Like clockwork, the Republicans are complaining about immigration, again. They are complaining that the Democratic politicians don’t want to pass any restrictive legislation, again. What they are failing to do, again, is admit the Republicans don’t want to fix it either.

Of course the Democrats don’t want to “fix” immigration, for all the reasons the “conservatives” can quote from memory. That is not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the Republicans.

How can I say that? Easy. When was the last major immigration “reform” bill passed? The amnesty bill signed by President Ronald Reagan. Who, by the way, in spite of the extreme veneration by the right, would never get elected today by them if he was alive and running for office because he is “too liberal” and too willing to compromise with the “enemy”. Now, I have some questions for the reader.

How many years since 1992 have the Republicans controlled both houses of Congress in the last 30 years? Approximately 21 years. Or, about 66 percent of the time.

How many years have the Republicans controlled both houses of Congress and the presidency? Approximately 9 years.

Over the last 30 years, how many immigration bills did the Republicans send to any president to sign? None. Even during the 33 percent of the time they held all three positions. From 2016 to 2018 President Trump begged and harangued the Republicans to send him an immigration bill. How may did he get? Nada.

Why is this? Because the Republican party doesn’t listen to their voters. Just like the Democrats. They both listen to who sends them money. The people who give the Republicans money want the following: the cheapest, least complaining, least unionizable, easiest to cow, control, hire, fire and abuse workforce they can get. Who would that be? Immigrants. Legal or illegal. U.S. citizens are too much trouble and too expensive.

The only time the Republicans listen to their voters is on election years, when they once again trot out the old worn talking points. Telling their base that: “If you only elect us one more time. We will finally be able to outsmart those wily, sneaky, obstructionist liberals and finally close the door to illegal immigration.” As always, after they are sworn in, they forget their solemn promise to the voters and start listening to the money again.

I am not shocked by this. Nor am I shocked at how the Republican base completely falls for it time after time. Not only always blaming the “wrong party” for lack of action. But continually re-electing the ones they should be blaming for nothing getting done. In spite of what lies they are told.

Lucy, Charlie Brown and the football can’t hold a candle to this situation.

R. L. Mitchell

Enumclaw