If we build it, will they come?
Everyone assumes that the millions of illegal immigrants living in the United States will jump at the chance to accept whatever amnesty program is offered to them. No one is asking what happens if they choose to remain in the shadow economy. But why shouldn't they?

Why should an illegal alien who has for years successfully flaunted immigration, employment, and tax laws be eager to join the new Peculiar Institution of the "Guest Worker" program? Will they be enticed by the opportunity to pay a $2000 fine and back taxes? Maybe the chance of being registered and tracked by the US government will seem attractive to them after all those years off the grid. Certainly being ordered to learn a foreign language, English, must have illegals all excited and eager to begin night classes.

Why would people who have fled the corrupt Mexican system, where la mordida rules every encounter with government officials, suddenly decide that ICE is their friend and savior? Especially since virtually the entire US government has declared that they are beyond the reach of law enforcement?

And what will we do when they, in their millions, don't come?

Cross-posted at The Dread Pundit Bluto, Stop the ACLU, and Vince Aut Morire.

Posted by: Bluto at 11:54 AM | Comments (34) | Add Comment
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Lately the American Family Association (AFA) has been putting a full court press against Ford Motor Company to cease and desist their support of homosexual marriages. While, ideologically, I agree with AFA that gay marriage is an immoral and unacceptable practice that should never be legal, I find their campaign a tad bit bothersome from an economic perspective.

I will be upfront and honest, I drive a 2001 Ford F-150; I actually like the truck and go to Ford for service on it. However, I don't like GM products. Right now I think it's overpriced, under-quality products coupled with their poor customer relations (with me specifically) makes GM a poor choice for vehicle purchases. So if you rule out Ford and GM that leaves you with Chrysler. Name one quality car (not truck or minivan) Chrysler has made five years in a row. If you can't, you're not the only one. So when you rule out Ford because of their political motives, GM because of their bad service and products, and Chrysler due to their horrendously bad track record that leaves you with nothing but foreign cars to pick from.

Some people think that's okay because Toyota's most popular car in America, the Toyota Camry, is predominately made in America. Honda has a presence here in the states and even BMW has a plant in Greenville, South Carolina. But, most of the foreign automakers are assembling one or two vehicles here in the United States, not all their vehicles sold here in the US. Walk around a Toyota lot and look at the stickers that tell you what percentage of the car was made in what country. Couple that with the small size of most Japanese cars and you're leaving guys like me with few options.

The one option you're leaving me with is the option I took last summer, Nissan. I bought my wife a surprisingly roomy Nissan Altima and guess where that car was made, 100% overseas. So the real question here is should you side with American workers or American values. In this case it's hard to have your cake and eat it too.

Originally Posted at

Posted by: Chris Short at 05:37 AM | Comments (24) | Add Comment
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