Heh. They obviously haven’t met me, if they think Parker is that. Quite innocent and childish of them.

Kate Steinle unavailable for comment…

I am impressed with how restricted this EO is. That is how we stop the slippery slope.

They — including the Obama administration — were doing it on account of the Flores settlement entered into by the Obama administration.

So. If we have this belief in common that incentives have at least some effect, can we also agree that creating perverse incentives is something to be avoided? And then, can we agree that it can be very hard to avoid creating such perverse incentives, especially when the situation activates our human compassion (which both sides of the political aisle possess; no matter how left you are – a question I don’t know the answer to – surely you personally know at least one person as far to the right, and God willing, that person is not a monster – though of course those also exist on both sides)? In those cases, it’s tempting to act on the basis of that compassion and then step away, ignoring the effects of any perverse incentives thus created by a lack of, or inaccurate, analysis. But that approach is irresponsible.

If we’ve gotten this far with some degree of agreement, I most sincerely hope that, no matter what you feel compelled to say here, somewhere in your mind you can admit that this question of illegal immigration and how to handle it is a sticky wicket, particularly with regard to how to “process” families (taking for the moment the optimistic view that all these multi-age groupings are families with no intent but to escape bad conditions at home). Conditions are bad in many, many places around the world; global communications now give people in those places unprecedented amounts of information about how much better things are in the US, and global transportation (including long distance shipping, trucking, and even just paved roads) make the movement of people easier than ever before, such that even a family with several children might believe that the benefit to be gained outweighs the danger of life on the move. It’s patent that we can’t absorb ALL the tired, poor, huddled masses that there are. So we must have limits, some sort of screening, and processes for dealing with those who reach our borders.

We differ on what those structures should be. But if we also share a belief that the US is a place worth coming to (else why would so many want to?) shouldn’t Congressional Democrats be trying to solve the problem too, giving hard thought to avoiding perverse incentives, instead of just crying about how mean Congressional Republicans and the President are? This is why we on the right are so cynical about the tears being shed.

I think you are still reading responses and seeking sympathy. Just to thrust the blade in a few millimeters deeper and vigourously twist, I remain relentless. Neo, and others, can be a bit ‘soft’. So can I when warranted.

Perhaps it may be our paths will cross when it all comes down to dust, rest assured I will give you one sip of water. But one sip only.

How would the current you judge the you of yesterday? Would you talk to yourself the way you talk to others sharing their belief today?

I”m way ahead of you, AF, I’ve been doing that for years :^).