Stirring the Pot, and the Melting Pot

I can not go into detail, but let me tell you the pot has been stirred in Bessemer, the fire is hot, and the stew is about to boil over.




This is nice. The sign looks like it has been spruced up for the 2007 season.

And the beach ball welcomes visitors.

A few weeks ago a friend of mine asked me what I like about President Bush, implying there must be at least one thing. I did not reply, but I knew right away what my answer would be. Although not in agreement 100%, I come real close to agreeing with him on his immigration policy. Like the saying goes, even a stopped clock is right twice a day. Well, Bush is not right that often, but...

The agreement reached yesterday by key senators and the white house certainly has my approval. No, it’s not perfect, but as Senator Diane Feinstein says, “Please, please, please, please, don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” No plan is ever going to be acceptable to everyone.

Critics say the plan with its merit system does not consider family ties when allowing certain foreigners to immigrate. At first I thought this was significant, but USA Today states “In a historic shift, it also would eliminate some of the preferences given to adult children and siblings of U. S. citizens applying to immigrate and create a merit-based point system designed to promote immigration by workers whose skills are in demand in the U. S.” I was concerned at first it might mean minor children would be denied, but adult children? It does not bother me at all that certain adults are denied entry since adult partners and same sex spouses (that might have legal marriages from other countries) of U. S. citizens are denied entry, often even when the foreign partner has advanced skills. That needs fixin’.

This is not amnesty. Detractors will call it that, but they won’t be satisfied until we round up all the illegals at gunpoint, house them in “double Guantanamo” (Mitt Romney’s term) and deport every one of them. Of course, they don’t look forward enough to know that we might not have any lettuce or oranges to eat (never mind the bee shortage and the effect of that on produce), or that construction would slow down significantly (and rise in cost), or that your golf course might not be kept green, or your hotel beds not made each day, and your favorite restaurant might have to close (and this includes more than just Mexican restaurants). The immigrants in our country, whether legal or illegal, do affect our economy in a HUGE way, and its not all negative.

So come on, support this plan. It can be modified later if need be, but let’s get something going.