In March 2006, the French Constitutional Council passed a law that would allow companies to fire employees under the age of 26 during the first two years of their employment. It was a small but necessary step towards competition, the lack of which is causing the entire European economy to slowly collapse like a hot air balloon. Companies that are prevented from firing unproductive workers, replacing or retraining employees with obsolete skills, or shifting production to respond to market forces are unable to survive in a global economy. 

The jobs contract was passed to bring competition to the job market, in the hope of reducing France's rampant unemployment and reviving their economy. However, embracing competition is the worst kind of faux pas among socialists, aside from reducing government control over the economy. Before the contract could even be signed into law, the French broke into massive demonstrations across the country, further damaging the already stalling economy. Hundreds of thousands of young French men and women marched in protest and, in some places, rioted and attacked police. They all demanded one thing: repeal of the new law.

In the face of an angry mob, the French government -- perhaps predictably -- surrendered. Not only did they abandon the law, they proposed new entitlements to appease the mob. And it looks as though our government is about to follow a similar path with regard to illegal immigration reform.

The US House of Representatives passed a bill to deal with border security, making illegal presence in America a felony and requiring states to ensure that only citizens are given driver's licenses. House Democrats refused to allow the Republicans to lessen the crime to misdemeanor, hoping that the bill wouldn't pass if the language was too tough. The bill made no mention of amnesty, guest worker programs, or citizenship for those already living here in violation of the law. It makes sense that border control must be implemented before we can have a rational discussion about how to deal with those already here. When your basement is flooding, you have to shut off the water before you can fix the leak.

In response to the House bill, Senators John McCain (R?-AZ) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) introduced a bill that would give border security what used to be called "a lick and a promise." While doing nothing to halt illegal immigration, the McCain-Kennedy bill would grant amnesty and eventual citizenship to most of the estimated 11 million illegals that are already here. The bill specifies that only illegal immigrants who have been here more than five years will be able to apply for citizenship right away... but since they crossed the border in secret, who can say when they arrived? Don't be surprised when every illegal immigrant claims to be a "long-timer." How difficult is it to forge an old pay stub or utilities bill?

All the Senate Democrats and many Republicans went along with the McCain-Kennedy bill, to the shock of many Conservatives. We're used to watching the Democrats sell out American laws and values for votes, but not usually so many Republicans. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) introduced his own immigration reform bill, but it's only marginally better than McCain-Kennedy.

Hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants and their supporters began marching in our streets, protesting the House bill, and demanding the passage of the Senate version. They waved Mexican flags and signs telling Americans to leave "their" continent, until they were warned by protest organisers (Worker's World Party and ANSWER) to tone it down. Who are they to tell Americans what laws to pass? Since when do people who have broken our laws think they have the right to tell us that we have no right to enforce the laws they don't like? The illegals believe that they can intimidate Americans into ignoring and changing our laws to suit them through sheer numbers. Sadly, when it comes to politicians, they may be right.

Before Congress adjourned for the Easter -- sorry, spring break, the deal made between Senate Democrats and Republicans to pass the bill was shelved. Some Republicans tried to insert an amendment that would prevent any action on amnesty until the borders were secured, and Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) led the objection. Make no mistake: those who want the McCain-Kennedy bill to pass have no intention of securing our borders or preventing illegal immigration.

The amnesty of 1986 (the first of seven passed) included provisions for border security, but Congress forgot about them the minute the bill was signed. That can't be allowed to happen again. Even if we must eventually accede to some sort of amnesty for illegal immigrants, we must not let the border remain wide open for tens of millions more illegals to pour through in the coming years.

Pandering Democrats and spineless Republicans see marching illegals demanding amnesty and citizenship and think, "look at all those potential voters!" The great majority of American citizens -- taxpayers and voters -- want illegal immigration stopped, and most of us want it stopped before we deal with those who have already broken the law. Yet the planned, organised demonstrations grab all the media attention, leaving the actual citizens with no voice. Our elected officials on both sides of the aisle will bow to the will of the mob if we can't get their attention. Like France, America will no longer be a representative democracy under the rule of law, but will be subject to mob rule.

Write to your Senators. Call them, email them, use semaphore and smoke signals if that's what it takes. Tell them that you want our laws enforced, our borders secured, and the idea of general amnesty for illegal immigrants scrapped. If immigration laws are unfair or unjust, then change them -- don't encourage people to break them. America will be governed by the law, or by the mob... but not both.

Contact information for Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Hat tip to Michelle Malkin for the protest pictures

UPDATE: Wizbang has pictures of pamplets that were being passed out to the crowd at illegal immigrant rallies, encouraging them to register and vote as Democrats. The pamphlets feature a picture of Texas and Mexico as one country, along with the motto "Let's Work Together -- Vote Democrat in 2006."