Immigration reform as art of the possible
"Politics," the 19th- century German statesman Otto von Bismarck reminded us, "is the art of the possible," and it works by crafting balanced compromises between competing political interests.
The issue of immigration reform certainly features its share of competing interests: Businesses want a supply of cheap labor; the 12 million illegal workers already here want to find a nonpunitive way to emerge from the shadows; most everyone wants improved border security; some want to penalize those who are here illegally; and many more want an opportunity to come here.
These and other values have been at loggerheads for years, and the art of politics - in Bismarck's sense - is sorely needed here ("Immigration bill debate begins," May 22).
The compromise proposal recently crafted by the White House and some members of the Senate tries to balance these competing values in a fair way, and, all things considered, is an admirable example of the process working as it should.
The senators involved in the compromise proposal are to be commended. And on this issue - if on no other - President Bush has demonstrated real statesmanship.
But the process has also now entered that other phase - the one where the intolerant extremes from all parts of the political spectrum try to make the ideal the slayer of the better.
Every interest group will complain that the deal should be sweeter, mainly for itself.
Each will want to tilt the legislation in its preferred direction - without much thought to the interests on other sides.
We have to hope all this huffing and puffing is mostly for show and that, in the end, reasonable people will see the virtue in practicing the art of politics, as Bismarck explained it.
Larry DeWitt
Windsor Mills
New bureaucracies a recipe for failure
In "Flawed solution better than none" (Opinion * Commentary, May 22), Sen. John Kyl unwittingly provides one of the strongest arguments against the immigration reform bill.
He writes: "Meanwhile, every day, thousands of illegal immigrants continue to pour across our border, workplace enforcement is a joke, and crime and violence are escalating."
All of that, and more, is certainly true, and this is because every one of the government agencies involved in immigration is either incapable of or unwilling to enforce existing laws effectively.
Yet Mr. Kyl wants to add massive new bureaucratic management requirements - e.g., processing applications, performing background checks and providing tamper-proof IDs for 12 million to 20 million illegals already here and for another 400,000-plus aliens in the "temporary guest-worker program."
Does anyone believe our federal government is up to that?
Just think of the Department of Homeland Security, whose failures created the problems that Mr. Kyl acknowledges.
John F. Billing
Ocean Pines
Governor shows he's no progressive
Many Democrats in Maryland supported Martin O'Malley for governor because they felt he represented the best values of a progressive Maryland.
Should we forgive them for their naivete when the governor continues to support the Intercounty Connector and slot machines and vetoes legislation that would have reduced the prison sentences of mainly black Marylanders who commit nonviolent drug crimes ("O'Malley's veto a big setback to drug reform," May 20)?
Such behavior used to be the domain of the Republican Party and of Southern Democrats.
But continuing in former President Bill Clinton's footsteps by locking up America's poor for drug use is now solidly entrenched as Democratic Party policy.
Ed Boyd
Baltimore
The writer was the Green Party's candidate for governor in 2006.
Stopping services to hurt a candidate?
The message from City Hall seems to be: Don't expect city services if you live in a district served by an elected official who happens to be running for mayor ("Job fair called off over fliers," May 18).
It's a good thing we don't have more contenders vying to serve the people of Baltimore, or City Hall might have to shut down all city services.
Lisa Miller
Baltimore
Mayor not meddling in other campaigns
I expect better from The Sun than the article "Job fair called off over fliers" (May 18).
This article was full of unfounded innuendo and suggestions that Mayor Sheila Dixon is in some way connected to the problems of a struggling mayoral candidate, City Councilman Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr.
Has anyone made a connection or even a credible statement linking Ms. Dixon to any of the nonsense that has hampered Mr. Mitchell's campaign? Absolutely not. So it is galling that the reporter suggests a connection that does not exist.
The mayor seems to be pretty busy doing city business.
Susan Warren
Baltimore
Internet now offers off-track wagering
Kevin George suggests in his column "Betting against horse industry" (Opinion * Commentary, May 16) that horse racing enthusiasts will participate in the new Racetrax video game, offered by the Maryland State Lottery, in lieu of traveling to a real racetrack.
However, horse racing enthusiasts have had such an option for years on the Internet.
Online wagering sites give customers the pleasure of watching and wagering on real, live racing without leaving their homes.
Robert H. Lee
Pasadena
Springtime elections could curb gas hikes
I think I have the perfect solution for the annual spring ritual of rising gas prices ("Record gas prices strike by surprise," May 23).
All we need to do is move Election Day to June 1 and have elections every year instead of every two years.
Based on recent history, this should work to lower gas prices 100 percent of the time.
Dave Kelly
Glen Burnie
Don't ask the state to do parents' job
My libertarian heart breaks every time I read an article or column such as the one by Ted Mandell ("Get serious about TV trash: Ban ads for violent shows," Opinion * Commentary, May 20).
Mr. Mandell seems to be among the many who believe that anything good must be mandated by Big Government - as Texas did by requiring the human papillomavirus vaccine for girls - and anything bad for us, such as TV promos he doesn't like, must be banned by Big Government - as New York City did by forbidding trans fats in its restaurants.
But our federal government and our state governments have enough to do without attempting to legislate every aspect of our personal lives and yes, our parental authority.
Mr. Mandell asks, "Why should I have to tell my kids to close their eyes ... so they don't see the 15-second promo of CSI: Miami?" The answer, of course, is: Because as a parent, it's your job, not the government's job.
Beth Woodell
Baltimore