Do you know a legalized immigrant?

[therealUT]

i hear you there. my dad worked in the coal mines in pikeville kentucky before we moved north. we didn't even have indoor plumbing. he got lucky and landed a job at a automotive plant in toledo ohio. what your trying to say is you don't need a car and if you have a car it is against the law not to have insurance. do you have a car. that is just wrong. if you have a car you are a hypocrite.

Not a hypocrite at all. I never said there is anything wrong with luxury expenses. Having a car is a luxury, having a cell phone is a luxury. However, minimum wage jobs and welfare programs should not support luxury spending.

 

[smokedog#3]

empire most of my family is in pikeville kentucky. i lived in ohio in phoenix arizona and now sevierville tennessee. so yes i'm a fellow kentuckian. bell county i've heard of that where is it exactly located.

 

[volinbham]

Late to the thread but here are a few thoughts on the posts so far.

1) I work with a Chinese man who immigrated 20 years ago (legally). He's pissed. His point is less about the immigration and more about the demands of the illegal immigrants for benefits. I agree with him on this one - if you break the law then protest that I have to support you; it just doesn't seem right.

2) While there is racism against Mexicans, and other illegal immigrants there is also racism from them against Americans. Further, not all or even most that are concerned about this issue are racist.

3) Typically, economists would consider 4 - 5% unemployment as "full-employment". In short 4 - 5% of the population is incapable of work or anti-productive. Over the last decade, this country has been in good shape unemployment wise.

4) I believe that illegals do perform jobs that most Americans are unwilling to do at the current wages. To stop the flow completely would have pretty dramatic impacts on our economy.

Overall, I favor the Bush and Senate plan - control the borders, establish a guest worker program, use penalties for those already here if they want to enter the legit process.

While I have compassion for those here illegally in terms of seeking a better life and their family connections, I don't believe you can just break the law with no consequences. The arguments of this was originally Mexico are meaningless to me. Every piece of land was someone else's at some time. No one is entitled to come to this country but most are welcome to.

 

[therealUT]

'Breaking the law with no consequences...'

I believe this happens all the time. Only around 13% of all homicide cases even lead to an arrest (much less a conviction) and how about speeding, running stop signs, and failing to signal a lane change?

People break the law everyday. Therefore, I see no problem with the government continue to monitor the situation but keep their hands to themselves.

 

[smokedog#3]

yes but they are trying to catch the killers. for the most part our great federal government witch suppose to be upholding the law on illegals are doing nothing. there is a real big difference there.

 

[therealUT]

Smokedog, you have to understand the difference between the 'letter of the law' and the 'spirit of law.'

The latter is the belief that laws are there to protect citizens from harm. So, if illegal immigration actually benefits America as a whole, then the spirit of law would say not to enforce.

 

[smokedog#3]

so now laws are no good either, then why did they pass it to begin with.

 

[therealUT]

so now laws are no good either, then why did they pass it to begin with.

Laws are good, however, it is the spirit of the law that is important.

 

[smokedog#3]

the spirit of the law. man it seems like somebody is giving me the doubletalk. soundlike a preacher or something. why don't we just use the force and be done with it.