I can imagine a compromise that exchanges a path to citizenship for DACA kids for restrictions on birthright citizenship.

What is missing from this debate is the practical side of things. On the one hand, a permanent underclass of non-voting second class citizens is probably not a stable long term equilibrium.

On the other hand, allowing anyone to visit the US to have their baby and automatically receive all the benefits of US citizenship is also not a stable long term equilibrium.

What change would you suggest? A minimum period of time in the country before birthright citizenship applies? What about people who enter the United States illegally and then have a child twenty years later? What about my ancestors, who entered the country legally but never pursued American citizenship?

The 14th amendment was written the way it was to create a bright line that was easy to implement. I'm sure they considered other ways of framing the issue. I think it's brilliant just the way it is.

I'm not suggesting a change, I'm suggesting a public discussion about a change.

What I see is one political faction who wants to convince everybody that their desired outcome was in the constitution all along and we're just misreading it. My suggestion is that, if that's really what the people want, then the current democratic process should be followed to amend the constitution in order to clarify whatever rule is unclear. There are good reasons in place for such changes to require a supermajority.

If a supermajority cannot be reached, then let's have a discussion and figure out how to make everybody's concerns heard.

But that's so completely against the current populistic climate where the most boisterous and outraging claims are rewarded; so I know this won't happen; but that's what I think _should_ happen.