What is Digg?210 Comments
- sniper6121, on 10/12/2007, -36/+125"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
Theodore Roosevelt - noreturn, on 10/12/2007, -23/+79I am not one who hates illegals. I think that they're people, like you and me, and they deserve to be treated as such.
But to come to a country where you are able to get good free healthcare and education and then wave a Mexican flag about is just spitting in the face of the people that pay taxes to provide for you. I'm not saying you should be shipped out simply because you were born in whatever geopolitical location, but the least you could do while in the country is be a good guest.
Frankly, if you're so proud of being Mexican, what the hell are you doing here? - robbh66, on 10/12/2007, -28/+82At least they're knocking it off with the mexican flags. The last few times they protested in Dallas they all used mexican flags.
t was hilarious to see people protesting for their right to stay in this country and do so while waving a foreign flag. Absolute morons. - etnu, on 10/12/2007, -27/+63Waving a mexican flag to support illegal immigration is stupid and just proves the argument of people who are against immigration. Is the rally really about giving rights to the illegals (green cards, citizenship, worker visas) -- which I fully support, or is it nothing more than a "mexican pride" parade, complete with angry rhetoric and gringo bashing?
If you don't want to be an American -- don't come here. The country welcomes with open arms those who wish to contribute and make the nation better, but it's hard to have sympathy for people who not only skirt the laws that are necessary to prevent massive economic and social disruption, but who have no desire to assimilate.
It isn't about xenophobia or patriotism or any other jingoistic ***** -- it's about maintaining order, maintaining national security, and preventing economic instability. History has shown us that when a poor society rapidly merges into a wealthy society without assimilating, the result is the destruction of both. The classic example is Rome.
It is perfectly reasonable to expect these people to adapt to local language and customs. If they have no desire to do that, then they shouldn't come here. You can't just go to some country that has a different culture than your own and then complain when it doesn't suit you.
What happens if an American goes to Mexico and starts waving his American flag and telling everyone how great America is? If he's lucky he won't be killed.
Illegal immigration creates HUGE problems that people like to gloss over, both for the nation they are immigrating to, and the immigrants themselves.
If an illegal immigrant is working at an american factory and has an injury, the factory will either claim he was at fault, or threaten to report him to INS if he complains -- he has no legal recourse. Safety protections and minimum wage? Forget about it.
I fully support giving amnesty to all current immigrants who have no criminal record and who are actively employed. Give them a green card and let them enjoy the benefits and responsibilities that legal immigrants have. I also think that we should make it easier for those with a genuine desire to work hard to improve their life to come here and get out of that ***** hole.
Of course, if we actually paid half as much attention to our southern neighbor as we do to Iraq, we probably wouldn't have gotten into this mess in the first place.
I also can't help but laugh when Europeans accuse Americans of racism, xenophobia, or whatever else when they themselves are screaming about immigrants from the middle east and africa. If illegal immigration is a problem for you, why don't you think it's a problem for us? - robbh66, on 10/12/2007, -19/+51@DRAGONthehauge
This is not a matter of patriotism. It's about people who want the right to stay in this country, but would rather show people they support another. It's somewhat contradicting. - thatsmyaibo, on 10/12/2007, -7/+31Flags I can deal with. The fact that people don't even speak English anymore here in Los Angeles shows no respect for this country though. Instead of adapting to the country they have illegally come to, they expect people to adapt to them.
- litebox, on 10/12/2007, -9/+28As a Mexican i have to agree with the conservative side of this argument.
First of all, i totally agree that if you want to emigrate to another country, you should then support it and assimilate into it, even more if you are fighting to stay, therefore i find contradicting the fact that they want a citizenship of a country they are not willing to represent. I totally disagree with allowing foreigners to protest our own laws, that's why our Constitution forbids it, no foreigner can be involved in any political or may intervene in any domestic policy discussion.
