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ALPERN AT LARGE - It shouldn’t be a surprise to most of us trying to respect both liberals and conservatives that Americans prefer moderation in their political views.
Most of us are a little liberal here, a little conservative there, but not too inclined to be beholden to either political party. Some are totally on one side or the other, but the rising number of political Independent voters reflects the push towards moderation.
In other words, one can be a classic liberal and have grave concerns (or even despise) today’s Democratic Party.
Ditto for being a classic conservative and have grave concerns (or even despise) today’s Republican Party.
How many of those reading this despise both parties?
How many of those reading this have a hard time figuring out the “correct” way to navigate the budgetary, economic, and cultural conundrums of our time?
How many of those reading this just want to be left alone, but want the powers that be to just fix the economy? (I suspect not many, because those reading CityWatch LA tend to be very focused on domestic and foreign issues.)
Hence we have a new Fox News Poll stating that 59% of Americans report ICE is too aggressive of late, including a strong up tick of polled Republicans who identify as MAGA and those who do not.
Does this mean that the nation is moving towards abolishing ICE?
Hardly—former President Joe Biden is still persona non grata, in large part for his immigration policies, and the lack of Democratic funds and sponsors towards a Biden Presidential Library reflects this. The nation does, it seems want, some form of immigration enforcement.
However, for those aware of the Kristi Noem/Tom Homan dispute towards ICE goals and policies, it should not be too surprising that Tom Homan fixed the Minnesota controversy of two dead protestors amidst a state and Minneapolis city government clearly unwilling to abide with federal law enforcement.
President Donald Trump returned to the White House in large part on a pro-immigration policy, but was supported by many who thought he would focus on hardcore criminals…
…but while the scope of deportation greatly cost Trump support among those who thought that those without criminal records would be left alone…
…support for mayors and governors who gave the White House the “nuts to you” approach to enforcement of federal law (even for criminal illegal aliens!) wasn’t and isn’t widespread, either.
Flirting with civil rights violations against protestors, flirting with outright insurrection against the federal government and law enforcement, and the discovery of tens of billions of fraudulent activity in blue states like Minnesota and California involving immigrants all make it hard for Independents to conclude who’s “right” or “wrong”.
And let’s be honest, it’s doubtful that blue states wouldn’t be breaking the law so flagrantly if those benefiting would be future Republicans.
But equally honest is the sentiment that employers (of whom no shortage are Republican) who hire slave/cheap/illegal labor are NOT innocent, and arguably have no leg to stand on compared to those who want to work for a better future (while enduring abuse from their law-breaking employers).
Enter the SAVE (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility) Act, just passed by the House and certain to run into a Democratic filibuster in the Senate.
Similar to the Real ID, this Act aims to ensure that only U.S. Citizens are registered to vote in federal elections. CNN, Gallup, and just about every other poll (if they are to be believed) concludes that Americans of all stripes and ethnicities want Voter ID.
In fact, many women and minority voters are offended by any suggestion that they cannot show ID when we all show ID every day—including to get into Democratic Party functions.
Of note is that the left/centrist website The Hill reports the District of Columbia and these states allow voting without any documentation under certain circumstances:
California, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.
These state are all pretty much blue or deep blue…and therefore Republicans often presume there’s something to hide, while Democrats often proclaim that easy access to voting makes democracy stronger.
And, of course, there’s “Voter ID” versus “proof of citizenship”.
I dare say that it’s easier to come up with the former than the latter, but the latter isn’t too much to ask for (in the eyes and minds of many, maybe most Americans of all backgrounds) to ensure clean, high-credibility elections that provide psychological closure to winners and losers alike.
So the majority of Americans, both partisan and non-partisan alike, want moderation in federal immigration enforcement AND ensured clean elections.
Republican leaders will have to make a more convincing sell and strategy to Americans about the best and most reasonable approach to immigration enforcement, while Democratic leaders will have to make a more convincing sell and strategy to Americans about Voter ID and clean elections.
Which, perhaps, shouldn’t come as a surprise to any of us who try to observe and appreciate both sides of these two critical issues.
(Kenneth S. Alpern, M.D, is a dermatologist who has served in clinics in Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties, and is a proud husband and father. He was active for 20 years on the Mar Vista Community Council (MVCC) as a Board Member focused on Planning and Transportation, and helped lead the grassroots efforts of the Expo Line as well as connecting LAX to MetroRail. His latest project is his fictional online book entitled The Unforgotten Tales of Middle-Earth, and can be reached at [email protected]. The views expressed in this article are solely those of Dr. Alpern.)
