Congratulations America! You finally did it!

[DanS]

I think it is primarily an Irish success story, not an American failure.

It's 100% an Irish success story and 0% an American failure. This writer needs to emigrate with you, Arrian.

[Bosh]

Originally posted by Arrian
Ack, after reading that last post by Boshko, the Visa policy starts making some sense. Looks to me like Koreans have other Koreans to blame for the restrictions, Boshko.

-Arrian

Not really. Those pregnant Koreans come over to the US completely legally. What you have to do to get to America is to prove to US government that you WILL go back to Korea. Being pregnant and having a husband back in Korea generally foots the bill. Having a crappy English-teaching job that you just started a few months ago and me as your boyfriend doesn't.

[Arrian]

Wtf, Dan?

**** you and the high horse you ride on. I made a post the day after a very disappointing election that said I had half-seriously discussed the idea of leaving, and you can't shut up about it. I explained my reasoning, and I further explained that I'm not going anywhere yet, because I realize that things haven't gone that far. Furthermore, I've calmed down since the election, and my once-again-rational brain would rather fight than bail.

-Arrian

[Arrian]

Originally posted by Boshko

Not really. Those pregnant Koreans come over to the US completely legally. What you have to do to get to America is to prove to US government that you WILL go back to Korea. Being pregnant and having a husband back in Korea generally foots the bill. Having a crappy English-teaching job that you just started a few months ago and me as your boyfriend doesn't.

My point, Boshko, is if there is a rash of Koreans who come over here to give birth and thus get citizenship for their kids, the US government might react and attempt to curtail such activity. Perhaps our government figures well-off college grads are less likely to pull that ****?

-Arrian

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by Arrian
Wtf, Dan?

**** you and the high horse you ride on. I made a post the day after a very disappointing election that said I had half-seriously discussed the idea of leaving, and you can't shut up about it. I explained my reasoning, and I further explained that I'm not going anywhere yet, because I realize that things haven't gone that far. Furthermore, I've calmed down since the election, and my once-again-rational brain would rather fight than bail.

-Arrian

I'm not for certain but perhaps you should have checked the smilie

[our_man]

Cead Mile Failte to all our returning immigrants! I just hope that they can find work here. As the article points out, that isn't very easy in modern Ireland with cheap African/Asian immigration labour. I would far prefer to see Erin's sons and daughters return home and take jobs, especially because the money they sent back from abroad kept this country afloat during the lean years. Surely we can provide for them as they provided for us?

The business in America is very negative despite this. A lot of the Irish in New York probably consider America to be more of a home than the Aul' Sod ever was, and so it must be heart-wrenching to leave. The USA has a right to deal with illegal immigration, but with Bush in power they've gone off the deep end completely!

Do you have any idea how hard it is to get into the States now, even if you're a European? The amount of documentation, the interview process etc., yet despite all your lofty ambitions the Mexicans are still trickling through...

There should be some sort of compromise for the Irish that have been there for a long time as illegals - maybe an amnesty for some?

I've had my rant, so to finish on something positive; the Irish are still thankful as a nation that the USA under Reagan were so open to Irish immigration in the '80's. For most kids born after 1990 it's impossible for them to visualize what a kip Ireland was in the 80's, and it was only through immigrants in America and other countries that this country was kept afloat.

So:
Bush (again)
Reagan

The USA has to be able to distinguish between friend and foe when they're choosing who should be allowed into the country, but within reason. It would be a shame to give into paranoia and abandon the legendary 'land of opportunity' that used to be known so well here.

[Arrian]

What smilie? I see none.

If that's 'poly being wacky, I retract the F-U.

-Arrian

[Dauphin]

Isn't it amazing what the EU has done for Ireland.

[DanS]

I see a post-wide smilie, but I'm thinking about retracting the smilie and channeling a GP smackdown on you, Arrian.

[our_man]

Isn't it amazing what the EU has done for Ireland.

On top of immigrants sending money home, I don't like to think what might have happened in Ireland if it hadn't been for EEC subsidies.

Hey, we had a lot of problems back in the 70's - 80's. My parents had to give almost half their income back to the government in tax until they started reducing the tax rate in the 90's.

[Bosh]

Originally posted by Arrian


My point, Boshko, is if there is a rash of Koreans who come over here to give birth and thus get citizenship for their kids, the US government might react and attempt to curtail such activity. Perhaps our government figures well-off college grads are less likely to pull that ****?

-Arrian

Not really. If the US government wanted to stop people doing that sort of thing they'd just make it so merely being born in the US doesn't make you a citizen (ironically enough, Ireland did just that for exactly this reason). And keeping my girlfriend out of the country does absolutely-nothing to solve the problem, since the way that the application process goes the pregnant Koreans are generally a shoe-ins as long as their husbands have good job or a big bank account (generally as long as your parents or spouse have X amount of money in the bank you can get a visa no problem). As of now, the US government has taken absolutely no measures to curtail "that ****."

Also, it is almost exclusively the "well off college grads" who "pull that ****." And its more in order to allow their kids to dodge the Korean draft and take advantage of the very nice provisions of the Korean F-4 visa, which any ethnic Korean with a foreign citizenship can get.

And my girlfriend has a college degree in English education and it didn't help her at all .

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by our_man


The USA has to be able to distinguish between friend and foe when they're choosing who should be allowed into the country, but within reason. It would be a shame to give into paranoia and abandon the legendary 'land of opportunity' that used to be known so well here.

It's not a simple matter of saying "he is Irish, he isn't going to be a danger" or insert random nationality. Measures has to be taken across the board and besides before everyone was up in arms at the prospect that certain nationalities got worse treatment than others. Now it's "well they are allies so they should be allowed easier access"

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Boshko
Not really. If the US government wanted to stop people doing that sort of thing they'd just make it so merely being born in the US doesn't make you a citizen (ironically enough, Ireland did just that for exactly this reason).

That would require a constitutional amendment.

[Arrian]

Originally posted by DanS
I see a post-wide smilie, but I'm thinking about retracting the smilie and channeling a GP smackdown on you, Arrian.

Thinking about it? How dare you "think" about something! Weak, vaccilating fool! Make a CHOICE!



If you want to "lay the smack down" (over the internet ) you go right ahead. In the words of your Dear Leader, Dan, bring it on.

-Arrian

[Dinner]

We really need to sign an open visa program with the EU and Canada which would allow the citizens of any member country to work or live in other member countries.