Mark Serati for Missouri Governor   2008

Immigration is presently a major problem in this country.  Don’t believe for a second that the “conservative” republicans are against illegal immigration.  They’re trying to change the law to make an absurd amount of immigration legal.  Bush’s original “amnesty” plan allowed over another 15 million immigrants besides the “underestimated” 12 million that are already here.  The Democratic Party fears coming out against harsh immigration enforcement because large parts of their party base are naturalized immigrants wishing to bring family here.  The problem has existed for decades with no action or enforcement by either major party.   It lowers wages for the working class through an excess in available labor competing for the same jobs.  It drives the increasing cost of college tuitions as corporations require higher degrees for the same position, as more people go back to school to fulfill the mandatory education requirements to make a livable salary.  The additional population raises demand for housing, energy, food and water, and eventually the average price of all these commodities. The increase in population also increases our national “environmental footprint” compensated by an increase of foreign oil imports (See Overpopulation under “Problems/Causes”). 

Realize the “middle class” is created and sustained by an influx of national wealth or a demand for labor.  This is the only the second period of a middle class in America.  This one was created the 1940’s by Franklin Roosevelt’s “New Deal”.  The first one lasted sixty years; we’re right there and watching it leave.  It’s not that the middle class can’t be sustained.  All it takes is proper legislation and enforcement of those laws by all levels of law enforcement.  Very few of our laws for the regulation of large corporate industries are being enforced.  When it becomes obvious to the public our corporations are breaking the law, our politicians typically change the law so no one goes to jail. If you’re not insulted by their actions, you haven’t been paying attention.

Many cities and states are taking their own action to stop illegal immigration. When cities and have taken action against landlords and employers, the laws are appealed to federal court where they are overturned because immigration law is a “federal” issue; with our judges refusing to take into account the intentional criminal negligence of their federal colleagues refusing to protect the federal taxpayer. After all, that’s their boss.  It’s a game and another illusion by our government, one big band of happy thieves.  The US has laws and the technology in place to identify and deport over 99% of illegal immigrants and stop illegal immigration.  They just refuse to do so, and break the law by their inaction.   Along with non-enforcement of other laws, the rich of this country will intentionally destroy the few freedoms and luxuries we have left in the middle class. 

Understand that I have no problem with immigrants that have “legally” already come to United States.  I have worked with many foreign engineers and supervised groups and individuals of “legal” immigrants from Iraq, Vietnam, Cuba, Mexico, Russia, Laos, Bosnia and Albania.  They’re people, in all sizes and at all different education levels, just like natural born Americans.  Many have left family and assets behind to find a life here.  I have spent many a lunch hour for them resolving blatant “rip-offs” by hospitals, insurance companies, and automobile dealerships. 

If elected Governor, I will ensure existing federal immigration laws (through additional state legislation, if necessary) and Missouri will challenge the federal government for criminal negligence in non-enforcement of current immigration law. Criminal conduct charges will be filed.  Missouri will only allow direct “legal” immigration (green cards) to a quota acceptable to the good of our state; and not be subject to an unjust, imposed, detrimental federal quota with no regard for Missouri’s state Medicaid or unemployment liability.  Again, that’s not the “politically” correct thing to do, just the correct thing to do to protect our resources and future opportunities for our children.

In summary, these immigration laws were created for a reason – to protect our economy, jobs and resources.  Buildings have maximum capacities for the same reason - because too many people are dangerous. Immigration law enforcement has been ignored for decades for the betterment of corporations, and to the detriment of our standard of living and the National interests of the United States.  Again, it’s cheaper to resolve the problem early than to find the funds to fix a major problem later.  As Governor, I will enforce, and supplement (with state legislation, if necessary), existing immigration law.  Any federal changes to federal immigration law detrimental to the State of Missouri will be challenged. While US Senator Kit Bond claims to be against amnesty for illegal aliens, he did nothing for more than a decade while our Missouri cities filled up.  It’s time to resolve this with more than “lip-service” from our federal and state governments.

Mark Serati – Gubernatorial Candidate for Governor  2008