It's impossible to discuss illegal immigration as a problem with Santa Barbarans who consider themselves liberals, especially the ones who have yard signs about it. Because they aren't experiencing any negative impact from it and it suits their vanity as “good” people to yak on about how anyone who is opposed to it is a Nazi. And they get their houses cleaned for the same price they have paid for years. These people are self centered ostriches who are impossible to have a rational discussion with because they just live in a bubble and want to stay there.
As for Salud. He's been such an ungrateful, divisive do-nothing in Santa Barbara. He's hardly a role model for anything. The way he uses himself as a reason for making this a sanctuary city is disgusting. He just wants people who'll vote for him. He cares nothing about how it's negatively impacted the education and healthcare for others.
Bernie Sanders has said that immigration is a human right, along with healthcare, a living wage free college, and a million other rights. To Democrats , a right is an entitlement to something for free that otherwise would cost money, time or work. All of these extraconstitutional rights ultimately burden the taxpayers and are more appropriately viewed as wealth redistribution.
The organism perishes when it's parasitic burden exceeds its ability to cope. Is socialism a balancing act between tolerating the parasitic burden and succumbing to it? Forever at a state of vitality one step above death? This is not man's natural or most vibrant state but his lowest state.
Margaret Thatcher made that comment; her brains were light years ahead of anything that could be found in the head of Harris, lol. Of course, "other people's money" is derived from taxpayers which is undergoing an intense drain of their money by the Dems. Dems that believe we have "too much" and we should share more than a basic tax burden. I'm telling you Dems out there to go screw yourself because I can never have too much money that I've earned. I can find my own ways of spending it and I don't need your help! If your jealous I made a lot of money, then go and make your own money and stop complaining about others having more than you. Whatever you do, don't become a politician because they are crooks.
Easy to give away other peoples money. Thats what government does. As pointed out here. CA Government provides $25 Billion in rewards to those who are here illegally.
While they “misplace” $12 Billion/year in homeless spending. $24 Billion over last two years gone without making a dent in the homeless humanitarian issue.
We need DOGE in CA to find that money and the $100 bullion in the railroad that never happened & the billions in water resources that never happened.
Hold the government accountable, they are misplacing your money.
Hopefully when Trump finds where all the money went to (which is in the pockets of politicians), we can go back to the past standard of most things costing in the millions versus the outrageous billions. When the city governments talk about anything costing millions, don't you wonder who's pocket the money really settles into? I do.
I think the limb of communism is dead on the tree of political options. One main part of what Marx and Engles were trying to do was protect the workers. Capitalism saw this problem and fixed it via government regulations on worker safety and to some degree pay. Please put 'free market' in quotes - like you said it gives us the most freedom - but it is not really a truly free market. Even countries considered to have the freest economies, like Switzerland, still have some level of government involvement.
Communism grew out of European monarchies, rigid class structures and residual concepts of serfdom. None of which is applicable to the American experience.
Well, Thomas, we are back to the problem of the serpent in the garden of Eden. Capitalism succeeds best in an ethical society with standards set by a higher authority. Individual morals can replace enforcement tools, such such as regulations and unions.
Without common standards of higher authority, atheist individuals set their own standards and society needs to control them with laws and other enforcement tools.
So a “free market“ is an ideal we have not attained.
The real conversation includes rights, duties, commodities and costs. No Democrat is capable of having this full conversation. But they should, and it is our job to make sure they do.
Bernie and other Dems are looking for immigrant votes for the Democratic Party which is now balanced on a thin wire. If Bernie was looking for quality immigrants, there are very talented engineers and scientists living in foreign countries to attract, as an example. But no, simply allow anyone at the border to enter the country for the purpose of acquiring votes and become a burden on the taxpayer. These "cold" Dems don't care about spending your hard-earned tax dollars for wasted ventures. This must stop, forever!
Very good point about people who support illegal immigration as a show, going along with the crowd, peer pressure as well as misguided. But corporate, social & local media are a big problem because they tell people what to think. The misguided can be compared to children who think they know everything, but actually know very little of the real world.
As it is tough to be compassionate to the self entitled child throwing a tantrum in public, we need to remember they are children with bad parents. But they are children.
The question is, how do we get past the censorship and purposeful divisiveness of media, even locally so we can reach those people?
The damage of influencers on ignorant adult citizens, who just like children, seek to be liked, popular and good (by their definition) could be the downfall of our country. How many adult citizens will choose to go along to get along by supporting the right of illegal migrants to remain here while others wait in line in their home country? We’re talking 30M here now. We vet and legally admit 2M a year, of which the majority are prioritized chain migration applicants.
Salud Carbajal coat-tailed Board of Supervisor Naomi Schwartz, who coat-tailed state senator Gary Hart , via Rep Lois Capps- in our local incestuous Democrat food chain. Voters just keep turning the crank. SEIU and the teachers unions live to see another day.
My great great grandfather was an immigrant; I have his immigration scroll (not sure what you call it). Prior to being naturalized he worked a year in the U.S., had character witnesses as such, and he swore to declaim loyalty to his birth country and claim loyalty to the United States of America. That’s how you do it.
Some of my ancestors came from Ireland via Australia (ahem, we all know that means prisons) and made it to Harper's Ferry, WV, where they partnered up in business with the James family, (and knew Frank and Jesse, who, legend has it they hid out on their ranch on the Central Coast). They made it to Paso Robles, got a land grant ranch, considered themselves Californios and preferred living Mexican style. Btw, unlike Marianne Partridge and her husband Poett, my ancestors did not hold onto their land grant. By 1900 it was all gone except for sone sulfur springs that celebrities of the day like the pianist Paderewski paid to sit in. But no, I didn't even inherit a sulfur bath. So I'm not going to get on a snooty high horse and claim to be Plymouth Rock, Olde California Royalty like some people do, like the duo who own The Independent, But what the Dems have been doing is not immigration, it's demographic replacement for their power.
SBNATIVE, don’t you mean, ‘That’s how you DID it rather than “DO it?