In second place i find many people who complain about illegal immigrants not paying taxes in the US, i differ because in personal experience i know they get taxes discounted from their paychecks, and also we have to add that the companies they work for pay taxes too, but many people doesn't realize that this illegal immigrants don't pay taxes in Mexico at ALL, so i don't see why our government or population should support them, i understand that in my country life is difficult, in some places dangerous, i understand legal Temporary emigration, were workers go by seasons were it is needed they get their paychecks, and then return here, but if you are deciding to leave and look for another citizenship then you are on your own, we should not care or take in account any of their political preferences (as voting outside the country). Maybe in the humanitarian point of view people could defend and support them, from discrimination, exploitation, smuggling etc. but aside from that these people are on their own.
Speaking about this cameraman, i just think these guys should use another symbol for their identity, they use the Mexican flag just to be identified among themselves as a culture, but seriously i don't want my flag flying around people who want to bail out of this country, i understand many of them do it because there is no choice between a very low quality life and a decent wage, but i see a lot of people working their asses of over here who really represent a culture of fighting for their own country trying to improve day to day these guys are the ones who according to my own point of view should be the ones who deserve to fly the Mexican flag. - Rivetgeek, on 10/12/2007, -5/+23@artofwar420
You're an idiot. The majority of the 9/11 hijackers were here illegally. And there are plenty of Guatemalans and Columbians here illegally along with 100 other nations. It's just that Mexicans seem to think they have every right to cross the borders en mass. Millions cross every year with no intention on ever paying taxes. Some do, yes, but the vast majority don't.
Stop playing the racism card. It's tired, old, and frankly cop-out *****. Laws are laws, you don't get to disobey a law because you don't think it's right, ESPECIALLY if it's the law of a country you aren't even a citizen of. - xelloss, on 10/12/2007, -6/+23Canada.
- noreturn, on 10/12/2007, -3/+19>It... Is... A... FLAG!
> I am Australian, if I was to move to America, New Zealand, England, Mexico or any other country I would STILL
> call Australia my home, consider Australia's flag my own, support my country in sporting events and consider
> myself an Australian living in another country.
And if you had acquired the visas, cleared customs, and were there legally as a resident alien, you would be well within your rights. If, however, you snuck in over the border, were not paying taxes, and protesting your right to stay, waving your flag is an insult. It's saying you have no respect for a nation that lets you stay despite the fact that you entered without its permission.
You know what? If a Mexican or whoever has the balls and the will to make the dangerous journey over the border by foot. If he or she has the courage and resourcefulness to make a better life for himself in the US working whatever jobs he can do, then by all means, let the man live. Undercutting prices and immigration are exactly what America is made of! But to come into the country, and to take advantages of the tax-paid resources, and then turn around and say "thanks for all you've given me, but ***** you, I'm a Mexican," is both ungrateful and disrespectful. - Juntistik, on 10/12/2007, -6/+21Here are my main concerns for illegal immigration...
Crime: We don't really know WHO is coming over those boarders, and not everyone who crosses our boarders illegally are an honest citizen. Drugs are being smuggled over from Mexico as well (Cocaine, Marijuana, etc.) and lets not forget about gangs. Jails are getting more and more hispanic put behind bars (and not just because they were caught crossing the boarder). If an immigrant commits a crime and flees, there would be little to no information on that person. If a person gets into our country illegally, thats disrespectful to our laws and they know it, what would tell them to not break our other laws? Fraud: Alot of illegal immigrants steal Identities and social security numbers to get an alias in the US. Yes I realize its for a good purpose, but its still identity theft and it has alot of potential to hurt someone. Theres also tax evasion, and the like.
Lets not forget there are people all over the world that would love to gain citizenship in our country but just aren't lucky enough to live near the boarder. Mexico isn't the only country with problems.
I am not racist. I do not hate Mexico or Hispanics I have no problem of immigrants living in our country legally, but they need to be documented and put into the system just like every American citizen is.
I also believe if you live in America you should have patriotism. I understand that people want to preserve their culture, but waving the flag of another country that you left for whatever reasons in front of citizens of the country your living in can be insulting. If you want to move to America, show so American pride it doesn't hurt.
digg me down, call me racist or whatever, I'm just getting my thoughts out and I would love to hear some sensible replies from some fellow diggers. I know my grammer/spelling is screwed, but its 4:30am and I am just too tired to care about a digger correcting my spelling. - tex68, on 10/12/2007, -28/+43What part of illegal don't these people understand?
