Before I give you this latest turn of events reported by the Huffington Post’s Elise Foley*** let me say that we have advocated that if US citizens want to welcome impoverished third worlders that the refugees should be privately sponsored by churches, synagogues or other civic organizations or wealthy individuals—and I mean completely sponsored for a year or two until they found employment and were not a “public charge” (completely self-sufficient with no food stamps, no subsidized housing, no free medical care, no cash assistance).
The whole concept of immigrants being welcomed into America at one time in our history centered around those who would not be dependent on the US taxpayer for anything—now refugees are dependent on us for virtually every aspect of their lives.
If individual sponsorship was required, the number we admitted to the US would then be determined by the willingness of Americans to shell out their own personal money for their charitable desires.
In other words, the availability of private charity would naturally limit the number of refugees admitted (it goes without saying that security screening would still be of paramount concern).
Private sponsorship on top of the existing Refugee Admissions Program!
This proposal drafted by a Libertarian think tank (!) and supported by a whole host of mostly Muslim organizations is not that—it is NOT complete private sponsorship.
They see this plan to be in addition to the billion dollar federal program that now funds nine contractors which monopolize all refugee resettlement in America.
It is about getting even more Syrian Muslims into the US!
It does not recommend throwing out the system now that revolves around the money-grubbing contractors and thus it must be opposed.
Here is the story at the Huffington Post (be sure to read through and see the excuses a representative from Church World Service gives—clearly not wanting any program that might interfere with the stream of your money to their coffers).
When did these LIBERTARIANS start working with the likes of Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Islamic Society of North America?
WASHINGTON — Some opponents to taking in more Syrian refugees argue it’s simply too expensive. Refugees need significant help with housing, food, transportation, education and more when they get here, and they contend that the United States can’t afford to help more people.
But what if outside groups — community or religious organizations, cities, companies or even individuals — foot the costs instead?
A coalition led by the Syrian American Council plans to send a letter to President Barack Obama on Wednesday asking him to consider creating a program for private sponsorship of Syrian refugees, the involved groups told The Huffington Post.
[….]
The fact that these calls are coming from Americans could make it more politically viable, said David Bier, director of immigration policy for Niskanen Center, the nonprofit libertarian think tank that helped draft the letter.
“It seems like an idea that’s politically a no-brainer — it’s a lot easier to sell to the American people refugee resettlement if they know, hey, my neighbor is the one who wants these people who were brought over and it’s not just something Washington cooked up,” he said.
Who the hell cares what your neighbor wants, is the neighbor paying all the bills and taking full responsibility (including LEGAL responsibility if the refugee breaks the law)?
Then this…. Ahhhhhhh!
Along with the Syrian American Council, the letter was signed by Syrian American Medical Society, Syria Relief and Development, Arab American Institute, Turkish Heritage Organization, Muslim Public Affairs Council, Islamic Society of North America, Karam Foundation and Watan USA.
Read it all.
***You know what is very funny? I wrote about Elise Foley here in 2013 she was blasting Libertarian Senator Rand Paul who was brave back then (before he was running for President) and she reported this (in snide tones):
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said on Wednesday that the U.S. should be skeptical of accepting refugees, from Iraq in particular, because they take welfare and could plan attacks on American soil.
Endnote: If you missed yesterday’s post about Rep. Raul Labrador and Rep. Paul Ryan, go here. Libertarians want more immigration!