Immigration and the Supreme Court

Immigration has always been an issue in the United States. In the 1800's the Irish in America were considered low class and later after The Civil War as immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe the prejudice that Italians and others from those countries experienced was in some cases extreme.

Our immigration history is not always one to proud of. In the 1930's the United States, as well as other countries, put very low limits on Jewish immigration even as it became clear that they had much to fear by staying on mainland Europe.

Today when you say immigration you are talking about Mexico and in most cases illegal immigration. Both sides of the political aisle use it to excite their base and unfortunately by doing so they do nothing to improve the political situation.

Republicans talk about building a wall. They talk about deportation like deporting 11 million people is practical. They speak about illegals taking American jobs when we know that A. Few Americans will do the jobs that these folks do and B. many of the Corporate interests and such that contribute to Republican campaigns are those that will be hiring illegals.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer who, incidentally may be the worst person in politics, had led the effort that had Arizona pass a controversial and restrictive law. The Supreme Court in a Five to Three opinion ruled that the three of the four provisions of the law were unconstitutional. When this Supreme Court, this Supreme Court rules against Republicans you know they have gone far to the right.

Then perhaps funniest of all to see Brewer claim that this was a victory for those behind the law, as " the heart of the law was let stand." The spin machines on both sides will come up with a nonsensical interpretation of whatever happens.

The President signs a bill saying that the deportation of young people who were brought here illegally as children, if they are in college or being responsible, will stop. Romney says that he is against the bill as it is a temporary measure, in that it is an executive order not a Congressional action but of course does not acknowledge that the Republicans in Congress will never pass a bill that looks like anything the President could sign.

Demographics will correct this issue but it also will cause even more fear for those prone to be against immigration. As Hispanics become a much larger proportion of the population Republican failure to be responsive to their needs will lead to political losses that will make them irrelevant. So this will correct itself, it is just a matter of time. However, this will also cause a backlash, somewhat like what was seen in the South in the days of the Civil Rights Era. The same concerns that created George Wallace and created what would later be called Reagan Democrats will split Republicans in the same way.

Truthfully a Romney victory and subsequent Supreme Court seats filled by him might be the only way that the Republican majority of today can have their value systems extend more than another decade.

Conversely the best way to improve their lot would be to embrace immigration reform and measures to help more and more Hispanics into the middle class. Right or wrong one of the best ways to produce Republicans is to let people get a piece of the American Dream that they wish to protect. Hispanics being more religeous than the average Americans would be a natural fit to the Republican party if....and only if the Republicans could find a way to balance the Tea Party that keeps them in power now with the Hispanics which could later.

Good luck with that Mitt.