The decades of needing immigrants to grow and work our new nation are long gone. AI and automation will continue to reduce the need for workers, and immigrants. Expect unemployment to grow here, with no guarantees of any safety net social programs. We’re on our own.
An eye-and-mind opening read for me on this issue was Victor Davis' Hanson's 2003 book, Mexifornia, A State of Becoming, which I first read around 2010. Being a native Californian and a 50 yr Santa Barbara citizen, I was visually and emotionally aware of the immigrants around me, but unaware of their legal or illegal status in the process of citizenship. The front page persona of Cesar Chavez and the UFW marches & hunger strikes of the 1970's changed the visibility and vocabulary of the discourse. Much political haymaking followed, and the crop has thrived ever since...indeed, a bumper harvest is currently underway. However once this current border debate settles down, the most important & persistent concern for me is that the melting pot of America get plugged back in, so that those who migrate here are more quickly melted into not only residents but citizens, assimilated into American culture, language, history and patriotism. For too many years, that pot has grown cold, and the result has been the accomodation of too many newcomers at the expense of our plenary society. One more thing...if you haven't read VDH's The Dying Citizen, I recommend it to all who care to think critically about this matter of assimilation and this grand experiment we call America.
Hanson is a real California treasure and everyone should read him on the inland agricultural and illegal immigrant, but he's more aggressive internationally than I want to see us be.
Very well laid out article, Brian, on a subject that has become very emotional for a lot of people. This issue has been brewing for many years and has manifested to a level that is out of control now and in desperate need of fixing. A lot of the folks that have hired illegal immigrants to work in their homes, etc. have become attached to these people and now are angry that they may be deported. I do have to wonder if the people who did the hiring had encouraged their employees to try and legalize their status things might have been different. Now they have Trump to blame once again for something that they might have been able to fix. We have loads and loads of non profits with tons of money who could have, through the years, used their powers to help the immigrants maintain a legal status. Amazing that they are in full force now when things have gone this far. As far as I know America is the only country where this could be allowed to go on for so long. It is a generous country but cannot afford to continue ignoring our immigration laws.
Let those people “sponsor” the help they’ve grown fond of, until they become legal. As in house them, feed them, educate them. Put your money where your “liberal social justice spouter” is.
I always wonder, be it a housekeeper, Tyson meat processing plant, folks picking your veggies or 25% of a highrise construction crew - what would happen if there was a 10,000 dollar-a-day fine for employing them? Both political parties are getting something from this mess.
Or Thomas incentivize disclosure. Pay employers $1000 to 1099 each employee paid over $500. However now Trump has incentivized a cash, tax tree economy. Electricians, plumbers, gardeners, housekeepers are simply paid cash for their work as in “tips”. Trump recklessly has screwed the lower working class, FT homemakers with no income/ no SS, and non-pensioned elders. Let’s not forget the $7T national debt.
I was reading today about what happens if/when his 'tax cuts' stay in place. The top 1% make out great. The bottom gets a few hundred bucks back. And I'd expect the debt to keep on climbing. But we'll see.
Sure, based on the size of many estates in Montecito and Hope Ranch, who and how many Gardners, Maids, etc. are required for upkeep? No wonder they want to keep their servants here, receiving below market, unreported wages for decades.
This also goes into education. Why is it that CA one of the worst public education systems? The SBUSD administration blames immigrants, then they backtrack realizing it’s a racist remark. Most Hispanic children in our schools are second generation or older. CA schools say they have a 95% graduation rate even though less than half the children can read & write at grade level. The math doesn’t ad up. SBUSD says they are preparing children for the future. What future is that when children can’t read, write or do math at grade level? It’s a future of low skilled jobs for most of the children. This is a decades old issue with zero progress, why? Why can’t one of the largest economies in the world educate its children.? You can tell a lot about a country, a people, by how they treat their children, Nelson Mandela.
Racism. Democratic party originated with slave owners. Democrats voted against every civii rights act.
Democrats have never wanted to elevate the people.
They use social suffering, that they create, as a shield while they profit off of it.
SBUSD is in the business of preparing minorities to be gardeners & maids, maybe tradesmen. But the Democrat run schools have no intentions of preparing minorities for CEO or White House roles.
Look at the new DNC Chair. Out of the numerous candidates they choose a middle aged straight white man who says diversity is their priority.
And the Dem voters fall for it or secretly agree with the hypocrisy.
Democrats are taught, trained to not think for themselves, to stick together no matter what by community organizers and influencers: we’ll take care of you. The consequence for failing to go along is group extermination, joblessness, no friends, public shame. I was told by a top SBUSD Official it is unwise to teach critical thinking. AP Teacher Jackson hosted Lunch hour library topics for student discussion, debate. Parents invited; I occasionally attended this exceptional opportunity Mr Jackson provided students. Then administration threatened: continue this or be reassigned to remedial vs AP students. Parents, students protested the Big Stick. It was a good life lesson for these bright students to experience. Ask any AP DON/ dual SBCC enrolled student for a list of favorite teachers— it’s a long one of exceptional educators, like him.
Another problem is administration and personnel hiring mediocrity for average learners.
I honestly think K-12 is too early to "teach critical thinking". One needs basics and a broad exposure to traditional subjects first.
Maybe special seminars for high school seniors and juniors who show by their interests they want further discussion and debate is where critical thinking can be exercised.
Ground students well in fundamentals first. Then they can go on to weighing positives and negatives of various viewpoints. Were we really ready in high school to discuss the pros and cons of Atlas Shrugged before we even had the neutral basics about various economic and social systems?
Send kids well prepared to college and then let the late night bull sessions begin in earnest.
Question: Why locally do citizens accept, tolerate that too many students are not proficient? As you noted Brian, the 8-word bizarre SBUSD Mission statement is to prepare students for a world yet known.
