Much of the anger is caused by the federal government's refusal to
adequately enforce existing immigration laws. Most citizens know that if
they break laws, they will pay a penalty. They know their driver's license
is a privilege and that the state that issues them can take them away when
certain laws are broken. They see New York Governor Eliot Spitzer ordering
special classes of driver's licenses for illegal immigrants and regard it as
a double standard. Countries to which Americans travel prohibit us from
working in those countries, but we are told we must accept law-breaking
foreign workers.
Illegal immigration is one of several contributing factors to the growing
anger of many citizens who are told by courts, editorial writers, some
columnists, activists and other rabble that whatever they believe in, fight
for, pay for and worship must always take second place to what others
believe, especially if it opposes their beliefs. The law-abiding,
"traditional value" crowd is never asked for their opinion on anything.
Those with traditional values are having what they regard as illegalities
and immoralities imposed upon them with all of the gusto they are so often
accused of wishing to impose on others. They see the country being
transformed without their permission and they are rightly disturbed about
it.
As Thanksgiving, and what used to be called Christmas, approaches, they
anticipate new assaults on their rights to observe their beliefs, rituals
and traditions, all in the name of a pluralism that doesn't include them.
Just once they would like to see government uphold their rights, their
beliefs and the laws they must obey.
The war over immigration is essentially a battle for the Hispanic vote.
Politicians will do anything to get it, including disregarding the laws they
are sworn to uphold. The politician who gets on the wrong side of this issue
- like Hillary Clinton did in the most recent Democratic presidential debate
- is likely to pay a heavy price from the majority who obey laws. For the
moment, we still outnumber the illegals.