Sometimes one has to feel a little bit of pity for our elected officials when they have to straddle that thin line between the people they really serve (corporate sponsors and special interest lobbyists) and those they claim they serve (the rest of us).

Such is the case with immigration reform. I'm sure many legislators spend sleepless nights wondering how to vote on legislation they have no intention of ever reading while still cashing all those checks to their re-election committees.

They know there is no right answer, there are just dualing practicalities. Either we continue to pretend that we don't want illegal immigrants doing all the menial work in this country while denying them the rights, privileges and long-term benefits of citizenship or we assuage our consciences and clear the path for them at the expense of those not already here and those born to those rights.

Neither sounds like the policy of an enlightened nation founded on the principles of equality and justice.

So, the dirty little secret appears to be that we can have it both ways by proposing policies that no one can justifiably champion and thus are doomed to failure. Those who promised to lock down our borders and deport anyone here illegally can claim the high ground. They tried and failed. Those who claim we are being unjust and inhumane to those who come here seeking a better life also can claim the high ground. They, too, tried and failed.

And when it's done we'll be where we are now, with an unconscionable compromise that serves its purpose at the expense of all we supposedly stand for.

But at least we tried.