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Help the writers! Ignore Pedro!
Times of London ^ | November 27, 2007 | Chris Ayres

Posted on 11/26/2007 7:09:57 PM PST by proxy_user

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I cannot say I agree with all the author's views, but he has an interesting take on the real interests of the liberal elite.

I am personally opposed to illegal immigration, but see no need for excessive cruelty or harshness to those who just came here and worked. OK, you have to leave, but we're not going to Taser you or take all your money.

1 posted on 11/26/2007 7:09:59 PM PST by proxy_user
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To: proxy_user
"Zapeta, an illegal immigrant, scrubbed pots for 11 years on minimum wage, somehow managing to save $62,000."

I don't believe that.

2 posted on 11/26/2007 7:17:40 PM PST by Anti-Bubba182
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To: proxy_user
Ayres is a good writer. He reported from Iraq at the beginning of the war and wrote a terrific book about his experience, War Reporting for Cowards.
3 posted on 11/26/2007 7:23:12 PM PST by RedRover (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: proxy_user
Read some of the background about that Zapeta story.

links

He wasn't tasered and nobody took all his money.

4 posted on 11/26/2007 7:27:20 PM PST by perfect stranger
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To: proxy_user

You’re not going to find a much more rabid anti illegal immigrant advocate than I. That being said, stealing $52 thousand dollars from a man who worked for minimum wages is unacceptable to me.

If we want to get serious about illegal immigration, then do so. Don’t do this.

The federal government has come to the conclusion somewhere along the line that all our cash are belong to them. If I have two gazillion dollars I have earned legally and want to move, it’s none of the fereral government’s damned business when, how and where I move it to.

It’s my money. End of story!


5 posted on 11/26/2007 7:32:00 PM PST by DoughtyOne (California, where the death penalty is reserved for wholesome values. SB 777)
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To: perfect stranger

They took $49 of the $59 thousand dollars he had on him.

If the government wanted to fine him to compensate for taxes he didn’t pay, I could understand. Taking $49k of $59k is a rather high tax rate.

Look, I condemn the illegal for what they are doing. The fact is though, our federal government didn’t give a hot hefty until recently, and I’m not convinced they five a damn now.

If this guy would have set up a bank account, and many banks will let illegals these days, he could have wired that money with no problem at all.

That’s just how lame their taking $49k actually was.


6 posted on 11/26/2007 7:37:38 PM PST by DoughtyOne (California, where the death penalty is reserved for wholesome values. SB 777)
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To: proxy_user

7 posted on 11/26/2007 7:39:27 PM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: proxy_user

It doesn’t say anything about America’s mood. I doubt that 63% of Americans give a rats’ ass about Hollywood writers and their labor struggle over internet royalties. A high-toned meal at a high-toned Hollywood restaurant doesn’t mean squat to any of us.

Pedro’s problem is he broke a number of American laws on his way to his Guatemalan dream home or whatever the real story is.

The author is just using a clever little rhetorical trick by comparing two completely unrelated issues and declaring that Americans hold hypocitical viewpoints and that this ‘fact’ holds some deeper meaning. As if ‘Americans’ have, as a whole, examined the issues and declared, “Save the writers, screw Pedro...” Puh-leeze.

How can Americans persecute poor Pedro and at the same time support a priviledged elite? Who cares?


8 posted on 11/26/2007 7:45:18 PM PST by telebob
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To: telebob

A high-toned meal at a high-toned Hollywood restaurant doesn’t mean squat to any of us.


Still, $18 is a pretty good deal.


9 posted on 11/26/2007 7:49:43 PM PST by durasell (!)
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To: Anti-Bubba182
I don't believe that.

It seems a bit of a stretch to me as well.

Based on an average wage of $5 per hour over those 11 years, he would have had an income of about $866 per month (if he was working full time with no vacations or sick days). After all of his living expenses, he would have had to be saving $470 of that to accumulate $62,000 over the 11-year period.

Could he have lived on about $400 per month in total expenses? While I suppose that it's possible, I'd consider it rather unlikely.

10 posted on 11/26/2007 7:49:43 PM PST by Bob
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To: durasell
"Still, $18 is a pretty good deal."

You got me on that one...

11 posted on 11/26/2007 7:53:34 PM PST by telebob
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To: Anti-Bubba182
"Zapeta, an illegal immigrant, scrubbed pots for 11 years on minimum wage, somehow managing to save $62,000." I don't believe that.

Hell, that's only $6000 per year every year for 11 years. That's only 500 a month, every month, of extra money going into savings. What's not to believe? (/extreme sacr)

12 posted on 11/26/2007 7:53:36 PM PST by NurdlyPeon (Thompson / Hunter in 2008)
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To: DoughtyOne
If this guy would have set up a bank account, and many banks will let illegals these days, he could have wired that money with no problem at all.

The guy has been breaking many laws for 10 plus years so far - so let's let him ignore this one, too.

Taking $49k of $59k is a rather high tax rate.

What do you think should be the tax rate of illegal income?

13 posted on 11/26/2007 7:53:38 PM PST by perfect stranger
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To: proxy_user

That illegal must never have spoken to another person not to know how to funnel money home. I also find it hard to believe all he ever did was wash dishes for minimum wage. Alot of those guys work more than one job and are always on the lookout for better money. Also, if in 11 years he didn’t avail himself of the many many advocacies for immigrants including free English classes then he only has himself to blame. Besides which if he saved that kind of money after food, rent transportation and other expenses I doubt seriously he was making minimum wage.


14 posted on 11/26/2007 7:55:26 PM PST by visualops (artlife.us)
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To: proxy_user
Campanile, great place! I love the salmon and the prime rib.

Bit on the pricey side though.

15 posted on 11/26/2007 8:05:58 PM PST by R_Kangel ("Please insert witty tag-line here")
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To: Anti-Bubba182
I don’t either not on minimum wage the numbers just don’t add up.That being said my position is if you enter this country illegally and steal wages from an American by undercutting the established wage structure your money should be sized and any other property acquired since by entering the country illegally you have committed a crime.It only makes sense that if we size the assets of these criminals we will take away their incentive to come or stay here.
16 posted on 11/26/2007 8:07:13 PM PST by bonehead4freedom (I need a good tag line!)
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To: proxy_user

A can of Campbells costs about $1.50. A box of crackers costs a buck or two. That’s two meals, at let’s say $1.50 per. I’m having a real hard time feeling sorry for these writers, especially since they turn out trash that rots young minds.


17 posted on 11/26/2007 8:21:52 PM PST by Rembrandt (We would have won Viet Nam w/o Dim interference.)
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To: telebob
"Now that the American public has lent its sympathy to one of the tiniest and most privileged elites in modern society, surely anything is possible."

I seriously doubt that 90% of the population even knows there IS a writer's strike.

18 posted on 11/26/2007 9:21:13 PM PST by boop (Who doesn't love poison pot pies?)
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To: Bob
"After all of his living expenses, he would have had to be saving $470 of that to accumulate $62,000 over the 11-year period"

Why is this so tough to believe? Hillary had minimum wage earning dishwashers that donated $2300 apiece to her campaign. The minimum wage must be great to be able to afford that kind of expense. Even I can't afford that.

19 posted on 11/26/2007 9:24:57 PM PST by boop (Who doesn't love poison pot pies?)
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To: Bob

You make the mistake he had much in the way of living expenses, illegals tend to have 2 or 3 families for one apartment.


20 posted on 11/26/2007 9:29:06 PM PST by Xenophon450 (They say it's lonely at the top, then I am as lonely as can be.)
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