Friday, May 18, 2007

Reader Comments

at 5/23/2007 11:58:26 AM, jefehorn said:
Congressmen from areas of the country other than those directly affected by immigration, and the impact that immigrants have on our economy, should not have any input into this issue. To deny the impact that Mexican labor has on construction and other industries in the Southwest is to bury your head in the sand. We have turned our heads to illegal immigration because we need the workers, its as simple as that. Why should they be penalized when we have allowed them to come into our country for years because we need them? We simply need to devise a way for them to pay taxes and support the social expenses that go along with them. Some of that is a problem with the workers, and some of it is a problem with employers who pay them cash so that they don't have to pay the matching FICA expenses and income tax withholding. Talk of deporting millions of these workers simply because they came into the country illegally (and with our blessing to some extent) is to avoid the problem, not cure it.

at 5/25/2007 4:59:03 PM, hclark said:
Just like oil, we have become "addicted" to cheap imported labor. In both cases, this has a short term economic benefit to many members of society but the true costs are not being factored in the price. The cost per barrel of oil does not reflect the huge "externalities" such as the cost of a damaged environment and the additional military expenditures (both money and lives) needed to protect our oil supply. Likewise, the wages paid to illegal immigrants do not include the costs of providing social benefits like healthcare and education. It also depresses the wages of others that compete for similar jobs. We have become the "safety net" for many third world countries enabling their governments to ignore the plight of their poor. The growing divide between the upper and lower economic classes is being driven in large part by illegal immigration. The solution is to reduce the motivation for illegal immigration in the first place by making it less attractive to come to this country illegally and by doing what we can to improve the economic conditions in their home countries. If we don''t fix this mess, we risk becoming a third world country ourselves.

at 9/17/2007 12:36:54 AM, looking for a solution said:
Immigration will not end today, tomorrow, in a month, nor in a year. For whatever reason people immigrates and countries accept them (not only in U.S.A there are immigrants) the main issue is to find a "win/win" viable solution for both parties. In one hand, we all are aware that any government needs the income taxes from everyone who works to support the administrative managment they do, in the other hand, immigrants are looking for a better way of living but for that they need the support of the government in obtaining all the necessary credentials to be able to work and pay taxes. But because of a "win/lose" and "lose/win" mediocre mentality, both, goverments and immigrants are in a "dead end" deal. Goverments don''t want to accept that immigration is part of today''s reality avoiding legal status to the immigrants denying them the chance to pay taxes and FICA expenses, and, immigrants, even though knowing that taxes needs to be paid, don''t pay them because their low salaries because of their status don''t give them other choice to skip

at 9/17/2007 1:42:45 AM, looking for a solution (2) said:
A SOLUTION...As I said, immigration is not going to end so thinking on several options I could come up with this one: A "win/win" mentality = People who gets into the country with a tourist visa and wants to stay longer, could apply for a temporal residence for 1 year being able to extend it everytime for 1 more year during 5 years. The government (any) prior giving permission to stay will have the chance to check backgrounds, etc. Also, in every extension the government will have the chance to get an up-to-date checking taxes and FICA expenses paid, criminal records, etc. If this person wants to settle down and decides to stay for the rest in the country, and at that time had been a "good citizen", the government can grant a permanent residence for 5 years. Notice that all this time the immigrant don''t have to work in the shadow and is able to pay taxes in order to comply with goverment''s obligations, and the government is getting the income it needs. After these 10 years, if the immigrant wants to become a "citizen", the goverment already have enough information on the person to approve it. If only goverments (any) will agree on this "win/win" mentality, they will be focusing in other oficial matters but fighting in deciding whether or not legalize or deport millions of people. Right now, imaging how much money a goverment (any) has to spend (tax money) to maintain people in jails, immigration police, deporting people, etc... ??? let''s be honest... a lot! Now, how much money (tax money) will goverments has to spend by legalizing immigrants??? Taking in account that the immigrants will be paying the legalizing fees, the government will be getting a huge income (instead of spending it) and using it for public benefits. Those who will only wants to work for periods of times, will get permission for that only, but they will have to comply with the government policies on paying the taxes and FICA expenses because whether or not, they will be too, using the countries facilities for them to personally grow with a better income, one of the reason why people decides to immigrate. We cannot forget that in this world, in anything people can think of, we need each other to survive in this world. I might not have the last word in this subject, but at least I could contribute in getting close to find a solution where everybody wins!

at 10/15/2007 8:16:28 AM, Gerald said:
I think the proper term is "illegal" immigration. Mexicans are not the only "illegal" immigrants that we have. There are "illegal" immigrnats permiating this country from India, Africa, Mexico, Cuba, China, Korea and other contries as well. The USA is known as "the land of opportunity" and we have openly welcomed "legal" immigration since our founding fathers established the constitution. If you want to be technical the first "illegal" immigration was the English/Penal Colonies. (But no one recognizes that). I really do not think that there is any EASY answer to the "illegal" immigration issues. I guess it can be stated that we have allowed it to fester too long. We can not just "cut it out" like a huge cancer, it would be too detrimental to America's econimy. What we should do (in my unprofessional opinion) is find a way to "treat" it. Laws need to be put in place and enforced to encourage all "illegal" immigrants to come forth (with the assurance of no deportation). Once a census has been obtained, then we figure a near instant way to award them work permits and tax their income. I think the work permits should be temporary (lets say 2 years) and then they have to apply for citizenship or return to their individual countries. If they chose not to become citizens then their permits expire and the availability to re-enter the United States for another work permit should be denied for a period of 5 years. For those that rfuse to come forward, once exposed they should be deported and denied re-entry of ANY sort for a period of lets say 10 years. I think that educational permits should be allowed for as long as it takes to acquire the education, but at the same time if they get a job, they should have to pay taxes like any citizen. Now in reference to taxes, I would believe it acceptable that they have to pay the regular state and federal taxes, but in addition pay a 3% residency tax while here legally. Companies that encourage the employment of "illegal" immigrants should have to face VERY stiff fines and the possibility of incaseration for violating the new laws. But in return, I think it would be fair to "award" companies in the US for granting jobs to "legal" immigrants, with whats say could be called a "legal immigration" tax .. but limit the tax write off to a minimum amount of the companies yearly labor payroll. Something like lets say, 25%. I also think that if a company "founded" in the USA chooses to move their business out of the country that they should have to pay additional taxes for that. Change the cheaper labor wages to be recognized as a non deductible "higher" profit margin, so in return there is a penalty for moving the business "out of country" and they pay a HIGHER tax. If they chose to transfer this cost over to the customer, as the ones with "buying" power, we make the decision to buy from whomever (or not to). But either way it is looked at, there is no easy way to reconsile this issue. We have allowed it to get WAY out of hand. It is true that American's have suffered because of the "illegal" immigrants ... but in many ways American's have themselves to blame as well. As a business owner I can assure you that there have been many times American's have demanded higher wages then what the "national" standard is and the "legal" immigrants have filled those spots because they recognise that they "needed" a job.

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