SEE DONKEYS WEIGH THEIR OPTIONS

CATAPULT

Did you see this? We're going to ask a million people who live in the US to leave and never come back.

Did you get that? America.

Okay: I grant you, it's not exactly dukes and earls leaving.

It's the tired. The poor. Huddled masses. The like.

The New York Times reported it. The masses asked to scram quietly are part of the Republican-backed version of an immigration bill currently being quarreled by the quarrum.

Among other suggestions in the document: about three million would have to leave the country, and get no guarantees of citizenship -- if they make it back in at all. They DO get the benefit, however, of serving in the Temporary Worker Program for six years.

The good news there, if there is any, is certainly not the indentured servitude of a disposable workforce -- if you're the workforce, that is. No, but it does seem likely that the Republicans pandering to their own huddled masses will successfully inable a Democrat to preside over a stable economy in the next presidential term -- assuming, of course, they find one who can win.

Beyond that, I can hardly convey, as a Californian, how devastating, not to mention racist, this could very well turn out to be -- and therefore likely is at heart. "Must speak English," if we're to learn from past experience, is likely a handy method for closing people off from their rights.

And for that, what of the economy? Without these people and their cute little American dreams, we'd be hung by our hamstrings. I suggest this: we look at it as a bad blip in the investment map, mark off ten percent perfect defecit within certain markets and raise minimum wage, give them an education, and absorb them into our community.

I mean, you fucks. It takes one generation, and you've got the next NASA team, Harvard guys, whatever. Do you not realize that? THEY COME FROM EVERYWHERE! You'll beat you're fucking Chinese or your Iranians or whoever it is we're supposed to be worried about next.

I was picturing young Republican aides applauding each other happily as I read the Times piece; it reprinted a two-paragraph quote from future candidate McCain, who jumped into the dividing aisle and pleaded that his fellow Senators might all get along for the good of America.

Y'ever feel like a Dylan song?

* * *

Oh -- and Democrats, I'd like to give the NYT full credit because this is a direct quote, straight from the bottom of the page:

Democrats "said they were still weighing their options."

MR

QWTOFDY
"Now gather 'round people, wherever ye roam
And admit that the waters around you have grown..."
-Bob Dylan