Carefull harry, Boehner loves to swim in that pool while being saluted by Syracuse Orangemen ;-)

@harry, I'm glad to hear that you're malady hasn't made you like so many others who have lost their head and left you to wallow in the neo-con pool.

Why would people need to have their memory refreshed about the economic meltdown? Have they forgotten their house or neighbors house is in foreclosure? Have they forgotten that they're unemployed or that the company they are lucky to work for is trying hard not to go under? Have they forgotten that their 401K has almost completely evaporated?

That's like needing to have my memory refreshed about having a limb amputated... the lack of not having it, is kinda' omnipresent anyway.

I know this is off topic, but being that AZ is still headlining everywhere, I can't help having their rascist law in mind.

I know this solution would more then likely not be acceptable to Americans as a whole, but keeping with the whole "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" sentiment engraved on our beloved Statue of Liberty, I propose this: Allow any person who wants to enter the US and live here, give them all an instant probationary citizenship, issue a ID card then and there. At the end of the probationary period, if they haven't violated our laws, they can automatically move towards citizenship. This would allow our government to document all people coming in and track them as they see fit, as well as remove the impediment entering the country.

It fits our country's idea of innocent until proven guilty idea (even if it is rarely practiced). It would instantly document all people coming in to our country, and it would almost automatically remove illegal employer practices that prey on illegals by threating exposure if they don't work in substandard working conditions, with substandard pay. I of course believe that anyone who is here already illegally, be allowed to also request and receive these probationary citizen ID's no questions asked.

I know it would cause confusion and delay at the beginning, since it would create temporary rush of people who want to enter, but eventually it will stablize (I'd be amazed if it lasted longer than 5 years).

Thom,

Pigeons are getting more bold, they're riding the subways now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlrnV_Tr7tk

What I don't like about the whole thing is that it all seems so secretive still. Most Americans have no idea how reform will help them or hurt them. Things are done so quickly by the people who are supposed to be servants of the people that most do not know what is being done. For example the government takeover of student loans in the healthcare bill. So in some sense financial reform seems scary to most people because it is so important. I respect what you say but the election of Scott Brown was not an accident. He was voted in and votes are never an accident.

Gambling can be fun at this casino en ligne because they make you forget that you are gambling away your money.

I think it is 1000 barrels or about 42,000 gallons.

I don't know how all will play out but I am fascinated also because we are bringing into the light all of the problems - healthcare, financial systems, immigration, gay marriage,etc. I am happy to be debating these issues and allowing people to think about things. Whether Obama is going far enough or not he is at least trying to solve this. I have faith that we as a people are approaching a new level of maturity.

We have answers for our many problems, such as prosecute employers for hiring illegal immigrants. Please pay careful attention to how our young people are reacting! They are starting to emulate racist adults at a younger age. Hate begets hate. Some school districts in goose-stepping Michigan have an epidemic on students bullying other students. When I was in school and even though I played sports, I was considered an outsider and the runt of classmates. Frankly, they were jealous of my prowess as an athlete. That is one reason for me in joining the KMA club. KMA is the acronym for Kiss My Ass. I truly become glorified whenever I can piss people off.

jiminnewhaven,

The Jacksonville caller struck me as a Republican "plant."

Immigration Reform

The right always shifts the focus from business/institution to the individual. Voting rights is not about diebold hijacking an election by controlling the vote count it's about individuals trying to affect elections by voting more than once. With immigration, it's not about companies hiring the undocumented it is about stopping them at the border and deporting those that are here.

We don't need to builds fences, hi-tech or otherwise, to halt illegal immigration. If you want to stop the flow of illegal immigrants coming across the border just focus on the top 3 reasons they come here: jobs, jobs, and jobs. We have the capability to check whether an individuals credit card is good in seconds. We can certainly check whether the social security number supplied on an application matches the name. There are many other ways that we can determine if an individual applying for a job is here legally, instantly through the businesses Visa/MC terminal. Most businesses have these already. Those that don't can use an automated system through their phones. This type of system is also easy to set up. Take away the ability to work if you are here illegally and people will stop coming and many of those that are here will leave.

Step 2 is to increase the number of immigrants that can come here legally and streamline the process for receiving a work visa. Again, in this age of instant access through the internet and phones there is no reason that this process should take more than a week. We used to allow work visas for those that had sponsors in the states and a job waiting. As long as they don't have a criminal record, can earn their keep, pay taxes and have a place to live, a green card (work visa).

The hardest question is what to do with those that are here now. I would suggest we allow them to apply for a work visa under the same rules for new immigrants except they can do it locally. Once issued, they have to make the decision on whether they want to become a citizen or leave the country when their visa expires.

Does the bear suit in the woods? Is there really a Santa clause?