Bush Pushes for Guest Worker Plan

SFGate.com ^ | OCt 18, 2005 | DEB RIECHMANN

[Hadean]

President Bush sought support Tuesday for his guest worker plan for foreigners, hoping to win over skeptical conservatives with a pledge to clamp down on illegal immigration — one of a growing number of issues causing friction between the White House and fellow Republicans.

"As we improve and expand our efforts to secure our borders, we must also recognize that that enforcement cannot work unless it is part of a larger comprehensive immigration reform program," Bush said. "If an employer has a job that no American is willing to take, we need to find a way to fill that demand by matching willing employers with willing workers from foreign countries on a temporary and legal basis."

[TomGuy]

Several months ago, I came up with a relatively simple 3-point plan that would basically solve the illegal immigration problem.

[Of course, it would have to implemented for it to work, and that has been with problem with illegal immigration anyway -- the lack of will to implement laws.]

3-step program:

1. On first round of investigations, fine any employer $10,000 per illegal found working for that employer.

2. On second round of investigations, fine any employer $100,000 per illegal found working for that employer.

[That would basically end the illegal hiring practices, if it were implemented and enforced. Of course, all special aid programs to illegals would have be stopped, too; otherwise, they are exchanging one form of subsidy for another.]

3. Conscript every able-bodied illegal male between the ages of 18 and 35 into the military for a mandatory 4 years. After successful service, the soldier may apply for legalized citizenship.

[That would basically send 8 out of 10 males between 18 and 35 running back to their homeland.]

If this 3-point plan were implemented, the Border Guards would be in severe danger from the stampede of illegals rushing to get out of the country.

[Black Tooth]

I'm an employer and I want my subsidized labor!

Don't get in the way of my profit margin!

[trubluolyguy]

Wow. He's gone full tilt this month. What's next?

---

Reparations and gay marriage?

[CindyDawg]

That's depending on the government to enforce. How about an anonymous tip line with rewards for all illegals reported, arrested and deported. No apprehesions. Just reporting. This could be set up by citizens

[Black Tooth]

What gets me are those that actually think these garbage D.C. is pushing is legitimate. And the real goofey cheerleaders, that are no doubt somehow making a profit off this subsidized labor, run around here trying to convince others that is some really good genius plan. What a bunch stupid crap. How stupid can some people be? Good Lord.

[trubluolyguy]

We're the blacks of the Republican party- nowhere else to go.

---

Bullkennedy! I will sit my butt at home and WATCH the dems win in '08. I have no problem with taking the Repubs out to the proverbial woodshed for a few years. It might hurt in the short term, but it would be a lesson no supposedly conservative Repub would soon forget. By 2012 we'd have a leaner, meaner more conservative Party ready to crack down on the border and (for once) enforce the damned law!

[CindyDawg]

Subsidized labor still possible. People on welfare and unemployment could work and receive the difference. I know of a couple of women who don't work because they have better benefit's on welfare. If they work they lose health insurance, groceries, housing, free child care etc.

[Black Tooth]

Seen the ER rooms in every American city lately Cindy? Why don't employers offer these millions of illegals med benefits?

[raybbr]

we need to find a way to fill that demand by matching willing employers with willing workers from foreign any hispanic countries...

Fixed

[CindyDawg]

Many companies do. It's expensive though. Why buy something when the government says you can have it for free?. The ER docs could evaluate them as stable and send them to Mexico but they and their hospitals won't because of liability. Illegals should not be here, should not be working here, should not receive benefits and should definately not be able to file civil charges IMO

[Modok]

Bush needs to un-ass his chair and seal the borders and then get rid of each and every illegal presently in the country.

[raybbr]

"This will allow us to hold more non-Mexican illegal immigrants while we process them through a program we call `expedited removal,'" Bush said. "Putting more of these non-Mexican illegal immigrants through expedited removal is crucial to ending the problem of catch-and-release."

This should remove any doubt as to whom he intends to deport and whom he wants to stay.

[Black Tooth]

Oh, and I am talking about the millions of illegal aliens. Not legal citizens. Again, looking at our jammed ER rooms, from coast to coast jammed with illegals, one has to wonder, why wouldn't these employers that love this dirt cheap labor, why don't they offer their illegal workers med benefits?

Why is that?

[TexasKamaAina]

There are merits for a guest worker program if properly administered.

Immigration is a problem because of its volume, not because of its legality or illegality. The impact of immigrants on the economy and the culture is not related to their legal status. It is related to their volume. One of the biggest problems with the volume is that it reduces the need to assimilate. Making these folks legal guest workers, without decreasing their numbers, will actually exacerbate that problem because it puts it explicitly on the table that they must eventaully leave the US.

Also, anyone who has read the justifications put forth during the 1800s for African slavery cannot help but see the similarities between some of those arguments and the claim that Mexicans simply "do the work that Americans won't do." This dependence upon cheap labor stifles innovation and drags down wages for everyone else.

[Black Tooth]

It's expensive though. Why buy something when the government says you can have it for free?

Oh, so the greedy employer knows med benefits are expensive, so they offer their illegals no med benefits. So these employers have no problem that our ER rooms across this country have become the doctors office for millions of criminals, that are here illegally.

What a disgrace. What an absolute greedy mess.

[sheana]

I think you are wrong. Alot of people are tired of holding their noses, me included. I will NOT vote for them anymore.

[Black Tooth]

Also, anyone who has read the justifications put forth during the 1800s for African slavery cannot help but see the similarities between some of those arguments and the claim that Mexicans simply "do the work that Americans won't do." This dependence upon cheap labor stifles innovation and drags down wages for everyone else.

I like the "who's going to pick our vegetables" argument. When in reality they are driving trucks, working in AC/heating, all service jobs, hotels, restaurants, all the construction industry etc. And they have driven down the wages in all those industries.

The employers love it. And will make a lot of noise is someone attempts to take their fat golden goose.

[CindyDawg]

You think I support hiring them? I don't. I think they ought to be fined big time and that ID and prints must be approved by the Feds with all green cards. I'm saying that you have companies that have no incentive not to hire. You have illegals that will work for a low wage, which is higher than they can get in Mexico because the benefits are so good. They get free education for their kids, Free health care, free housing, free.... Heck, I could probably do better myself at one of these jobs. Lastly you have a government that plays at enforcing our border and doesn't seem to care about what is happening. It's hard to fight all 3 of them.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Evidently illegals are all over this country, including where I live in PA. Our local Democrat DA seems to care about it, but I've lost faith in GWB's willingness to tackle the problem.

"Thirty-two Workers Charged as Illegal Immigrants in Easton, PA"

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1501688/posts

[Reaganwuzthebest]

See what Bush never mentions when he spouts the "Thy're just doing the jobs Americans don;t want to do" is that they are getting paid slave wages.

He never tells us what those jobs are that "no one wants to do" either.