A while back, two Hispanic parents asked me to join them at a conference meeting with a neighborhood SBUSD school principal (to let the principal know by my zip code presence and skin color they expected honest answers). The question was: “Why do our children get all A grades, when they can barely read or multiply?” The official response: “They are clean, polite, wonderful children who we prepare for work locally in Montecito, Hope Ranch, and for professionals who need paid help to maintain their lives, and for our hospitality industry. Don’t worry your kids are our very best students.” I interjected, “I expect them in the White House leading not cleaning. The children will not be back.” The principal replied, “It’s the law they attend here.” Gracias. Adios.
Thank goodness for our high quality private schools, and for those locals who fund scholarships for students determined to learn, if given the opportunity. I was thrilled when one was recently invited and attended a meal event at the White House! But what about the 3000 other students? They’ve capacity to learn, to excel? Why do we tolerate ignoring most SBUSD elementary schools?
Why did community colleges drop their math and english placement exams? When their increasing college readiness failure rates objectively exposed the alleged K-12 student achievement rates were not sounding in fact.
Show me an older large estates that did not have "maids quarters and a gardener's cottage"? Now they are turned into extra closet space and an off the books rental.
A barometer of the sanity or depravity of our local civic culture will be how this article is accepted. I suspect the Current readership will largely applaud. Imagine if it ran in the Independent or the Noozhawk 🙄
Thank you Brian for specifically mentioning Edhat and Next Door. Both actively censor conservative voices. In the case of Edhat, it is disgusting how they have unleashed a radical, goon squad on our community, spewing leftist, hateful garbage and propaganda.
EdHat is the epitome of the snake pit. The same few posters who bully & name call with no education of the world. As if they were paid to be ignorant and to incite outrage and disinformation.
I’ve been canceled quite a few times on ND for posting links to government websites that contradicts the narrative. They say I spread misinformation, direct from the government.
Brian- Thank you for another thought-provoking essay on a local and national topic.
Hearing from you always reminds me that the citizens of Santa Barbara missed a great opportunity to elect you to represent them. I hope you consider another run.
Excellent article Brian and very much on point. It is interesting (but NOT surprising!!) how soon everyone forgets about the prior administrations and their rate and numbers of deportation. As a businessperson that signs the front of checks, I get the drain on finite public resources but also understand the tragic implications of deporting those immigrants that should and deserve to be here legally......but are not after often being here for years. Will this produce a giant wake up call to get legal? I hope so.
Phil- Elaborate on your position that aliens unlawfully residing here “should and deserve to be here legally”. Nobody “deserves” anything, and our country of citizens “should” not be pressured to turn a blind eye on those who break laws harming others. Why reward those who game the lawful system with the gift of legal status for cheating while millions of others who follow the rules are left at the back of the line?
Please be frontal lobe mindful of the many millions of ‘out of sight’ lawful applicants; those following the rules who cannot be forgotten just because you don’t know them. They’re nice, productive ‘deserving’ hard working people who RESPECT the rules and laws of the US.
You seem like a supporter and practitioner of the NEW American values of — do whatever it takes to win, reward cheaters, crime pays, excuse illegal behavior, ‘forgive and forget’, step on others and don’t look back. Oh, and of course, give every kid a trophy because feelings matter.
Montecito, I apologize for not making my position and opinion clearer. The immigrants that I speak of are the ones that HAVE been here for sometimes decades,
and work multiple jobs to survive and I have sympathy for them but.......they also had and have the option to become legal. I know of many "out of sight" immigrants that DID do the work, put in the time and became legal. I just hope this acts as a wake up call to get legal. At 74 years old, am NOT as you suspect a supporter of any NEW values. I am as old school as one can get. I will try and do a better job of explaining myself in future posts.
Phil, Why did these alleged "deserving" illegal border crosses not apply for refugee status in the first neutral country they crossed as required by international law/custom?
Why did they wait only until the got to the US. Why are over 90% of their claims rejected, if they even show up for their hearings. You cannot let the exception become the rule. So why are you even giving this argument equal footing?
The people who deserve to come are those already on the waiting lists and met all the current requirements.
Undoubtedly, liberals have learned the term FAFO! Yes, the Dems are in full meltdown, bat shit crazy mode. It’s like taking the toy away from a toddler (or taking the ice cream away from Joe Biden). The mess we find ourselves these days can be put squarely on the altar of liberalism. Crushing debt, illegal migration causing our social services into bankruptcy, and raging forest fires just to name a few. Interesting how Dems have lost it collectively the closer Musk looks into USAID, which seems to be a slush fund for lefty causes, promoting climate hysteria and LBGQT orthodoxy in our schools, pay for play schemes, paying off media outlets, among other things.
As for our Congressman, Salud Carbajal, what else do we expect from someone who came here illegally, who has only ever received a paycheck from the US Treasury, and has made a career of virtue signaling to liberal white constituents? He makes a big deal out of medication prices, what is his plan for LA fire victims? Watching the reactions to Congressional members, Maxine Watters, Jasmine Crockett, Al Green, Ayanna Pressley and others, one can only conclude these people are deranged, mentally unstable and clearly racists! Embarrassing how these members of Congress can’t even put together a cogent sentence. The problem is they still have OUR checkbook and still represent us.
How about that a reasoned paper on "Consequences" vs. Theory.
Sen. Scott Weiner states government public transit is broken throughout the State. Yet the 3 south county cities continue to destroy streets for planning that has proven not to work.
Illegals do cost when allowed to access health care, subsidized income (welfare).
This is an indictment of failed government from Caprinteria to Goleta with the excuse of the "philosophy" states! When you do not have freedom as is shown you have a failed nation.
Since 1900 to now the dictators have said "when the people get it" society will flourish. A concept built on the backs of the successful.
Brian, this "libtard" (me) totally agrees with your position on illegal immigration. In fact, I also am in favor of the repeal of the 14th Amendment ("birthright citizenship") as well as a lowering of legal immigration down to, say, 200k/year.
