by Quincy McDevitt

Created on: April 30, 2008

Occasional anti-immigration hysteria, the like of which has been gripping the United States in recent years, is a birth pain of progress. It is a fact of American Life that the pain will never go away. The reason why is very simple; people want to live here. Since its discovery by the nations of Europe, immigrants have come to this country. They have come from all around the world. That is why it is the great "Melting Pot".

America is the greatest country on earth, in terms of individual freedoms, economic mobility and wealth that capitalism creates. Is it any wonder that millions of people want to come to our shores? Is it any wonder that Cubans will build boats out of anything that will float, to brave the ninety or so miles of Caribbean Sea that lies between Communism and unfettered opportunity? They want to take advantage of our "Wet feet, dry feet" policy. The "Wet feet, dry feet" policy states that if a Cuban sets foot on Florida soil, they will be given refuge from the Castro regime.

The U.S. is fortunate that most of the world's under-fed and underpaid population can't walk here from Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe. If they could, we would have ten times the number of immigrants we have now.

We need to stop the hysterics, and develop a simple way for immigrants to naturalize as U.S. citizens, because, they will never stop coming. As long as the United States remains a shining light of free speech and economic opportunity, immigrants will come from around the world for their chance at the American Dream.

What the USA needs to do, is put a price on citizenship. Whether it be public service or cash, citizenship should be sold at a reasonable rate, bringing revenue into our country. Also, every non-citizen should be issued a tax identification card. This card would be mandatory with all purchases while they are in our country.

The U.S. also needs to improve its border security to keep out illegal aliens. There is no point in having immigration policy if we aren't going to enforce it. George W. Bush created the Department of Homeland Security after 9/11, but our borders are hardly secure.

Even though this plan makes sense secure the borders and sell citizenship it will never be enacted. Care to know why? Some people would rather be hysterical than solve problems.

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