Millions of illegals aren't a crisis
PTR ^ | July 30, 2006 | Bill Steigerwald
Posted on 07/30/2006 11:35:50 PM EDT by FairOpinion
Is illegal immigration the national crisis it's been whipped up to be?
While acknowledging the obvious socioeconomic problems illegal immigrants cause, Snow argues in a column that immigration -- legal and illegal -- "is not the pox neo-Know Nothings make it out to be."
But with the economy growing, unemployment almost nonexistent and crime at 20-year lows, just don't call our immigration problem a national crisis.
Percentage of illegal immigrants who got here by jumping the Mexican or Canadian border: 60. Percent who overstayed their tourist or educational visas: 40.
Percent of illegals who are unemployed: 5.5. Percent who pay income taxes, Social Security and Medicare: 66. Percent who send their children to public schools: 10. Percent who receive food stamps or unemployment assistance: 5.
(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburghlive.com ...
TOPICS: Editorial; Click to Add Topic
KEYWORDS: ALIENS; ILLEGALIMMIGRATION; ILLEGALS; IMMIGRANTLIST; IMMIGRATION; TONYSNOW; Click to Add Keyword
These people are idiots. The only way for illegals to be 'good for us' is if they are not allowed to get welfare or other kind of government benefits.
"While acknowledging the obvious socioeconomic problems illegal immigrants cause"
Mighty kind of him I am sure.
I'm sure that's comfort to the families of victims of crimes by illegals.
Those crimes that wouldn't have happened BUT FOR the illegal immigration.
Percentage of illegals from Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Iran, Saudi Arabia, England, France, China, Russia, Pakistan, etc. who plan to join sleeper cells?: ???
Percentage of illegals who have received free non-emergency medical services???:
Percentages in total number of hospitals closed in border states since 1986: ???
How does one pay social security taxes when one does not have a social security number? If a migrant worker pays into the system under a forged social security number, do those wages acrue to the migrant worker? Or does the gov't just keep the money and tell the poor migrant worker that "amnesty is coming"?
Politicians should be honest and tell folks that high levels of immigration are needed to offset America's low birth rate. Instead, we get this wink and nod that there is no crisis - give me a break. When I see Reconquista images at the protest, and signs in Spanish that say white folks are the illegals, and the southwest is rightfully owned by Mexico - I get a little suspicious of the "everything is OK crowd."
"Conservatives" such as Tony Snow are not just wrong, but they are every bit as dangerous to the well being of this country, if not more so, than Liberals.
The radical political changes that will be brought on by immigration alone, as I have seen in California first hand, make me question the intelligence of so called "conservatives" that support this nonsense.
The everything is OK crowd are headed by liars who want to line their pockets are use what Marx called "useful idiots" to promote their message, such as Tony Snow.
Yes, just more ILLEGAL CRIMINAL apologists. Nice try...but none of this is GOOD for the United States and its REAL citizens who are paying all the bills.
Most importantly receiving education and emergency care benefits. I guess the large % of illegal that make up prison pops is of little consequeunce as well.
But they aren't paying their own because they are using someone else's number ILLEGALLY!
Percent who send their children to public schools: 10
And how many children do each illegal have?
Percent who receive food stamps or unemployment assistance: 5.
If they are illegal, this number should be ZERO!!!
Percent of illegals of those who attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001: 100!
The 'Test', if the proponents of illegal aliens live behind in a gated fence community - then they are not allowed to voice an opinion.
I think illegal immigration should be stopped and they shouldn't get any benefits.
I think the point of the author isn't that illegal immigration is OK, but that while we need to stop it, it isn't a CRISIS, as some are trying to whip it into.
Illegal immigration is a CHRONIC PROBLEM, which grew into what it is today over the past 30 YEARS, which needs to be solved once and for all, but there is a difference between a problem and a crisis.
As a problem it needs to be addressed thoughtfully, rationally, not based on emotional, knee-jerk reaction.
Illegal immigration is going to turn this country into another Lebanon or Yugoslavia. Bush ought to be impeached for allowing this insanity to go on. We cannot have 20 million poor people in this country who speak little or no English, are not loyal to America, and have this backward attitude that the democratic process should be a struggle between ethnic groups over who gets what. On top of that, these people have a dysfunctional culture that tolerates 14-year-old girls getting pregnant and values humongous families at the expense of their economic well-being. This is a disaster waiting to happen.