The fact that you don't hear of we liberals who think this way has everything to do with the bifurcation of the media. Just as CNN and MSNBC might have us all believe that every conservative is "anti-choice," supports the Ten Commandments being posted in public schools, believes the 2020 election was stolen, supports Trump's current coup d'etat, and thinks anthropomorphic climate change is a "hoax," so too Fox and Newsmax and other MAGA outlets would have you believe that every liberal or Democrat supports pre-adult gender transitioning, atheism, communism, socialism and, to your point, illegal immigration.
We do not.
(Admittedly, I am agnostic, as I believe this is the only truly honest opinion one can have on the "God" matter and, ergo, if there is a "God" I would hope "God" would honor my honesty.)
And, yes, we liberals and our sources know that both Clinton and Obama deported many illegals (not sure how you came to the opinion we didn't) and that's why, IMHO, they were popular two-term Presidents, because that's how most Americans, even liberal Americans, feel.
RJ: 14th Amendment does not guarantee "birthright citizenship", It is only current policy, but not yet a SCOTUS adjudicated right. It is only a qualified option ...."subject to the jurisdiction there of. .... SCOTUS still needs to interpret this express qualification, and to date has not yet done. Time to stop the current disinformation campaign about "birthright citizenship". Follow the money to those who continue to claimi this.
Some here would be surprised that I agree with much of your post. Both parties have refused to deal with the border problem for decades... choosing to play kick the can. Both parties failed to do their job and pass legislation in 2024.
Along comes a non-politician and he's willing to rip the border bandaid off does it. That may well be the only fix for a corupt, broken border policy and lack of judicial/staffing funding.
For this American, the demonization of refugees was unnecessary, did not represent the values that make us America and was unnecessary to achieve better border policies. Being cruel is what I associate with evil, not American.
Not quite sure what you are meaning about "demonization" of refugees. I think Trump made it pretty clear that his first order of deportation was the criminal element who have repeatedly been arrested for crimes and then let go. That's reality, as is the huge amount of people that have died by drugs illegally brought into this country., not to mention the child sex trafficking. Are we to pussyfoot around these situations so as not to hurt the feelings of the "nice" people that have come here illegally? It amazes me how the topic can get so twisted that the law breaking person is the good guy and the enforcer is the nasty, mean, evil, as you call it, party.
I was speaking only about border policy. The deportation side of things is far too complex for me to offer substantive comment.
The demonization I spoke to was the hundreds of times migrants were called rapists, murderers, drug dealers, pet eaters, and such.
As we all know, there were bad players, as there are with any population group. The VAST majority who BROKE THE LAW and entered ILLEGALLY were hard-working people, not evil murderers and drug dealers. Yes, they broke the law. There is no argument from me.
My comment was simply that we can make new policies without being cruel, creating fear, and speaking lies like migrants eating pets. That's just this American's take on what this American thinks our country and culture represent.
I guess, Gene, it does make a difference what "news" outlets you watch as to how reliable the sources are that you are referencing. The fear that is being created about the border policies are from main stream media and the people that want to keep the status quo but I appreciate your explanation.
I couldn't agree more. One has to be very discerning with news sources. Remember when ABC tried to cover up Feinstein's insider trading or the lack of coverage of Biden near the end? And who can forget that FOX covered up their $865 million court loss to Dominion with only one mention in a 10:00 news segment? You are spot on about reliable sources.
The stats I mentioned were from the 41 Trump rallies I watched, live press conferences, hearings and most likely coverage from BBC & Reuters.
Gene, deportation is nothing more than a $280 one way plane ticket back home. Why are you saying this is "complex"? Complex is the $10,000 paid to a coyote to to intentionally cross our borders illegally.
Refugees from what? Refugees from poverty and the consequences of the socialist shitholes they were unfortunate enough to be born in. Most are not refugees in the legal sense that would qualify them for refugee status. So most are in fact not refugees but criminal trespassers. I have a disdain for criminals even if you falsely call them refugees.
A decade ago an employee of mine applied for a passport to accompany me to Europe. We were amazed to find out that his social security number had been used for many years by someone with a Mexican name who owed child support, a snafu that took weeks to resolve.
It's impossible to discuss illegal immigration as a problem with Santa Barbarans who consider themselves liberals, especially the ones who have yard signs about it. Because they aren't experiencing any negative impact from it and it suits their vanity as “good” people to yak on about how anyone who is opposed to it is a Nazi. And they get their houses cleaned for the same price they have paid for years. These people are self centered ostriches who are impossible to have a rational discussion with because they just live in a bubble and want to stay there.
As for Salud. He's been such an ungrateful, divisive do-nothing in Santa Barbara. He's hardly a role model for anything. The way he uses himself as a reason for making this a sanctuary city is disgusting. He just wants people who'll vote for him. He cares nothing about how it's negatively impacted the education and healthcare for others.
Polly this is all about to change here very quickly>>>
"As for Salud. He's been such an ungrateful, divisive do-nothing in Santa Barbara."
Bernie Sanders has said that immigration is a human right, along with healthcare, a living wage free college, and a million other rights. To Democrats , a right is an entitlement to something for free that otherwise would cost money, time or work. All of these extraconstitutional rights ultimately burden the taxpayers and are more appropriately viewed as wealth redistribution.
“The problem with socialism is eventually you run out of other people's money.”
The organism perishes when it's parasitic burden exceeds its ability to cope. Is socialism a balancing act between tolerating the parasitic burden and succumbing to it? Forever at a state of vitality one step above death? This is not man's natural or most vibrant state but his lowest state.
Margaret Thatcher made that comment; her brains were light years ahead of anything that could be found in the head of Harris, lol. Of course, "other people's money" is derived from taxpayers which is undergoing an intense drain of their money by the Dems. Dems that believe we have "too much" and we should share more than a basic tax burden. I'm telling you Dems out there to go screw yourself because I can never have too much money that I've earned. I can find my own ways of spending it and I don't need your help! If your jealous I made a lot of money, then go and make your own money and stop complaining about others having more than you. Whatever you do, don't become a politician because they are crooks.
I wasn't a huge fan of Thatcher but she was no dummy.
My wife says we shouldn't pay our taxes ... the government has been ripping us off as Elon is discovering.
