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August 24, 2006
Republicans vs. Conservatives
It's axiomatic that any random Republican is not necessarily a conservative. An article by Gary Scharrer in today's Houston Chronicle provides a crystal-clear example:
Unity on immigration reformsHispanic caucus and the state's top business group see common goals
AUSTIN — A business association and group of Hispanic lawmakers that rarely see eye to eye agreed Wednesday on immigration principles similar to the comprehensive approach favored by the U.S. Senate.
Their 15-point immigration platform goes far beyond the U.S. House plan that emphasizes border security.
The Texas Association of Business and the Texas House Mexican American Legislative Caucus contend that an orderly immigration system is needed that matches employer needs and the desires of immigrants for work.
Immigration reform has stalemated in the Congress, and the head of the TAB said Texas' Republican congressional members are wrong in their opposition to comprehensive immigration reform.
So..."employer needs" and "desires of [illegal] immigrants" are more important than the rule of law and national security?
Not on your life. Free enterprise capitalism is like electricity--a powerful force that has been responsible for the betterment of humanity's lot to an almost inconceivable degree. But like electricity, the market must be well-regulated (and that's "well" in the meaning of "sensible" or "competent") or else someone's going to get burned. Just think: we all agree that competition is good, right? But what business, once it's established, welcomes competition? Bill Gates doesn't want competition. The legendary American farmer doesn't want competition either. It's definitely bad for business, not to mention shareholders. The same drive for personal betterment that is the key to the overall power of the free market can also easily flip over into self-centeredness that seeks to grow the business at the expense of consumers as a whole.
I don't want the corn farmers' lobby running US energy policy, and I don't want Republican businessmen who want cheap labor exerting undue influence over our immigration and national security policies. There's nothing in the conservative principles I value that endorses that kind of selfishness.
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