Most of them don't make enough to owe any income taxes.
Agree with the first poster.
If anything, they'll get money back, re: Child Tax Credit/Earned Income Credit.
Trust me, they make enough money.
This is a sound plan to right an inherited issue that needs righting.
Most of 'em don't make enough to be taxed. Instead, they will be getting more welfare through "earned income tax credits."
Yes, you are off base.
A net loss for sure.
It's my understanding many of them deal in cash. Legalizing them and hoping to pick up some of their money by means of the income tax is not the solution. Deport those who are here illegally; that's the rule of law. For those still here, abolish the income tax and pass a national sales tax. When they go to WalMart for a new color TV, you'll finally get them to pay some portion of the cost of government.
We know an elderly couple who run a small horse-boarding farm a few miles north of the Wisc/IL border. For the past 7 years they have had 1 Mexican worker in charge of cleaning their stables/barns. They know he lives in Illinois, is green carded and speaks decent English. He brings in 2 or 3 other fellows who do NOT speak English and all communication goes through him; whether they are legal or illegal in this country has never been asked. They do very good work and are paid good wages which are not taxed.
I've talked to the headman and know that he has
family here as well as back in Mexico. Over the years he
has made several trips back home to visit. I'd sure like
to ask him what he thinks about the Bush proposal...just to get another view of the problem. Under the ground rules presented by Bush, this man would be eligible since he's been here for quite a while and is gainfully employed. But
how does that apply to his family who live here? Are they
legal as well if Dad/husband has a green card? In all honesty, I don't know enough about the legal/illegal status
of Mexican nationals to make rational decisions...other than the horrible border situation.
The best think tank on this issue, bar none, is Center for Immigration Studies, a group whose research on the impact of illegal aliens on our economy are the gold standard.
The problem isn't that the workers are illegal, the problem is that employers are able to pay below minimum wage with no benefits (social security, worker's comp, unemployment insurance, etc.) If we legalize those already here, the employers will still seek out more illegals to continue paying low wages with no benefits. After the first amnesty under Ronald Reagan, there was a huge influx of new illegals into the country. The solution to the illegal immigration problem is to punish employers who hire them.
If we were to give amnesty to all the current illegals, but signficantly and permanently change the dynamics and the law enforcement for all subsequent illegals, I would be OK with this. It's part two I'm worried about, however.
Hispanic voters moving to the Republican party just re-elected our President. This situation needs addressing, oh I know I'm being cynical, so?
We need to flood our congress-critters with complaints about the hare-brained scheme to legalize illegals.
Lots of considerations here:
1. Most illegals work for cash--off the books. Regularize their status and many might come into the regular economy and pay taxes.
2. One reason why they work so cheaply is that they work off the books and don't have taxes taken out. This, combined with their acceptance of lower living conditions, gives them enough money to send some back to families. So they'd probably need higher wages.
3.Higher wages = higher costs= higher cost of living for all of us in all liklihood.
4. Given the choice of a citizen laborer vs. an alien laborer for the same money, who would the employer choose? Don't be too quick to say the American, because many aliens are willing to work harder at tough jobs than their spoiled American counterparts.
Most Americans are incredibly naive and ill informed when it comes to the topic of illegal Mexicans in the US.
They are so deeply rooted in our economy that to "find & deport them all" as some suggest would very possibly put us in an economic tailspin from which we might not recover.
Rounding them up ? Hah - we would need to use Nazi tactics to accomplish that - sure that will fly.
Tax generators - Most of these folks have fake ID's & fake SSN's The Fed receives billion of tax dollars via employers who play by the rules insofar as reporting and paying taxes for them - taxes for which the Taxed will likely receive no benifit. I'm well aware of the allegations that they use so many other social programs but I personally don't see it.
I'm pretty certain that nearly every single hispanic you see at work or simply on the street or driving a vehicle is not legal. There are so many in most major cities, they have become such an integral part of the fabric of out society, it just wouldnt fly to simply put on the hobnail boots & kick them out. (righteous and "high road" as this may seem.)
I have more confidence in W than to think that his only motive is to gain votes. I believe he sees all sides of this picture and is struggling to come up with some positive action toward a solution.
I believe we should support W.
The problem is far deeper than most Americans know.
It's hardly righteous for WE THE PEOPLE to say to the Mexican in our country - "it's okay if you pick fruit & do the most difficult or repetative menial jobs that we would otherwise have to get drunks & druggies to perform - but just keep your numbers down and don't try to climb our social ladder"
You may pick apart GW's attemps topward a solution - but I can pick apart your's too.