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Clean Sweep?
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| Submitted by: | Ernie Pletcher 8/17/2006 1:24:48 PM PT |
The problem I have is allowing people to enter our country illegally and then letting them stay. Wrong is wrong. When we commit a crime we are punished for it and that’s the way it has to be to keep an orderly society. Its no wonder our country is such a mess.
| Submitted by: | Ralph A. Drees 8/16/2006 4:16:20 PM PT |
Seldom have issues at the federal level touched my heart so strongly I felt the need to speak out, calling on our federal representatives in Washington to act without delay to resolve an issue that is fast becoming a national crisis. As the son of an immigrant father, however, I am calling on Senators McConnell and Bunning to join ranks with their fellow GOP Senators from Ohio, who I believe are already on board, to act decisively in dealing with the proposed immigration legislation proposed by President George W. Bush.
We are a nation of immigrants. We are a nation of fair and honest people. We are a nation that has long heralded freedom as the foundation of our republic, and we have held true to the inscription on the base of the Statue of Liberty, “Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
President George W. Bush, one of the few national leaders who has had a clear understanding of the issue of immigration along our nation’s southern borders having dealt with it as Governor of Texas, has the right plan.
We need an immigration policy that provides the opportunity for those we have allowed to live in this country for longer than a few years to apply for citizenship and remain here throughout the process.
We need to require those individuals, identified now by some as illegal immigrants, to learn the English language, the basics of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and then test them for proficiency before they are granted citizenship just like they did my father and my aunt more than 50 years ago.
It’s time we, as a nation, acknowledge we have enjoyed the fruits of the labor of those working in this country and raising a family in this country. Because of their work, we have enjoyed the benefit of cheaper housing costs. We have also enjoyed lower food costs because of their work in harvesting crops from the coasts of the Carolinas to California and everywhere in between.
The bottom line is this: our nation has benefited from their work, and now there are those who seek to vilify them and call them criminals. Where is the compassion? Have we become a nation whose spirit has grown so cold we are unable to share this great land for which immigrants fought and died over 200 years ago?
Earlier this year, the Republican-led United States House of Representatives passed immigration legislation I believe is a travesty of justice. This legislation has the potential to split families in which the immigrants are working, raising a family in this country, and where the spouse and children are already United States citizens.
Have we as Americans allowed our moral compass to become so far out of balance that we will look into the eyes of young Americans and tell them this is the greatest nation on earth, in the words of Reagan, “the last best hope of mankind,” and then rip their family apart and send their fathers to jail just before we throw them out of the country?
The Republican-led Senate, often referred to by historians as the more deliberative chamber of the legislative branch, has an opportunity to right the wrongs. Following the lead of our Commander in Chief, the United States Senate can pass legislation to resolve this issue, meet with their House colleagues to reconcile their differences, and restore stability to our national pride.
Lest we forget, it was Congress that passed laws requiring recognition of the Spanish language in many aspects of our life. They created many of the laws and regulations that have made it possible for those from Mexico and South America to enter this country and live in near anonymity.
If we would require that all government documents be printed in English and all public services be explained in English, those who have lived here, many unnoticed, would not have been able to remain without going through the legal process. Congress created many of the problems we face by trying to legislatively create a bilingual society, and now they want to call the immigrants criminals.
Today it’s too late to worry about what we could have done or should have done. No one among us has the power to change what happened yesterday; but each of us has an opportunity to determine what happens tomorrow.
It’s time for our nation, a nation founded by immigrants, a nation of compassionate people, a nation founded on freedom, to call on Congress to pass legislation that reflects the greatness of our nation.
Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is one of the deepest and noblest aspirations of the human spirit.” I believe Reagan was right, and together we, the people, must call on our elected representatives to do what is right.
Let there be no mistake, singularly there is little we can do; but collectively, we have the power to insure freedom for those willing to work for it and earn it and to restore compassion and civility in a land that for generations has caused those from around the world to long for the opportunity to call America home.
| Submitted by: | Jim Wadas 8/11/2006 4:14:11 PM PT |
I am a Canadian not an American. But our countries share much more than borders. And I have travelled much of the USA. You have a country with a magnificent and varied landscape. I am a first generation immigrant to my country. My parents came here from Europe following WW2 as farm labor. They applied for "LEGAL" status and lived their lives following the rules.
