Why is it okay to buy elections, but not to buy citizenship?

[Boojatta]

If citizenship were being sold, then there would be a new revenue stream without new taxes.

On the other hand, why sell the whole package of citizenship, encouraging people to come to America in search of employment when there aren't enough jobs here?

Why not sell the right to vote in US elections to people in countries that are directly affected by US foreign policy?

[dkf]

1. Citizenship for rich retirees?

Not sure how that will go down here.

[NYC Liberal]

2. Maybe when we get to vote in other countries' elections.

Actually though, there is a history in the US of letting non-citizens (who are residents) vote in some elections, usually local. There's a whole Wikipedia article about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_of_foreigners_to_vote_in_the_United_States (yes, it's Wikipedia, but you can get a basic gist of it) .

[FarCenter]

3. Canada has a good policy

Investors, entrepreneurs and self‑employed persons

The Business Immigration Program seeks to attract experienced business people to Canada who will support the development of a strong and prosperous Canadian economy.

Business immigrants are expected to make a C$800,000 investment or to own and manage businesses in Canada, and must meet certain experience and/or net worth criteria.

See more at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/business/index.asp

[Capitalocracy]

4. Actually, you pretty much can.

It's not instant, but if you have money, you can.

And if you don't have money, it's really hard. Even if you're married to a citizen.

I'm stuck in Argentina because I married a girl from Argentina and I don't make enough money to sponsor her as an immigrant spouse... you have to have an income of 125% of poverty level for your household size, if I recall, that's just under $19,000 a year with no children right now. That's more than I've ever made in my life. So if you're poor, you can't get in.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

5. who said it is OK to buy elections?

I think it is a disgusting part of the process, myself.

[WillowTree]

6. Ditto.

[BlueCaliDem]

7. Citizenship IS for sale. Ask Rupert Murdoch who bought his from Reagan

when he was after buying up American corporate media back in September 4, 1985 from Reagan who "appointed" him an American citizen.

I'm pretty sure he didn't do it for free.

Here's an interesting piece on Murdoch, a Neo-Con Israeli Jew...and it might explain why FOX Propaganda - in addition to his multitudes of other American media - marketed the hell out of going to war in the M.E.

Excerpt: "Murdoch owns Fox News and so much else you may not have a time to look at the list. If he doesn’t own it he doesn’t want it.

Fox is a network and Murdoch, owning so many newspapers across America and being a foreigner, shouldn’t be able to control such a thing. How did he do it?

Reagan “appointed” Murdoch an American citizen. Murdoch promised to have Fox News support Republicans and say whatever was needed, no matter how false, how stupid or, as we have seen now for decades, how genuinely evil.
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/07/13/a-murdoch-note/

Edited to add: citizenship is ONLY for the wealthy and powerful. Poor milking cows for the rich, like 99% of us, need not apply.