If I could ask powerful world leaders a question and get an honest answer the question that interests me the most is "How do you see the future of your country? Who is a part of it? How are they a part of it?"

In the US Republicans are peddling a vision of a white, English-speaking, Christian America. A nation with very few or no non-citizen residents.

America is currently a largely white, overwhelmingly Christian nation with a significant population of non-citizen residents.

1/

11 million people out of 326 million people, who live in the US, aren't citizens and will never be citizens (unless we change something.)

They are here because US companies can pay them lower wages. A non-citizen is less likely to complain. Not because "Americans won't do those jobs."

I hate when people say that. These people are essentially Americans. How can we make *that* argument while also saying they are somehow mysteriously able to do exhausting, work for low wages?

2/

From most Democrats the "vision of the future" is murky, but amounts to "just leave things as they are" far too often.

I think we should be a diverse nation, as we have always been. A nation that both assimilates and is changed by the people who live here.

I don't think we should have a significant portion of the population who lives here indefinitely but will never really be a part of America.

It's OK to visit, but if you live here we need your help with running the government.

3/

The Republican project to eliminate undocumented Americans is either a fake out: that is, we will look around in 10 years and there will still be millions of undocumented people working in the shadows with no path to citizenship.

OR it's the same kind of eliminationism that leads to some of the worse crimes in history.

I want to hear someone say NO. There should be a path to citizenship. Requirements should be reasonable. Become a part of America if you want to stay.

4/

I think a lot of people would agree with "Become a part of America if you want to stay."

A friend of mine works in roofing. He's been doing the job for 20 years which is amazing because it's a very dangerous job. From time to time I've had to talk him down from supporting Republicans because he sees directly how his wages are lower, his job is less safe because most of the other people doing the same job are here illegally.

It's easy to blame immigrants for "not following the law"

5/

@futurebird IT'S THE FUCKING BOSSES FOR UNDERPAYING IMMIGRANTS, PROSECUTE THEM FOR ILLEGAL UNDERPAYMENT AND FRAUDULENT EMPLOYMENT.

@neckspike @futurebird I heard this yesterday on The Daily Beans podcast. Do you know why immigrants being deported do not have to be read Miranda rights when they are grabbed? Because it is a civil violation and not a criminal charge.

You know who is a criminal? Employers hiring people below minimum wage, and not paying their taxes. Those are the criminals. Arrest them "it is only common sense".

Oh wait. People who break the law avoiding regulations are mostly white Republicans.