You may have heard that President Bush wants to start a “Guest Worker Program” in the U.S. for illegal aliens who are working or want to work. It’s also been referred to as the “3 and 3” program, meaning they have three years on an initial work permit and three years on top of that. The reactions are extreme on the left and right, of course. Some are saying this is a terrific win-win for everyone. Others are opposed to immigrants entering the country at all. Which is true? Well, whether we like it or not, corporations hire based on the supply of labor. And “illegals” are filling the jobs that no one else wants. There have been cases of exploitation of workers, including the recent Wal-Mart scandal. So, in that instance, the Bush plan would be very helpful. And the reality is that corporations are about profits. They send jobs overseas if that seems more cost effective, and this is almost like overseas work right on our shores. We need to recognize that illegals are, in fact, contributing to the country, and they deserve some protection. There are direct consumer benefits to having workers here as “guests.” They have helped make our country more efficient, and their willingness has made things more available and more affordable. A number of people have questioned the President’s motives. It could be construed as a smart way to get votes in Texas, Florida and California, where there are large immigrant populations. But Clark doesn’t know if that is necessarily true. The other question is will a program like this bring in even more immigrants? Who knows? But Clark is the grandchild of immigrant grandparents, and we are a nation of immigrants.