¿Qué parte de ilegal esta gente no entiende? - etnu, on 10/12/2007, -8/+22By the laws of ancient Rome, you wouldn't be allowed to vote or own property because you weren't born in Rome.
By the way -- every country on this planet has been formed by people fighting over the land and going to war. Why is it "worse" if it happened 300 years ago rather than 1000?
What happened to the native americans was terrible, but it has no bearing on immigration laws today, and anyone who uses that argument is just being a jackass. - gopher043, on 10/12/2007, -5/+18@Dundasbro
Since Australia has no borders with other countries I would expect someone like you to not understand and not get the full picture of why it is such a huge problem in the U.S. - Oatlord, on 10/12/2007, -4/+15@Pcore, amnesty has been granted time and time again, and the same thing always happens: we have to grant amnesty again down the road to the poor down trodden who have nowhere else to go. It has to stop at some point. We cannot support these people who don't contribute back to the system. Maybe if we had a national consumption tax that would recapture some of the money they were taking out of economy, fine, but we don't. It's not racism or nationalism, it's common sense. I pay well over 35% of every paycheck I make in taxes THAT I CAN SEE. Illegal aliens aren't paying those taxes. In some cases, they're reaping the benefits of our government, taking jobs away from Americans who are willing to work them, and sending the money they make back to Mexico. How is that fair or equitable for anyone who's playing by the rules in this country? I say send them back home and let them fix their country before they try to come here and mooch off mine.
Oh yeah, and seriously, America doesn't help the rest of the world? Bogus. We do more than our fair share of helping out the rest of the world. - Comatose51, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12@ICSU: You know what's funny about what you said? It's true but that's also why we want to keep them out. We don't want people pulling the same trick we played on the Native Americans. Don't see too many Native Americans these days do you?
j/k - Comatose51, on 10/12/2007, -4/+15@sniper: I dugg you up because I agree with that sentiment but I also realize it's not that simple. Every American has a different definition of what it means to be American. Some of my Texan friends would probably include being Christian or theistic on that list. Back when Teddy Roosevelt said, most Americans would probably agree with that sentiment and maybe even tack "Protestant" on that list of requirements. Thanks to Bush, Europeans think we're all a bunch of cowboys. Southerners probably think the multiculturalism in NYC as being unAmerican and New Englanders think Southerners are a bunch of hicks. Should you know your own history and Constitution? Most Americans would fail on both. The states bordering Mexico have large Latino populations that have members that are born in the US, thus American, but are culturally very Mexican. Likewise for many first generation Asians. I don't think it's such an easy question to answer.
- Y0tsuya, on 10/12/2007, -6/+16@misstake
None of which involves illegally crossing into another country and mooching off of them. Don't give me the tired argument about them paying taxes. The working poor don't pay enough to even begin to cover the cost of social services being spent on them. - LLamaStar, on 10/12/2007, -23/+33I'm an American. But last time I checked, i'm also a citizen of the planet earth and so are they. People really need to stop thinking small and start looking at the bigger picture.
- KnightMareInc, on 10/12/2007, -14/+23who cares?
- borg357, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12Lets visit those so called "facts" again.. shall we..
1. As an American you are given a (relative to Mexico) excellent free, public education. if you fail to leverage this education into a successful career it's not because some Mexican dude with no education, money, or influence sneaked across the border, it's because you're a ***** up who has failed at life.
Real Fact:
Our schools (California) are failing.. and the problem is getting worse, not better.. These Mexicans with a 2nd grade education are filling up the schools, and bringing down the entire school system here. Mexicans dont have the same value system that americans have about the importance of education.
2. A few hundred years ago American culture birthed itself by killing and gorging itself on the corpse of the various Native American cultures. All the people that whine about illegals are colossal hypocrites.