Your country is on the verge of immense change. It seems to me that if the goal of immense rich for a few at the expense of survival level income for the majority continues, then the nation as it is will not flourish in the long run. Maybe China is an example of the vision you have as a model for the world.
My question is: "Why have an immigration policy at all if it means nothing?" What a slap-in-the-face of legal immigrants!
Perhaps it is time that the borders of all countries should be opened up and we simply become earth citizens! Then everyone from anywhere could go wherever they wanted.
What say you? How about Lebanon? Great building opportunity there I hear!
| Submitted by: | Vance () 8/11/2006 1:00:00 PM PT |
First let us get the verbiage correct. It isn't "immigrant workers", it is illegal aliens! The Pew Hispanic Center is a propaganda machine for legal Mexicans & "illegal aliens" like www.laraza.com (the race), and www.aztlan.com. There are over 30 million illegal aliens in our country, not 12 million!
Who built all of the great buildings in Europe for the last two thousand years? Who built the homes, commercial buildings, and high rise buildings in America for the last five hundred years? It wasn't illegal Mexicans, and we don't need them to build in our country now. I have been building and remodeling homes in Dallas for thirty years, and I have never worked one illegal alien to do it. I want to hire Americans at a good wage so they can buy products and services from other Americans, not so illegal aliens can send over twenty million American dollars to Mexico, and out of our economy.
What is wrong with roofers making $100,000.00 a year? If they did they would buy homes, cars, services, and dare I say have some left over to save, afford health insurance for their family, and send their children to college without needing government loans. So what if we had to pay even $20,000.00 more for a home built by American tradesmen? Well, we would pay around $120.00 more a month for the home, but we wouldn't need to be taxed out of our homes from rising hospital, & school taxes because of gross invasion of illegal aliens not paying for these services their self! Or paying increased rates on our health, and automobile insurance because they don't. I sure wouldn't mind living in a 100, 200, or 300 square foot less house built by Americans if that is what it took, would you?
How many of you know someone who has been in a auto accident by these invaders, and they flee the scene before the police arrive, or they don't have insurance, therefore you have to pay to have your automobile repaired? It is estimated that 9,100 Americans are killed every year from illegal alien drunken drivers at 13 deaths and 12 outright killings—every day! That is three times more people killed than on 9-11, per year! Is that worth a cheaper cost for a home? Hell No!!
I vote that the half or more that has a membership in the anti-American craftsmen organization "NAHB" call and demand your dues returned at once! Get out of this organization, hit these traders in their Ivory Towers right in their pocket books, and someone start "AAHB" American Association of Home Builders! I wonder how many yards of concrete, squares of roofing, board feet of framing, pallets of brick, ditches dug, or electric wiring the vice president of NAHB Jenna Hamilton, NAHB's Natalia Siniavskaia, NAHB's Michael Carliner, or NAHB's David Crump have ever done? These are all red tape bureaucrats just like the politicians from both parties in Washington.
The NAHB said in an American Community Survey that 19% of "unauthorized workers" worked in the construction field, so that means that 81% were Americans doing the jobs! That 22% were carpenters, well that is 78% that are Americans, 32% construction labors, hmmm, that makes 68% American laborers. I wonder how Americans are able to buy those homes built by Americans then? I have a stack of American tradesmen of all types who have called my office desperately looking for work to feed their children, to save losing their homes, and their marriages because they can't find jobs because of greedy builders trying to hoard a extra $5,000.00 or $10,000.00 on the cost of building a home that isn't passed on to the buyer, in it goes to their greedy pockets.
I have heard them say they were told that can't be hired by the builders because "the Mexicans don't won't to work with any Anglos on the job", how outrageous is that! Americans can't work in their trade, in "their" country because illegal aliens don't won't to work with them! These builders are traitors to America, and need to be run out of business!
It is even more sinister. The Democrats & Republicans both are working to push America, Canada, & Mexico into one country at break-neck speed. See www.spp.com , www.cfr.com "Building a American Community", www.newswithviews.com , or www.americanpatrol.com to learn more on how these people are selling out our country. If you have the stomach read how these illegal aliens plan to over run our country. www.aztlan.com or www.laraza.com (the race). If you aren't breathing fire yet, you will be.
SECURITY AND PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP BACKGROUND By Dennis L. Cuddy, Ph.D.
