Comments on: The Impact of Illegal Immigration on the US

By: Bill Carpenter

Bill Carpenter — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:36:50 +0000

My feeling is that if you are here then you should be contributing to society, right now that means paying taxes. If you aren’t paying taxes but you are using all the government programs then you are a drain on the system.

If there are too many of those types of parasites then the system will simply collapse as it will be paying out more than it is bringing in. I wish our country would eliminate income tax and just have a federal sales tax, then everyone who purchases goods and services will be paying into the system.

We could cut a lot of cost by making a requirement that you must be a citizen in order to get government benefits. No citizenship, no benefits. Period. I am not heartless but the problem is if you have too many people taking advantage of the system without contributing something back then it hurts everyone who is contributing and in the end the whole system could collapse. I don’t really think there is any easy answer, but I think eliminating federal income tax and moving to a sales tax would help.

By: A. Garcia

A. Garcia — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:45:33 +0000

Barry Kelley,
You disgust me! Out of every one who has left a comment clearly you are the ignorant one. Just because the have houses and drive nice cars does not mean they dont pay their taxes. You are just a HATER. And just becuase they dont speak your language dose not mean they aren’t educated. Do you know for a fact they dont pay taxes? Do you really ask every mexican you see if they are illegal or not? You are so close minded and repugnant.

By: Mel

Mel — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:59:51 +0000

“If you look at the ACTUAL economic statistics, the average American benefits from illegal immigrants much more than they are dragged down by them.”

And you want to tell us that the author is misinformed? Pot, meet Kettle. I invite you to provide those statics, along with the acompanying analyses and sourcing. While I don’t doubt that the argument has been made, I have no doubt that a closer look will be revealing.

By: Mel

Mel — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:19:35 +0000

Wow. Your all caps are impressive. And then it occurred to me that there is no “absolute inalienable RIGHT to go freely about the world.”

But thank you nonetheless. Your new age enlightenment was refreshing. Particularly your notion that if all people were free to immigrate to the US at will, “then a plethora of problems that currently exist would melt away into nothingness.”

You must be an economist!

By: Mel

Mel — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:14:31 +0000

Some good points, here. But generalizations don’t build your credibility. Nor does ignorance of the facts. For example, you write:

“Maybe a seasonal work program where the immigrants come to work and then return home would be a good idea. This would have to be based on trust that the illegal immigrant would return home out of season. That would be very difficult to enforce.”

Such a program exists. It has existed for decades. It’s called the H2 program. And yes, it suffers some of the problems which you cite: many who enter on that visa don’t return home when they should. Many do.

By: Barry Kelley

Barry Kelley — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 07:39:07 +0000

Suzanne, please see my comment above to Bob. I don’t know which of you is worse!!! You must be one of the “Free Spirits” that believe in no borders, no governments, no flags, following John Lennon’s ideas of “Imagine”. Well, imagine this. At the rate they are crossing the border and having 4,5, or 6 children, the American way of life as “The Greatest Generation” knew it, will cease to exist. The US will become one giant welfare state.

By: Barry Kelley

Barry Kelley — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 07:22:07 +0000

Bob,
You disgust me. You have no clue as to what is going on do you?? I live in CA and I am surrounded by illegals. They drive new cars and live in nice houses. They don’t pay any taxes. I see many of them buying food in the super market with food stamp debit cards. My taxes are paying teachers to teach their illegal kids in all the schools. Both my sister and I have been involved in accidents with illegals with no auto insurance. I see them in the emergency room at the hospital, waiting in line. They have no health insurance and soon will if Obamacare passes. I am sick of this crap. They all need to be deported back to wherever they came from. Twenty five per cent of all the inmates in federal prisons are illegals and we are paying about $40,000 per year to keep them there. This has got to stop soon. It has been estimated that without immigrants picking our vegetables, it would cost the average family about $200 more a year. I would be happy to pay that knowing that my country is free of these people that are nothing more than parasites, mostly ignorant, no desire to assimilate into our culture, learn our language, and obey our laws!!!!! Take your Mexican flag and stick it where the sun don’t shine!!!! God Bless Sheriff Joe in Arizona!!! We need more like him!!! REVOLUTION IS COMING!!!

