Immigration Reform Issues

The political theorists David R. Mayhew, Gary W. Cox, and Matthew D. McCubbins argue on how the US Congress functions. They focus on the members of Congress and their actions. The basis of disagreement between the theorists lies in what Congress members find of importance. Mayhew argues that members of Congress, primarily concern themselves with reelection, as such, any action taken only benefits that. Cox and McCubbins’, however, formulate that Congress functions on the basis of majority party control and unity. These arguments present different perspectives, however, they do have agreements amongst them. Overall, Mayhew presents an argument that is believable and shows the truth of members of the US Congress.

Congressional Gridlock is a recurring issue in America’s political system, and it is crippling the efficacy of the governments ability to lead the country to overall prosperity. Gridlock, in terms of politics, refers to the inability for the political system to adequately satisfy the needs of the citizens in that country. In reference to Congress, a gridlock is when the people cannot be satisfied due to disagreements in legislation that hinder the process of making laws. One recent consequence of congressional gridlock is the congressional stand still concerning gun violence in our nation and the oppositions on what affect, if any, it has on gun laws. Another example of a congressional gridlock is the lengthy wait for

    At the end of the day, we want to put the end to illegal immigration. However, we won’t be able to until we carefully consider the reasons and make sure our legislation solve the problems to do so. As far as I can tell, this is our best bet to a safe, secure

Beadle, Amanda Peterson. "Top 10 Reasons Why The U.S. Needs Comprehensive Immigration Reform." ThinkProgress. © 2016 - Center for American Progress, 10 Dec. 2012. Web. 7 Nov. 2016.

After completing the mock Congress simulation, I obtained a greater understanding in how a bill becomes a law in addition to the factors that may prevent its passage. The diversity of roles that students were assigned as representatives offered a glimpse into how complex the legislative process really is. Bills are passed with the near universal intent of positively impacting the American people. However, this impact may not be universally distributed across demographics and in some cases it can hurt the constituents that one represents. With so many agendas, public and private, clashing and coinciding with each other in Congress, even the smallest of bills require a massive collective effort to become law.

Through reading the Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge and pondering over its contents, I have come to love the ideals this president once foreign to me. I am able to identify with many family, educational, political, and life values exhibited in the book, and take great pride in the comparison of qualities with this historical figure.

Why consider opposing viewpoints? "The only way in which a human being can make some approach to knowing the whole of a subject, is by hearing what can be said about it by persons of every variety of opinion, and studying all modes in which it can be looked at by every character of mind." - John Stuart Mill, British philosopher. The book Immigration Opposing Viewpoints discusses the Historical Debate: should immigration be restricted? Is immigration a problem for the U.S.? How can illegal immigration be controlled? Lastly, how should U.S. immigration policy be reformed? This purpose of the this book is to not change your opinion about immigration but rather inform of others opinions. “ Those who do not know their opponent’s arguments do not completely understand their own” (David L Bender, Publisher) So think of others perspectives, is it a problem for the U.S., can immigration be controlled?, immigration restriction, and how should U.S. immigration policy be reformed?

“We always hear about the rights of democracy, but the major responsibility of it is participation.” (Marsalis). Politics influences almost everything we do in our lives and how we do it. Therefore, political participation in the American government, a democracy, is the best way to be the change you want to see in your community and in your country. One small yet important and effective way to do this is by contacting your government and voicing your opinions, and when I wanted to raise the issue of immigration reform for the DACA recipients, I researched the issue, wrote a letter, and sent it.

Immigration, as of the late, has been a fiery topic of discussion in our country. Not just fiery but controversial as well. This issue is one of the most discussed through the recent presidential debates. And it should be. Immigration has been an ongoing obstacle that has yet to find a solution or has yet taken a path to success. With that being said, the United States government should address this issue head on instead of avoiding a major situation that is affecting our everyday lives and economy, starting with an immigration reform. The article, “Immigration Policy” tackles the major issues by using the rhetorical devices of logos, ethos and pathos.

Immigration has always been a major part of American history. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people travel to the United States in search of a better life. Of the 1.49 million immigrants who traveled to the United States in 2016, 150,400 immigrants were from Mexico. There have also been many people from Mexico who have immigrated illegally to America, with 5.6 million Mexican unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S. in 2015 and 2016. The large scale of immigration, both legal and illegal, has brought up issues such as national security and the U.S. economy. The U.S. Senate is struggling to find a viable solution; they can’t seem to come up with a plan on how to deal with immigration that appeases both sides of the political spectrum.

Over the last decade congressional polarization has increased at alarming rates causing Washington insiders and outsiders alike to worry about the future of American politics and democracy. While Democrats and Republicans on The Hill cannot agree on much, they both acknowledge that the increasing level of polarization in Washington is crippling the entire legislative branch, thereby undermining the greatest democracy in the world. Numerous public opinion polls, over the last few years, have shown that the vast majority of the American public, regardless of party affiliation, disapproves of, and feels unrepresented by, the extremely polarized legislature (Gallup, 2016). However, year after year, despite how many Americans become disgruntled

The American Dream has been questioned on its legitimacy in whether it is fact or fiction. Writers have pondered this idea in many forms in their writing, poems, songs, and essays. The American Dream seems to be a complex phenomenon that cannot be explained yet so many long to achieve it. It proves to be true to some, but breaks promises in others. It has the power to give hope or take it away. The American Dream is in fact true many would argue, but for the hopeless, it was only a Dream, a Dream that no longer exists today.

Polarization in politics refers to a sharp division of political attitudes as a party, into opposing parties. Partisan polarization over the past thirty years has negatively affected Congress’s ability to govern. Because of this polarization of the parties, Congress is now divided and practically dysfunctional. Similar voting between the Republicans and the Democrats was common through the 1980’s, but in the 1990’s the parties became ideologically distant with a decline of a center ground and began pulling away from each other. The main causes of this polarization are that Republicans have become more consistently conservative while Democrats have become more consistently liberal. This change happened as the partisan makeup of the House

The polarization of the political system in America infects the decision making and voting of politicians and Americans. Logical political decision making of political officials and Americans have been clouded by ideological viewpoints which does not logically increase the United States well being (Wilson pg 7). The political powers lack the efficient clarity in order to expand the growth of society fundamentally. Each political party has its own regime and viewpoint of what is to be of the country we all dwell in. This fog in the vision of these parties withstands a fine judgement in the development of the United States as a whole. This strains the movement of the United States and misrepresents the problems that should be extinguished as