The New Colossus," by Emma Lazarus, written for and inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty. "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free; send these, the homeless tempest-tossed, to me; I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

Throughout our history, this statement expresses a welcome to those people coming from Europe, Asia, Latin America, South America and the Middle East to the United States of America. What bound them together was a strong work ethic, solid family ties, a willingness to obey the law and become an American. These immigrants built the fabric of our country through hard work and sacrifice. We owe them a debt that can never be paid.

For the most part what was true in the past is true today. However, the fact remains that this country has no control of its borders and illegal immigration runs rampant. It is a grave crisis perpetuated by business and government. Let us take each section of this issue, from border control, to immigrant education, to a worker program, one step at a time.

To begin, it must be stated that person hiding in the trunk of a car – maybe with some family members – is desperately coming across the southern border, to make a better life for him and his loved ones. Earning a paltry $2.00 an hour or less to perform difficult back backing work is much better than nothing. People are risking everything to be able to support a family. But what happens when they arrive? Frightened that they will be deported, the common illegal accepts the wage from a business that is clearly exploiting them to secure a low wage cost.

It is time to change the dynamics of this tragic game. The current law for any employer violating immigration law must be enforced. To do so, politicians have to hear the call from the people that coddling of business for votes has to end. The Internal Revenue Service has to audit firms who knowingly hire undocumented workers. Punitive fines and harsh penalties must be given uniformly and consistently. For those companies that mistakenly hire them – that is, taxes are accounted for and all is in good faith, then a careful review is in order. This action will dry up the low wage incentive to hire illegals because the cost of being caught is higher than potential profit. Then, these workers have no reason to sacrifice to make the journey across the US/Mexican/Canadian border. The result should be fewer arrests and returns to the country of origin.

Now along the border, we have to examine where a strong fence makes sense in conjunction with the surrounding area. High traffic portions will receive a durable barrier while open spaces could use predator drones. These high tech objects can fly and examine areas where a member of the border patrol can not. The amount of these agents, by the way, should be in the amount of 10,000. The rule for apprehension should be humane but firm. Once a person crosses the border in this manner, he or she should be arrested and escorted back to the country of origin.

Our next focus is immigration education. It should be agreed that the time frame for gaining entrance to this country is a long and laborious process. Instructions to the INS must concentrate on quickly streamlining the wait for a lawful immigrant. Then upon securing opportunity for success here, the new American has to learn how to be one. A quote from Theodore Roosevelt is key: “In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outraged to discriminate against such men because of creed or birthplace origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American and nothing but an American. There can be no divided allegiance here.” The policy implications of this statement by the former President would mean a strong effort to teach English, a concerted focus on learning American history and a glaring emphasis on understanding our proud traditions and opportunities. Given enough time, the voting booth should have directions in one language and not several dozen.

Turning to a guest worker program, there must be clear guidelines. First, a contract has to be signed to pay taxes and obey the law. Then, a background check from the country of origin should be made monthly to verify criminal convictions. Next, each worker would have a card to absolutely confirm identity. Perhaps a type of bio scan in the form of eye recognition is in order. Whatever is used, tampering or forgery should be the exception not the norm. Further, a firm time period of work has to be written and enforced. Once it has ended, then the worker has to leave the country.

For the person who has never been in this country, the worker program could serve to expedidite the immigration process if this person so chooses. What about those illegals who are currently residing here? Given a strong government crackdown on business and a new id card, work for the illegal will eventually end and many will leave. For those that do stay, a carrot and stick approach of fines and incentives must be considered. For example, someone who is here for a year and is a drifter can not be viewed the same as a small business man who has lived here for ten years and provided employment for others.

In conclusion, we see that if new ideas and strategies are used to combat illegal immigration then the legal immigrant has a clear opportunity to realize a new life here in the land of freedom. It is time think anew and realize that the dream is there for all who struggle to this great country.

MAJOR CONCEPTS AND IDEAS are the property of Newt Gingrich.

With all due respect to you and your office, I strongly disagree with your opinion that the average working family would earn a fair wage under this bill. First, any small business manager would tell you that labor costs are the highest cost of running a business. So if we are to expand the economy with more jobs then we must allow this manager to hire first time workers at a lower wage. While I am not talking about 2.00 dollars an hour, neither can a significant increase in the minimum wage as envisioned in this bill can be enacted. What will happen? Simple economics dictates that the higher the cost the less a buyer will buy. This means that the hiring manager will hire less at 7.00 an hour than he would at 5.00. This hurts the person you and others are trying to protect, that is the first time employee with no skills.The average American family is not hired using the minimum wage. These individuals have education and have sought after marketable skills.
   Thank you for reading

Mr. James Wolbert
53 Cedar Street
Garfield, New Jersey  07026

Dear Mr. Wolbert:

      Thank you for contacting me in opposition to raising the
minimum wage.  I appreciate hearing from you and I welcome the
opportunity to respond.

