Does being an actual American citizen really even matter anymore???

I used to think an uninformed electorate was the greatest danger to our representative democracy. These days, however, I'm thinking that a misinformed electorate, in this age of fake news, false narratives and ideological absolutes is perhaps the greatest threat to our modern-day democracy.  That being said misrepresentation of citizens vs. non-citizen w.r.t. our elected officials may pose yet an even greater threat to our representative democracy. The inclusion of non-citizen in headcounts used to determine representation allotments in federal government, namely the number of Representatives apportioned for each individual state actually shifts the power wielding dynamics in the U.S. House of Representatives.  This is because the way our representative democracy works the States with more people have more representation in the U.S. Congress --there is equal apportionment in the U.S. Senate-- and hence a greater voice w.r.t. to determining voting outcomes.  It's actually kind of scary when you stop and think about it? This citizen misrepresentation --inclusion of non-citizens in census headcounts-- has the potential to transform our electorate in the long term. In the short term it provides a false representation of congressional districts, which in determines the way our representative officials (U.S. Representatives) are elected. Post-election this misrepresentation determines which issues are important to the citizens represented by a given congressional district. Left unchecked, the transformation afforded by the misrepresentation of actual citizens, both in terms of headcounts as well as illegally voting in our elections, could likely result in a profound and perhaps irreversible shift in the way America, as a country, is run.

I have to sincerely wonder:  in the absence of true representation in our government does being an actual American citizen even matter anymore??? I mean, think about the power a state like California wields in the U.S. House of Representatives when the determination of their representation (#of Representatives apportioned to them in the House) is based largely upon inflated numbers due to the counting of non-citizens.  This is absolutely why the U.S. Constitution calls for a census every 10 years.  It is also why the "citizenship question" was added to the census by our Founding Fathers back in the day.  Frankly, this feigned moral outrage at returning this centuries-old question to the census --after it was removed by the Obama Administration-- is completely ludicrous.  The Left is just ticked, I think, that someone is finally catching onto the many ways they've tried to rig the system in favor of their retention of power.  Perhaps the Left's response to this question also goes a long way toward explaining their stance on immigration and sanctuary cities as well? It's never really been about compassion for the immigrants; if it was then the Democrats would have come to the table in this most recent round of budget negotiations and worked with President Trump on his offer to legalize 1.8 million immigrants --way more than the actual 0.6 million DACA immigrants who have signed up for the program. The illusion of compassion is just a false front to cover up the heart of the matter which boils down to pure numbers and a retention of voting power the left needs to retain power, particularly in the U.S. House of Representatives?

If being a U.S. citizen is to matter anymore, then we have to un-rig the system and start restoring some accountability to the system.  The census "citizen question" is really the only way to have any accountability where determination of representation of citizens in their government is concerned.  Without true representation of citizens in their government our voice, our vote becomes watered down and the voice of "we the people" is no longer heard*.  You absolutely can live and thrive in America as a non-citizen, but you don't have the right to a voice in our federal government in the absence of citizenship.  That's why citizenship is sacred.  It's a contract between "we the people" and those we elect to represent us in our government, as provided by the framework of our U.S. Constitution.  Following this framework is not being cold or heartless, that's just what it takes to keep America strong and headed on the right path for our sovereign nation.  It's also why those living here who want to have a say in our government should embrace legal means available to them for obtaining their own path to citizenship. We will always welcome new and diverse members who want to use legal means to become an integral part of the American 'dream' and way of life.  That being said, in the absence of enforced borders, sensible immigration controls and immigrants who are vested in contributing to our nation: what is to stop the U.S. from eventually becoming like the countries so many are fleeing from?  Especially when some local governments, states and a handful of rogue justices think they can pick and choose which federal laws they will enforce vs. actively thwart.  Bottom-line, realistically speaking the system we currently have is simply not sustainable in the longer term, regardless of whether or not "this [particular] year's 'illegal immigration' numbers are down or not."  Do the math.

Much like our nation's debt, the time to act on sensible immigration reform (&enforcement) is NOW.  These two key issues alone have the power to bring America to her knees.  Sometimes, I cannot help but wonder if the Left is thinking:  if you destroy it, you can rebuild it [America] in your chosen image???

[*Of course, government will likely have to put someone in charge of following up on claims of citizenship in order to have 100% certainty as to the accuracy of the data supplied by individuals.]