my #1 issue, both personally, and for the health of the country

[kanzeon_2040]

As much as I advocate equal rights for gays, I think if I were to write a letter to the Prez my #1 issue to elevate, both personally and for the health of the country, would be immigration reform. I expect I will write such a letter this week

Comments

[eclipse77x]

I wonder if you'd feel the same way if you weren't directly affected.

[kanzeon_2040]

Would it be my #1 issue? Probably not. But I've always been in favor of expanded immigration.

Are you against immigration?

[eclipse77x]

Not at all.

Illegal immigration is another story, however. Illegal immigrants create a dangerous subculture for themselves and are unable to take advantage of any kind of healthcare or other resources that taxpayers have access to. In the event that they should need assistance they are unable to ask for it for fear of being deported.

[canis_lupus_va]

they seem to take full advantage of healthcare here, in fact a friend that works in medical billing tells me they're banckrupting the system here in NoVa.

[robco]

I agree, though this does go hand-in-hand with marriage equality, or lack of any federal recognition of our relationships. The immigration system needs to be reformed anyway. The Canadian and UK systems make much more sense and give priority to educated, employable people. The US system is a giant mess.

I think he does need a new issue because it's looking less likely that any meaningful health care reform isn't going to pass. The GOP still has too much power and will block real reform. The result will be a watered-down bill that will do little, if anything.

I'm beginning to wish that we had a better selection of candidates during the primary...

[kanzeon_2040]

The real primary is the money primary -- to have a better selection of candidates in the primary we'd need some sort of campaign finance reform. Without sufficient money, a candidate is not considered "viable" and is practically (or actually) ignored.

[robco]

We do, but it will never happen. Either that or we need to convince ordinary people to donate to campaigns. Still, I always find it amusing when someone has to spend millions of dollars to get (and keep) a job that pays a couple hundred grand a year and voters are shocked that these people are beholden to special interest groups. Honestly, this is what is going to kill real health care reform in the US - too many Dems also take money from the health care lobbies.

I also wonder if the arduous and expensive campaign process, where we demand to know every single tidbit of information on a candidate and scrutinize every decision, every acquaintance, every fault - prevents good, intelligent people with good judgment from seeking public office. I'm sure there are some that are truly dedicated, but I wonder if instead we get the ones who are primarily seeking power...