You won't find many bigger John Lennon fans than me, but the man was a naive idiot. he was a genius as far a making music went, but he was almost a nob-functional human being and was clueless when it came to politics.

I have to sing this song every so often and I'm almost embarrassed every time I have to do it. I don't know if I've ever read any thing so naive and short sighted.

these children and young adults are running away from areas in central America that are ruled by drug gangs who live off the drugs that americans (including some villagers) buy in great quantities. those drug gang areas are intolerable. if America would stop the drug habit and also help the Latin American countries with some economic aid to create jobs, the tide could turn. Meanwhile these people are human beings and must be given food and safe shelter until their immigration status can be resolved according to legal procedures set up by Congress

Like he said, he was a dreamer. Unfortunately, we have trouble getting along with people of similar race, religion and politics in this country let alone people of different backgrounds in other countries. Fortunately one can still dream and hope for change.

NO I MEAN AMNESTY GRANTED BY OUR PRESIDENT IN 2012 !

Not blanket amnesty, but amnesty for those of a young age.

From June 15, 2012

[B]"Today, Janet Napolitano, secretary of Homeland Security, announced immunity from deportation for illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States before they turned 16 and who are younger than 30 – among other criteria. They can apply for a two-year work permit that can be renewed

Lamar Smith: Obama's amnesty for illegal immigrants is against the law - CSMonitor.com

There is much discussion on this in media archives. Many felt it was illegal and timed for the election. I don't know, BUT AMNESTY WAS GRANTED and that amnesty began the flood. That fact is undeniable.

I suppose there is no relationship, but no border rush in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and it really began in August of 2012.

I am not being political but if you are to discuss immigration rush at the border you should discuss it with facts. These people were not promised, but viewed the action as an clear cut message.

Actually, I think that if you look at our immigration laws that are currently in place, you'll find that they are pretty much what you suggest. I think that the problem is that for various reasons, they are not being enforced.

You're answering your own questions, but i think that you have the answers wrong. Maybe these measures might not look good to some, but they'd look very good to others. And I personally believe that they would work.

No one thing or any system will be completely foolproof. Even with the measure that you point out in place some would still sneak in. But, these two simple measure would reduce the problem to a manageable level.

But then you suggest that we send money to corrupt governments as though you believe that that money would reach the the people who need it. Beside the fact that we are broke and in debt up to our ears, I can't imagine that sending money to any of these countries would help anything.

Take in children under a certain age? Yes, I could agree with that.

I agree with the point about Lennon's naïve idealism but I disagree that we have that much difficulty getting along with people of various races and religions. Nothing is perfect but the US beats most other countries in that regard from what I've seen.

instead of dreaming for hope and change, I dream instead for an outbreak of contagious common sense ... which seems to be in very short supply right now.

Rags is correct in identifying the source of the current catastrophe on the border. It's pretty obvious actually.

Cathy - yikes! Do you really think that this country does not send economic aid money to Central America?

Here's a little info re the money the US sends to Central America:
How much money does the U.S. give to Central America (general region)?

And look at what happens to the money when it gets there:
Latin America and the Caribbean | U.S. Agency for International Development

And wait until you see how much more money they are going to ask for when they meet with the President this Friday:
Honduras wants 'mini-Marshall plan' for U.S. aid on migrants | Reuters

Now re your comment "if America would stop the drug habit and also help the Latin American countries with some economic aid to create jobs, the tide could turn." That was Rev Al's talking point all day long last Friday. Do you really think that the US is the only country where residents have a drug habit?

Cathy, if the families of these unaccompanied children could spend the thousands of dollars to the smugglers to bring the children across our border - why could they not spend it to improve their lives where they live? And if your referral to 'legal procedures set up by Congress' is a reference to the William Wilburforce legislation - remember the purpose of that act was to protect the children who are victims of human trafficking and not victims of poverty.

Or instead of sitting around dream and hoping, we can take actions to improve the world.

People in different parts of the world sometimes have trouble getting along with each other. Sometimes bad people get themselves into power positions in some countries. Does anyone actually believe that by eliminating borders and countries that these bad people would suddenly stop trying to take over? Who would there be to counteract evil in the world?

We have people who believe that it is their job to convince everyone else that they must believe in their idea of God. Do you think that there is any chance of that ever stopping?

Imagine no possessions? Yea, of course everyone would just get along and starve rather than claiming to own something. Anyone who wants can just come and live in your house because it's not your house.

Does anyone ever read these words and realize how absurd they are?

Like I said, take John away from music and he's basically a moron.

I think we could use some improvement in the US as well. There are 58 hate groups in Florida according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Examples are the Aryan Nation and the New Black Panther Party. I wonder how those two would get along? I think a little higher goal setting and improvement would be appropriate for the US.

Could you explain your posts on this thread in one sentence? Somehow I am not understanding.

Really? There are 58 groups? Can we make it 59? I don't like loud, crude and common people who seem to be unable to mind their own business.

I wish I....no, I wish the people in power, had the answers. If they could honestly work together on a humane, common sense way to address this deplorable situation instead of using it as a political wedge we might finally get it (mostly) solved. Of course that goes for almost every issue confronting us today, and I see no end in sight.

Good start...


1. Enforce EXISTING LAWS !!!

2. Rescind the amenisty of 2012

Hard to talk until that gets done, in my humble opinion

Editing to add only because it is very important....besides the two above...

3. Edit the misused law of 2008 which was passed for humanatarian reasons in some way to get rid of the built in incentive.