Self reliance, hard work, respect and common sense. If a party exists for that, sign me up.

Politically, I am “fiscally conservative” but “socially liberal”. I think taxes are punitive, Government programs are wasteful and addictive, and the right to own a gun shouldn’t be fucked with. But I also think it’s a woman’s ultimate choice whether or not to have an abortion, I want religion… all religion… out of the public space, and I could give a shit if two gay people want to get married.

However, there are a few issues that stick in my craw. And they are:

IMMIGRATION:

My stance is simple:

LEGAL immigration = good
ILLEGAL immigration = bad

Too simple?

Ok. Here’s the medium-length version: In a nutshell, I think illegal immigration is disrespectful. Both by the corporations and individuals that hire the illegals, and by the illegals themselves. Regardless of either’s reasons for doing so. No matter how altruistic. Illegal immigration greedy and exploitative, and it’s unfair to businesses, individuals and more importantly other immigrants who abide by the laws of America. No matter how silly, restrictive you may think those laws are.

On the other hand, legal immigration is one of the best aspects of this great country of ours.

Sure. It’s sloppy. Takes too long. Punishes good people while rewarding bad ones. Is rife with politics and infected with bureaucracy. To be sure, it desperately needs fixing. Yesterday.

And I’ve known many first generation immigrants in my life, and am still close with a good number of them. And I am envious how they are able to appreciate the *idea* of America in ways I won’t ever be able to. They’ve seen the other side. And they know, viscerally, how much better it is here than in so many other places on Earth. They know what “opportunity” really is. Legal immigrants are, in many ways, better “Americans” than those of us fortunate enough to be born here.

There is nothing at all wrong with insisting that America be respected.