Fascinating. Former President and Conservative hero Ronald Reagan supported an open border policy with Mexico. He wanted work permits. No fences. Thoughts? "Rather than making them, of talking about putting up a fence, why don't we work out some recognition of our mutual problems, make it possible for them to come here legally with a work permit, and then, while they're working and earning here, they pay taxes here. And when they want to go back they can go back, and cross. And open the border both ways, by understanding their problems. This is the only safety valve they have right now, with that unemployment, that probably keeps the lid from blowing off...And I think we could have a fine relationship." https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/news/a41023/ronald-reagan-george-bush-immigration/
Reagan was a great president. But one some issues (including this one) he was just plain wrong. Most Democrats probably think FDR was a great president. Do they think he was right to round up and incarcerate hundreds of thousands of Japanese Americans?
Reagan, like other wealthy capitalists/industrialists, want cheap/exploitable labor for their factories.
no, most Liberals and Progressives think this was a terribly racist and bigoted policy. It totally ignored the concept of Due Process and equal rights and freedom.
There is a split in the right wing. There are the nationalist cloud cuckoo merchants. They don't realise that immigration control is going to fail to deliver unless fascist methods are applied. Then there are the rent-seekers, who realise there are gains from immigration stunting worker wages. Liberal border control, coupled with protection of wage and labour rights, is the obvious answer....
Reagan? A mediocre has been actor? What factories did he own or have any great financial stakes in? The only factory I ever remember Reagan as president showing any special regard for was the one that made Harley Davidson motorcycles. And not due to any financial considerations but because he considered the Harley Davidsons to be part of "American culture".
In the current understanding of the term, Reagan most certainly did not want open borders. Offering work permits to legal aliens is certainly not open borders. His amnesty required a promise from Tip O'Neill for strong border security. But, par for the course, Tip was just kidding.
"Open" as in tracking those who come over the border, like when they come on an airplane. Not "open" to those who just cross a river and never check in saying they are in the country. But, if I would be open to an "open" border if we got rid of a ton of regulations that harm Americans in the labor pool making it more advantageous to hire illegals over Americans. And too many handouts that incentivize American's to be lazy and feel entitled to not take those jobs that some illegals are ok with taking.
Ronald Reagan is dead so bringing up his philosophy is like bringing up socialist FDR imprisoning Japanese Americans during WWII and his hatred of public workers trying to form unions.
No Reagan did not support open borders. He supported legal immigration, he tried to reach a deal with democRats to end illegal immigration, but he was a proud American and believed in American exceptionalism. Not a globalist or an open borders guy.
We're not 38 years ago anymore, a lot of people wanted war with Germany in 1940, would it still be fine to want war with germany today ? First, Reagan wasn't an all knowing and all mighty god, second, he is dead for 14 years, and we're not sure he was even still thinking that just before his death.
LOL Context does not appear to be something Progressives will ever understand. Note one thing, for example. "Come here legally with a work permit". Umm. Yeah, well illegals said **** that. Did Reagan say, come here, and never leave?
in 2007 many Democrats supported building hundreds of miles of new fencing. as part of a comprehensive, fair, just and generous immigration reform package, most Democrats would support hundreds of miles of new border fencing.
We didn't have a problem with terrorism back then and the drug traffic and human slave trafficking wasn't as pronounced as it is today! Surel you wouldn't advocate for letting criminals, drug cartels, MS-13 gang members, etc. freely stroll across our border anytime they want to?
So??? Illegal immigration across the southern border has since gone on steroids; maybe a wall might have helped. What is the rationale for not building a wall? Why are you guys so opposed? Afraid it might work? Simply think it costs too much? It costs a fraction of the billions we spend each year monitoring, supporting, treating, schooling, etc. illegals.
That's what we've been saying forever: "Get in line and apply and wait your turn." Problem is most of the current illegals could not pass muster and we wouldn't let them in on any account.