WOULD YOU LIKE TO SOLVE THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM IN OUR COUNTRY? HELP ELECT STEVE YOUNG TO CONGRESS FROM ORANGE COUNTY NEXT WEEK

Next Tuesday is the run-off election in one of California's reddest districts, the 48th in southern Orange County. Progressive Democrat Steve Young faces off against a far right Republican hack and a KKK loon who started a vigilante hate group called The Minutemen. I've exchanged a couple of e-mails with Steve and met him once here in L.A. and I know he'll be a lot better for America than either of the extremist imbeciles he's running against. I haven't seen all that much activity on Steve's behalf from the DCCC or even from the netroots community.

A few days ago I heard him on the local Air America affiliate here and he was awesome! It all sounded real good and then he suddenly brought up a unique, creative plan to deal with an issue that has many in his district huffing and pulling-- illegal immigration. Even if Steve's breathtaking plan isn't 100% there yet, it is so much better and so much more honest than the PR pitch job Bush has been offering this week that it should really be looked at closely. And the person who is proposing it should too. Obviously Steve Young isn't going to be the type of congressman who's going to kick back and let partisan ideology do his job for him. We need more out-of-the-box thinkers in Congress. Here's his plan:

"Catcher in the Rye" type immigration policies are destined to failure. The INS is under-funded and vigilante groups on the borders threaten the rule of law in our country. We are learning by sad experience that America cannot solve the immigration crisis at the border because border solutions merely address symptoms.

I have a real solution to the "immigration problem" that is a business approach. It does not demonize immigrants, is self-funding, and benefits America.

Immigrants pay on average $3000 each to smugglers. Why not have the immigrants pay America the $3000 and create a system under which we can monitor who is coming into the country and what they are doing? I propose that the government establish ICE centers at the borders. Those wishing to enter the country will pay the $3000 to ICE (US Immigration, Customs and Enforcement Agency). ICE will take the immigrant's photograph, fingerprints, and administer tuberculosis and other health tests. The immigrants must tell us where they are going to live and where they plan on working. With that information, and the payment, the immigrant can enter the country. Every six months the immigrant must renew the application with updated information and the payment of an additional $500.00. Some sources estimate 30 million undocumented aliens are in the US. At $3000 each, we have a potential revenue source of $90 billion. I estimate that ICE can reduce the border patrol by 2/3 and redirect its efforts to drug interdiction and security to prevent terrorist entry to the US. All of this has a direct financial benefit to the US government in a time of rising budget deficits.

Employers who cheat their competitors by hiring undocumented workers fuel the immigration problem. I propose a "green card bounty" program to halt employer cheating. Any undocumented worker who gives ICE a paycheck showing the worker worked within the last month will receive a "green card bounty." ICE will not have to spend precious resources investigating cheating employers. The immigrants will bring the evidence to ICE to get an expedited green card. Armed with this proof, and front page publicity for prosecutions of cheating business owners, jobs for undocumented workers outside my registration system will dry up immediately. This will level the playing field for honest employers.

It is time for America to adopt my direct solution. It benefits America, eliminates the cheaters, generates $90 billion for the treasury, and allows ICE to focus on security rather than playing hide and seek in the southern deserts. Is it time for a change, or more of the same?


So What Can We Do?

If you want to be part of Young's virtual phone bank operation this week, e-mail Brad at brad@steveyoungforcongress.com or call the Irvine headquarters at (949) 640-4400. I'm hearing from people that this has been lots of fun for everyone who's doing it-- and very rewarding personally.