Immigration redux

Addressing newly sworn-in US citizens, Mr Bush said the US was “stronger and more dynamic when we welcome immigrants”. He noted that Google, the most popular internet search engine, was built in part by a Russian immigrant while the White House and the US Capitol housing Congress were the work of an architect immigrating from Ireland.
Immigration reform must “make the system more rational, orderly and secure”.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/fb53bed2-bda8-11da-a998-0000779e2340.html

Just an interesting aside...this might be the first time I have seen a sitting president referred to as "Mr.". Minor point of etiquette...or perhaps a major point. You decide.
However, in this case he made a couple statemtents I strongly agree with. Those are elements that created much of the culture and wonders of this country. And should continue to be.

Now the focus has shifted to Republican re-election, with Republicans in the House backing more punitive measures against immigrants to galvanise support among conservatives.
Sad. The focus should always be on what is right, not what brings reelection or on alleged pandering to some group. From where I sit, it requires a redefinition of conservatives, but that has been ongoing for a while so no surprise there. An already hard to define word is even more difficult these days...which is one reason when people ask me my political leanings I tend towards being an "Idealistic peopleist" who fits into no known party or ideology. I tend to have things I believe are true and just and those are the things I support whether they are considered "Democrat" or "Republican" or "Green" or whatever party issues...because to me they are not party issues, they are issues important to me and the parties can go to South New Jersey.

"We must remember there are hardworking individuals, doing the jobs that Americans will not do, who are contributing the economic vitality of our country," the president said in his weekend radio address.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060327/unitedstates_immigration_060327/20060327?hub=World
It is an unfair and overbroad generalization that "Americans will not do" many of the jobs...but not by much. When they pay taxes and do not burden the already unwieldy and badly abused welfare system, the immigrants do help to a point contribute to the economic vitality...but that statement makes one wonder the grasp the government has on the sheer number of dollars being sent "home" by many of the illegals. Note, I think it is great they take care of their families like that and am not cracking on that at all...I just think it renders a little questionable the true vitality impact here as dollars have a net result of leaving the country, not being redistributed within.
It is a complicated issue. We do, in fact, live in a world with established borders and with laws about who and when those borders can be crossed. Like most human interactions, the laws are flawed, arbitrary, and often unfair. However, like other laws that are flawed, arbitrary and yes, even unfair...that does not mean you can simply ignore them. The order of society is based on a certain level of compromise...and that includes abiding under laws we might disagree with and find unfair. When people reject the basic elements of the social contract then the response is often in kind by others...who see the laws the first person found to be unfair to be completely fair but a second set of laws, perceived of as fair and right by group a, to be completely unfair. Soon you have anarchy and chaos.
So while I might disgree with large parts of both the law and the mindset behind the law, I also believe is obedience to it. And that complicates things even more.