Earth to Wall Street Journal: Clueless on immigration.

National Review Online ^ | January 28, 2004 | Mark Krikorian

[Bikers4Bush]

Nice one.

[King Black Robe]

I think the answer is to charge companies the full government cost for these employees and their families. Make the employer pay the education, police, fire, welfare, medical, etc..costs for these people. The gov't can calculate the average cost and companies can cough it up per immigrant employee. Then I'd be fine with it. I'm just mad that my taxes are higher because some companies want labor on the cheap. And not only do I pay, but I get no credit for it. Mommy gov't gets to term herself as compassionate when she had to rob me -- through threat of jail -- to give to them.

[azhenfud]

I've wondered, with the advanced technology available today, why the SSA isn't making SS cards scannable and encoding them with digital and photo ID's and keeping a digital copy on file within the SSA. Then, by making those photos accessible to for verification by cross-checking, it would be impossible to counterfeit a SS card. Afterwards any felons that hire and aid Illegaliens become inexcusable...

[.308]

What concerns me, is that these illegal aliens come here, have their damn babies - who then become American citizens. We've never asked for them to come into our population. I've never voted for that.

[azhenfud]

Your's is exactly the reason why the three year proposal by the President is insane. Once across the border, they'll be breeding like fleas. You can see my concern here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1062930/posts

[DustyMoment]

KBR:

GREAT IDEA!!!! I LOVE IT!!!! If businesses want to hire cheap labor, let'em pay the whole cost.

az:
The SS card isn't equipped with all that stuff because it was never supposed to be used as either an ID card or a national ID card. However, given the usage that it has fallen into, it may be worthwhile to consider changing the SS card as you suggested. It could go a long way to helping close the problem with illegal aliens. It's a better idea than that which Bush had proposed.

In general, I support the NRO article. We have FAILED, completely, to enforce the immigration law in order for the politicians to continue their pandering to these lawbreakers. What concerns me is how long it will take for our elected officials to begin pandering in force to murderers, rapists, drug dealers, robbers, etc. Already, there has been discussion about restoring voting rights to convicted criminals. What's next? Given murderers a slap on the wrist for their first conviction and telling them not to do it again?

Lawbreakers are lawbreakers. If rewarding one segment of our society with citizenship for breaking the law is supposed to be good, imagine what reward we'll get from the government if we ALL break the law. Oh boy!!!!

[Gritty]

the Social Security Administration in 2002 sent out almost a million "no-match" letters to employers who filed W-2s with information that was inconsistent with SSA's records; i.e., illegal aliens. The effort was so successful at denying work to illegals that advocacy groups organized to stop it and won a 90-percent reduction in the number of letters to be sent out.

Just another in a long line of complete outrage in a national policy consisting of in-your-face outrages we put up with daily - and someday will if they don't do something concrete about it soon - and I don't mean another flaccid amnesty, either.

Politicians - both GOP and Dim - had better wake up to the seething volcano they are resting their laurels upon. This entire issue can get very ugly and very violent very quickly.

[azhenfud]

True, the socialist security card was never meant as an ID, but it has become that for everything from checking accounts to medical insurance and anything in between - and it's the easiest form of fraud. There would be no hesitation in Government to strengthen against currency's counterfeit-ability if they were dealing with Jacksons or Franklins in the same volume of fraud. That's a proven fact. We need to force our government to take better security protections over what we have, over what's ours.

[Lady Eileen]

bttt

[DustyMoment]

Just out of curiosity, have you suggested this to your elected rep? There will probably be a lot of foot-draffing to enact due to the traditional intent of the SS card but, it makes sense to me.

By the same token, with government reluctance to enforce immigration law, it may never go anywhere. Try also suggesting it to Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) since he is the Congressmen leading the anti-immigration reform effort.

It's worth a shot and it makes good sense.

[Viva Le Dissention]

The reason why the WSJ supports broader, more open immigration is because it makes capitalist sense.

Immigration into a capitalist country is an asset, not a problem. The more people, the larger the market, the more opportunity for division of labor.

If you have a problem with the current state of affairs, it ought to be with the social programs, not with immigration itself.

[RKV]

You have it partially correct. Unfortunately illegals aren't willing to carry the burden of citizenship and want only the economic benefits of being here. Obeying our laws, contributing to our common defense and adopting our culture are what is needed. They have proven that they will not do those things.

[Viva Le Dissention]

They have proven that they will not do those things.

What? I don't even know how to begin to respond to something so absurd.

First off, if they don't want to be citizens, they certainly don't have to be. And as far as reaping the economic benefits--of course! That's why almost anyone immigrates. You could make that same statement for most of the immigrants to the United State throughout history.

Hey, if they want to come here and speak Spanish and eat their food, whatever. I don't care. Like I said before: larger market, more opportunity for division of labor. Welcome.

[RKV]

You have indeed proven that you don't get it (sounds to me like you don't want to). Let me see if I can assist with a simple example. I don't let just anyone into my house. They have to recognize that I own the place and operate by my rules. They have to be pleasant and contribute to the family's happiness. Our country is the same. We reserve the right to control access. Those who contribute (and this is not just an economic matter) and follow our laws are welcome. Those who are a burden (in net) are not welcome. Get it yet? Illegals are a burden not an asset - cheap labor is not cheap when you account for all costs.

[RKV]

If you actually were interested in some facts on illegal immigration you might take a look here http://www.cis.org/.

[Viva Le Dissention]

Yes, I understand that there are laws which prevent people from coming here.

I'm saying those laws are irrational and non-sensical. They are merely political and not based in any form of logic. If our laws were required to make sense, we wouldn't have immigration laws, but for a very few which would be required for national security.

Immigration laws are the same types of laws as the anti-trust laws. They don't make economic sense and they are a tool of the politicians to dupe the voting public.

[RKV]

You have made an unsupported assertion when you say such laws make no sense. I gave you a very clear example of why they do. Here is another - if a criminal wants to flee a country to avoid prosecution should we allow them to enter our country? How about another - controlling diseases? Should we let persons with active TB cases into the US? I say no on both counts, and for many other valid reasons.

[goldstategop]

I support the introduction of a tamper proof national ID card every American citizen would be required to carry in order to be able to attend college, get married, drive a car, board an airplane, train or cruise ship, get a job, and get government benefits. Any one without such a card would simply not be allowed to avail himself of the benefits of American society. Without all of the above, the flood of illegal aliens entering America would dry to a trickle and its side benefit it would seal off America from terrorists who now can take advantage of our lax ID system to attack us anywhere without warning and virtually at will. I used to be opposed to a national ID but now I think if we don't establish one soon, its simply a matter of when we will lose our country.

[azhenfud]

"I don't care."

If you're here illegally, I do.