Real Fact: I, nor anyone I know did this.. so this makes me no hypocrite. Basically your saying it was wrong before, so lets keep doing wrong until it's right??
3. America desperately needs cheap labor, China is already rolling over us and if we have to pay the costs demanded by American laborers we'll be left even farther in the dust.
Real Fact: No we don't need cheap labor.. It's destroying the economy, and preventing middle class people from getting decent jobs because there's always some Mexican willing to do it for cheaper.
4. Your standard of living (assuming you're not a laborer) is IMPROVED by illegal immigrants, the costs they incur on the (limited) social services provided by the state pale in comparison to the benefits of their cheap services.
Real Fact:
Limited social services?? Your joking right? Do you not see our medical system collapsing and emergency rooms closing daily because of an overload of illegals using the free services that are supposed to be in place to help Americans in need of urgent care? Do you not see overcrowding of all the jails filling up from all the illegals in them? Do you not see the roads congested with illegal Mexican drivers?
5. The image of America that people propagate when complaining about illegal immigration is very negative, and America certainly doesn't need that right now.
Real Fact: Yes, not say anything.. yes, don't say a word and watch this place turn into Mexico, yes.. don't say anything and watch your country turn into a 3rd world ***** house. - geronimo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10My disbelief meter went to overload a few years ago when they marched in town in the thousands to protest after Arnie, voted in by a majority, refused to grant illegal aliens driver's licenses.
To them, there shouldn't be a border, we should hand green cards to them as they walk across the border. Which is fine in my book as long as they don't drain our social services, which isn't the case. If you look at the numbers, they are poorer and drain our social services more, as I can attest to from first hand experience. So they must make a choice, either open borders and no social services or closed borders and social services. But they talk about welfare like it is a right, they have well organized hispanic groups that inform them of their rights, rights to have children born as US citizens, right to collect food stamps on behalf of their children.
In Europe, they laugh at you if you want citizenship just by being born on the soil, England tried this but due to abuse, they no longer do this. Who can blame them, they have more social services. As Milton Friedman would say - you have to make a choice. These protestors want it all, no borders, social services, one big world with no borders.
Go to Los Angeles and see how well that has worked out.
I won't get started about how the Mexican government has closed down their border with Guatemala, a country poorer than Mexico. - Missourimama, on 10/12/2007, -14/+22NBC who?
- earthpig, on 10/12/2007, -19/+27Where will the illegals go when they turn America into what Mexico is now?
- gopher043, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9When you plant a flag in other country it means you have taken over. that is why the flag debate is so touchy here. Think about it. When the U.S. Military planted a flag in the center of Baghdad, Iraq after the defeat of Saddam, Iraqis were pissed. The military took the flag down. Personally I don't pledge my allegience to a flag, but I do respect and honor the laws of the country the flag flies in.
If you do research on how important the flag is to Americans and how the flag came into existence you will understand why Americans have such passion for it. - stevealford, on 10/12/2007, -12/+20I don't care what you say about us all being citizens of one planet, the key phrase here is "ILLEGAL immigrants." I live in Phoenix, Arizona and the only thing that stopped me from going downtown today is my respect for the laws of this country. The protest was here, too... and most of the downtown businesses had to lock their doors for safety and there was so much congestion and turmoil downtown, it was ridiculous. These ***** know there are legal ways to get into this country, but they don't care: they want to be here, so they'll come in ILLEGALLY, then demand rights and equality while working without paying taxes or giving a ***** about our laws.
I'm starting a petition and going to the State legislature with a proposal to round up every person who rallies next year and get them OUT. The citizens of this country have a right to peaceably assemble and protest, but illegal aliens don't. Since the protestors themselves claim to be illegals in the organization of said rally, that's probable cause to bring in EVERY protestor. Once in custody, we find out who's legal and who isn't, then ship their asses back to Mexico. I love all LEGAL immigrants... I'm the great-grandson of a LEGAL immigrant and I served my country in the US Army... and I'll be damned if I sit idly by and watch this ***** continue.
