The right and wrong way to immigrate

Amnesty will be the final straw that fundamentally transforms the future of this once-great country.

Through years of ever-growing federal assistance, we have created a permanent non-working class of citizens unwilling to perform the entry-level, lower paying jobs.

That creates in some sectors a vacuum of workers.

But largely uneducated, low-skill immigrants are more than willing to fill that vacuum.

Yet amnesty is not about providing an ample lower skilled workforce.

Amnesty is about political power and newfound voters who will consistently support the party that promises an ever-increasing source of financial assistance.

The Republicans are foolish to believe their halfhearted and newfound support for amnesty will translate into new GOP voters.

It will not.

The Democrats know well that an increase in immigrant voters will establish their political power for as far as the eye can see.

But in that obsessive rush for power, the Democrats also fail to see the long range- changes that are inevitable.

Today's 12 million illegal immigrants will be tomorrow's 50 million.

In all of the discussion on illegal immigration, we still clearly lack the resolve to fully secure our borders.

Were we serious about the growing concern of illegals crossing daily into this country, we would devote ample resources to fixing the problem.

Yet politicians in Washington are an odd breed. Regardless of their party affiliation, they fail to appreciate the consequences of their actions or inactions.

Few examples of this oddity are as stark or obvious as amnesty.

Barack Obama has but one card in his deck -- the race card -- and he uses it to trump any discussion where he feels it applies.

We're racist to oppose amnesty. End of discussion!

To destroy a civilization doesn't always take military might.

You can also destroy it by wrecking an economy and diluting the strength that has been built on the shoulders of millions of our forefathers.

That lesson is not lost on this administration.

Because of weak leadership in our elected officials, amnesty is virtually assured in the not-too-distant future.

Those who support full-scale amnesty either lack the resolve to fight for our future or their vision of our future is radically different from mine.

Those giddy over the prospect of millions of new Democratic voters will enjoy unbridled power for now.

But their grandchildren will be left with a costly legacy that will not bode well for this country.

Given the flood of illegals into this country, our house will someday be divided.

And we should know what happens when a house -- or country -- is divided.

PS: This Fourth of July, one of the largest groups of immigrants in history will take the oath of citizenship. These newcomers followed the path of legal citizenship, which is the law of the land and which is available for any and all new arrivals.

We welcome with open arms those who followed the law and are now proud American citizens.

Michael Jensen is the publisher of the Sikeston Standard Democrat.