Adios immigration bill?

Harry Reid could not get the votes to end debate and have a final vote on the immigration bill. It’s not officially dead, as there will be much maneuvering behind the scenes, but it is on its last legs. Already it was bleeding from a thousand cuts, as opponents had a long list of amendments to attach. Remember, too, that this is the Senate, which has been more open to compromise than the House, even after the change of party majority.

So we end up with nothing. As I’ve written before, I think many people have convinced themselves that we don’t need the workers who are now coming into the country illegally. The point system was intended to bring only “desired” workers, and low-skilled jobs would somehow magically get filled. And if we build more fence and add more Border Patrol, more sensors, unmanned drones, and cameras, then this whole problem will disappear of its own accord.

I don't have any good answers. There were things I didn’t like about the bill, but I wonder whether it is possible for any bill to have everything I like, or everything anyone likes. I’ll just end with a quote from Trent Lott:

“Are we men and women or mice?” Mr. Lott asked. “Are we going to slither away from this issue and hope for some epiphany to happen? No. Let’s legislate. Let’s vote.”