The wife and I have been trying to refrain from posting on this board for the last 14 hours or so. We found we couldn't remain quiet. Or, more honestly, we didn't want to remain quiet. It occured to us that we've been here before -- literally and figuratively.

Illegal immigration issues are nothing new to us. We have been fighting issues related to illegals for the past 30+ years. We didn't use a computer back then, but we used the telephone and the copier and the mail and MANY face-to-face meetings. We gathered signatures on petitions, and we sent donations to candidates we thought would respresent our side. We were often labeled racists and bigots (back then we had never heard of the word "xenophobe"). Ultimately our efforts were rewarded when Proposition 187 was passed by Californians -- a proposition that placed restrictions on benefits to illegal aliens. There was another proposition that passed, wherein English was declared the "official" language of the State. Obviously we were ecstatic when these bills were approved by the people.

Then some organizations filed lawsuits and the courts got involved and the next thing we knew, the wishes of the majority of the people were declared unconstitutional. And what little bits of the propositions were allowed to stand were blatantly ignored by the largest cities in the state.

We saw our demographics change surprisingly quickly. Check them out for yourself at http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/060000.html

2000 US Census - California: 32.4% Hispanic/Latino Origin

Our culture shifted when our demographics changed. Only the Gay Day parades have more attendees than Cinco de Mayo Parades.

We are growing more pessimistic by the day. And we know that as each day passes without secured borders, more and more illegals will make their way inside our nation.

Now we ask you, particularly the Californians on this board, doesn't this national debate seem like deja vu?