I understand your concerns about raising the federal
minimum wage.  However, I believe that the U.S. government has
a responsibility to ensure that every working American earns a fair
and livable wage.  As you may know, H.R. 2, the Fair Minimum
Wage Act of 2007, was introduced in the House of Representatives
by Congressman George Miller (D-CA) on January 5, 2007.  If
enacted, this legislation would raise the federal minimum wage
from $5.15 to $7.25 per hour.  H.R. 2 passed the House by a vote
of 315-116 on January 10, 2007 and passed the U.S. Senate by a
vote of 94-3 on February 1, 2007.  Please be assured that I will
keep your opposition to raising the minimum wage very much in
mind as Congress considers labor issues.

The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism.

By Paul Kengor.

“A groundbreaking reassessment of Ronald Reagan’s life and presidency, exploring his lifelong struggle and ultimate victory-against the tyranny of Communism.”

“In this dramatic mediation on the life of Ronald Reagan, historian Paul Kengor presents an account of the fortieth president that has never been written-one that details Reagan’s campaign against the Soviet Union, which lasted for more than forty years. Tracing Reagan’s anti-Communist sentiment to his days as president of the Screen Actor’s Guild, Kengor illuminates how this experience first emboldened the actor to speak out against the oppression of the Soviet Union and describes Reagan’s multifaceted efforts to prevent Communism from taking hold in Hollywood. Ultimately his SAG tenure paved the way for his burgeoning political career, which from its inception, had one purpose: the end of Communism.

“Utilizing reams of recently declassified documents, Kengor assembles a striking mosaic of Reagan’s words and actions that toppled the Soviet Union. From Reagan’s covert support of the rebels who defeated the Soviets in Afghanistan to his secret oil collusion with Saudi Arabia that devastated the Soviet economy. Kengor reveals how Reagan’s eight years in office did more to bring down the Soviet Union than any single administration in the history of the Cold War. With painstaking detail, he also explains Reagan’s crucial move to escalate the arms race with the Kremlin, a decision that though politically unpopular, proved vital to the Soviets’ eventual downfall.

With unparallel research, this fascinating book tells the story of a man who believed that it was his responsibility to save the world from Soviet oppression. It’s a story that demonstrates how one American’s fight ended the twentieth-century’s longest war. It’s a story of one man who changed history. It’s the story of a crusader.” (Taken from the inner jacket).

“We now know that generation and leaders like Reagan met that challenge. They averted nuclear catastrophe. Freedom came to a severely repressed part of the world. The challenge today, for professors and parents alike, is to adequately convey the degree to which the world had once peered into the darkness, feared nuclear annihilation, and, in much of the Soviet sphere, was deprived of the most basic rights.

With a confidence and can do attitude that invigorated him like the waters of the Rock River, Ronald Reagan set out to right those wrongs. The extent to which eventual worldwide occurrences matched his extremely ambitious intentions is astonishing, and one of the great stories of the twentieth century and U.S. history. Those who do not see that reality need to; nor simply because it is a quintessentially American story of doing the impossible, but also because, yes, the missiles were not fired and people are free.” (Author’s comments pg 310).

The Faith of George W. Bush, by Stephen Mansfield

This book portrays a man, George W. Bush, the 43^rd President of the United States, who actively struggled to reach the level of faith he now holds. Mr. Mansfield takes us through Mr. Bush’s impulsive youth to his coming of age as President during the horrific events of 911.

Midland, Texas is a place on a map but it holds Mr. Bush’s soul. He said that “if I died today, I’d like to be buried in Midland”. (pg 29). “He was not making funeral plans. He was locating his heart”.(statement by author, pg 29).The citizens of this town were a group of people who are friendly, hard working, and had supreme faith in God. The history of the place was one of cattle ranching, railroads and of course oil.

Mr. Bush had grounding in his home town but that failed to give his life purpose. In the chapter, titled, “Nomadic Years”, (pg 41), he attended Andover and Yale. His history professor, Mr. Thomas Lyons gave him credit for spirit but believed him not to be the student his father was. The lack of inner fire followed him after graduation and his return to Midland. There, he revived his struggling oil company. Then the bottom fell out the oil market and the center of this implosion was Mr. Bush’s home town.

By this time, he was the son of a respected leader, a graduate of a prestigious university, a millionaire due to smart investments, and the owner of an oil company. Bush is respected, a faithful husband and loving father. What was missing? Despite it all, at every step of the way, others found him lacking. To know this was a heavy burden on him. “Though he was going nowhere at forty… At the age of 52, he‘s the front runner for the Republican presidential nomination. That‘s a pretty incredible turnaround”. (pg 56. Author’s comments)

The turnaround started when evangelist Arthur Blessitt came to Midland. A meeting was arranged in which the future president felt the stirrings of faith. The two men prayed together and afterwards Mr. Bush started out on a new inspirational road. However, the next event, a vacation at the Kennebunkport, Maine with Reverend Billy Graham was the place where a “mustard seed in my soul”, (direct quote by Mr. Bush, pg 68), was planted by the Reverend. It was a significant and key point in his life.

We have all seen the moment when the President stood on the wreckage of ground zero in New York and declared that those who committed the evil murders on our citizens who hear from us soon. It is that moment when George Bush, the man became President Bush. He couldn’t have become the steadfast, strong, unyielding leader at that moment without the certainty and commitment of his faith. Our nation is better off in every way because of this great man.