I am a looong time listener of Rush Limbaugh and a looong time reader of Human Events. But what annoys me is that rather than being the vanguard or voice of the conservative movement, they sometimes tend to be shills for the GOP. That is the case, too, with the Heritage Foundation.

I like the Heritage Foundation. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy their material, which I have often put to use in defending or explaining the conservative view of a given issue. However, I must say that their defense (http://www.qubetv.tv/videos/detail/1847) -- by way of Matthew Spalding, director of Heritage's B. Kenneth Simon Center for American Studies -- of Bush's immigration reform misses the mark on certain points.

Spalding really put a nice spin on the reforms, and it would take far too much time and space to refute what is said, so I would like to say a little on what was not said.

It is so ludicrous to have a bill that says will enforce the other bills, a law that says we must enforce the law. I might as well tell my employees, "Oh, I see the problem now. All you who were violating company laws, it was actually my fault. I am making a new company law that states you must follow all company laws. I realize when you received the company handbook that you may have thought that was optional. Hopefully this new law clears up the matter."

Also, any "amnesty" -- or whatever you want to call it now -- is not merely thumbing your nose at those who legally came into this country, learned the language, and made something of themselves without federal interference. But it is also taking money from their pockets -- in effect, punishing them for doing things legally and do something for themselves and their new country. For what you are saying is, "Oh, you who came into this country by the front door, obeyed our laws and worked so hard to make a living and a life for you and your family, we're going to take your money and pay for those who came into this country illegally, refuse to become apart of society and don't obey the laws. Furthermore, since you have so much money that you can pay for your own car and even your own education, we're going to take it and give it to those who have no driver's license and will not get an English-speaking education, if any education at all."

Indeed, remember: the federal government has no money. No, people have money. So when the government says, "We will help pay for a house and an education and transportation for all illegals." What they mean is: "You all, hardworking American citizens -- including legal immigrants -- will pay for all of that. You worked for it, but they get it."

Rather than admiring those who came here with, almost literally in many cases, only the clothes on their backs, started at the bottom of the ladder and worked their way up the ladder -- and in many cases, going so far as to get their own ladder (at the risk of extending the metaphor too far) -- we instead rob them to pay for those who will not do this.

Another point which seems to be pushed under the carpet is that all that money pouring into the coffers of illegals does not stay here: it goes back to where the illegals came from! Yes, in study after study, it has been shown that the money that illegals receive from handouts or work is sent out of the country. Estimates run from 50% to as much as 80% (depending on the study -- which is hard to do, anyway, since we are talking about "undocumented" people). So all that money that overflows those coffers flows right out of the country from which it came. Thus we are essentially financing the economy of not just this country, but others as well -- and going bankrupt in the process.

Now, before people rush to push the "incompassionate" button, or to release the "melting pot" kracken, please note -- and please note this well -- that I am not against immigration. It is indeed how this country was made. I am against illegal immigration. I am against taking money from those who earn it to give to those who refuse to earn it.

And I am against amnesty. I am against telling legal immigrants that they will be punished for being legal immigrants, and telling illegal immigrants they will be rewarded for being illegal immigrants.

I am all for giving people incentives and assitance -- but only when they need, will use it, and keep it benefiting the country that gave them all of that.

Well, as with so many issues, that is just the tip of the iceberg. But let's at least start to address what is so seldom addressed in the major media outlets and by so many "think" tanks.