Easy to give away other peoples money. Thats what government does. As pointed out here. CA Government provides $25 Billion in rewards to those who are here illegally.
While they “misplace” $12 Billion/year in homeless spending. $24 Billion over last two years gone without making a dent in the homeless humanitarian issue.
We need DOGE in CA to find that money and the $100 bullion in the railroad that never happened & the billions in water resources that never happened.
Hold the government accountable, they are misplacing your money.
Hopefully when Trump finds where all the money went to (which is in the pockets of politicians), we can go back to the past standard of most things costing in the millions versus the outrageous billions. When the city governments talk about anything costing millions, don't you wonder who's pocket the money really settles into? I do.
Communism! Communism is slavery.
Humm. What Jeff is outlining sounds more like socialism. Is socialism slavery too?
Yes, Thomas. Progressivism & Socialism are steps on the ladder to Communism.
Free market capitalism gives us the most freedom.
Freedom is power from the bottom up
Slavery is power from the top down.
Tyranny versus individualism.
I think the limb of communism is dead on the tree of political options. One main part of what Marx and Engles were trying to do was protect the workers. Capitalism saw this problem and fixed it via government regulations on worker safety and to some degree pay. Please put 'free market' in quotes - like you said it gives us the most freedom - but it is not really a truly free market. Even countries considered to have the freest economies, like Switzerland, still have some level of government involvement.
Communism grew out of European monarchies, rigid class structures and residual concepts of serfdom. None of which is applicable to the American experience.
Well, Thomas, we are back to the problem of the serpent in the garden of Eden. Capitalism succeeds best in an ethical society with standards set by a higher authority. Individual morals can replace enforcement tools, such such as regulations and unions.
Without common standards of higher authority, atheist individuals set their own standards and society needs to control them with laws and other enforcement tools.
So a “free market“ is an ideal we have not attained.
The real conversation includes rights, duties, commodities and costs. No Democrat is capable of having this full conversation. But they should, and it is our job to make sure they do.
Bernie and other Dems are looking for immigrant votes for the Democratic Party which is now balanced on a thin wire. If Bernie was looking for quality immigrants, there are very talented engineers and scientists living in foreign countries to attract, as an example. But no, simply allow anyone at the border to enter the country for the purpose of acquiring votes and become a burden on the taxpayer. These "cold" Dems don't care about spending your hard-earned tax dollars for wasted ventures. This must stop, forever!
How many illegial aliens does Burnout Bernie have living in his house?
Probably less than are working at Trump tower in Vegas.
Very good point about people who support illegal immigration as a show, going along with the crowd, peer pressure as well as misguided. But corporate, social & local media are a big problem because they tell people what to think. The misguided can be compared to children who think they know everything, but actually know very little of the real world.
As it is tough to be compassionate to the self entitled child throwing a tantrum in public, we need to remember they are children with bad parents. But they are children.
The question is, how do we get past the censorship and purposeful divisiveness of media, even locally so we can reach those people?
The damage of influencers on ignorant adult citizens, who just like children, seek to be liked, popular and good (by their definition) could be the downfall of our country. How many adult citizens will choose to go along to get along by supporting the right of illegal migrants to remain here while others wait in line in their home country? We’re talking 30M here now. We vet and legally admit 2M a year, of which the majority are prioritized chain migration applicants.
Point well made!!
Salud Carbajal coat-tailed Board of Supervisor Naomi Schwartz, who coat-tailed state senator Gary Hart , via Rep Lois Capps- in our local incestuous Democrat food chain. Voters just keep turning the crank. SEIU and the teachers unions live to see another day.
Polly, you are my hero😉🩷
My great great grandfather was an immigrant; I have his immigration scroll (not sure what you call it). Prior to being naturalized he worked a year in the U.S., had character witnesses as such, and he swore to declaim loyalty to his birth country and claim loyalty to the United States of America. That’s how you do it.
Some of my ancestors came from Ireland via Australia (ahem, we all know that means prisons) and made it to Harper's Ferry, WV, where they partnered up in business with the James family, (and knew Frank and Jesse, who, legend has it they hid out on their ranch on the Central Coast). They made it to Paso Robles, got a land grant ranch, considered themselves Californios and preferred living Mexican style. Btw, unlike Marianne Partridge and her husband Poett, my ancestors did not hold onto their land grant. By 1900 it was all gone except for sone sulfur springs that celebrities of the day like the pianist Paderewski paid to sit in. But no, I didn't even inherit a sulfur bath. So I'm not going to get on a snooty high horse and claim to be Plymouth Rock, Olde California Royalty like some people do, like the duo who own The Independent, But what the Dems have been doing is not immigration, it's demographic replacement for their power.
SBNATIVE, don’t you mean, ‘That’s how you DID it rather than “DO it?
The decades of needing immigrants to grow and work our new nation are long gone. AI and automation will continue to reduce the need for workers, and immigrants. Expect unemployment to grow here, with no guarantees of any safety net social programs. We’re on our own.
An eye-and-mind opening read for me on this issue was Victor Davis' Hanson's 2003 book, Mexifornia, A State of Becoming, which I first read around 2010. Being a native Californian and a 50 yr Santa Barbara citizen, I was visually and emotionally aware of the immigrants around me, but unaware of their legal or illegal status in the process of citizenship. The front page persona of Cesar Chavez and the UFW marches & hunger strikes of the 1970's changed the visibility and vocabulary of the discourse. Much political haymaking followed, and the crop has thrived ever since...indeed, a bumper harvest is currently underway. However once this current border debate settles down, the most important & persistent concern for me is that the melting pot of America get plugged back in, so that those who migrate here are more quickly melted into not only residents but citizens, assimilated into American culture, language, history and patriotism. For too many years, that pot has grown cold, and the result has been the accomodation of too many newcomers at the expense of our plenary society. One more thing...if you haven't read VDH's The Dying Citizen, I recommend it to all who care to think critically about this matter of assimilation and this grand experiment we call America.
