| Republican County Commissioner Jim Runestad has proposing that Oakland County use an immigration screening system in its employment screening. That doesn't sound too offensive, given that the current state of American law is to prohibit employment of illegal aliens, although it represents a split between Runestad and bi-partisan mix of Republicans and Democrats, and L. Brooks Patterson, who opposes the program. I'm not sure who's right, but I know that both are motivated by honest policy considerations. Patterson's concerns are whether it works though, not whether verification itself is a good idea. So when the Detroit News chimes in that Runestad's proposal is "mean-spirited", I'm left at a loss. And I'm left to question the editors - what evidence do you have that Mr. Runestad's motives are not honest or reasonable? Did you interview him? Newspapers whine all the time about the over-partisan nature of politics, Lansing, and Washington. Maybe the newspapers have just a little bit to do with it too? We can agree and disagree on policy without questioning someone's "spirit" - and while I think there is a time and place for questioning ethics (like when stories of bona-fide fraud of government money occurs, or other similar stupidity), we must be careful not to make policy disagreement personal or criminal. |
