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Immigration debate needs common sense
townhall ^ | Mar 31, 2006 | Tony Snow

Posted on 03/30/2006 10:44:15 PM PST by ncountylee

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Illegal immigration seems to have spawned a dreary debate about the merits of Mexicans, when it should be drawing attention instead to a very different matter: how to build on the luster and wonder of the American dream.

Immigration is not the pox neo-Know Nothings make it out to be. Begin with the astounding influx of illegal immigrants, the vast majority of whom hail from Mexico. While the population includes an eye-popping number of crooks, drug-dealers and would-be welfare sponges, it also provides a helpful prop for sustaining American economic growth and cultural dynamism.

Princeton University sociologist Douglas S. Massey reports that 62 percent of illegal immigrants pay income taxes (via withholding) and 66 percent contribute to Social Security. Forbes magazine notes that Mexican illegals aren't clogging up the social-services system: only 5 percent receive food stamps or unemployment assistance; 10 percent send kids to public schools.

On the work front, Hispanic unemployment has tumbled to 5.5 percent, only slightly above the national average of 4.7 percent and considerably lower than the black unemployment rate of 9.3 percent. Economist Larry Kudlow praises Hispanic entrepreneurship: "According to 2002 Census Bureau data, Hispanics are opening businesses at a rate three times faster than the national average. In addition, there were almost 1.6 million Hispanic-owned businesses generating $222 billion in revenue in 2002."

Skeptics counter that immigrants have clogged our hospitals, which is true -- but primarily in places that offer lavish benefits to illegal immigrants.

(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
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To: ncountylee

BTW: California's generous welfare state doesn't change the fact that the illegals should have been deported YESTERDAY.


81 posted on 03/31/2006 7:34:44 PM PST by Clemenza (I Just Wasn't Made for These Times)
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To: TAdams8591
Pardon? Staytrue said some on this forum make him sick. I told him to mind his health & not log on.

Now don't you feel silly?

82 posted on 03/31/2006 7:38:38 PM PST by skeeter (eat mo' pie)
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To: staytrue
COME AND GET ME, IF YOU DARE.

How melodramatic.

You complained about getting sick, I suggested you avoid FR if it makes you sick.

Knucklehead.

83 posted on 03/31/2006 7:40:58 PM PST by skeeter (eat mo' pie)
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To: skeeter

I don't feel silly, but relieved. I'm glad it wasn't a threat.


84 posted on 03/31/2006 7:45:44 PM PST by TAdams8591 (President Bush's second term is undoing all the good he accomplished in his first term!)
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To: TAdams8591
I'm glad it wasn't a threat.

Hardly. Staytrue is amusing.

85 posted on 03/31/2006 7:49:53 PM PST by skeeter (eat mo' pie)
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To: TAdams8591
I'm glad it wasn't a threat.

Hardly. Staytrue is amusing.

86 posted on 03/31/2006 7:49:55 PM PST by skeeter (eat mo' pie)
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To: staytrue
Isnt Tony Snow the one implying racism in people who disagree with him? Or is calling them Know-Nothings meant as a compliment now?
87 posted on 04/01/2006 5:10:10 AM PST by mthom
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To: Nathan Zachary

"...you are saying that you agree with all these illegals flooding into the country day and night, (more than ever now) be given amnesty? "

Good. Hope you feel the same way when you get fired
.......or even worse threaten to shoot one for trespassing on your property and be sued for your "home"."

OR be threatened during the night at your home and "God-Forbid" have to use your gun or weapons to defend yourself and yur family and lose your home in the courts for defending yourself....... as has happened near the Mexican and Texas border recently :
..... and which will be happening more and more if those borders are not better protected soon.


88 posted on 04/03/2006 12:42:41 AM PDT by twidle (Just because everybody does it doesn't make it ok!!)
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To: Nathan Zachary

"...you are saying that you agree with all these illegals flooding into the country day and night, (more than ever now) be given amnesty? "

Good. Hope you feel the same way when you get fired
.......or even worse threaten to shoot one for trespassing on your property and be sued for your "home"."

OR be threatened during the night at your home and "God-Forbid" have to use your gun or weapons to defend yourself and yur family and lose your home in the courts for defending yourself....... as has happened near the Mexican and Texas border recently :
..... and which will be happening more and more if those borders are not better protected soon.


89 posted on 04/03/2006 12:42:43 AM PDT by twidle (Just because everybody does it doesn't make it ok!!)
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To: LowCountryJoe

More fertilizer logic by so called experts, we could counter this garbage with tons of REAL reasons by experts that PROVE illegals are a detriment affecting our economy as proven by their "great boycott" against AMERICA's economy, actions speak LOUDER than these so called economists OPINIONS, and that is all this is , OPINION of a bunch of pro-illegals.


90 posted on 05/03/2006 4:07:45 AM PDT by stopem (To allow a bunch of third world country nationals to divide Americans is unconscionable!)
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