1. The far left may not agree. For that matter, the far right may not agree. The extremes are always just that, extreme. Far fewer people in this country exist on the ideological extremes than we think. 2. Mexico definitely has a role to play in fixing this problem. There are several issues to consider, though. First, Mexico doesn't have the financial resources we have to devote to border security. This has always been the problem when you have an industrial power next to a Third World country. Directing ire at Fox is sort of pointless right now, since he's on his way out. For his part, he's made an effort to fight the cronyism and corruption that dominates Mexican politics. Whoever succeeds him will have to continue that fight, while still making inroads against the crippling poverty that pushes so many people towards the U.S. 3. Well, since most on the political right do not believe that Americans have a right to a college education, I wasn't expecting to hear you say that illegal immigrants are depriving Americans of their rights. Welcome to the dark side. Illegal immigrants who go to our colleges do so because the college wanted them there. Most of the time, it's not the immigrants themselves, but their kids who end up in our schools. If they're going to be here, I think it's always a good thing that they get a college degree and move up the ladder. We're all better off when our neighbors go to school and get good jobs, so it helps when these kids have a chance to make their lives better rather than living on government aid. As far as welfare is concerned, the majority of welfare recipients are citizens of this country. If you came here illegally and are making a living because of forged documents or under-the-table income, chances are you're not registered with HHS. With regards to hospitals, most illegal immigrants are uninsured. That means they wind up in the emergency room for all kinds of things. Thus, we (the insured) end up paying more the next time we go to the doctor. What's the answer? First, provide a pathway for illegal immigrants to become citizens. The Senate plan is a good step in that direction. Second, make sure that every American has health insurance. Otherwise, we're just going to see these costs continue to rise. So, in conclusion, I don't mind spending my money on illegal immigrants, just like I don't mind spending some of my money on American citizens who are poor. For me, it's not charity. I already do that. It's simply the fact that, if I don't pay taxes to provide a safety net, I'll end up paying more later on down the road. It costs a society money when massive amounts of people are poor, sick, and uneducated. We all pay for it eventually. The question is do you want to pay a little bit now or a lot later? 4. I know people who were out there demonstrating, and they did so because they want their kids to have a better life than they did. I admire them, because they love this country and their communities, and they simply don't want to be rounded up and sent home, while their kids stay here. Media will always fan the flames of conflict, just because it's a better story. I saw plenty of folks on my local station and on national TV who expressed love for this country and disappointment that they were being dehumanized. Too many people believe that illegal immigrants came here to "reconquer" stolen land. It's a nice story, but it doesn't represent the real views of the people who came here. They came here for one very simple reason: to live. The Mexican flag-waving was a natural response by some who felt that they were being threatened. I'll remind you that many of the demonstrations were awash in American flags. I don't think flying the Mexican flag was as much a statement of national allegiance as ethnic pride, somewhat akin to displaying the colors of the Scottish clan one might be descended from. It's natural for people who feel like they're being attacked to respond with pride and defiance. If you tell people that they and their family are responsible for the country's problems, they're going to respond by demonstrating their pride in where they come from. In this case, I think the immigrants were right. They have much to be proud of, and the attacks on their culture were unjust and, in some cases, racist. Everyone wants to stop those who are trying to destroy us. Border security is about national security. That's why we have to be smart about it and not give in to the demagogues and extremists. Our immigration system has to be reformed, and no one disputes that. The question is whether rounding up and deporting illegal immigrants is the best use of our resources. The 9/11 hijackers all came here legally and overstayed their visas. This demonstrates the need for comprehensive change in how we deal with immigration in this country. So, let's secure our borders in smart, practical ways and work on integrating those who are already here into our society.