Discovering Poverty (Again) (due to illegal immigration)

Washington Post ^ | September 21, 2005 | Robert J. Samuelson

[dennisw]

Given these trends, the overall poverty rate should be drifting down. It isn't. The main reason, as I've written before, is immigration. We have uncontrolled entry of poor, unskilled workers across our southern border. Although many succeed, many don't, and many poor Latino immigrants have children, who are also poor. In 2004, 25 percent of the poverty population was Hispanic, up from 12 percent in 1980. Over this period, Hispanics represented almost three-quarters of the increase in the poverty population.

[Black Tooth]

,I>Give me your tired, your poor rich, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free...

It's the Statue of Liberty, not the Statue of illegal immigration.

[SealSeven]

"You are wasting valuable bandwidth with nonsense."
Oh yeah, your previous post to me, "Apparently you are a slow reader and have difficulty with comprehension. I will try to write slower and use smaller words just for you. Happy?
is bandwidth worthy.
"You have no qualification to call people "anti-American" as you referred to me in your post. As I wrote earlier, name calling is best left for children and liberals. Adults don't need to."
The majority of your statements are anti-American and pro illegal alien (Specifically, Mexican). You praise law breakers and criticize law abiders. Whats your problem. Yes, we have too many on welfare but why not make those who are able to, take these jobs? If you want to come to this country, fine. Do it legally. Is there is problem with that? I am hispanic (not of mexican descent)but I am AMERICAN FIRST. My allegience is with the US and no other. Do you have anything good to say about this country and your fellow countrymen?

[RTINSC]

Again, you apparently have a reading comprehension problem. The issue I have been addressing is not illegal immigration. I am opposed to illegal immigration. Please read the topic of this thread. (Discovering Poverty Again-due to illegal immigration)....Poverty is not caused by people who work. My concerns are the vast number of able bodied men and women in our country who do not work and will not work as long as our government provides incentives to not work. It is an excuse to say "there are no jobs available because of illegal aliens taking all the jobs". There are plenty of jobs available. Thousands of New Orleans evacuees have already found new jobs in new areas. People who work and are willing to work have my admiration. I don't care who they are. If you think I have written something that indicates I am anti- American, put it up or shut it up.

[Black Tooth]

What does that say about our government officials who still refuse to stop the invasion at our borders.

It says we haven't been beat down hard enough yet to stop paying these people to abuse us.

[SealSeven]

Every one of your posts are anti American. Just pick one.
You speak of illegal aliens as though they are the next best thing next to sliced bread.
Your bias is so obvious, its appalling.
Again, you are Anti American.

[Kozak]

Yeah, and by having an endless stream of people who come here illegally, willing to work those jobs for next to nothing, they depress the wages in those jobs and make them unattractive for our poor to take. It makes no sense to take a job paying mimumum or less wage and lose welfare benefits, where it might make sense to take the same job for 9 or 10 dollars an hour.

[RTINSC]

You must be disappointed that you could not find anything to quote in any of my previous posts that would back up your original statement that I am anti-American. You don't have a factual basis for your remark so you resort to name calling, just like liberals do when unable to back up their assertions. Liberals trip themselves up when they make mean spirited comments they can't back up. You sound like a liberal to me. Liberals always want a higher minimum wage, more benefits, and are always looking for excuses. Liberals always try to change the subject when they have no answer. Just like you. The thread is about poverty, not about you. Stay on topic.

[SealSeven]

What I wrote: Every one of your posts are anti American. Just pick one.



Maybe your the one with the comprehension problems, Einstein -

[RTINSC]

My posts are there for all to see. Put one up and show me an anti-American post I wrote. You are all hat and no cattle, right?

[SealSeven]

Allrighty. Post 5: "Next time you stay at a hotel, look who is cleaning the rooms, making the beds, and washing the floors. Mostly latinos, legal or not. They work the jobs the American "poor" don't want to work. These jobs aren't good enough, apparently, for the "poor" in our country. So we reward our "poor" for not working by providing unending assistance that requires nothing in return. The latinos want to work and take care of their families. They band together to help one another. They do not depend on government handouts like the "poor" in America. Blaming illegal immigrants for the increase in our poverty level is wrong." Post 7: "How can America afford giving assistance to app. 40 million welfare recipients and not requiring that they do the work that 12 million illegals do ?" ..........Googled" Post 13: "The article is about latinos causing an increase in poverty, not about illegal immigration, which I oppose. The fact is there are millions of jobs that go unfilled in our country. Why are they not filled? Why do we have 40 million people on government assistance who do not fill these jobs? If, as you state, more Americans would do these jobs, why are they not filled? Again, visit any hotel and observe who is cleaning the rooms. I see mostly latino women. It is unlikely a hotel chain or organized business would pay people under the table." Post 21: "You validate my point. While it is true that many illegals obtain false ID to obtain employment, they are paid in most cases at minimum wage and receive the same benefits. They get these jobs because they are unfilled by our own people.. My issue has more to do with the vast number of able bodied men and women who think these type jobs are beneath their dignity and who would rather work the "system" instead of working. It is easier to beat the system than to work. Our entitlement society will only create generations of people who live in "poverty" and who are forced to buy generic cigarettes, cheap booze, and basic cable TV. I admire those people who are willing to work and are not dependent on others. I don't care who they are." Post 24: "How about a trade with Fox...We take all the able bodied Mexicans who want to work, and in turn, we give him all the able bodied Americans who don't want to work? What would be wrong with that?" Post 25: "If, as you've said, most employees of fast food are paid the same wage, why are aliens in those jobs? Why, if the pay is the same, does an employer hire an alien and not a teenager? Can't today's teen compete for a minimum wage job?" Post 28: Oh I see..The alien at the Burger King fast food window gives hand signals when he takes your order. That way, nobody will know he doesn't speak English and his boss will not know that he is unqualified for his job and therefore, he will be able to keep it. Makes perfect sense.." Post 34: "Mexican managers should not be hired? Why would this be "stupid" on a corporate level? How do you know most illegal aliens and fresh immigrants are "cheap"? Do you spend your all of your time hanging around fast food restaurants? If you have a bias aganst Mexicans, why don't you just state it. Sounds to me like you've been eating too many double cheeseburgers." Post 38: ""At least I got your goat." Gosh, you got my goat. What exactly does that mean? And why shouldn't non English speakers work behind fast food counters? What are your qualifications to make all these bizarre statements about what others should and shouldn't do??" Post 43: "Illegal Mexican workers are not the "new poor". They come here to work. Many work hard and send what they can back to support their families. They know what real poverty is and appreciate what it means to have a job and work. They do not consider themselves poor. We have an underclass of about 40 million people who are subsidized by the government, our so-called "poverty" class, with many able bodied people who choose not to work. This is not real poverty. I oppose illegal immigration but I am for people who want to work and improve their lives." Not ONE bad thing to say about illegals. They have their underclass as well but you choose to ignore them. Instead, you slam America. You are right, you are not anti American.. Your RABIDLY anti America(n).