Hanson is a real California treasure and everyone should read him on the inland agricultural and illegal immigrant, but he's more aggressive internationally than I want to see us be.
Very well laid out article, Brian, on a subject that has become very emotional for a lot of people. This issue has been brewing for many years and has manifested to a level that is out of control now and in desperate need of fixing. A lot of the folks that have hired illegal immigrants to work in their homes, etc. have become attached to these people and now are angry that they may be deported. I do have to wonder if the people who did the hiring had encouraged their employees to try and legalize their status things might have been different. Now they have Trump to blame once again for something that they might have been able to fix. We have loads and loads of non profits with tons of money who could have, through the years, used their powers to help the immigrants maintain a legal status. Amazing that they are in full force now when things have gone this far. As far as I know America is the only country where this could be allowed to go on for so long. It is a generous country but cannot afford to continue ignoring our immigration laws.
Let those people “sponsor” the help they’ve grown fond of, until they become legal. As in house them, feed them, educate them. Put your money where your “liberal social justice spouter” is.
S.B. Native- Technically unless you can access to directly buy off an immigration bureaucrat only relatives can sponsor an alien; employers can not.
I always wonder, be it a housekeeper, Tyson meat processing plant, folks picking your veggies or 25% of a highrise construction crew - what would happen if there was a 10,000 dollar-a-day fine for employing them? Both political parties are getting something from this mess.
I would answer that things would be a bit different in the hiring department. Makes one wonder if Bill Gates has vetted all his land workers.
Bill Gates was too busy getting a seat on the Lolita Express.
How many teacher union members will lose their jobs after the border gets closed?
Or Thomas incentivize disclosure. Pay employers $1000 to 1099 each employee paid over $500. However now Trump has incentivized a cash, tax tree economy. Electricians, plumbers, gardeners, housekeepers are simply paid cash for their work as in “tips”. Trump recklessly has screwed the lower working class, FT homemakers with no income/ no SS, and non-pensioned elders. Let’s not forget the $7T national debt.
I was reading today about what happens if/when his 'tax cuts' stay in place. The top 1% make out great. The bottom gets a few hundred bucks back. And I'd expect the debt to keep on climbing. But we'll see.
Sure, based on the size of many estates in Montecito and Hope Ranch, who and how many Gardners, Maids, etc. are required for upkeep? No wonder they want to keep their servants here, receiving below market, unreported wages for decades.
This also goes into education. Why is it that CA one of the worst public education systems? The SBUSD administration blames immigrants, then they backtrack realizing it’s a racist remark. Most Hispanic children in our schools are second generation or older. CA schools say they have a 95% graduation rate even though less than half the children can read & write at grade level. The math doesn’t ad up. SBUSD says they are preparing children for the future. What future is that when children can’t read, write or do math at grade level? It’s a future of low skilled jobs for most of the children. This is a decades old issue with zero progress, why? Why can’t one of the largest economies in the world educate its children.? You can tell a lot about a country, a people, by how they treat their children, Nelson Mandela.
Racism. Democratic party originated with slave owners. Democrats voted against every civii rights act.
Democrats have never wanted to elevate the people.
They use social suffering, that they create, as a shield while they profit off of it.
SBUSD is in the business of preparing minorities to be gardeners & maids, maybe tradesmen. But the Democrat run schools have no intentions of preparing minorities for CEO or White House roles.
Look at the new DNC Chair. Out of the numerous candidates they choose a middle aged straight white man who says diversity is their priority.
And the Dem voters fall for it or secretly agree with the hypocrisy.
Democrats are taught, trained to not think for themselves, to stick together no matter what by community organizers and influencers: we’ll take care of you. The consequence for failing to go along is group extermination, joblessness, no friends, public shame. I was told by a top SBUSD Official it is unwise to teach critical thinking. AP Teacher Jackson hosted Lunch hour library topics for student discussion, debate. Parents invited; I occasionally attended this exceptional opportunity Mr Jackson provided students. Then administration threatened: continue this or be reassigned to remedial vs AP students. Parents, students protested the Big Stick. It was a good life lesson for these bright students to experience. Ask any AP DON/ dual SBCC enrolled student for a list of favorite teachers— it’s a long one of exceptional educators, like him.
Another problem is administration and personnel hiring mediocrity for average learners.
I honestly think K-12 is too early to "teach critical thinking". One needs basics and a broad exposure to traditional subjects first.
Maybe special seminars for high school seniors and juniors who show by their interests they want further discussion and debate is where critical thinking can be exercised.
Ground students well in fundamentals first. Then they can go on to weighing positives and negatives of various viewpoints. Were we really ready in high school to discuss the pros and cons of Atlas Shrugged before we even had the neutral basics about various economic and social systems?
Send kids well prepared to college and then let the late night bull sessions begin in earnest.
Why is our "English learner" K-12 student population so high if ....most are second generation or older?
Question: Why locally do citizens accept, tolerate that too many students are not proficient? As you noted Brian, the 8-word bizarre SBUSD Mission statement is to prepare students for a world yet known.
A while back, two Hispanic parents asked me to join them at a conference meeting with a neighborhood SBUSD school principal (to let the principal know by my zip code presence and skin color they expected honest answers). The question was: “Why do our children get all A grades, when they can barely read or multiply?” The official response: “They are clean, polite, wonderful children who we prepare for work locally in Montecito, Hope Ranch, and for professionals who need paid help to maintain their lives, and for our hospitality industry. Don’t worry your kids are our very best students.” I interjected, “I expect them in the White House leading not cleaning. The children will not be back.” The principal replied, “It’s the law they attend here.” Gracias. Adios.
Thank goodness for our high quality private schools, and for those locals who fund scholarships for students determined to learn, if given the opportunity. I was thrilled when one was recently invited and attended a meal event at the White House! But what about the 3000 other students? They’ve capacity to learn, to excel? Why do we tolerate ignoring most SBUSD elementary schools?
Why did community colleges drop their math and english placement exams? When their increasing college readiness failure rates objectively exposed the alleged K-12 student achievement rates were not sounding in fact.