If you don't think these immigrants harm America... visit Phoenix for a week and check out the whole city. - etnu, on 10/12/2007, -7/+15The culture of the American southwest isn't terribly difficult from that of most of Mexico -- a few hundred years ago most of it was actually a part of Mexico, and the area has always had a large hispanic population. Opening the borders isn't going to change the culture one bit.
What will change, though, is the quality of life. There aren't enough low-skilled jobs to support all of the unskilled people in mexico. Unfortunately for its citizens, Mexico fails to provide adequate opportunities and education. The result is high crime rates, gang violence, and extreme poverty.
If you open the borders, these people aren't going to suddenly be granted high demand technical skills or anything, and the people who do have those skills can already immigrate here legally through the H1B program. The poverty and crime will spread into California, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and other southwestern areas.
This is a very legitimate concern. We're seeing the same problems affecting Europe as people from poor african and middle eastern countries come in.
Rather than "open the borders", how about actually doing something to help make mexico a place where you would want to live? Then we could have an open border policy and we wouldn't have an immigration problem. - etnu, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9If you actually have useful job skills, you can become a citizen in about 7 years. As easy as it was back then? Of course not. You could also get free land from the government then, too -- times change.
Even without citizenship, you can live here legally. Thousands upon thousands of legal immigrants from India and China do it, and in many ways those countries have problems far worse than mexico.
Why should Mexicans be given a free pass when the Indians and Chinese have to jump through hoops -- even when they actually have useful job skills and contribute greatly to the economy? - etnu, on 10/12/2007, -8/+15I'm pretty sure the people who are complaining about illegal immigrants didn't kill anyone to come here. In fact, the vast majority of people in the U.S. are descended from immigrants through ellis island -- immigrants who came here legally.
Most of my family immigrated here (legally) from Norway and Ireland between 1800 and 1950. Why am I not allowed to complain about people who come here illegally?
Should it be acceptable for anyone to go to any country illegally? You don't think that would cause any problems?
Think before you post. - AstroMech, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9Last year a large of Irish illegals protested in Boston, it was covered by many news outlets.
I'm Irish/Cherokee and I do not condone any persons immigrating illegally.
Illegal immigration is ILLEGAL. Go through the correct channels if you want to be a citizen. - mscf, on 10/12/2007, -8/+14I am a Native American. My great-grandfather was "re-educated" at one of the infamous Indian boarding schools around the turn of the twentieth century. I have lived just miles from the Pine Ridge reservation which is(or at least was at the time) the poorest county in the country.
It makes me wonder sometimes if the vehement reaction to immigrants (and don't kid yourself, it isn't just "illegals") is out of a subconscious fear of facing the same treatment under a new dominant group. - AstroMech, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Great post.
Mexican border patrol is a brutal situation most times. You do not want to be caught trying to enter illegally. They do not accept foreigners illegally entering their land.
Wacky, huh? - randf, on 10/12/2007, -20/+26Why can criminals march in our streets without fearing the laws of the country they are living in? How can they expect anyone to be sympathetic to them when they are flagrantly violating the law of the land? is there any other country in the world where criminals parade in the street demanding "rights"?
- Skwee, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7Since we're all on the topic of how "illegal immigrants only take the degrading and disgusting jobs in America". Let me tell you about my experience on finding my first job.
I was 17 and fresh from getting my GED at Phoenix College. Which is a lot more than most immigrants can say. Throughout turning in applications to fast food joints around my neighborhood, I noticed that the dominant ethnicity was Hispanic, and not JUST Hispanic, but Mexican. Hell I even noticed that half of the people I spoke to at these places barely spoke enough English to get by. So I figure I've got a job easy, right? Wrong. Fast food places rarely ever hire inexperienced white kids fresh out of high school, or even still in high school. Why you might ask? Well because illegal immigrants provide a cheaper work force. Which makes it a whole hell of a lot harder for younger workers to find their first job, and without SOME experience, its nearly impossible to get a job here in Phoenix. - Jesse, on 10/12/2007, -30/+35Umm... and?
He has a flag of his homeland, that doesn't mean he hates America.
