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Immigration Reform part II


chris rice
 “I absolutely believe that the next attack we have will come from somebody who has come across the border illegally. Anybody who believes we’re safer [since 9-11], they’re living in Neverland.” – Eugene Danes, retired deputy director of the Border Patrol sector in Blaine, WA.

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Five years after 9-11 our nation is still facing virtually open borders and non-enforcement of existing immigration laws.
One problem is the severe shortage of Border Patrol agents. Although about 1,300 agents have been added since 2001, there still aren’t nearly enough—currently about 11,000—to protect the 6,900 miles of border the United States shares with Canada and Mexico. And terrorists know this.

In recent years, al-Qaeda operatives have begun spending time in Mexico and other Latin-American countries to absorb the language and culture and prepare to cross the US border—sometimes with the help of smugglers.

In addition, over 40,000 “OTMs”—a Border Patrol acronym for “other than Mexicans”—were allowed into the United States in 2004. OTMs include those from “special interest” nations—countries known for sponsoring or supporting terrorism, including Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq and Pakistan. When caught by the Border Patrol, OTMs, like so many other illegal border crossers, are typically arrested and released with a “promiso,” a promissory document stating that they will show up for their immigration hearings. Most don’t show.

In 2005, FBI Director Robert Mueller told the House Appropriations Committee that he was aware that individuals from countries with known al-Qaeda ties had entered the United States under false identities.

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Environment:

“California cities and counties continue to dominate the list of places with the highest number of days with high air pollution.” – The American Lung Association of California

California is famous for its smog. In a 2006 nationwide American Lung Association air quality study, the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside area continued to top two of the lists of most polluted regions in the nation, while Bakersfield moved into the spot of the most ozone-polluted. Kern County was also one of the most polluted counties for ozone, while Riverside topped particle pollution lists. Eight other California metro areas also ranked among the worst cities in America for short-term particle pollution: Bakersfield at 2nd; Fresno-Madera at 3rd; Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Truckee, CA-NV at 8th; Visalia-Porterville at 11th; Hanford-Corcoran at 13th; San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos at 14th; Modesto at 18th; San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland tied for 20th; and Merced came in at 23rd.

And air pollution is just one of the environmental problems facing our state. Because of rampant population growth, we’re also experiencing degradation of our ground water; pollution of our lakes, rivers and streams; destruction of forests, national parks, and natural habitats; wildfires and forest fires—often caused by migrating illegal immigrants; over-consumption of precious natural resources; deadly sewage on our beaches; continually expanding urban sprawl; and more.

Experts agree that the most dangerous problem facing our environment now and in the future—whether local, national, or global—is human overpopulation.

California is one of the most environmentally sensitive and biologically diverse regions in the world, and to many of its residents, the most beautiful. But now, as our state population explodes, that’s all changing. How long can such a sensitive and diverse system last in the face of pollution, overdevelopment, and so many other types of human encroachment?
Taxes: 
 


“One of the greatest scams the federal government has ever imposed upon taxpayers across the country is unfunded federal mandates, and education costs and health care costs [for immigrants] imposed by the federal government on local taxpayers without reimbursement is not only unfair, it is a scandal.” – Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas)

Taxpayers are being stuck with the bill for illegal immigration across the nation, but Californians are hit especially hard. In 2004 alone, the education, health care, and incarceration of illegal aliens cost California taxpayers a total of $10.5 billion. Two years later, the costs have undoubtedly gone up with the number of aliens living in our state and taking advantage of taxpayer-funded services.

Often referred to as “cheap labor,” illegal immigrants come at a high price to taxpayers—in our state and across the nation. Ironically, “open borders” advocates often use the argument that illegal aliens have a net positive effect on local, state, and national economies. But according to a growing body of research, illegal immigrants consume far more than they contribute to the nation, and what they do contribute is grossly disproportionate.

Sooner or later all freedom loving Americans will realize that the only
way to stop those who would bleed our nation dry, dismantle our
constitution, and dissolve our national sovereignty is to say I will not
work
for you, buy from you, fight for you, or die for you, until the
criminals are gone
from the halls of our government.

General Strike 9/11/08

The strike targets key issues facing the American public, issues that have not been addressed in any meaningful way by any branch of government. Unions,  corporations,  &  the  major  parties  have  failed  to  deal  with  pressing  matters  of  war  &  peace,  income  inequality, crime & punishment  &  the  meaning  of  citizenship  itself,  it  has  fallen  to  the  American  people  to  set  things  right!  Public protest is an important part of democracy, just like a free press, a judiciary, and congress. Our causes are many but it's time to make our voices as one.
Citizen discontent & other concerns of the strike include massive violations of civil rights.   The strike campaign argues that under our system of checks & balances when the judiciary & Congress fail in their duty it is then up to the American people to defend the Constitution, Bill of Rights & our way of life.
Call to action: No  work,  No  school on September 11, 2008. It also includes “no shopping;” a suspension of all purchasing during the strike. 75% of our economy is consumer spending, when Bush says to shop, we must STOP! 
The general strike calls for participants to “Hit the Streets.”  But  why spend our time protesting in DC to be ignored? Unless we get in the streets outside our rep.s personal residences- who is going to care? 
We need to mobilize locally- & demand national action. Few of us could go to Washington, DC- but many of us- can go to our city halls or state legislatures- or local Congressional offices.
Tell the government that we're fed up with war, torture, corruption, & special interest funding our elections & our media.
Strikes have brought civil rights in the U.S. & around the world. Help make our voices louder than the mainstream media & corporate dollars.
"It  is  not  the  function  of  our  Government  to  keep  the  citizen  from  falling  into  error;  it  is  the  function  of  the  citizen  to  keep  the  Government  from  falling  into  error".
U.S.  Supreme  Court,  in  American  Communication  Association  v.  Douds,  339  U.S.  382,  442
In order to get involved, here are the five best steps to take now:
 
1) Sign up with your email address HERE in order to get updates,

 
2) Mark the day on your calendar and plan to be at a protest in your community, 

 
3) Send this URL to all your friends, post it to forums, put it on your personal pages, http://www.votestrike.com  There will be ZERO mainstream media discussion of this General Strike BEFORE it happens. ZERO. So, we must BE OUR OWN MEDIA and promote it. Link to this site from sites and blogs. Mention it with links in your comments on blogs. PROMOTE IT.   

 
4)  Join the Consumer Fast already underway. Click here: Shut'EmDown 
5) Take the lead and help organize a protest on 9/11.
Complete article available here: http://votestrike.com/immigration_reform/admin/
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Whether you call it the world financial structure, the U.S. culture of waste, or the ability of the common man to make a decent living, the system is broken. It's time for the common man to go on strike. Join or support the March on Washingon (more...)
 
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