"neo-Know Nothings," is a new one, I've never been called that before.
I learned a long time ago, when they start with the name calling, you are doing something "right."
Add to that the billions of $$$ they send home to Mexico.
I bet they didn't count anchor babies' welfare in that "ten percent on welfare" number.
The glaring inconsistancy here is that the pols are so concerned if I am wearing my seat belt or smoking etc. while insisting that illegals and immigration law are no problem and of no consequence. Enforce illegals crime/law dumbasses, or shut the hell up.
Oops. Make that "five percent on welfare".
Indirectly, he has a point. The US is capable of integrating and transforming immigrants of all kinds into good citizens at a given rate. Problems only begin when we get more immigrants faster than we can integrate.
Historically, waves of immigrants took three generations to integrate. The first generation were "any job" workers who made little fuss. The second generation were neither old country or new country--and here is where organized crime came about. The third generation was fully culturally integrated, and generally left ethnic concentrations for better opportunities.
Mexicans are different than the typical immigrant, because instead of all arriving at once, all three generations co-exist at once. New arrivals side-by-side with successful natively born.
The destination of immigrants also matters as to how rapidly they integrate. Those that land in the giant Mexican communities in California integrate far more slowly than those who must integrate quickly in Phoenix, for example.
In the latter case, it is common to see Parents who don't even speak English holding two jobs or starting a small business, with older children who are troublesome and have a "fish out of water" problem; but also younger children who are fully American, speak English fluently, and have no memories of Mexico, or cultural attachment to it at all.
However, in the last five or so years, the rate at which Mexican immigrants have been pushed into the US has clearly exceeded our ability to comfortably integrate them. I say "pushed", because the rate increase is almost exclusively the result of the Plan Puebla Panama, which is displacing huge numbers of southern Mexicans, and pushing them north towards the border.
At the same time, Mexico seems to be degenerating towards chaos and anarchy, possibly another civil war, using emigration to relieve demographic pressure. If the US is to close our border with them, our preferred option, then we may be faced with twice as many illegals, and not for economic improvement, but because they are refugees from bitter violence.
All told, things aren't really *that* bad in the US, and if we can just reduce the rate of illegal entry, many of the problems would solve themselves. Continuing to neglect the problems, however, solves nothing.
I wonder - do they think the loss of their seats in Congress will rise to the level of a crises? Because that's what's coming.
D.C. Upper Class Beltway Syndrome. Snow has it......Barnes has it....and there is no cure!!
Yep. Bloodbath Cit--Tay!
Wonder what this bunch would say about millions of citizens who refuse to pay their taxes....
The Steigerwalds of the world will change their tune when the illegals become 51% of the population (close already in California) and the already languishing English language newspapers get pushed aside by Spanish ones.
As sharp as Tony Snow is on many issues, he has always been out in left field on the issue of illegal immigration. His supercilious commentaries on those who actually think immigration laws should be enforced (neo-Know Nothings, nativists) are not worthy of debate.
In his new job as WH Press Secretary, he even had the temerity to state (paraphrasing) that the enforcement issue is already taken care of with the posting of National Guard at the border (to wash cars and clear brush) and it was time for people to move on to comprehensive reform (synonym: amnesty).
Illegal immigration is a CHRONIC PROBLEM, which grew into what it is today over the past 30 YEARS, which needs to be solved once and for all, but there is a difference between a problem and a crisis.
As a problem it needs to be addressed thoughtfully, rationally, not based on emotional, knee-jerk reaction.
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How about just enforcing the laws on the books for starters? legislation passed 20 years ago including an amnesty and 10 years ago which provided for reforms that precluded illegals from receiving benefits and going after employers of same are already on the books.
How much better would the situation be for our kids if eleven million jobs opened up? The economic strike that these folks are doing to us is horrible.
That is correct, courts have spoken and said what the people approved isn't really what they wanted or meant to have as the law of the land. a pretty sickening predicament when a few in robes can hold such sway and have so much say and abuse it..
you don't have very high expectations for your kids do your?
Yup, sadly a nation doesn't get messed up overnight, it will take awhile to undo the harm done if it can ever be done at all.
