Kerry: No licenses for illegal immigrants

I agree with Kerry. People that are in this nation illegally do not deserve the privilege to drive on our roads.

Kerry should shut his mouth and be quiet and be prepared to be the next president.

No licenses for illegals? Oh please, Senator Kerry, stop being a Bush lite.

How are they going to go to work? They need to drive a car to where you work in order to clean up the mess in your office, right?

Gee, where's GringoTex screaming about how ruthless and horrible John Kerry is?

We better hear from you soon, Gringo.

I'll have to read the article a little later, but uninsured drivers are a huge problem in California. Anecdotal evidence says that something like 1/5 to 1/3 of all drivers are uninsured. It goes beyond illegal immigrants - insurance is too damned expensive.

Not long ago, a guy (who I assumed was illegal) bumped into the back of my car and put a small dent in the fender. He was totally freaked out, like I was going to call the INS or something. After I sort of talked him down, dude pulls out a $100 bill to make me go away. I didn't take his money (I've got uninsured motorist coverage - at extra to cost to me - grrrr), but did take his license plate number down.

Big surprise, car was unregistered and that was good enough for me to get insurance company to pay for repair.

ASF, to respond to your larger point - yes, its toally hypocrictical, but not just for licenses. The government could end this business in heartbeat by cracking down harshly on employers who hire illegals. But that would throw the US economy for a wild loop - and think of the landscaping chaos that would ensue. (Its all very complicated. Depending on the reponses, I might comment more later.)

This is part of Kerry's race to the center of American politics (The place where Jim Hightower said that dead armadillos live - but that's another story). The whole licenses for illegals is HUGELY UNPOPULAR to most Californians. However, whenever you have one-party states, you get silly bills like this receiving serious consideration.

I have to agree that this issue, IMHO, is a state issue, not a national one. However, I understand where some people can see it the other way.

Let's recap the following statements.

Note the bold. Why exactly should illegal immigrants have the same rights as tax-paying citizens of said country? You make a vaild point about safety, but a government agency (state or country) can't license illegal immigrants when they're not even supposed to be here. Sure, everyone knows they're here, but just because they are doesn't mean they deserve the same rights. Yea, it sucks, but it doesn't change the fact that it's wrong.

Yep.

I really hate people who run for the US Senate with education as their main priority. Drives me nuts. Hey, jacknut, if you really truly ooly care about education, run for the damn state legislature.

He's pandering.

There's not an illegal in the whole of the United States who's going to sign up for a driver's license and make themselves trackable for auto insurance purposes.

Wetback has its privileges.

He answered a question put to him in an interview. He didn't advocate policy.

So what this post actually means is that the latin and asian vote goes to the incumbent office holder, while the new guy running gets the black and liberal vote. Right?

IntheNet

I think they very much should have the same rights as citizens. Just not the same privileges. And driving is, incorrectly IMO, viewed as a right in this country. It's too easy for everyone to get licenses. It should cost more, and it should be far more difficult to pass the test.

I understand why it's the way it is, but it'd be better for everyone in the long run if licensing was stricter.

[edit: Just my rant on licensing laws in general. Not really addressing Kerry's statement - I hadn't given it much thought.]

You couldn't pay them to take a real driver license. They're illegals- why the hell would they want to be tracked?

Cost him what - the illegal vote?

You are right. "Privilege" is a much better word for it. And I wholeheartedly agree on the strictness of licensing.

My (sarcastic) answer would come across as stereotypical and a little mean so I'll have to refrain from using it.

Average border length with European countries: zero.
Average border length with Mexico: 2000 miles.

Actually, if you went and saw F9/11, maybe you'd see part of why our border is so notoriously difficult to patrol.

Learn from Israel, Build a Berlin Wall

Re: Learn from Israel, Build a Berlin Wall

Again, I have a smart-ass comment on this, but it would start a ****-storm.

Re: Learn from Israel, Build a Berlin Wall

How do you build a wall down the middle of a river?