By: Steve from Tampa

Steve from Tampa — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 05:18:54 +0000

Very racist slant by ‘BOB’. Obviously he has an axe to grind and is taking it all out on the citizens of the USA. Bob does not realize what goes in to making a country tick. If ole Bob thinks the US dollar is becoming the German WW2 Mark, then what does the Mexican Peso becoming? Mexico has plenty of natural resources as well as many mineral resources including oil. Mexico can become very self sufficient but due to their very corrupt government, Mexico will stay a notch below other nations because of the mordida (the bribe) and its corrupt government ways. Apparently Bob does not see that. What Bob sees is the mean nation to the north like Michelle Obama sees.
Yes, we have a very socialist leaning corrupt president here but Mexico has had its fair share of corrupt politicians for the past 100 years. Looking at Mexico is a textbook example of what could happen to a nation that only plays into politicians hands.
I have traveled Mexico from stem to stern in my years. My parents owned a home on the beach there back in the late 50’s and 60’s. My best friends are Mexicans. They see what happened to their country. And they have the foresight to see what is happening here. Nobody will be able to change Mexico as the players keep on making that country a 3rd world nation. So hold the anti – American comments BOB and open your mind and small sphere of knowledge to see what is actually going on.

By: Rette

Rette — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:02:52 +0000

My Mother was an immigrant. She spent the last 50 years of her life in the US, and never stopped trying to perfect her English, nor did she expect the school system to help her for free. I’m presently in Central Europe teaching English. If I want to learn the language of the country, guess what folks, I gotta pay for it. When I move to France, guess what folks, I gotta pay to increase my knowledge of French. A country can not be free if the burden of education, health care, and other services lies on the backs of a few. It’s called bankruptcy, deficit spending, negative cash flow or any other name you choose. Suzanne made some comments about freedom that kind can only exist in a utopia. Under her premise, all people should be free. What about that illegal immigrant in San Francisco who killed 3 people. Should he be free? My friends from Prague cannot come to the US without tons of paperwork and expense. They both work for US companies, and speak perfect English. The only thing they can’t do is crawl under the fence. I have, and have had, friends from many cultural backgrounds. I am not racist, ageist, sexist, homophobic or do I belong to any hate group. These labels do nothing but deprive me of my right to free speech. It’s a cop out comment from people who don’t have a good argument to substantiate their stand. I will not be returning to the US for this and many other reasons. Suffice to say, if the US doesn’t get a grip on this and other problems, the country as we know, it will no longer exist. Why do you think so many CEOs want salaries in the millions? Because that’s what it’s going to take. They’re not stupid. The dollar is becoming the new German Mark after World War II. Not worth anything. I know, I track the rate of exchange every day.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:18:30 +0000

Zara,

Let me get this right. You think that people who at great risk and expense come illegally to the US of their own free will and illegally obtain jobs that they get paid for are SLAVES. Thats laughable at best. You must be kidding. Please look up the word SLAVE in the dictionary before you use it again.

By: bob in exile

bob in exile — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:47:09 +0000

Looking at the situation from the other side of the fence. I’m in Mexico and I’m treated with respect, even though the U.S. has interfered with Mexican politics for over a hundred years’ Read History and you’ll see this is true. Anyway it’s disheartning to see young men have to leave their families just because they need work…why do they do it??? One reason is that Foreign Companies come here to exploit the people looking for cheap labor…. They pay a minimum wage of $5 dollars a day, I don’t think an American would put up with that. Then they hear there are jobs in N.Y. or L.A. or whereever that pays $10 dollars an hour. so 10 to 15 % of the country migrates. It’s all about greed of the manufacturing complex. And I know for a fact that if they can get a worker for 10 cents a day less in China or VietNam or where ever, they will mercilessly pull up stakes and move on. I have talked to young boys thinking of illegally entering the U.S. by dangerously crossing snake infested deserts just to get a miserable job and be insulted by racists, tried to talk them into staying in their own country and fight the injustice, even if it means suffering. For a country to have to depend on a heartless neighbor is humiliating. Better to make an alliance with Europe. The European Union allows its members to move freely between its countries…What does NAFTA do???? Looks like nothing more than capitalist greed to me. Mexicans stay at home…let them pick their own cotton , weed their own gardens and watch prices skyrocket when they find that no one there wants to work for minimum wages or even work!!!!!

