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Chris J. Karr's avatar

Do we need to send some DVDs or iTunes links to our Congress critters to remind them how all this works? If so, I have the perfect one to send:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFroMQlKiag

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HCI's avatar

I think that where there can be broad agreement, regardless of what one's views on immigration are, is the need to restore the proper balance of power between the legislative and executive branch. Even though Biden has been POTUS for only 6 months, assuming that he remains constant on the issue of executive power(time will tell), he seems to have a stronger respect for the limitations of powers of the executive branch, than Trump and Obama. Given his almost 34 years of service in the US Senate before he became VP in 2009, he would have a better appreciation for the prerogatives of the legislature. While Trump and Obama issued executive orders that were clearly outside the scope of the statutes and the Constitution, other executive orders, as shocking as they were, were within the scope of the law. I was shocked to the extent that Congress has empowered the executive branch, delegating and ceding away many of the powers that really should be within the prerogative of our national legislature. Republicans are only concerned about runaway executive power when a Democrat is in the White House, and Democrats the same with a GOPer as President.

Congress should not be shy in reclaiming these powers, as to not give any President, regardless of party, any opening to exercise powers that a President should not have. Let's start by at least limiting the President's powers to unilaterally impose tariffs, as we all saw what can happened the last 4 years, when that power is abused by the now former President. And do the same with other powers in which the delegation/ceding of such have relegated Congress to the sidelines.

As for immigration, I think the right has a tendency to morally conflate legal immigration with illegal immigration. The progressive left has the tendency to downplay illegal immigration by morally conflating it with legal immigration. Neither is correct.

As for immigration, conservatives should offer proposals that do not punish children for the deeds of their parents(something along the lines of DACA), increase legal immigration(it's great for our economy and our society in the collective. Immigrants coming to the US, assimilating, contributing their talents and working hard for a better life, is quintessentially American), and also provide common sense disincentives for illegal border crossings and visa overstays, the latter being the main cause of illegal immigration. One can be strongly against illegal immigration and still be strongly pro-immigration. I consider myself an immigration moderate, and I think that is a sweet spot where a broad consensus of Americans from left to right are at.

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