There has been a lot of discussion since Athens about foreign swimmers training in the United States. Most of them attend U.S. Universities, receive athletic scholarships, and compete at NCAA's. Some notable examples include Duje Draganja (Cal), Fred Bousquet and Kirsty Coventry (Auburn), Markus Rogan (Stanford), and the South African sprinters (Arizona). Some train in the U.S., but don't compete for a university (Inge de Bruijn). All of these athletes benefit from U.S. coaching, from training with U.S. swimmers, and in some cases, from financial support provided by U.S. entities (athletic scholarships). They all turn around and then win medals for other countries.
A couple questions: 1) What do you think about this arrangement generally? 2) Is it of benefit or detriment to U.S. swimming to have these foreign athletes training and competing here? 3) Should we be giving athletic scholarships, which are a scarce resource in swimming, to foreign athletes who will represent their own countries internationally instead of U.S.-born swimmers who will represent us internationally?
I'm sure there are other issues, but these come directly to mind.
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Former Member
Originally posted by Tom Ellison
"Funny how liberal democrats these days want to close the borders but republicans believe in free trade, patriotism and a free market economy. "
Hold the fort here folks....I am way out there on the right....and I think/believe we should CLOSE the borders.....and fast! Why on earth should we continue to fund, pay for, support illegal aliens that are bankrupting most of our border states....and...at the same time create security risks beyond our wildest imaginations?
Tom, I agree with you.... with one clarification. I don't support complete closing of the borders. I support CONTROLLED immigration.
I applaud anyone who wants to improve their family's conditions in life. I just don't want them walking across the border at will.... in .... out .... in ...... out..... Somehow, this must be controlled better. And don't get me started about those who want to allow people to vote without ID. I believe proof of citizenship should be required to vote. And I am amazed there hasn't been another terrorist attack here since 9/11..... And how is it that Vincente Fox can get away with allowing his country to need to milk off of others like this - instead of improving his own country's economy....the whole thing is frustrating to me.
I just feel like neither the republicans or democrats want to take that step. Neither is willing to alienate the growing hispanic voter base.
And for the record, I am a registered independent. I vote in every election. I do vote right considerably more than left.
Oh, and on the original topic - I don't have a problem with foreign athletes in our country - scholarship or professional. (If they are here legally.) I figure I can see the best compete that way.
Originally posted by Tom Ellison
"Funny how liberal democrats these days want to close the borders but republicans believe in free trade, patriotism and a free market economy. "
Hold the fort here folks....I am way out there on the right....and I think/believe we should CLOSE the borders.....and fast! Why on earth should we continue to fund, pay for, support illegal aliens that are bankrupting most of our border states....and...at the same time create security risks beyond our wildest imaginations?
Tom, I agree with you.... with one clarification. I don't support complete closing of the borders. I support CONTROLLED immigration.
I applaud anyone who wants to improve their family's conditions in life. I just don't want them walking across the border at will.... in .... out .... in ...... out..... Somehow, this must be controlled better. And don't get me started about those who want to allow people to vote without ID. I believe proof of citizenship should be required to vote. And I am amazed there hasn't been another terrorist attack here since 9/11..... And how is it that Vincente Fox can get away with allowing his country to need to milk off of others like this - instead of improving his own country's economy....the whole thing is frustrating to me.
I just feel like neither the republicans or democrats want to take that step. Neither is willing to alienate the growing hispanic voter base.
And for the record, I am a registered independent. I vote in every election. I do vote right considerably more than left.
Oh, and on the original topic - I don't have a problem with foreign athletes in our country - scholarship or professional. (If they are here legally.) I figure I can see the best compete that way.
