws. So I don't see any hypocrisy there.

I'm not an expert on human behavior so I can only speculate that if the wages for people working in the farm go up, perhaps it might be better for some unskilled workers who are currently working very hard in cities but barely getting by because of the high cost of living, to move to a smaller town and take up this kind of a job. I don't know whether they'll make that choice if they prefer living in poverty in cities over living in a small town. Yes, cost of food will go up for everyone but in terms of purchasing power, cost of food in the US is one of the lowest in world. Perhaps a country with a severe obesity problem will see a net benefit if the cost of food goes up and people eat less. Some migration from overcrowded cities to smaller towns might lower their housing related costs, which is more than 35-40% of an average families budget, perhaps even more in cities.

There are several angles to every issue and people focus on the ones that support their argument. One common pro-unskilled immigration argument is that's the only way to support the existing social security and medicare programs when all the boomers retire. What about 30-40 years later when these unskilled workers retire? It will take even more unskilled workers then to support the retirement of these unskilled workers because of the way social security benefits are calculated. Looking for short term solutions to these problems will only delay serious reform in these programs that effectively transfers wealth from the working population to the retirees. "But they paid into these programs" you'll say. Yes, that's true, but not nearly enough to cover what they're taking out of these programs in retirement. The pay-in to pay-out ratio for Medicare is just ridiculous. Healthcare needs serious reform, way beyond what Obamacare would do in the next few years.

[What-tha-eff]

Immigrants are modern day slaves...illegals have been abused through low paying jobs and legals are abused by having a stagnant career.

Those who are crying foul and pretending to be holier than thou should know that you have been a beneficiary of low prices because farm laborers from Mexico have been used as slaves. Stop buying spinach from your local store if you are that holier than thou. Also, don't hide your guilt behind they should have e-verify and business are to be blamed...these businesses exploit because people like you are creating demand for cheap food that is coming from the sweats of these poor laborers. Look yourself in the mirror, once.

[Tobias]

WONDERING WHO IS GOING TO HELP PAYING FOR THE INCREASING COSTS OF SUPPORTING THE DISABLED AND RETIREES?

Americans leaving US in record numbers
Ever dream of leaving it all behind and heading out of America? You’re not the only one. A new study shows that more US citizens than ever before are living outside of the country.

According to statistics from the US State Department, around 6.4 million Americans are either working or studying overseas, which Gallup says is the largest number ever for such statistic.

The polling organization came across the number after conducting surveys in 135 outside nations and the information behind the numbers reveal that this isn’t exactly a longtime coming either — numbers have skyrocketed only in recent years. In the 24 months before polling began, the number of Americans between the ages of 25 and 34 living abroad managed to surge from barely 1 percent to over 5.1 percent. For those under the age span wishing to move overseas, the percentage has jumped in the same amount of time from 15 percent to 40.

http://rt.com/usa/leaving-us-america-country-289/

[George Chell]

After today's unemployment numbers and economic indicators from Britain, I have to ask myself one question: do I want an American vision of the world as espoused by Obama, Rubio or do I want a British vision of the world, as espoused by David "Dunderhead" Cameron and Theresa "Mudhead" May? The answer is obvious, I would rather have the American vision of the world and Jack's vision of the world and for America is clear UK with its falling employment, brain drain and economic stagnation. Perhaps Jack is much richer than all of us poor souls..so much so it does not matter to him.

[Another Voice]

For one thing Jack, it is a practical thing to solve the 11 million riddle. Also to revamp the current immigration system that caused the problem in the first place. Once you solve it re-design to prevent the 11 million problem from happening again counter any and all incentives to come to the US illegally. By not creating a special path for anyone but rather allow folks to do it thru existing channels.

[Legal and no longer waiting]

Jack, honey, in the modern world migration is a global phenomena. The purpose of immigration laws should not be to limit the inflows of workers (there is really no such thing any more) but rather to let the country participate in the global exchange of talent. What is happenning now is that the US is losing people to other countries, but workers can't come to the US legally. It's stupid and unproductive.

[Jack]

“where you can have a path to citizenship where there isn’t an incentive for people to come illegally, I’m for it. I don’t have a problem with that.”

Such as? I can see why people are confused because what he says does not make sense. If you give everything to people who "come illegally" that a person can get who is “coming legally", how is that not an incentive? It obviously is an incentive so Bush's statement is built on a false premise. He's for what cannot be.

“Today the only path to come to this country other than family re-unification is to come illegally."

What? I wonder how much of this book Bush actually wrote. I'm unimpressed by his crude economic growth through population growth policy goal which Bushie Gutierrez also spouts. Very unenlightened for a would-be presidential candidate.