Solving our problems with ingenuity

If lawmakers believe so strongly in free enterprise, why do they interfere with the flow of our labor force?

America has always used immigrant labor, even when they were illegal, to help solve its economic problems. Over the past decade, immigration's share of the U.S. work force has grown by more than half, while American employers were struggling to compete in the new global economy. Now, employers are trying to survive in a more competitive marketplace and look to cut costs, including putting out the "help wanted" sign for cheap labor.

In good economic times, the free market seemed to work and immigration laws were overlooked. Now, our economy is struggling with high unemployment, and the good paying jobs are up for grabs worldwide. Unlike the past, where Americans were willing to sacrifice and work together to solve our problems, we are now more divided, fearful of our future and looking for someone to blame. Today, it's immigrant workers, those who came illegally to respond to the "help wanted" signs posted by U.S. businesses.

Unlike leaders in the past that pulled us together, called for sacrifice and offered solutions, we now have leaders who divide us for their political gain. They demand we follow the rule of law, yet they pick and choose which ones to enforce, and who must be punished. They want to penalize workers who are illegal, yet overlook employers who break federal immigration law. They create state laws that are voluntary for businesses and have no penalties. In essence, we seem to have created a sanctuary for employers. State lawmakers rail at the feds for not arresting illegal immigrant workers and get fired up to pass state laws to punish them but consent to give employers a pass and let the feds deal with them. Which is it? I guess that's the "rule of law" many don't understand.

Opportunistic politicians are quick to blame immigrants here illegally for our problems by making unfounded claims of increased crime and drain of our tax dollars, but they allow banks and other businesses to seize the chance to take anybody's money — legal or illegal. It seems Utah lawmakers have developed a sense of flexible morality and two different sets of rules are applied.