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.
youll have to forgive dane, he doesnt understand that cheap labor outweighs the crime, hospitals going bankrupt, or strain on our educational/welfare system....
of course if you oppose that, you're a marxist. LOL
'Tax-eaters'. They eat. That's all they do.
I see them on my way to work every morning, American men in their 30s . They'll roll out of the sack to fish and play basketball after staying out late, making the newspaper.
Enforce our immigration laws and they'll have jobs. And if they won't work, they don't eat.
Aren't you fed up with getting into the `harness' every morning--so these clowns can ride? Vote the FreeRepublican ticket!
And, for the people getting cheap goods and services as well.
You obviously have ZERO experience in business. Workers Comp is there so that the employer does not get sue every time the employee stubs his toe.
Plus, those are the rules, if you don't like it change it. You can not pick and chose what laws you want to obey if it does not fit your liking.
Deal with it.
What a bunch of leftist, touchy-feely drivel.
Of course, mindless racism won't solve the problem, but neither will holding hands and singing "Kumbaya" with people who aren't -BY LAW- supposed to be here!
Geesh. Take some of that money illegal immigrants have saved you, Pilot writer, and buy yourself a clue!
Last week a Survey of 1200 Mexicans was published. It showed that 52% of the Mexicans surveyed in ages 18-29 would live in the USA if they could. If that is the case, then President Vincente Fox has a problem and he had better deal with it before they rise up and overthrow his government.
As long as he is pushing his people to leave Mexico and come to the USA, I propose that they bring the Country with them. If we are going to get 52% of the 100,000,000 people in Mexico, then we might as well go for the resources to support them.
Let them appliy for USA STATEHOOD.
Mexico City, Arizona, USA has a nice ring to it don't you think?
How about Juarez, Texas, USA? Tijuana, California, USA?
They sound lots better to me than Los Angeles, Mexico!
RamS
The businesses, and private citizens as well, who hire "illegals" are a HUGE part of this problem. But I do also keep in the mind the fact that some of the "illegals" who sneak into our country are NOT coming here to find work. There are dangerous criminals, and drug-runners mixed in with the rest. As if that wasn't bad enough, we now are faced with the very likely scenario of terrorists sneaking into our country as well. I'd bet my bottom dollar that some already have. I've said it before and I'll say it again, and again. Those who think that the illegal immigration problem can be solved completely by only addressing the "employers" of these illegals, are wrong. As long as our borders are open, there will ALWAYS be more illegals coming through it.
Gee then I guess the natural human condition for you is for millions to want to move and to work and live in a "society", that traets people as less human as mules.
No, they don't. Such is the life of a OBL sock puppet....
for some good info, see post #33
I have the perfect solution to the Illegal Immigrant problem. Let's Annex Mexico! Vincente Fox doesn't appear to want it anymore and the people all want to be here anyway!
Statehood for Mexico today!
RamS
Ouch! That's gonna leave a mark. :)
The quote that keeps on giving!
One of my favorite lines is the closer: "...all my relations with Hispanics have been good. Can't say that about Nigerians and half a dozen other types."
So what have you got against Nigerians, 'roid? Can't be their skin color, so what is it? And who exactly are these "half a dozen other types" of whom you speak? C'mon, don't be shy, you're among friends here!
Cut down on the supply of jobs and the enforcement issue becomes that much easier to do. It's nuts to think that simply enforcing the borders will do the trick. As long as their is economic incentive for people to come there then they will.
Oh, and tell Vinny Fox to kiss our ass. We will shoot anyone invading our country in a time of war.
And it's also there for good native born Americans to get a check every month claiming a slipped disc, while playing in local baseball leagues.
Workers comp is fraud central.
Again:
Please someone tell me why we need a single illegal immigrant, and how it benefit's the USA. I am not being sarcastic I want the "undocumented worker" fan club to give me one reason why having illegal aliens residing in the USA is a good thing. Furthermore please advise me how rewarding people who broke the law to enter helps the USA's interests
Being reasonable in a discussion would benefit you. I don't recall anyone saying that "those people who do such things such as grow food and build buildings are "evil". I haven't even heard that suggested.
They aren't "evil", they are ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS who chose not to go through the designated borders and do the paperwork it takes to enter this country LEGALLY.
It is one thing to have an opinion, but if you can't be reasonable, stop posting. :)
True. We have become spoiled based on slave wages paid to
these desparate people.
Personally, I would like these people bused home, and Yuppie trash start cleaning their own cars, cutting their own grass, and cleaning their own toilets. It builds charachter.
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