Reply from Congressman Emanuel Cleaver concerning Orphan WorksActof 2008

[Kelsay, Brian - Kansas City, MO]

What's in a name?  Actually I am partial Cherokee Indian.   I don't live
with the tribe or anything, but a grandmother of my grandmother was full
blood Cherokee.   My family suffered at some point, I'm sure.  Further
back, my family came here to the "Colonies" in 1620 and changed their
name, or it got changed for them thru back record-keeping, from Kelso to
Kelsay.  So we've been here a while and gotten mixed up pretty good
among the European, bloods.  I believe that one of the many potato
famines were going on in Ireland at the time.   They were however,
allowed to come to the "Colonies".   legally.   Meaning that Britain
specifically said they would allow a certain number of Irish people to
enter the "Colonies".  I went back and changed a few words when I
thought about the time frame involved.
 
Currently the US has a quota on how many people are allowed in from each
country per year and I believe that number is set to keep the numbers of
types of peoples balanced in this great melting pot of ours.  Those
rules on numbers and the method of entry are set down as immigration
law.  While you or I may not like them, we and those entering our
country do have to live by them until they are changed.   If you don't
like them, then personally work to get them changed.   Write letters,
protest, try to get into congress or whatever method you can think of if
it is something that sets you on fire.  BUT, entering this or any other
country remains an illegal enterprise, just as an improper lane change
without a signal, although that will not get you a ticket as quickly as
speeding in this town.
We are a nation of laws and to me that means something.
 
You must also think about the screening that is supposed to happen when
a person enters the country.  I know, I know, they didn't do that back
in 1620, but people also died of a lot of diseases and died of natural
causes before they hit 50.   So now we test for disease, we vaccinate,
we make sure they don't carry in food with fruit flies and things
growing on them.   I must've been asked about fruit like 20 times on the
way to and from Hawaii in 1996.  We make sure these persons have some
job or vocation lined up and other things so they are not a drain on the
system.  They must take classes to learn history, they must learn some
basic English, etc.   I do believe that putting signs, etc. in Spanish
is a crutch and a mistake.  Look at what it is doing to Canada.   I can
live with it though as long as everything defaults to English and I can
stop pressing 1.
 
Employers are being punished for employing known illegal immigrants.
Fines are being imposed and they are being watched closer for employing
illegals.  Those penalties are in the law and again, you can try to get
them changed to be more forceful.  I figure that once a company is in
violation of the law with one department, that others may start to look
their way also.   Maybe have a detailed health inspection and OSHA
inspection.
 
Funny you mentioned Cubans.  For one they are a lot smaller population
base and many were fleeing being murdered in the streets.   Papa Fidel
was no better than Stalin and killed many of his own people.   For
reasons of the type of situation they are leaving, certain peoples are
given leniency from time to time.   Cubans, Vietnamese, Philippinos,
Puerto Ricans, Samoans, etc. have been shown favoritism at times of
political distress and had their quotas raised.
 
Well, time to get some work done, good talking to you.  Now if we could
just get more people talking Linux by default.

Brian Kelsay


________________________________

From: Jeffrey Watts  
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 4:00 PM



Brian, I'm assuming from your name that you're not Native American (the
modern usage).  How did your forefathers come to this country?  Did they
get a visa from the US consulate in their country?  Can you prove this?
The reality is that unless one's relatives arrived after 1924 they most
likely just showed up here.

I get what you're saying, but the term "illegal" is overused here to
imply badness or criminality on the part of the immigrants.  When
someone changes lanes without signaling, they're driving "illegally" but
you don't hear people freaking out about that.  I'm not saying it's how
things should be, but I am saying it's not the big Mexican Scare that
the GOP and Lou Dobbs has been selling.  They're normal folks, just like
us, that just want to be able to work to support their families.

Instead of punishing them we ought to be addressing the real problem,
which is our crappy immigration policies and an environment where
employers aren't punished for violating the minimum wage, social
security, and Medicare laws.  If there weren't sweatshops, there'd be
less border-jumping.  If we allowed more working class folks to
immigrate, they're be less border-jumping.  If we didn't have
hypocritical laws such as "wet foot / dry foot" there'd be less
border-jumping.  You do know that illegal Cuban immigrants are given
green cards?

Anyhow, I do appreciate your reasoned rebuttal.  I actually agree with a
lot of what you're saying, I'm just arguing that we need to address the
source of the problem instead of the symptoms.

Jeffrey


On Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 2:19 PM, Kelsay, Brian <> wrote:


Not to be political, but the key part of the phrase is "illegal".   If a
person is not in a country legally, then they should have a different
set of expectations about how the society they've invaded will react to
them.  An illegal alien from any country cannot expect to receive the
same benefits as a legal immigrant or a natural citizen.   Por exemplo,
I cannot go to Mexico for anything longer than a brief visit, although a
visa may not be required.  And the US requires some proof of citizenship
upon reentry.   I can drive to Canada and visit briefly, but cannot work
there without a work visa.   If I want medical care while I'm there, I
believe it is emergency treatment only and I'd have to return to the
states to get my insurance to cover procedures.
	 
Follow the laws and its not such a big deal.
	 
Someday, we may be able to come and go between all countries and live
and work where we please, crossing borders pell-mell, but for now there
are many reasons for the laws in place in each country governing the
comings and goings of people.
	 

	Brian Kelsay