why not let any person who wants to be an american become one thats the right thing to do.?

Answer 1

Indians throughout the Americas learned the hard way what the results of not controlling immigration is......Today is no different

Answer 2

If it was simply to obtain the title of "American", There'd probably be no problem.

However, becoming an American means more than that. There are entitlements and financial benefits that, through the years, are associated with Americans. Children are vested with free education, healthcare, and protection. Adults get roads, hospitals, police, military, etc. These don't come free, they come from investment by the American people for the American people. Allowing citizenship to a new American is like giving these investments to a person who has not earned or paid for them. While we can (and should) do this on a limited basis, we obviously can't do it for the whole world.

Since current liberal society won't allow us to grant American citizenship without granting them immediate and full access to all of the entitlements, taxpayers have no choice but to oppose general citizenship.

If America was more like Mexico, who limits the rights and privledges, and therefore costs, of naturalized citizens, perhaps this could someday be reconsidered.

Answer 3

It's called life-boat ethics: we can't accommodate everyone who wants to come here, so we need to make hard decisions on who can come in and who cannot.

When the country was less crowded (before early 1800s), sure, why not -- there's plenty of room and jobs for everyone. Plus, Americans then (and now) really can't complain about it too much, since they came to what's now America uninvited and simply took away land from the native population here without due process.

Also, now, security is at the top of everyone's mind -- probably better to turn away too many people if that helps to ensure fewer subversives/terrorists sneak in.

And people around the world should have the right to live without fear and with opportunities in their own countries. That's probably the ultimate goal: to help uplift other countries so that no one will want to emigrate for political or economic reasons. If the US took in everyone who wanted to come it, we'd be letting those countries off the hook in improving conditions for their own citizens. We're not (or no longer) a big, open refugee camp.

But that said, we should make it easier/faster for good, productive people who have legitimate reasons to come to America to do so. We can probably still squeeze them in here...

Answer 4

While I admire your generousity, there are simply some people who should NOT be allowed to be Americans... or members of any nation, depending.

All societies have a form of social contract. Sometimes it's overt, through laws and the like, and sometimes it's more subtle, taking the form of things that most people of the society just agree with. And while I think most social contracts should allow for a certain amount of flexibility, you just can't have a contract with someone who has no intention of holding up his end of the bargain.

In the American society, it's expected that people will generally try to be productive citizens, generally obey the laws (I know of nobody who expects perfect adherence), and a few other pretty general ideas. You're even allowed to rock the boat a fair amount - which I think is pretty cool, myself.

There are some few people, however - and make no mistake... I'm referring to a really small minority here - who would be happy to be American citizens but would do their utmost from holding up their end of the bargain. Career criminals not even interested in reforming. Slackers who expect that the 'land of opportunity' will just wash money over them. Those who would take advantage of our generousity.

Not only do we not need these people, we don't want them and it serves our interests to eliminate them even from among those people to whom we have given citizenship. They are the enemies of society. Sometimes ANY society.

But other than that exception, I'm totally with you. Most of the people who want in just want to work, pay their taxes, and live their lives like the rest of us. It seems almost inhuman to refuse, in my opinion.

Peace.