Workers in the Shadows

The NY Times ^ | 011004 | David Brooks

[Archangelsk]

It starts: the rationalization of the President's program. For all his angst about appeasement during the lead up to the war, Brooks certainly has a way of changing his tune. Once again, Brooks, the effeminate, faux-conservative at the Times, shows his true colors.

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[Hardastarboard]

Mr. President, I am asking for amnesty in advance. Since it's clear that you're willing to let felons slide if they're hard working and only trying to feed their families, I'm announcing my intent to turn to bank robbery, and throw myself on your mercy. Please hear me out.

I can no longer make a living in the impoverished technology field in which I labor. My job has been sent overseas, and there is no hope for me. I am too old to be re-trained, and I have to feed my family.

The bank robber voter block is a small, but growing and important constituency that you can't afford to cede to the Democratic party. They only do it to feed their families. In all other ways, they are hard working, honest, decent people who only wish to become white collar criminals.

You can justify any damn thing you want, if you just change the verbiage to make the person sound pitiful. I am NOT anti-immigrant. My daughter is dating a Mexican kid, just back from a trip to Mexico. BUT - he's NOT illegal. Big difference.

These gutless politicians and their vote buying make me want to puke. To all of you out there who say, "You have to vote Republican or a Democrat will win, I say what's the difference in the long run?"

[putupon]

It starts: the rationalization of the President's program.

Yep, they're working on it hard; I give this one a 4 Kool-Aids.

[Caipirabob]

LOL! I think you're on to something here!

"Fill 'er up, Amigos? OH YEAH!"

[Ed_in_NJ]

Excellent!

Sounds like we're in the same boat in more ways than one!

[Ed_in_NJ]

I like the Kool-Aids "rating scheme!"

[putupon]

Thanks.

[Archangelsk]

Perhaps there should be a Kool-Aid ping list.

[snopercod]

We need to start shooting those who are invading us.

They are not invading us, they just want jobs.

Please stop with the armchair vigalante stuff. If you think they should be shot, get your a$$ to the border and do it yourself, tough guy.

P.S. I hit the abuse button on your post. I signed my name to it. I am telling you publicly that posts advocating violence against non-combatants are a violation of the posting guidelines here on FR.

Posts like that just cheapen the forum.

FReegards--

[Ed_in_NJ]

You're so wonderful, tough guy.

[hershey]

What's needed is a reason for Mexicans to stay home. Maybe we should emigrate and generate a viable economy, plus straighten out their govt. and social ills. (In the long run, the uncontrolled flood of unskilled, non-english-speaking peoples is as much a WMD as any I can think of.) Isn't that basically what we're doing in Iraq?

[SolutionsOnly]

Yeah, and all the folks who hav been wainting in line for years, getting gouged by immigration laywers, and dealing with insane INS bureuacracy want a job, too.

[SolutionsOnly]

Yeah, and all the folks who hav been waiting in line for years, getting gouged by immigration laywers, and dealing with insane INS bureuacracy want a job, too.

[snopercod]

No hard feelings. I know you are an OK guy, but please - let's tone down the shoot-from-the-hip stuff.

I'm just as frustrated as you with our current immigration policy. OTOH, I work with some of these "invaders" and they are good people, just like you and me. I'm not afraid of them.

[BillM]

How old are you? Why can't you retrain yourself. I have learned a whold lot of different operating systems and programming languages/environments over the last 30 years. It is hard work but rewarding. I'm going on 60.

[Ed_in_NJ]

Fine - if you'd like to have a "reasonable" discussion of the matter. But let's tone down the use of the Abuse button...kind of hard to discuss items that are Deleted.

First of all, the word 'invade' is absolutely applicable - my Funk & Wagnall's includes "encroach upon, trespass on." If you can't agree that they are 'trespassing,' then there's no point in our discussing further.

They ARE violating our laws -- and that's the MAJOR point; it doesn't matter 'why.'

Secondly, they are a determined 'force" (when en masse) that is creating an economic hardship on the country. A few companies profit, as do the illegals, while the rest of us pay an increasing burden to support both the efforts to chase them down, and to support their (medical, etc.) needs. When caught, WE pay to send them back, so they can just try again, and again, until they 'make' it. There is very little jeopardy in their repeated attempts to profit from breaking our laws.

Terrorists say they will defeat us by breaking our economy. Illegals are helping to drain it, both from the cost of enforcement and the replacing of our workers.

Like others here, I have nothing against those who come here legally and obey our laws. But these lawbreakers should be treated like any other career criminals. By tolerating them we only contribute to/encourage further lawbreaking.

I stand by my original statement -- if they refuse to follow the orders of our law enforcement personnel, they should be dealt with "harshly" (is this a permissible word?).

[primeval patriot]

Picture a guy who will wade across rivers, brave 120-degree boxcars and face vicious smugglers and murderous vigilantes — all to get a job picking fruit for 10 hours a day.

Sam is paying these vicious smugglers. They wouldn't have a job without him.

Notice it's left unsaid just who these "murderous vigilantes" are. You're left to infer U.S. citizens are these phantom vigilantes.

For up to six years, Sam would be legal, but at the end of that time, he would probably face deportation. Then what would his family do for money?

The author answers his own question a few paragraphs above: He could open a bank account, which would let him ship money back home without having to pay huge fees.

But that's already the case so what's the point?

Illegal enablers act like poor Sam is facing genocide or mass starvation in Mexico.

[whipitgood]

"..terrorists say they will defeat us by breaking our economy..."
The illegals are also breaking our ecomnomy, IMHO. I can't see very much difference between what happened in the former USSR (the arms race broke their economy) and what is happening in the USA- the influx of illegals is breaking our economy.