Lawmaker urges condoms for border control
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A congressman is pushing a not-so-quick fix in the debate over illegal immigrants from Mexico: free contraceptives…. “A slower rate of growth of Mexico’s population would improve the economy of Mexico. It would also reduce the environmental pressure on Mexico’s ecosystem. But a slower rate of growth would also reduce the long-term illegal immigration pressure on America’s borders,” reasoned Rep. Mark Kirk, who also supports stronger border security in the short-term. In reality, fertility rates have plunged in Mexico since 1980, when an average couple would have five or more children. Now, the country’s fertility rate has dropped to 2.5 children, compared to 2.1 for the United States, according to United Nations data.
Just when I’d begun to lose hope that ANY Republican in Congress might have something resembling a grip on reality, along comes our latest DUMB@$$, who essentially proves my worst fears. Of all the lame, ill-informed, half-assed, demagogic, and just plain STUPID ideas to come from the right side of the aisle in the immigration debate, Kirk’s skips the mandatory waiting period and goes right to the top of the list.
It’s become pretty clear by this point that the debate about immigration really has nothing to do with immigration per se- legal or otherwise. It’s really about demonizing and marginalizing Brown People, and Right-wing demagogues proving to constituents that they’re tough on terrorism…as if Mexican terrorism has been such a pronounced through to our national security. (Yeah, I know; Timothy Ramirez Garcia y Vega McVeigh being the notable exception, eh?)
Kirk, an Illinois Republican, made the argument on Thursday during a heated debate in the House of Representatives over whether the U.S. government should be allowed to donate condoms and other contraceptives to family planning agencies abroad that also engage in abortion.
The proposal was narrowly approved by the House, over the protests of anti-abortion lawmakers who prefer sex abstinence education. The measure faces a veto threat from the White House.
Kirk, who attended college in Mexico and holds a master’s degree from the London School of Economics, may have offered an idea that might appeal to some fiscal conservatives.
Shipping condoms to the poor in Mexico could be cheaper than the multibillion-dollar fence being constructed along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Amazing, isn’t it, how many DUMB@$$E$ have a higher-than-average amount of education? This only goes to prove, I suppose, that you can lead a Republican to a dumb idea, but no amount of edumication will stop him (or her) from jumping in with both feet. I mean…while we’re at it, why don’t we just spike the drinking water in Mexican villages with saltpeter and Xanax? It sure would be cheaper than building a 20-foot fence along the border, no?
Someday, it would be nice to be able to discuss an issue of importance to the future of this country without Republicans pandering to the lowest common denominator. Note that I’m not holding my breath on that one.