By: Kim

Kim — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:18:55 +0000

I whole heartedly agree with this article. As a teacher in Oregon, I see daily the negative impact of the current immigration policies. Our entire educational system is being destroyed. My brightest students are neglected because I have to devote so much time and attention to students whole refuse to learn english. The amount of money spent on ESL is criminal. Students born in this country, educated in bi-lingual classes since kindergarten cannot pass grade level english language tests. I have had students refuse to say, or even stand for the Pledge of Aligence. One young man even spat on the Flag and then cursed everything he could think of that this country stands for. As a 10 year old he is espousing the views heard at home. I wanted to kick his butt out of my class, all the way back to Mexico. What I had to do was smile and bite my tongue, for objecting means loosing my job. And the current administration wants to give legal status to these people. It leaves me very angry, especially because my family ( a same sex couple with a son) are denied legal status. I am not trying to divert this discussion from the original topic, just pointing out that there are a lot of other people who pay taxes, follow the laws and add to our communities that are being overlooked. Last point: Add 20+million, Hispanic, Roman Catholic voters and my rights will never be granted. So yea, I’m pi##ed! Thus the reason for trolling this site, looking for a country where a lesbian school teacher/church bell choir director, retired contractor/now stay at home mom and their 2 year old son can be good neighbors

By: suzanne

suzanne — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:55:06 +0000

Try thinking a liitle broader and finding why compassion is the only rule that allows humanity to survive in the Universe. Just taking a stand that something is ‘illegal’ without taking the time to conscientiously EXAMINE the foundation that gave rise the the proclamation , is blind and often ignorant followship. How does an arbitrary line, drawn in the sand by individuals who self proclaim that they hold the ultimate power to decide for others, become a foundation for ‘law’ when any FREE HUMAN BEING on the planet EARTH decides to exercise his absolutely inalienable RIGHT to go freely about the world simply crosses over it? The way it does so is by the firm and absolute establishment of ARROGANCE and the threats of FORCE and HARM that come from a few select people ASSUMING they are SUPERIOR to others. Personal Sovereignity dictates, and rightly so, that each and every FREE HUMAN BEING is equal in status to every other. No one is above another,as is no one below. No sovereign being ‘rules’ another, nor are they in turn ‘ruled’ by anyone else. In turn this sets the principle of INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS in stone. Were this principle adhered to, and not overturned at the very basic level, such as arrogantly proclaiming that crossing an abritrary line in the sand is a ‘crime’ and thus people doing so are now ‘illegal’, then a plethora of problems that currently exist would melt away into nothingness and the sincere but caustic comments that are rampant on these boards (stemming from all sides), would not be necessary and no harm would come from them. Until objective assesments of law are the rule rather than the exception, and law is thoroughly and completey examined and reviewed for any and all consequence; only argument and bitterness will be the continual result , as is in evidence , in full, on these boards. It is time to replace all that with a firm embrace of compassion, the true ruler of the Universe.

By: Zarathustra

Zarathustra — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:07:03 +0000

I’m not for the open border policy we seem to have in this country, but I’m also not for articles filled with truisms and middle aged anger at a world passing you by. What I hear in this article is a Glenn Beck wannabe who can’t quite find a voice, or a reference, for his statements.
Here is the ugly truth about illegal immigration that you can’t seem to understand, but everyone in Washington does: a goods and services based society, such as ourselves, RELIES ON SLAVE LABOR. Its the sad truth

By: Ellie

Ellie — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:18:15 +0000

I too enjoyed the article and Steve Parker’s comments. When I think of my mother’s grandfather who legally immigrated from Germany, he never learned much English. He was a cowboy and the cows didn’t care what language he spoke was the argument he made. But his grandchildren and great grandchildren spoke no German, so he missed out on a lot. I used to live near the Mexican border and in a nearby border town the election poll workers were barred by a court order from challenging the identity of those who arrived to vote. They frequently had more people arrive to vote than were on the local voter roles, of course several dozen with the same name and address voting but they could do nothing. Interesting how a predominantly republican county turned out so many more democrat votes in precincts than there were voters on the roles. The lines of people crossing into the US to vote and then return to Mexico were almost as disgusting as the lines of school children crossing to go to American schools because they really live with aunt Martha in the US. How can political-correctness be so correct when it is so clearly wrong?