The Angry Scotsman: Papers Please
Posted by Brian McLain on 05.26.2006
The National ID card may seem like the perfect solution to America's illegal immigrant woes...if you are a complete idiot. Find out why the National ID is a slippery slope that really shouldn't be taken, the BOLD Super Search Words of the Week, and Scotsman succumbs to the reality of high gas prices in lieu of other, more important issues.
Many apologies to all of you for being, not only late, but having a rather brief
article to make up for my absence last week. Things have been a bit bumpy for
the Scotsman, and unfortunately the nice, lengthy article I had drawn up
originally met a mysterious fate at the hand of some computer demons. This has
forced me to use a shortened version that lacks the Scotsman's Mail Sack I had
edited in. I know all three of you must be crushed, however, dry those tears,
for at least I have a little wisdom that survived the onslaught. This week I go
into my acceptance of gas prices in lieu of more important matters, my BOLD
Super Search Words of the Week, which hint at a possible forthcoming article,
and the main topic I wish to discuss, the National ID. I will try to get reader
mail in next time around, but to do this I need comments, criticisms and
opinions thrown my way, as all my reader mail was wiped out as well. It was a
tragic loss, considering the very intriguing and brilliant way those who write
to me convey themselves. Keep the brains churning, and enjoy this week's
article.
Must be gas...
I would have to concur with some individuals that the constant whining about gas
prices and requirement of the government to do something about it is wearing
rather thin. The regulation of such products and further demands to open up
drilling areas will not solve any gas price situations, and the oil companies
are not really doing anything that ever other corporation in American isn't. I
can understand that when the price of a staple of the nation's economy inflates,
so does the ire of that nation, and more often then not unhappy results are
produced. There are better ways of dealing with this situation then constantly
shaking our fist at the pump whenever we fill up our giant, 4-seater SUV. If
there is an investigation into oil companies in regards to whether anti-trust
regulations were broken, and that charge proves to be false, then what more can
be done without further hampering the economy? We already have several issues
guaranteed to bring the economy down for a rough landing and we don't need any
more. Greed is a creature that consumes itself, at any rate, and if it is
present it will soon disappear and balance itself out to start the same cycle
all over again. Try riding your bike to work, or take the mass transit system
in your city, or DEMAND mass transit in your city, or a better system. So long
as there is no shortage, there are no issues in a free market economy. Now
those who chose to purchase giant SUVs for the purpose of just having a giant
SUV, or moved out the suburbs because the city is a nice place to work but
wretched place to live, then that comes with the natural pros and cons on every
decision that is made. I will say if I hear one more comparison of gas to
bottled water though I will kill something. Nice to know how much more
expensive bottles of water are, but if you're willing to spend $1.50 on a bottle
of filtered tap water, you shouldn't be bitching about gas in the first place.
There are more important things to worry about right now.
Blah Blah...Papers Please...Blah Blah
The President's immigration policy, save the call for a national ID card (which
has been in the works well before this illegal immigration issue blew up), was a
"melting pot" of absolute rhetoric, and a template response that could only be
matched by the template response to the last State of the Union address
Democrats provided to the nation. If I hear the word "melting pot" one more
time I swear I'm going to hurt somebody. I will agree with my comrade, Rivett,
on this one (but just this once): the United States is a "tossed salad". This
is okay to me and I don't think that the confederation of cultures in the United
States will hamper the country's ability to function. The language barrier can
use some work, however rather than alienating those who speak something other
than English, however the strong-arm requirement of "English Only" is a bit
alienating. There are resources available, and probably should be more widely
available, to teach English, and if an individual chooses not to speak the
language then that is their decision. However I shall end my rambling and get
to main point: Identification cards.
The President explained that with a national, "tamper-proof" ID card, it would
give companies no excuse when hiring illegal immigrants. Let me tear this down
for you, starting with "tamper-proof". Remember when the U.S. Treasury came out
with a new $20 note that they touted as being "tamper-proof" and impossible to
copy? Do you also remember when a 13-year-old kid was able to make exact copies
(sans watermark that nobody checks for anyway) with an inkjet and a computer?
There is no such thing as "tamper proof" or "fool proof", only "at the moment,
it is tamper/fool proof". That way we can pour millions into updating a stupid
National ID card so that we can keep a step ahead of the Junior High kids with
the bells and whistle computers. Or how about the scenario in which the card
isn't tampered with, but simply stolen? Who knows what type of information will
be stored in that card or how it will be accessible. Next part of the sentence
deals with giving companies no excuse when hiring illegal immigrants. First of
all, I've worked in management and HR before; we already have a system like that
called an I-9. You've all gone through the motions I'm sure, bring in a local
government issued picture ID, birth certificate, social security card, etc.
Companies don't have an excuse NOW, however they succeed by pleading ignorance
most of the time, and hiring illegal immigrants as independent contractors for a
service. That guy at the check out counter at Wal-Mart doesn't have to show you
proof of residency or citizenship just to sell you that pack of gum, and
companies don't have to check for citizenship if they hire people as
sub-contractors, at least to the best of my knowledge. Or better yet, companies
leave these employees off the books all together. This renders the National ID
card as useless in that aspect UNLESS the ID card is required to purchase and
provide goods and services...now we get into the scary stuff. The scenario that
has been playing in my head since I first heard the words "National ID" is
walking down the street, seeing something in the window for purchase, walking in
to make the purchase...I forgot my ID card. Police come, take me away, grill
me, and hold me for numerous days without counsel because I could> be a threat to national security. This might be a
little bit of an extreme, though would you want to take the chance of this
possibility if you open the door to this vampire. The National ID would be a
slippery slope to so many other bad things; it's a noose I would rather not
start knotting. Otherwise, it's pointless, expensive, invasive, and would make
more of an impact on your private life then on illegal immigration.
Super Search Words of the Week
Starting to get a little bold, but I get that way when I get pissed off:
DEFINE FASCISM
Plugging away
Be sure you check out these wonderful articles to get your dose of political
loving care:
Ray Church continues to make us wonder why the hell
he's writing for free. This man is brilliant and others certainly take his well
thought out points to heart.
STAY CURRENT