Migrant Farm Prisoners

teh
I don’t have a lot to say right now about the immigration discussion that is now going on in the country. I think it’s a good discussion and I can at least understand the many points of view being put forth.

Now, no good discussion remains good once you start getting the input of this country’s most wigged-out conservatives. Take this story, for example:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- House conservatives criticized President Bush, accused the
Senate of fouling the air, said prisoners rather than illegal farm workers should pick America's crops and denounced the use of Mexican flags by protesters Thursday in a vehement attack on legislation to liberalize U.S. immigration laws.

"I say let the prisoners pick the fruits," said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of California, one of more than a dozen Republicans who took turns condemning a Senate bill that offers an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants an opportunity for citizenship.

Oh my God. Another simplistic, cartoonish and simple-minded “solution” from the functionally illiterate residents of Wingnutia. When I first heard the “let the prisoners do the work” solution my mind drifted back to the late 1970s when the simpltons demanded we stand up to OPEC and Arabs with “a barrel of oil for a bushel of corn”. Yeah whatever, idiots.

Moving on:

"Anybody that votes for an amnesty bill deserves to be branded with a scarlet
letter 'A,'" said Rep. Steve King of Iowa, referring to a guest worker provision
in the Senate measure.

Yes, “amnesty” supporters should be braded as the adulterers they are. It’s about time!

And there’s more:

Referring to a wave of demonstrations in recent weeks, Rep. Virgil Goode of Virginia said, "I say if you are here illegally and want to fly the Mexican flag, go to Mexico and wave the American flag."

One word: Huh?

I’m still forming my opinion on what the proper course of action should be regarding illegal immigration. Like I said, there is a lot of thoughtful discussion out there and many good points being made by folks of many political stripes. Then we have some of our cognitively-challenged freaks and xenophobes on the right that can’t help but pee in the pool.

Update: As long as being intolerant of other flags is now in vogue, can I join in and ask that those flying Texas flags here go back to Texas and fly Illinois flags, and those displaying Confederate flags in Springfield get those the fuck out of Abe Lincoln’s home town altogether. As long as we’re being intolerant.