by Independent Blogger Matt Simon
I can't believe this debate over the English language is so important to the people of New Hampshire or any other state. This next question ought to be better, since I know the guy in the audience who is asking it. :)
And it is -- essentially, it's "Why did Republicans get clobbered so badly in 2006, and what fundamental changes are necessary?"
McCain says spending and earmarks, which is one good answer.
Paul says we shouldn't be nation-building and policing the world, that we can't sustain a foreign policy that costs 1 trillion dollars a year.
Giuliani, who must have forgotten he was posing as a lover of liberty tonight in New Hampshire, said essentially that the federal government ought to measure things better so the president could manage all our lives more effectively.
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Comments: 9
my grandparents came over & learned english also but....
I don't think it needs to be "official"
I wish they would talk about serious solutions to the real issues.
As myself one of the Non-Hispanic immigrants, I have complex feelings after hearing Sen. John McCain's response on this question.
I know that Hispanic immigrants are the largest population in our country, and we all appreciate what they've done to enrich our country. However, there are also many many Non-Hispanic immigrants, who did the exactly same thing to enrich our country, but they have to learn English. Making the requirement for instructions and written information in Spanish, as well as including clerks / stores/ business/ government offices to have Spanish speaking employees is a deterrent to the requirement to learn English. There is no need or incentive to learn English since any services they require Spanish will be spoken to them. This is also a definite bias favoring Spanish speaking immigrants, since other immigrants must learn English. No other language instructions /information or speakers are available for Non-Hispanic immigrants. There are Spanish speaking residents in United States who have never learned English.
It should also be noted that the system for processing legal immigrants is not working. The government states that they process legal immigrant status for permanent residency occur within 120 to 180 days. Based on personal experience of the process taking 580 days and 560 days it appears that the present system can not efficiently process legal immigrants. It would be very interesting to see the actual average processing time. The system is inefficient lacks clarity and assistance for applicants. There is only one telephone number for the entirely United States to call for assistance. Anyone living in any state in United States who has question must call the same number that everyone else in the country has to call. The waiting time obvious is very extensive or you are advised that the wait is too long to stay connected. Therefore, numerous phone calls and extensive waiting occurs before you can speak to someone who can not even answer your questions. They generally try to transfer you to someone who may be being able to answer your question. Only, to be disconnected so that you must start the whole process over again.
In regards to the new immigration plan there are some questions;
1. If any illegal immigrant has been in this country for a number of years why would they register to join the new plan
2. Why would they voluntarily pay $5,000 when they are here already?
3. Why would they agree to go back to the country of their origins? Even if it is for a short time.
4. If they are here with identification and established in the US why would they volunteer to sign up for the new plan?
5. Does anyone really believe the "12 million" illegal immigrants will sign up for this new plan?
6. If they weren't discovered before the new plan they probably won't be discovered after the plan. Therefore, it appears the new plan will change nothing and the old laws are not been enforced. ---so what will change?! !!
what language to speak. The United States of America needs no second
language because that confuses many people especialy others who are
undereducated or uneducated. I am completely against the second
language myself.
Roberta Gallant
I think it's just dumb to have a government-mandated official language. Naming English the official language (or not doing so) would have zero effect on any individual's life. The government is not there to tell us what words to use.
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Matt I agree with you on this 100%
it would have zero effect.
I still do not get why they even bring this stuff up when we have real important issues. A distraction maybe?