“The agreement reached today is one that will help enforce our borders, but equally importantly it will treat people with respect.” -- President George W. Bush

            This statement is echoed by both parties and illustrates the insanity and corruption of American politics.  The insanity is Bush’s good intentions and ridiculous concept of “compassionate conservatism”, which translates to “liberalism”.  We learned this translation in the flood of past due bills to the treasury courtesy of the prescription drug program.  The “compassionate conservatives” are liberals who know enough economics to understand that tax cuts are the only way to increase revenue enough to pay for wasteful, society degrading programs that destroy families.  They also hold hands with liberals in the pool of self gratifying good intentions, hoping for a good word from the socialist media to puff them up and allow for good dinner party invitations. Bush’s press and corresponding poll numbers testify to how well compassion plays for Republicans when dealing with the press.

            The corruption is the willingness of congress to parade in front of cameras as if for the first time they have actually done something useful and productive that is not cutting taxes or these soul-sucking entitlement programs.  Democrats see easy victims to turn into voters and replace the voters aborted over the last three decades. They also see cheap labor for business lobbies and their own business interests they pretend they do not have. Republicans see voters and cheap labor for business lobbies and interests everyone knows they have.  Most of all, elected Republicans are generally spineless jellyfish that would sell their own child to stem cell research for a kiss from Tim Russert.

            Many people in and out of politics agree with the President’s statement and the idea of continuing to let these illegals into the country because they believe it is “compassionate”.  This brings us to my inevitable historical parallel that is sure to illicit the response I am always searching for.

            Not long, long ago enough there was a man who practiced “compassion” by the name of Jefferson Davis.  He knew that the cheap labor of slavery kept costs down and supported the southern economy.  He also truly believed that this condition was a step up for the otherwise lost.  In the mind of the “compassionate” Davis slaves were cared for by kind benefactors who provided food and housing in return for a little help around the homestead.  Sure, “real” people had legal rights and a much higher minimum wage, but black slaves had a much better life than the savage culture that was their own.  Oh, how nice.  Cheap products, low overhead and helping people! 

            Is it really that much different now?  The irony is that America’s Indentured Pt II come voluntarily.  Their own countries are so corrupt and without true capitalism or democratic government that it is better to abandon them in search of wages that are illegal to pay in our country.  And we so want cheap tomatoes and nice lawns that we are willing to reach out and welcome them into ghettos where they have none of the rights or responsibilities of American citizens.  We don’t even want to know their names, not in these paradise sanctuary cities with no crime, no lack of health care, and no silly federal laws.  The wages they are paid in agriculture illustrate that they are a fraction of a true person in our eyes.  Let’s get it over with… is it one half? Two thirds of a person?

            So legalize them.  Then we can always enslave ten million more.  We’ll have nice cheap strawberries as long as the border stays open.  And it will stay open as long as congress is congress and we strive to be “compassionate”.

            Illegal immigrants exploit us and we exploit them and pat ourselves on the back for being so nice.  But the reason they come is because of capitalism and democracy.  Without those two aspects of the United States there would be few jobs for any of us and certainly no “extra” jobs.  Maybe a new export to Latin and South America could solve everybody’s problems.  Or maybe our delusional state will destroy the greatest democratic success in world history and plunge us into a war that will make our Civil War look like a gang fight.  Where will we go to find work then?  Maybe Canada.