Posted on 08/22/2005 1:10:58 PM PDT by bayourod
Illegal immigration is a complex national problem.
It won’t be solved by piecemeal attacks such as that of GOP gubernatorial hopeful Jerry Kilgore in opposing a day laborer site in Herndon.
Such tactics fuel anti-immigrant prejudices while skipping the hard part, acknowledging the broad tradeoffs and difficult compromises necessary for a permanent solution.
If exploitation of nativist emotion isn’t Kilgore’s intention, then he should pull the plug on this line of campaigning.
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At issue is the proposal of a coalition of community organizations to open a day laborer site in a soon-to-be abandoned police station straddling the Herndon-Loudoun County line. Currently, scores of men gather daily at a nearby convenience store to await the arrival of private employers who hire them for day labor in construction, yard work, and the like.
Kilgore joined critics calling the proposed site a haven for illegal immigrants and a breeding ground for illegal activity.
But others argue convincingly that an official site, including a police or security presence, would more likely contain bad behavior while serving both small-time employers and legal workers. The Herndon council validated that view with a 5-2 vote Wednesday to open the center.
No doubt, some illegals will turn up there. But frustration with U.S. failure to stem the flow of illegal immigration ought to be directed toward Congress, the immigration service or others with an opportunity to make a real difference.
Virginians who grouse about illegal immigrants should open their eyes and see who’s really tending their lawns, putting new shingles on their roofs, cleaning toilets in their office building and hotels. Illegal immigrants are doing the dirty jobs that Virginians don’t want.
Kilgore characterized the problem in Herndon as one of illegals taking “hard-earned dollars from law-abiding citizens.”
In fact, the issue there and elsewhere wouldn’t exist except for America’s addiction to cheap labor. Undocumented workers sustain many of the services and prices Americans have come to expect.
Politicians as diverse as President George Bush, GOP Sen. John McCain and Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy acknowledge that a much-expanded temporary worker program, combined with some form of enforceable amnesty for illegals with long tenure here, is the only hope for getting a handle on the problem.
Name-calling about undocumented workers who supposedly leach the system dry might win votes. But it won’t make the problem go away.
You are a joke. Go tender to your maid upstairs.
Did you write this nonsense?
"Name-calling about undocumented workers who supposedly leach the system dry might win votes. But it won?t make the problem go away."
BUT:
A high fence, some German shepards, cutting off of welfare and medication, English Only, Taxing all cash flowing out of the country, just might do it.
I didn't even have to look to see who posted it.
Virginians who grouse about illegal immigrants should open their eyes and see who’s really tending their lawns, putting new shingles on their roofs, cleaning toilets in their office building and hotels. Illegal immigrants are doing the dirty jobs that Virginians don’t want.
I see plenty of guys working their asses off in some of the worst heat that I have seen in VA in years. Yet, how is it that I can drive into poor neighborhoods and see able bodied adults loafing around with nothing to do? And, I don't hear people complaining that they are paying cheap wages for lawn and yard care services. Until more American consumers stop buying services from illegals there is no reason to expect that it will stop.
How proud it must make one to be included in the same sentence with the slob from Massachusetts.
And no mention of the assualt by an illegal alien on a 15 year old from the other day. In fact, I think this editiorial reeks of "hate whitety".
What are the "names" being called here??
"Politicians as diverse as President George Bush, GOP Sen. John McCain and Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy...."
Diverse??!?! Birds of a feather on this issue!
The problem is many-fold. First, the employers can charge you a cheap fee to cut your grass because they pay 7-8 per hour, no payroll taxes, workers comp, etc etc. Therefore, you are paying an artificially cheap cost for your service. Were these employers abiding by the law, they would not be able to stay in business. Its a bad problem, all caused by artifically low prices.
If the price were to go up, you might do it yourself.
Another thing, who picked the crops, cleaned the toilets, cut the grass, before these people invaded?
So in other words, GM cutting itsa prices and having a record sales month is a bad thing to you.
Do you see how marxist you sound.
BTW, this paper left out Kyl/Cornyn's proposals. I can understand why, it is one proposal, that provide amnesty, but does address the problem.
Those able bodied loafers are living off our welfare system. They won't work for minimum wage. In my opinion, they should be forced to work. Make our welfare deadbeats work some of the jobs the illegals are taking.
Also, those who say that the illegals are only taking jobs that Americans don't want is a downright LIE.
Not bashing. Busing them back home.
If they were here LEGALLY they'd likely be paid the higher wages and benefits Virginians want to do the job.
Oh, Stellar...!!
Again, until Americans stop showing a demand for these services then they will continue to proliferate. Yes, the costs are low but when you also consider that these people use local services, obtain health care without paying for it and send money out of the country it is even worse.
I do, however, respect the work ethic of some of these people. They have shown that they are willing to work harder than some of those people who would rather rely upon welfare and call conservatives racist or insensitive for telling them to go out and get a job.
Suggesting recommendations about our immigration problems is now termed "immigrant bashing"?
You are a total fool. GM is making money on the financing, not the car.
Were these employers to pay workers comp, FICA, and other related employment taxes, your cheap toilet cleaning would cost you more. So, where do they save money? On the poor slob doing the work who is afraid of being deported to say anything about it. These employers also know that these illegals will live under conditions most Americans could not even imagine fathomable.
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