Seriously, you xenophobic pricks need to stop this "Us vs. Them" mentality. It's that same ***** mentality that given us the past 7 ***** years. Unless you're a Native American, stfu about this being your god-given land. - etnu, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8And they were born in a ***** hole through pure chance -- why do they get off easier than people who were born in other ***** holes? Because they happened to be closer?
- etnu, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6The lie about "not enough people to replace them" is a tired one that big business has been pushing for years. There are more people in the next generation of workers (those currently 15-20 years old) than there are baby boomers. They also tell the same lie when they want to raise the H1B visa cap.
If America truly needs workers, then we should absolutely figure out a way to open up a visa program for people who are qualified to do the job -- and they can come here and earn the same pay as their citizen counterparts, pay the same taxes, and generally do the same things as all the other legal immigrants in this country do.
But that isn't what this is about. This is about the huge number of illegal immigrants who come here and work under the table with no benefits, cost taxpayer money, and bring crime with them. Unfortunately for those who have a genuine desire to work hard and who contribute, there are millions of jackasses giving them a bad name. - RealHyperX, on 10/12/2007, -11/+16Hey I am Cherokee and I say EVERYBODY GET THE ***** OUT OF MY COUNTRY!!!!
- stevealford, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8By the way, I'm the great-grandson of an Irish immigrant who married a Cherokee woman, so I have both sides of the "immigrant with no rights"/"always lived here and have rights to the land" coin covered. I was raised in Virginia and moved out to PHX last year. I'm 27 years old and work in IT so I never had to deal with the employment, but my girlfriend lived here for years and had to deal with trying to find work during her teen years and being turned down at places like McDonald's because she wasn't an illegal who wouldn't work off the books.
It's not just ***** jobs like mowing lawns... major corporations hire people off the books and pay them a decent wage OFF THE BOOKS to save money and not pay FICA, Social Security, Workman's Comp, and taxes. It's not just losing jobs we don't want and the minor thing you guys seem to think it is... it's a ***** epidemic. My gf can give more detail since she lived it and her post should be somewhere below this. Her id on here is "Skwee." Feel free to ask her how the illegal overtaking of Phoenix has affected the economy and the workforce/job opportunities for teenagers and people seeking their first job in this area. - Rfriaz, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8Those aren't all necessarily living on stolen land. Mexico's population is composed of descendants of Spanish and "natives."
In any case, the argument that "people did it before" does nothing to question the idea of immigration and sidesteps it ad hominem. - AstroMech, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Wrong wrong wrong.
The "Illegals labor gets us cheap produce" is a myth.
Have a look at: http://www.lawatchdog.com/HeadOfLettuceCost.html - smpdigital, on 10/12/2007, -6/+10@etnu
amount of time to be granted a resident visa being Irish: 1 month
amount of time to probably be granted a resident visa being Mexican: 20 years - stevealford, on 10/12/2007, -6/+10I didn't say anyone who looks hispanic: I said anyone who is protesting for rights for ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. If you want illegals to have equal rights, then I have probable cause to assume you're illegal and arrest you, right? End of discussion. It's most definitely NOT un-American.
Take the time to call up some contractors and pretend to be an illegal immigrant. You'll get either of two answers: "***** yes, come on down and I'll pay you under the table" ... or... "No thanks, you bastards have cost me so many jobs because I only hire legals and Americans that my competitors who use you ***** can easily underbid me on every job, taking money and food from me, my family, my workers, and their families and now I'm on the verge of going out of business."
If you want to fight for the rights of illegal immigrants so vehemently, perhaps you should take your ass down to Mexico and become an intermediary who helps Mexicans learn English and apply to LEGALLY come to this country. Isn't that a novel idea? An activist who actually tries to FIX a problem instead of bitching about people who love their country and don't like to see Americans suffer while illegal immigrants leech off our lifeblood like the parasitic pieces of ***** they are... I'd bet a thousand dollars none of you who preach that "can't we all get along" ***** here would go down there and help them legally become citizens before they cross the border. Any takers? - Y0tsuya, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8Every hooman out! This is Buffalo Country!