[SealSeven]

I screwed up the formatting. My bad -

[Edit35]

They work the jobs the American "poor" don't want to work.

Somehow I suspect you don't travel much through Eastcoast (or any region) cities much, or you would see with your own eyes the blocks and unending blocks of Mexican/Latino immigrants, most illegal.

Police departments spend much of their time battling Latino?mexican gangs (no english), Latino?Mexican drug rings, and domestic calls to apartments stuffed with four families per apartments, none of which speak english and none of which has any legal means of support.(most work under the table for cash, a near certain sign of an illegal immigrant.)

Yes, many well intending Latino's take menial jobs that Americans don't want, but this country is stuffed to the gills with more than enough illegals already to fill those jobs.

Even the once tranquil suburbs are quickly becoming over-run by transient illegal immigrants, forcing schools and police depts. to outsource and hire people that can speak Spanish during emergency situations.

I feel compassion for everyone and wish everyone well.

But our once great melting pot country is overwhelmed with illegal Latino immigrants, and just as in cooking, too much of any one ingredient causes problems.

We must find a way to return these people to their home country, hopefully for proper processing.

To do anything less will only encourage additional waves and waves of more illegals, and that I fear will threaten our law abiding Eurocentric tranquility, which is one of the very reasons our country is so successful in the first place.

[RTINSC]

Good post Mojo.

It is true that the cities especially are overwhelmed with illegal immigrants. I live in a big city and see this on a daily basis. I agree with most of what you write and that illegal immigration must be stopped. I am opposed to illegal immigration.

My issue is that poverty in the US should not be blamed solely on the illegal Mexicans, as the article of this thread implies. We've had a "poverty class" in our country long before illegals began flocking here. We have large numbers of able bodied men and women who don't work or won't work because our government creates incentives for them not to work or to find work. Take away these incentives and people will have to find and accept work and will overcome their "poverty" status. I see this also on a daily basis. That "illegal immigrants are taking all the jobs" is just one more excuse for not working or looking for work. There are plenty of jobs out there. How many of the New Orleans "evacuees" have found new jobs in new places?

Thanks for your comments.

[RTINSC]

Thanks for taking the time to put all my posts up.

You apparently are concerned that I have not said enough "bad things" about illegal immigrants. How about this - "Illegal immigants are breaking the law" or "Illegal immigrants should be deported for breaking the law". Perhaps you are hoping I will say "shoot them, hang them, kill them all"? Keep hoping. But please, stay on topic and if you have anything informative to add to the discussion, feel free to comment.

[SealSeven]

"You apparently are concerned that I have not said enough "bad things" about illegal immigrants. How about this - "Illegal immigants are breaking the law" or "Illegal immigrants should be deported for breaking the law". Perhaps you are hoping I will say "shoot them, hang them, kill them all"? Keep hoping. But please, stay on topic and if you have anything informative to add to the discussion, feel free to comment."

RT, did you forget the /s at the end of this post?

[RTINSC]

I never put "/s" at the end of posts as I think most FR posters have sufficient reading comprehension ability to know sarcasm when they read it. Occasionally, there is that odd poster who needs "helpers" to better understand what they are reading. Your concern is noted and appreciated.

[SealSeven]

Typical insults by an anti America(n).

Your little insults only add to your stance of being Pro illegals.
If anyone has "comprehension" problems, it's you. Your ignorance is laughable and, sad.

I'm done with you on this thread. You are a lost cause.
Here is a bit of advice: Think before you type. Your "holier than thou" posts are making an arse of you.
Try not to be an obvious quisling.
You have a good day.

[RTINSC]

RT 1
SealSeven 0

[Exton1]

on one hand your right, welfare makes it too easy for the poor to live. They can own a house, have a color TV, Cable, Expensive tennis shoes. But then the illegals will only work this hard as long as they are illegal. Give them amnesty and they will end up on welfare.

[RTINSC]

"But then the illegals will only work this hard as long as they are illegal. Give them amnesty and they will end up on welfare."

Good point. Amnesty may not be the answer. But what are the alternatives? There are two issues. How do we deal with those already here illegally and how do we stop the inflow?. How do we remove 12 million+ people against their will? It's like putting toothpaste back in the tube. Would laws fining employers make these people leave or would it create a huge crime problem? How would these laws get passed? What is realistic?

Securing the borders is the easier issue. National Guard or military on the border . There is no simple solution for dealing with those already here illegally. What are your suggestions?