Don't know about you, but my first job didn't have a desk. Were I to do it all over again, I'd absolutely start out the way I did - hard work for hard money - but then again, today, I don't think I've seen a kid mowing anything other than their own lawn (rare that it be) much less learning how to start their own business.
Construction used to be a good career path - now most entry level stuff is taken up by 'contract laborers', aka illegals. It doesn't stop there, though - a lot of illegals have moved into carpentry, drywall, plumbing...
I can't count the number of successful, self made millionaires in our country who started out washing dishes to make it through college.
So, yeah, I got great expectations for my kids. I expect them to enter the job force at the bottom, work their way through college, and on the other end, not only have the education of the mind, but of the spirit - nothing comes for free, and those who work, get ahead.
If you think this is bad, and it is, wait until they get the right to vote and vote for the Reconquista Party
A local women here in north Texas found out that there were 81 illegals using her SS# when the government said she owed millions in taxes even though she hasn't worked for years.
Well that sounds great if it works. I just don't think 11 million minimum wage or sub minimum wage jobs are going to benefit anyone, including kids for very long. My son worked construction this summer and made $16/hour. Wasn't hard to find work and he got paid well.
Out here in California, almost all those $16 an hour construction jobs are filled by illegals. I understand that the same problem exists for most of Texas and now into Louisiana, as well as Florida, Washington, Colorado.. Oh, sorry, they start at $12.50 an hour (under the table) and go up, rather than $16 an hour above the table (minus taxes.)
What kinds of radical political changes have immigrants brought to California? California seems to me to be about the same politically as it was 40 years ago when I lived there.
Yeah, thats crazy.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/06/17/national/main1726397.shtml?source=RSS&attr=HOME_1726397
There is a problem.
This guy is high...
This guy's in touch with some "KONA GOLD" for sure...just take another toke numbnuts!
You mean not like Jorge Arbusto has tried to solve it, by ramming an ill-considered "comprehensive" amnesty plan through the Congress.
THAT is the crisis.
Or break any other laws aside from the immigration laws they've already broken.
Make the employers responsible for their health care. Right now, I have to pay for it as do all tax payers. It is driving up the price of health care also.
They elected a LaRaza/MEChA Nazi as mayor of Los Angeles.
That's as bad as you can get.
that is definately where this nonsense is coming from.behind the gated community crowd.you are right
"While acknowledging the obvious socioeconomic problems illegal immigrants cause"
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...and totally ignoring the rape of the American taxpayer, the legal double-standard, the destruction of our soverignty, trashing of the Constitution, making a mockery of USA citizenship, and the coddling of anarchists in our streets -- ALL FOR VOTES!!!
Agreed.
I like how they throw in "Canadian" like they are any part of this problem. And if you want cheap labor to undercut the wages you'd have to pay US citizens minus healthy insureance since those suckers who have health insurance will pay for the illeagals, I wouldn't call the flooding of illegal aliens a crisis either.
Yep.
It's disgusting to see a White House Press Secretary be so cavalier, blase and craven about the breaking of American laws , and the rape of American taxpayers by foreigners.
It's disgusting to see a White House Press Secretary be so cavalier, blase and craven about the breaking of American laws , and the rape of American taxpayers by foreigners.
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I was totally disappointed when I heard Tony had taken this job because we knew he would have to pander to the elitist, NWO line. And he apparently is. Is the job really worth throwing away all your self respect and your patriotism??
ok....so it's ok for illegals to be here, they're actually helping and not harming our nation. Wait...what are they called? They're called "illegals." Any 5th-grader could tell you "illegal"="against the law." So what are they doing here? Why do we allow such blatant violation of our laws?
Well....guy has gotta do what his boss wants, even if he disagrees with that particular position or not.
And you gotta admit he's done a great job so far as the Press Secretary (apart from immigraion that is), and taken on the rabid White House Press Corps, and defanged the old vampire Helen Thomas.
What is wrong with mowing lawns and rough carpentry for entry-level jobs while kids are still deciding what they want to do with their lives?
ping
All this against the will of the majority of the American people!
The presidency is becoming a monarchy. I never thought I'd live to see this.