Wow! I can’t believe the principal actually said that! Can you share who and what school?
Show me an older large estates that did not have "maids quarters and a gardener's cottage"? Now they are turned into extra closet space and an off the books rental.
This is so true !
A barometer of the sanity or depravity of our local civic culture will be how this article is accepted. I suspect the Current readership will largely applaud. Imagine if it ran in the Independent or the Noozhawk 🙄
This should be submitted to both the Independent and Noozhawk. Interesting to see if either would run it.
I read this well-written and informative article titled
"Consequences" by Brian Campbell that mainly focuses the
serious problems of Illegal aliens, oh sorry "Undocumented Persons"
and I quote "A Discussion on Immigration and Public Dialogue"
and "Which brings me to a hot-button issue: illegal immigration.
People breaking immigration laws to enter this country." and
"No Consequences for Illegal Activity" and "Why do California
and our local government turn a blind eye?" and "Our local
government should focus on supporting law-abiding citizens,
not rewarding illegal behavior."
I have a new Title "SB So-Called-Leaders Conceal Major Immigration
Fraud Case (s) in Santa Barbara." NOTHING NEW HERE.
Have you all not heard "There are no Illegal Aliens in the US!!!"
Things are about to get very serious on "Illegal Immigration" in the
US as shown by Trump & Tom Honam weblink>>
https://x.com/atensnut/status/1884551590322786401
Let's all see what is going to happen in our Lil Ole Beach Town.
THE CLOCK IS TICKING ...... SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR SB?
Oh, Salud Carbajal you know all about the above don't you.
Want to reply to my post?
Howard Walther, Member of a Military Family
PS1 - Oh, Police Chief Kelly Gordon you also know about the
MAJOR Immigration Fraud Case (s) care to reply?
PS 2 - I think SB has a HUGE PROBLEM See Tom Homan Statement Below >>
Aiding and Abetting illegals is a federal criminal offense> 8 U.S. Code § 1324
https://x.com/RickIngersoll/status/1887491636432937057
https://x.com/MarioNawfal/status/1886627726699725048
Quote From Tom Homan "WE WILL HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE"
PS 3 - I am all for our hard-working Southern Neighbors getting expeditated
"Work Visas" but coming to America to Comit Crimes NO WAY!
PS 4 - BANG > AG Pam Bondi Just Announced that ALL FED FUNDING TO
SANCTUARY CITYS DENIED! > https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/1887209355248021759
BYE BYE ALL FED MONEY TO SANTA BARBARA!!!! SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES
Thank you Brian for specifically mentioning Edhat and Next Door. Both actively censor conservative voices. In the case of Edhat, it is disgusting how they have unleashed a radical, goon squad on our community, spewing leftist, hateful garbage and propaganda.
EdHat is the epitome of the snake pit. The same few posters who bully & name call with no education of the world. As if they were paid to be ignorant and to incite outrage and disinformation.
I’ve been canceled quite a few times on ND for posting links to government websites that contradicts the narrative. They say I spread misinformation, direct from the government.
Yes. I boycott.NextDoor, they are awful left wingers who actively censor out any questions or adverse comments.
Brian- Thank you for another thought-provoking essay on a local and national topic.
Hearing from you always reminds me that the citizens of Santa Barbara missed a great opportunity to elect you to represent them. I hope you consider another run.
Thank you, I appreciate your support. Common sense approaches listening to all sides.
Excellent article Brian and very much on point. It is interesting (but NOT surprising!!) how soon everyone forgets about the prior administrations and their rate and numbers of deportation. As a businessperson that signs the front of checks, I get the drain on finite public resources but also understand the tragic implications of deporting those immigrants that should and deserve to be here legally......but are not after often being here for years. Will this produce a giant wake up call to get legal? I hope so.
Phil- Elaborate on your position that aliens unlawfully residing here “should and deserve to be here legally”. Nobody “deserves” anything, and our country of citizens “should” not be pressured to turn a blind eye on those who break laws harming others. Why reward those who game the lawful system with the gift of legal status for cheating while millions of others who follow the rules are left at the back of the line?
Please be frontal lobe mindful of the many millions of ‘out of sight’ lawful applicants; those following the rules who cannot be forgotten just because you don’t know them. They’re nice, productive ‘deserving’ hard working people who RESPECT the rules and laws of the US.
You seem like a supporter and practitioner of the NEW American values of — do whatever it takes to win, reward cheaters, crime pays, excuse illegal behavior, ‘forgive and forget’, step on others and don’t look back. Oh, and of course, give every kid a trophy because feelings matter.
Thank you, Montecito. You speak for me.
Montecito, I apologize for not making my position and opinion clearer. The immigrants that I speak of are the ones that HAVE been here for sometimes decades,
and work multiple jobs to survive and I have sympathy for them but.......they also had and have the option to become legal. I know of many "out of sight" immigrants that DID do the work, put in the time and became legal. I just hope this acts as a wake up call to get legal. At 74 years old, am NOT as you suspect a supporter of any NEW values. I am as old school as one can get. I will try and do a better job of explaining myself in future posts.
Phil, Why did these alleged "deserving" illegal border crosses not apply for refugee status in the first neutral country they crossed as required by international law/custom?
Why did they wait only until the got to the US. Why are over 90% of their claims rejected, if they even show up for their hearings. You cannot let the exception become the rule. So why are you even giving this argument equal footing?
The people who deserve to come are those already on the waiting lists and met all the current requirements.
Undoubtedly, liberals have learned the term FAFO! Yes, the Dems are in full meltdown, bat shit crazy mode. It’s like taking the toy away from a toddler (or taking the ice cream away from Joe Biden). The mess we find ourselves these days can be put squarely on the altar of liberalism. Crushing debt, illegal migration causing our social services into bankruptcy, and raging forest fires just to name a few. Interesting how Dems have lost it collectively the closer Musk looks into USAID, which seems to be a slush fund for lefty causes, promoting climate hysteria and LBGQT orthodoxy in our schools, pay for play schemes, paying off media outlets, among other things.
