Americans: more cops will not solve problem
Download the polling data here (PDF)
A new national poll conducted for the Vernon K. Krieble Foundation makes clear that a vast majority of Americans do not think the border can be controlled without a new temporary worker program.
The survey of 800 likely voters, a large sampling for a national poll, was conducted Nov. 8 and 10-12 by Public Opinion Strategies (POS). The poll has a margin of error +3.5 percent. Voters overwhelmingly agreed with the statement: "It is not possible to have absolute border control without a better system for handling temporary workers." A total of 76 percent agree with the statement, while only 17 percent disagree.
Similarly, when asked which would do more to strengthen our border, 53 percent said "creating a more efficient system for handling temporary workers" while only 36 percent said "increasing the presence of law enforcement officials."
"The bottom line," said Foundation President Helen E. Krieble, "is that people who call for border-only approaches to this national crisis represent a very small minority. Most people know that real border security requires a work program to efficiently handle our economy's labor requirements."
Emphasizing that the problem affects millions of small businesses across America, Krieble said, "Until our leaders get serious about creating a legal way to match workers with jobs, this national security issue will not go away." Krieble has proposed a plan that separates citizenship and permanent residency (which are the legitimate business of the federal government) from non-immigrant work visas. Under the plan, private employment agencies match workers and jobs, run background checks, issue smart card, and track workers through the process, ensuring compliance with the law and making border security easier by eliminating 90% of the problem.
"The American public understands this issue, and people are tired of politicians on both sides using it as a political 'wedge' issue, instead of solving the problem - which is not that difficult," Krieble added. "It's time for our leaders to get to work on one of the biggest problems of our time."
Details of the poll and of the Krieble plan are on the Foundation web site at www.krieble.org.
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Posted on
Sun, November 11, 2007
by Krieble.org