I'm suspicious of the numbers, not sure how accurate numbers can be derived from an illegal population. I do know social and medical services as well as schools are overwhelmed in areas with large populations of illegals. I suppose it is possible to use nationwide averages to make it seem there is no problems- but the numbers just seem unreal to me.
The presidency is becoming a monarchy. I never thought I'd live to see this.
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It is very disturbing and of course, contrary to what America is and was intended to be by its founders. It is sad but Washington has failed us and our Constitutional Republic. They are in it now for themselves, not the will of the people, and are focused only on the aquisition of power, lofty utopian NWO agendas, and of course, VOTES.
You are important to them ONLY if you provide either campaign contributions OR votes. Otherwise they have no use for you, other than your tax dollars....a tragic reality for America.
Illegal Immigration: Seems like Isreal had a "Guest Worker" program for Palestinians once. Can you say, "Atzlan?
There's very few of them who would get my vote or my contribution. The "two" parties have become one, and I truly believe that a strong third party is what will turn America around.
Nixon said "I'm not a crook" - how many of those in Washington can even dare to say that? No one believes them anymore. The majority of them have already sold America out.
"Percent who pay income taxes, Social Security and Medicare: 66 >>>>>>
66% of illegals paying taxes ??? I like to see WHERE that stat comes from.
btw *if* many are paying with phony numbers, they only create BIG problems for the LEGAL taxpayer.
here the IRS admits to issuing only 6 million ITIN'S (many for legal purposes)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/982825/posts
"More than 6 million ITIN cards have been issued since 1996, but only 2 million tax forms have been filed using the ITINs. The status of the other 4 million ITINs is not known, but immigration-reform advocates say illegal immigrants are using the numbers to skirt U.S. immigration, tax and fraud laws."
Snow Job!
This seems like an appropriate place to mention that I for one drove the speed limit to work today and used my turn signal at all required times.
There is nothing wrong with a kid working these jobs. I have one child working construction now. It is great for him and he is making $16/hour which is very good for a high school boy. He had no trouble finding a summer job.
My comment sounded snobby, and I didn't mean for it to. There is nothing wrong with working one of these jobs, I just meant that it wouldn't provide much benefit overall, because most kids would only use them for a couple years. I apologize if my comment offended anyone. I would never criticize someone for doing an honest day's work.
I'll be honest here, and say for a fact I wouldn't want to earn my living at this kind of job myself, but they are a great way for a young person to learn a work ethic, and some skills that will be useful around the house later in life. I've done all the above, and a few others besides, too. You didn't come off as snobby, so much as "why would anyone WANT such a job" and my point was mostly that lots of people do want them. Temporarily, at least. One of my brothers is in construction, as a stone mason. He loves it, and wouldn't want to do anything else. I shake my head at him when he says that, but this is America, and we have choices like that. Heck, SOMEONE needs to do it! Better someone who loves the work.
As far as benefits go, not all benefits are tangible. I worked in three different career fields in the Air Force, and as far as job satisfaction goes, the first one was the best, even though I was shanghaied into it: I wanted to be a missile tech, and wound up as an aircraft mechanic, which as a job, I hated. 18-20 hour days were routine, in crappy weather (about all they have at Cannon AFB, BTW)and with no appreciation from the flight crews for our long hours, but when that F-111D lifted its wheels off the runway, you knew you had done something special! Not bad work for an 18 year-old who had no clue what he wanted to do with his life. If nothing else, I learned that wasn't what I wanted, even though I still wasn't anywhere near certain what I DID want...
Eliminate a bunch of illegal aliens, and our kids can have those jobs, and learn the lessons they can teach. That is also something worth doing. And yes, we should make a path for those who really want to become Americans, and are willing to work for it, but starting them out by letting them break our laws isn't the way to do it.
But let's assume the worst case - let's say that no one takes those jobs at any price. This is where engineering, development and technology come into play - at a particular point, it becomes more efficient and cheaper to resort to specialized equipment. That's technology we can export to other countries, and technology that makes for more efficient farming.
Necessity is the mother of invention. You've stated it better than I did. If we can't get people to do the work, we'll automate it. In the meantime, my kids (those of my body, and those I teach) will have a chance at something that will teach them life-lessons they need desperately and can get only imperfectly, if at all, in a classroom.
Give this writer the "idiot of the month" award.
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