Op Ed for KFP: "Immigration Control"

[FTL_Ian]

Pic if you'd like to use it for this OpEd:
http://images.freetalklive.com/ian.jpg

Ian Bernard
Host, "Free Talk Live"
http://freetalklive.com


?Immigration Control?



Recently, there has been a debate in the letters to the editor section over the hot topic of immigration.  If you?ve missed the debate, back issues of the KFP are available at http://keenefreepress.com.  I have written a couple of letters attacking government welfare and defending immigration.  There were two letters written in response that appear in this issue, by Josip Kovich and Karl Mueller.  I will respond to both here.  (Logical fallacies are in parentheses.)

Mr. Kovich begins by alluding that I'm a leftist and a Marxist.  He must have missed the part where I advocated abolishing government welfare.  He must have missed my scathing attacks on socialism in earlier issues of the KFP.

Ironically, after attacking socialism, Mr. Kovich actually says that we should be more like socialist countries!  He says that other countries secure their borders, so we should too!  (Argumentum ad populum)  He appeals to authority (Argumentum ad verecundiam) by quoting Teddy Roosevelt, who was anything but a lover of freedom.  Following that he uses environmental scare tactics.  I'm the leftist?

Mr. Kovich, the immigrants you vaunted who came here "legally" when the Statue of Liberty was delivered were ?legal? because there were hardly the laws then that we have today!  They gave their name at Ellis Island, and walked in.  In fact, both Mueller and Kovich seem to worship the law.  To them, law is more than just words written by strangers.  To them it's magical.   Sorry, government law is a scam.  You?ve been fooled.  There is no social contract.  The lawyers of government have bamboozled you into believing their coercive product is somehow special and valuable.

Let me be clear, I have no objection to private law on private property.  When I'm on someone's property, I consent to their law.  Government law, no one has consented to.  Oh, and of course I?m against rape and other violent acts.  Violence is only acceptable in self-defense.

Now, I?ll juxtapose two clich?s that immigration control proponents love to use.  In Kovich's letter he says, "they [immigrants] should acquire this freedom like we did, with blood, sweat, and tears and make their own homelands free, democratic, and productive."

Yet Mueller says, "If Mr. Bernard does not care for our laws and justice system, then perhaps he should immigrate to some other county."

So, on the one hand, if the immigrants don't like their countries they should stay there and change them.  On the other, if I don't like the USA I should leave!

Mueller then labels himself a Patriot, to suggest that I am not.  I love Liberty and responsibility.  However, I despise the government.  The government devours our freedom and our wealth.  It's patriotic to love Liberty, while it's nationalistic to love the government and the ?nation?.  For the record, ?Nation? is referenced six times in Kovich?s letter and seven in Mueller?s.

Both Mueller and Kovich lament the loss of America's "culture", but I don't know what that means.  Can you dear reader, define America's "culture"?  Please email me with your answers.  My email address is ian at freetalklive.com

Those who call for immigration control are calling for a police state.  That?s what the government is going to give you, whether you like it or not.  It?s already begun.  Here?s another question for you to email me about:  What would it take to make you realize you live in a police state?

I look forward to hearing from you.  Responses will be printed in the next op ed.

[tracysaboe]

Looks good Ian.

I find it laughable that people can get so bent out of shape on this issue. Immigration -- especially in New Hampshire -- is such a non-issue.

The last thing NH needs is a federal batalian at our Canadian border.

Tracy

[Kat Kanning]

I don't suppose you have that photo in a higher resolution version?

[FTL_Ian]

I don't suppose you have that photo in a higher resolution version?

Yep, what res?

[Russell Kanning]

more than 200dpi is good for our print paper

[FTL_Ian]

Sorry, I should have realized that.

This should do it:

http://images.freetalklive.com/ianhirez.jpg

[citizen_142002]

It all looks great Ian, but there is one line that didn't seem quite right to me. You say that it is patriotic to love liberty rather than your government, but I'm not sure that fits with any traditional definition. Patriotism is a love for one's country or countrymen rather than Nationalism which is a love of one's government. I'm just picking at a small detail though. It looks like a terrific rebuff.

[FTL_Ian]

True enough, though I feel like true patriots love the principles the country stands for.  In our case, Liberty.

[FrankChodorov]

True enough, though I feel like true patriots love the principles the country stands for.  In our case, Liberty.

actually it is equal liberty...