Battle over E-Verify is prelude to immigration reform

By Logan Jenkins

6 a.m., July 3, 2011

What’s the fundamental difference between a liberal and a conservative?

No, it’s not a setup for a snarky joke.

Here’s one serious answer I heard recently:

A government welfare program does a lot of good for poor families. No one disputes its beneficial effects. It’s been proven, however, that about 20 percent of the recipients are ripping off the system, receiving checks they don’t deserve.

The liberal says, “It’s too bad there’s so much fraud — we should work on reducing it — but the program should stay alive because 80 percent of the taxpayer dollars are making life worthwhile for disadvantaged parents and children. Let’s not let the perfect get in the way of the good.â€