COMMENTARY
GAINESVILLE TIMES (Editorial): Closing our minds to facts won't fix immigration mess
Our views - OPINION
Originally published Sunday, August 20, 2006
When it was announced that two Congressional hearings on the subject of immigration would be held in North Georgia, we heard from many people who thought the hearings would be little more than opportunities for politicians to pander to their political bases.
They might have been right.
With his comments, U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood made it clear he wasn't interested in gathering information.
"What I wanted was witnesses who agree with me, not disagree with me," the congressman said.
He also threatened to call the boss of an immigration specialist with the Congressional Research Service for no other reason than he didn't agree with what she had to say.
Stunning.
It's little wonder people don't trust politicians when they see their elected officials close their ears to facts.
Why should we vote for someone who refuses to listen? Why have a hearing if you've already made up your mind on the issue?
People want answers from their leaders, not just someone who repeats what others have told them. That's not leadership, it's pandering.
And what about poor Alison Siskin, the immigration specialist who Norwood threatened? Siskin said studies had been unclear about whether illegal immigrants had much impact on government health care.
"The studies are all over the place," she said. "There are not studies that have shown rampant abuse."
Norwood said he was "disappointed" in Siskin and said he would call her boss to complain.
So now we are to assume that Norwood wants government officials to forego research, data and facts and simply go to Capitol Hill to tell politicians what they want to hear. What does this tell us about how our government works?
Norwood clearly believes the anecdotal evidence about immigrants being a drain on social services, though, as Siskin points out, there isn't a lot of hard evidence to support that. No doubt, health care for the uninsured is a problem, but there is little data that shows illegal immigrants are a disproportionate part of that.
Of course, if there was data to the contrary, Norwood would probably throw it out.
The congressman is clearly playing to his base. "I know what they are saying in my district. ... They want this border shut down and they want it secured."
On that point, we agree. We do need to close the borders, not just to stem the tide of illegal immigration, but also to help protect us from terrorists who might see the unsecured borders as an easy way to enter the country and attack us.
But we think that's a different debate from deciding what to do with the millions of immigrants who are already here. Illegal immigration is a real problem that needs real solutions, but those solutions should be based on facts, not guesswork and predetermined notions.
The Norwoods of the world are merely playing to the emotions of their voting base instead of trying to act like statesmen and solving problems with their heads.
We deserve better.
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