We have a big problem in this country...

So I take it your parents were/are here illegally?

Not that I expect you to answer that question truthfully.

That's your take away?

It's a reasonably safe assumption.

Firstly, I'd just like to preface this by saying I am one of the more progressive members of these boards but I think that many of the conservative members might agree with me that we have a big problem with birthright citizenship. The current system is being misused and abused like a cheap paper napkin. At first I wdas unaware of our current problem. I was somewhat sympathetic to undocumented foreigners, coming over here despite all odds looking for something better for themselves and their children. I've heard the stories how they do the jobs typical Americans won't do, and the other stories that have described how they have negatively affected the American economy. I guess I sort of fell in the category of the former, but for the first time I got a chance to witness why we have a serious immigration/citizenship problem.

I'll make my story short and sweet. I was attending my childrens orientation for preschool. It was pretty much mandatory as there was only a number number of slots. I was shocked to find the number of non-english speaking peoples at the parent meeting. It got so bad we had to actually get several bilingual speakers to translate. As we were filling out the paperwork I looked around and saw that over half of the parents there appeared to be from another country. I don't have a problem with that. The problem was that there were no way these people were citizens, and I seriously doubt many of them were here legally. None of them seemed to know a lick of English, but their kids did. I actually saw a lot of the kids translating to their parents. Maybe its just culture shock. I don't know. It occurred to me, "what if my children, born here, to legal US citizens, did not get slots, and the other kids did". I start having a lot of thoughts...a mix of anger and fear. Fortunately, there were plenty of slots and I am glad my children will have an opportunity to be around a diverse crowd but I still wonder.....is there a problem with our current system. Do we give citizenship too hastily? Many of these undocumented people seem satisfied with living their own lives and not really integrating with American society. I did a little digging on the web and found a couple articles on anchor babies. Presumably, this is a derogatory term but is it really far from the truth?

Perhaps I am wrong, maybe I'm stereotyping....I don't know. What do you guys think?

First, most preschools are private and thus have more leeway in regards which kids they accept. Maybe some preschools give preferences to kids who are bilingual...that would mean your kid would be at a disadvantage in gaining admittance. Surely you would not hold ill will towards those bi-lingual kids simply because they are fluent in two languages, and your kid is not.

Second, altering the 14th amendment does nothing to address any of the "problems" you listed (not speaking English, not integrating into American society, etc). Because even people that immigrate legally to the US are not required to speak English or "integrate" into American society. All it would do would lessen the number of anchor babies...the ones that were bilingual...in your personal experience. IMHO it's a good thing to have a multi-lingual populace.

It is privately owned but the Pre-K program is government funded. Diversity, multi-lingual populace, blah blah blah is great for the country...but I'm not so naive that I believe that many of the people I saw are here legally. Like I said I don't know the numbers, but even if 10% are illegal and getting government funded Pre-K for their children it's a disservice to those individuals who are naturally born citizens, or legal immigrants. Also, since its so taboo to talk about anchor babies why not blow up the borders and let everyone in so they have have their children in the US. Heck, we could put signs up at the US-Mexican Border "Pregnant? Have your child here, we'll take care of them!" I know we don't like to talk about these issues but it is a problem. It may not have been one 100 years ago but times change.

not taught you English as they should of

Hmmm...it seems like you felt threatened at the preschool orientation...and then decided to blame the 14th Amendment for the "problems" you witnessed. The thing is, altering the 14th Amendment, or removing it all together, does not address or solve any of the "problems" you witnessed.

Hell, even if illegal immigration was totally eradicated, it doesn't solve any of the "problems" you listed.

Again, no it isn't. Many people immigrate to this country legally w/o their kids speaking English. It's probably fewer today than say 20+ years ago (as English is becoming more and more common internationally) but it is no way a reasonably safe assumption.

I personally know a ton of immigrants (other than those mentioned) who legally came here at a young age with their parents and didn't speak much/any English.

Your on a roll!

(and that one *is* deliberate)

So illegal immigrants coming to the US and having babies just so that their children can be born American......there is nothing remotely wrong with that? If you don't think that it is a problem than perhaps we should get rid of borders all together, and give out citizenship like it is candy.

I disagree and I know a teacher who teaches a ton of illegal immigrant children. Those children who hinder the teacher and the American children who deserve to be there because both the immigrant parents and the child decided it's not their priority to learn the native language.

The OP disputes your findings because according to his personal experience, anchor babies are fluent in English (or in other words... the "native language").

"Illegal immigrants coming to the US and having babies just so that their children can be born American"...is NOT one of the problems you listed in your original post. The problems you listed were:

1. Parents not speaking English
2. People not integrating into American society.

Like I said before, removing the 14th Amendment does nothing to solve the problems you listed because even 100% legal immigrants are not required to speak English or integrate into American society.

Yet another person who overlooks the simple fact that a lot of little holes in a bucket can amount to more of a problem than one big one...

Striking that part of the 14th amendment wouldn't be hard WHATSOEVER (that is if the Dems weren't afraid they would piss off the brown vote). It would simply take someone to propose it, and others to vote Yes on it. Done.

Getting us out of the recession, creating millions of jobs, strengthening the dollar, shoring up our financial industries, those are the hard things. Voting yes on a proposal on the other hand isn't so stop being a silly Sally...

They were slaves from Africa.