The Boy Scouts have it right: Be Prepared!
How come they're so smart and so many of our 'leaders' are so dumb?
The powers that be in Louisiana and New Orleans, the governor and the mayor and everyone in between, left their citizens at the relentless mercy of Hurricane Katrina.
They weren't prepared, but truth be known, neither were most of the residents of that city and environs.
As the blame-meisters spread guilt-trips across the soggy landscape, the accusations (justified or not) of lack of preparedness stretch all the way to Washington, including everyone from bureaucrats to elected officials right up to the president.
If you believe the hail of criticism, you'd think it was the sole responsibility of George Bush that Katrina caused any damage at all. If you believe the critics, had the president and his appointees been prepared, no one would have been harmed.
Right.
Well, there's another kind of flood inundating this country, and this storm involves denial. In fact, most of the elected officials in too many states and in Washington deny that anything untoward is happening.
If they continue this travesty, the face of this country will change and the United States of America, as we know it, will be lost forever.
Hurricanes aside, we're in the midst of an inundation that is both insidious and deadly. We're being engulfed by a rising tide of millions of illegal aliens from across the world who cross our northern and southern borders with virtual impunity.
It happens with the full knowledge of border-state officials and officials in the states where they finally take up residence and avail themselves of the generous benefits of our social welfare system.
They also do it with the full knowledge of elected representatives in Washington, including President Bush.
All these people, most of whom have taken an oath of office that involves their swearing to uphold the Constitution (and law) of the United States, know these illegal activities take place and cast a blind eye on them.
Illegal aliens break federal law when they cross the border. By definition, they're criminals. According to existing law, they should be taken into custody and deported. Immediately.
That's what should happen, but it doesn't.
We choose to wink at our immigration laws. We have a Border Patrol, charged with keeping illegals out and deporting those who get in.
But the definition of the agency's job has been changed. The focus isn't on keeping illegals out, but dealing with them after they get in – that is, if we can find them, if we have enough beds for them, if they keep their promise to return for a court hearing after we release them on their own recognizance.
Keep in mind: The border is undermanned under normal circumstances. Presidential promises of 2,000-plus new agents weren't kept and budgets were shaved.
They must also believe in the tooth fairy.
Those people may be illegal, but they're not stupid. They know our borders are porous and they know there are bleeding-heart Americans, under the guise of religion and charity, who will protect them.
They also know our social welfare system will give them housing, furnishings, clothes, medical care, education, legal aid and even the benefits of Social Security. Even when they break other laws and are sentenced to prison, Americans foot the bill. More than 25 percent of federal prisoners are illegals.
"What fools these mortals be."
President Bush is on good terms with Mexican President Fox and is ready to come up with a plan that, no matter how he tweaks it, will result in amnesty for millions of illegals.
An interesting system of rewarding lawbreakers.
There are illegals in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama left homeless by Hurricane Katrina. You'd think this would be a good time to provide emergency assistance and then ship them home.
But no. Mexico asked that illegals get help but not risk legal sanctions. The United States agreed.
Another reward for lawbreakers.
Remember the Border Patrol? After Katrina hit, up to 200 were reassigned from Arizona and New Mexico to Louisiana and environs to help with law enforcement.
But not, we presume, to enforce immigration laws.
So, who's watching the store, er, the borders?
I'll tell you who. It's a group of American citizen volunteers organized to patrol. They're the Minutemen, and for their efforts and dedication to the security of our borders our president labeled them "vigilantes."
Thank you, George.
On cue, Hispanic activists labeled the Minutemen racist terrorists and "hate-filled, white supremacists." The media portray them as wild-eyed rednecks with guns, taking the law into their own hands.
They must hate that California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says they're no different than a neighborhood watch!
The Minutemen patrol the Arizona border, in shifts, 24 hours a day. When they see or find illegals, they contact the Border Patrol, which takes over. In a recent deployment, in four days there were 50 apprehensions. There are no confrontations; no weapons are used. When the Minutemen patrol, illegal crossings decrease.
Which is exactly the point.
Chris Simcox, president of Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, told me that because of the shifting of Border Patrol members to storm relief, the Minutemen will renew patrols early rather than their targeted date of Oct. 31.
The organization is spreading. There are chapters in 20 states and interest in the rest, especially along the Canadian border. Since virtually every state is inundated with illegals and the dollar cost is soaring, the idea of prevention is not only appealing, it's smart.
The Minutemen are smart and they are prepared and doing the job that's being neglected by people who should know better.