August 7, 2006
NewsWithViews.com
www.newswithviews.com/Cuddy/dennis73.htm
In November if your Congressman, or Senator supports anything except the House's version of the immigration bill, throw them out of office!
| Submitted by: | Vic Goochey 8/10/2006 10:53:37 PM PT |
Your bias is showing. $100,000 a year for a roofer isn't out of the question. Have we all forgotten when roofing or carpentry were trades to be proud of? Paying someone less to do the work doesn't necessarily make the cost of the product less. A skilled tradesman can accomplish more quality work in a day than multiple "day laborers" can. A worker who has been on the job for years but hasn't been trained or, worse yet, has acquired bad working habits is the last thing we need on the job.
If you want to put a dollar value on the practice of using "cheap" labor then look at the legal fees and costs to go back and repair homes built improperly. Do we really expect people who come from small, poverty stricken, villages in Mexico to understand that we need to have the roof flashings installed perfectly?
We need to pay enough to make it respectable to be a roofer or carpenter. We don't need illegals.
| Submitted by: | Ace Richards 8/10/2006 9:49:00 PM PT |
First, what part of the word ILLEGAL dont you understand???
Second, how many builders show the wages paid to these people? If they do, I would not be suprised to find out that they show them being paid a comporable wage as any skilled worker in their field when, I believe, the reality is they are being paid minimum wage or less, and given no benifits, so where does the excess money go, bottom line or someones pocket, certainally not in the consumers pocket!
Third.. who would believe...
This is an example of the work I witnessed in a small town acjacent to where I live. A new subdivision is being built in a former Orange Grove. The cement workers were told to run a sidewalk between point 'A' and point 'B' this was a strech of approximately 1 block; however there were 4 power/telephone poles directly in the middle of the planned path of the sidewalk. I would suppose this would raise a red flag to SOMEONE, but no, alas they ran the forms AND poured the cement with the poles literally in the middle of the walk!!
About a week later I drove by and someone had started to remove the sidewalk and reform it around the poles.
My humble opinion there are 2 reasons for this.
1. Following their instructions to the letter regardless of the consequences, or perhaps not really understanding the concept of a sidewalk.
2. Stupidity, who looked at the drawings, plans, where was the foreman / supervisor?
Now I am not saying these were illegals, but who out there would do something like this?
P.S. the remnants of the cement can still be seen on the poles!
| Submitted by: | Michael Martin 8/10/2006 8:05:23 PM PT |
As I read the well-written but poorly thought-through article on illegals in the work force, I am struck by several facts simultaneously.
First, justifying an illegal act, of whatever sort, is always thrown out of a court as it is illogical. The act of hiring illegals to perform work is illegal. Start there before justifying why you might find that crime convenient. As for the profitability of that illegal act, isn't that why most crimes are committed, to profit illegally? Don't blow smoke to justify why you are entitled to that benefit, and then start the discussion over.
Second, the average illegal ends up a net drain to taxpayers, as do most poorly educated persons of natural birth. Numerous analyses have demonstrated this, and the claim that the taxes paid by illegals covers this net deficit is patently false. Why are Europeans without an education not permitted to immigrate?
Third, citizens of this country are entitled to a fair shot at any job, at social services, health care, and schools. That we permit aliens from a failed feudal oligarchy such as Mexico to steal these jobs is not just illegal, it is immoral. The effect on wage depression is real. When did we hear that "a rising tide lifts all boats"?Wage suppression by means of importation of illegal aliens is nothing but a means to artificially control the labor supply. As an entrepreneur I am totally opposed to any artificial manipulation of the free market as it exists within the United States. Borders are there because they prevent other nations from taking advantage of freedom we cherish, but which they do not care to extend to their own people.
| Submitted by: | C. Whitaker 8/9/2006 5:15:00 PM PT |
I am somewhat confused here. Do we not have an existing labor pool from which to choose? What about the labor unions reaching out to the American community for replacements? It does seem that illegals are nothing more than a cheap labor pool and they are in fact hurting not only Americans, but the economy as well.
| Submitted by: | Gary Knodle 8/9/2006 2:20:48 PM PT |
Get the illegals out of our country. Build border fences and put more border guards at all borders to keep them out. Stop spending our tax dollars to house, educate, feed, and provide health care to this burden on the U.S. Impose heavy penalties for anyone who is renting to them or hiring them.Give no amnesty to these illegals. Put them in jail if stopped more than once at the border. Send the bill to Mexico. As they are caught, deport them.
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