As for our Congressman, Salud Carbajal, what else do we expect from someone who came here illegally, who has only ever received a paycheck from the US Treasury, and has made a career of virtue signaling to liberal white constituents? He makes a big deal out of medication prices, what is his plan for LA fire victims? Watching the reactions to Congressional members, Maxine Watters, Jasmine Crockett, Al Green, Ayanna Pressley and others, one can only conclude these people are deranged, mentally unstable and clearly racists! Embarrassing how these members of Congress can’t even put together a cogent sentence. The problem is they still have OUR checkbook and still represent us.
Follow the money and start the investigations!
How about that a reasoned paper on "Consequences" vs. Theory.
Sen. Scott Weiner states government public transit is broken throughout the State. Yet the 3 south county cities continue to destroy streets for planning that has proven not to work.
Illegals do cost when allowed to access health care, subsidized income (welfare).
This is an indictment of failed government from Caprinteria to Goleta with the excuse of the "philosophy" states! When you do not have freedom as is shown you have a failed nation.
Since 1900 to now the dictators have said "when the people get it" society will flourish. A concept built on the backs of the successful.
Mr Campbell well done.
Brian, this "libtard" (me) totally agrees with your position on illegal immigration. In fact, I also am in favor of the repeal of the 14th Amendment ("birthright citizenship") as well as a lowering of legal immigration down to, say, 200k/year.
The fact that you don't hear of we liberals who think this way has everything to do with the bifurcation of the media. Just as CNN and MSNBC might have us all believe that every conservative is "anti-choice," supports the Ten Commandments being posted in public schools, believes the 2020 election was stolen, supports Trump's current coup d'etat, and thinks anthropomorphic climate change is a "hoax," so too Fox and Newsmax and other MAGA outlets would have you believe that every liberal or Democrat supports pre-adult gender transitioning, atheism, communism, socialism and, to your point, illegal immigration.
We do not.
(Admittedly, I am agnostic, as I believe this is the only truly honest opinion one can have on the "God" matter and, ergo, if there is a "God" I would hope "God" would honor my honesty.)
And, yes, we liberals and our sources know that both Clinton and Obama deported many illegals (not sure how you came to the opinion we didn't) and that's why, IMHO, they were popular two-term Presidents, because that's how most Americans, even liberal Americans, feel.
Anyway, thanks for the well-reasoned article.
RJ: 14th Amendment does not guarantee "birthright citizenship", It is only current policy, but not yet a SCOTUS adjudicated right. It is only a qualified option ...."subject to the jurisdiction there of. .... SCOTUS still needs to interpret this express qualification, and to date has not yet done. Time to stop the current disinformation campaign about "birthright citizenship". Follow the money to those who continue to claimi this.
Some here would be surprised that I agree with much of your post. Both parties have refused to deal with the border problem for decades... choosing to play kick the can. Both parties failed to do their job and pass legislation in 2024.
Along comes a non-politician and he's willing to rip the border bandaid off does it. That may well be the only fix for a corupt, broken border policy and lack of judicial/staffing funding.
For this American, the demonization of refugees was unnecessary, did not represent the values that make us America and was unnecessary to achieve better border policies. Being cruel is what I associate with evil, not American.
Not quite sure what you are meaning about "demonization" of refugees. I think Trump made it pretty clear that his first order of deportation was the criminal element who have repeatedly been arrested for crimes and then let go. That's reality, as is the huge amount of people that have died by drugs illegally brought into this country., not to mention the child sex trafficking. Are we to pussyfoot around these situations so as not to hurt the feelings of the "nice" people that have come here illegally? It amazes me how the topic can get so twisted that the law breaking person is the good guy and the enforcer is the nasty, mean, evil, as you call it, party.
I was speaking only about border policy. The deportation side of things is far too complex for me to offer substantive comment.
The demonization I spoke to was the hundreds of times migrants were called rapists, murderers, drug dealers, pet eaters, and such.
As we all know, there were bad players, as there are with any population group. The VAST majority who BROKE THE LAW and entered ILLEGALLY were hard-working people, not evil murderers and drug dealers. Yes, they broke the law. There is no argument from me.
My comment was simply that we can make new policies without being cruel, creating fear, and speaking lies like migrants eating pets. That's just this American's take on what this American thinks our country and culture represent.
I hope that better explains my words.
I guess, Gene, it does make a difference what "news" outlets you watch as to how reliable the sources are that you are referencing. The fear that is being created about the border policies are from main stream media and the people that want to keep the status quo but I appreciate your explanation.
I couldn't agree more. One has to be very discerning with news sources. Remember when ABC tried to cover up Feinstein's insider trading or the lack of coverage of Biden near the end? And who can forget that FOX covered up their $865 million court loss to Dominion with only one mention in a 10:00 news segment? You are spot on about reliable sources.
The stats I mentioned were from the 41 Trump rallies I watched, live press conferences, hearings and most likely coverage from BBC & Reuters.
Gene, deportation is nothing more than a $280 one way plane ticket back home. Why are you saying this is "complex"? Complex is the $10,000 paid to a coyote to to intentionally cross our borders illegally.
You have an interesting sense of humor. I'd enjoy coffee with you one day.
Refugees from what? Refugees from poverty and the consequences of the socialist shitholes they were unfortunate enough to be born in. Most are not refugees in the legal sense that would qualify them for refugee status. So most are in fact not refugees but criminal trespassers. I have a disdain for criminals even if you falsely call them refugees.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Thank you Brian for a well-organized, rational essay.
With 84 follow-up posts already this morning, obviously the community has not allowed this important discussion to take place anywhere else.
Bravo, SBCurrent for being a forum where important issues can be debated.
E-verify was made law long ago. It’s in place to be used. Why was it never used?
A decade ago an employee of mine applied for a passport to accompany me to Europe. We were amazed to find out that his social security number had been used for many years by someone with a Mexican name who owed child support, a snafu that took weeks to resolve.