Two years ago, about the time when the Senate was in the midst of moving forward on a common sense bi-partisan approach to fixing our broken immigration system, a reporter asked governor Scott Walker his opinion on a path to citizenship for the undocumented among us.
"Can you envision a world where with the right penalties and waiting periods and meet the requirements, where those people can get citizenship?" a reporter asks off-screen.
In the clip, the governor responds simply: "Sure, yes. I mean, I think it makes sense."
Now two years down the road and with eyes firmly fixed on a presidential bid, Walker has flipped on the issue. This is and is not surprising. It is surprising from the fact that here is a Midwestern governor who clearly understood two years ago that the farming communities in his home state of Wisconsin are very dependent on immigrant labor. And not only the farmers, this is also true of the construction industry, the hospitality industry, and tourism sectors are all equally dependent on our immigrant workforce.
On the other hand, it is not surprising that the governor has moved to the "no amnesty" camp on the said issue. This, his supporters say is simply a more mature consideration of the issue at large. It can also be interpreted as a willingness to be who my financial backers want me to be so that I have a better chance of winning the Republican nomination for President. This, of course, is not unusual for candidates from both parties; they are seen as more electable if they are willing to show a willingness to change their point of view on a range of issues.
This may be good for politics, but it is not good for policy, particularly on the subject of immigration. What made sense to Mr. Walker two years ago still makes sense today. In fact it makes more sense today because (a) the problem of the presence of eleven plus million living as second-class members of the community has not gone away and (b) the employment figures now show that with the economy continuing to make a sustained recovery, the country needs the extra workers.
So, where does that leave the chances of any serious efforts being made to move an immigration overhaul in the near future? The sad fact is our politicians are more than happy to kick that can down the road once again to what increasing looks like sometime after the 2016 presidential election.
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Chopsticks!
A woman who had worked all her life to bring about good was granted one wish, "Before I die let me visit both hell and heaven." Her wish was granted.
She was whisked off to a great banqueting hall. The tables were piled high with delicious food and drink. Around the tables sat miserable, starving people as wretched as could be.
"Why are they like this?" she asked the angel who accompanied her.
"Look at their arms," the angel replied.
She looked and saw that attached to the people's arms were long chopsticks secured above the elbow. Unable to bend their elbows, the people aimed the chopsticks at the food, missed every time and sat hungry, frustrated and miserable.
"Indeed this is hell! Take me away from here!"
She was then whisked off to heaven. Again she found herself in a great banqueting hall with tables piled high. Around the tables sat people laughing, contented, joyful.
"No chopsticks I suppose," she said.
"Oh yes there are. Look, just as in hell they are long and attached above the elbow but look, here people have learnt to feed one another".
Author Unknown
Should you have any comments, questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact Michael Leonard at: sliabhanoir@yahoo.com.
The U.S. Conference of Catholi
