WHAT IS THIS?
The reason this thread exists is two fold: 1. For me to collect data on where the forums stands on various political issues and 2. To raise consciousness and political comprehension for the everyday child/teen/adult on here as best I can.
(chances are the issues I present and how I present them will revolve somewhat around the United States, so please be aware)
HOW'S IT GONNA WORK?
I'll post 3 issues pertaining to a specific category for your guys to discuss and voice an opinion on. Just make a post in this thread of your stances to be counted. If you wish to elaborate on what you believe and why you believe in it, I would appreciate it.
Questions in blue at the end of each subsection will be the ones I'm looking out for, so please make sure to at least touch upon them.
After I've received a decent number of responses on the current set of issues, I'll compile the results and toss in another rotation for you guys to give your two cents on. Sound fun?
DISCUSSION ARCHIVE
ON THE SUBJECT OF: IMMIGRATION ISSUES
Today we'll be handling immigration issues--that is to say, issues relating to immigrant emigration, xenophobia, and constitutionality.
BORDER SECURITY
The border between Mexico and the United States is nearly two-thousand miles in length (over three-thousand kilometers). Of this border is the American-owned, operated, and supervised half--the only half to it, actually. Mexico does not maintain a border with the United States. The refugee crCIA in Europe is bringing up new issues across the pond as well in places like Germany, Hungary, and the United Kingdom as to how secure their borders should be to prevent immigrants from entering, whether it be legally or illegally. As per usual, there are two positions:
PRO-STRONGER BORDER SECURITY PLANKS:- prevents immigrants from entering illegally
- prevents immigrants from smuggling paraphernalia like drugs in
- reduces the number of new immigrants occupying jobs
- gives displaced Mexicans nowhere else to turn, thus catalyzing reform in Mexico
ANTI-STRONGER BORDER SECURITY PLANKS:- costs an exorbitant amount of money to construct, maintain, and monitor
- if immigrants still get past after consolidating the border, it invalidates the entire project
- immigrants will just find new modes into the country
- we should help Mexico with their problem instead of blocking it out
My questions to you, OT, are these:
Where do you stand on border security? Do you think the government should make it stronger, weaker, or leave it the same? What kind of border security measures do you think are appropriate to employ?
BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP
The Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution reads as follows:
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." This clause has led to a phenomenon known as anchor babies, in which illegal immigrants have a child in the United States, thus making them a citizen, and guaranteeing its parents amnesty so they can care for said child. The recent influx of Mexican immigrants has sparked debates on whether this amendment should remain as-is, or if it should be revised so that only children of legal citizens receive citizenship.
PRO-BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP PLANKS:- decreases illegal immigration numbers (people are less inclined to travel in family units)
- increases the population of the affected nation
- does not require another amendment
- reduces stress on government-subsidized functionaries like healthcare
ANTI-BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP PLANKS:- allows anchor baby-ship
- making a distinction of parent citizenship would open up a new can of worms
- preserves the cultural identity of the affected nation
- removes incentive to cross borders if citizenship can't be option through a loophole
My questions to you, OT, are these:
Where do you stand on birthright citizenship? Do you think that children of illegal immigrants should be given citizenship, or not? Do you think children should receive birthright citizenship only if their parents are citizens?
CULTURAL ASSIMILATION
Cultural assimilation is when an immigrant adopts the customs and language of their new residence. The United States does not have a national language, although English is understandably the benchmark. The influx of Spanish-speakers has diluted many previously English-dominated environments, leading to a large language barrier between employers and their employees, or other scenarios.
PRO-CULTURAL ASSIMILATION PLANKS:- improves communication between all involved
- reduces the chances of grief or incident from differing cultures/religions
- creates stronger sense of fraternity
- preserves the cultural independence of the affected nation
ANTI-CULTURAL ASSIMILATION PLANKS:- increases violence due to lack of tolerance for foreign cultures/religions
- sacrifices the uniqueness of a foreign culture
- increases xenophobia
- makes populace more narrow-minded; it only supports cultural homogeny instead cultural heterogeny
My questions to you, OT, are these:
Where do you stand on cultural assimilation? Do you think immigrants should culturally assimilate to the nation they're entering, or not? Do you think people of different cultures should totally abandon the nuances of their old culture (Mexicans don't eat Mexican food or celebrate Day of the Dead, for example)?