- stevealford, on 10/12/2007, -6/+10@misstake: I don't know about where YOU live, but here in Phoenix, the illegals aren't trying to eke out a living... many of them make more per hour(because they aren't taxed) than most citizens do after taxes. I have met many illegals here who drive better cars than most citizens and have more money to spend. You can talk all you want about how difficult it is for these people to make a living, but employers here in PHX, people will gladly pay an illegal 75% of what they'd pay a legal (doing it under the table). I actually met a guy who got caught and was deported... then his boss PAID the coyotes(people who bring illegals across the border) to go get him and bring him back. ***** that. Someone who pays taxes and helps our economy could be doing that job. This is why I have such hatred in my posts... because I bled overseas for my country and I don't want to see it die domestically.
@Poco: It's a common misconception that all illegal aliens work cheap. They work about about 2/3 to 3/4 what an American would make for the same job... basically the same after taxes, but it saves the employer that percentage on the books. Since it's tax-free, it sounds like less, but it's really not. - stevealford, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5I grew up on a tobacco farm... and my teenage friends lost their summer jobs working tobacco for $5/hr when illegal immigrants came all the way up to VIRGINIA to do it for $4/hr. This was in 100+ degree heat in the mountains of Virginia where it's over 90% humidity every day, so the heat index is over 110. White people between the ages of 14 and 40 STILL wanted to do it. All the things you hear about fifty cents a day and that ***** is propaganda. If they didn't make enough money to buy food and shelter, they'd be dead and there would be no illegal immigration problem. You're just spreading more dishonest ***** by telling the lies that you've been told.
- OwdenBowden, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5There is a serious problem with this illegal immigration issue. The fact remains that the men and women who have been elected to office are to be held accountable and have a responsibility to to (1) Represent the will of the citizens of the United States of America and (2) Upholding the constitution of the United States. The fact that these representatives (including the President of the United States) are even talking about "Rights"; "Amnesty"; "Citizenship" and anything else to the benefit of Illegal Immigrants, goes against the Constitution of the United States of American and the Will of its Citizens. Further these actions by the representatives is an act of Treason (and each of these personal shall be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law).
I come from immigrants that came to this country to escape persecution and hardship, and most importantly to seek out and live the American Dream. My relatives came here and worked their ass's off to be part of this country. They not only learned to speak, read and write English they actually only communicated via English (because they were now Americans). They worked hard to not only make the American Dream of prosperity and freedom a reality for them self, which they did, but they also worked hard to GIVE BACK to the very country that helped them make it and become successful (because they were now Americans). The never once prefixed their heritage and nationality (because they were now Americans).
We have to wake up in this country before it is too late. We cannot allow these displays by illegal aliens, invaders from other nations, to continue because we will be setting a precedent that will destroy all that man men and women and Legal Immigrants "AMERICANS" fraught so hard to obtain. Look at it this way. If someone, who did not ask and or was not invited, illegally gained entrance in your house, helped them selves to your food, clothing, medications, personal property and money leaving you and your family will less and less resources of your own; and having you continue to foot the bill - wouldn't you want them to be removed from your home and held responsibile for all of the debts. I would and I think most of you would. I am not for not letting people immigrate to this country but I am for some standards of who we allow to do this immigrating; who self sufficient they are (i.e. not a burden to the state); How willing are they to truly learn the language (not just memorize a few pages to get by) - I am for probationary standards for all we allow into this country. The time is now. We must act. We Must Be AMERICANS. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Here is my take on this (and I am Mexican by the way) I live near the border in San Diego California.
You have thousands of Mexicans crossing the border daily to the U.S. to work. This is in fact the busiest port of entry in the world. They all applied to work here. They spend 3 to 4 hours daily just to work in the states. LEGAL. They filled out an application, it got approved and now they are legally happy workers who get paid good. (WHY CAN ILLEGALS DO THAT TOO?)
And because of this reason I have NO sympathy for illegal rights. Here you have legal Mexican people crossing the border the right way to work and better themselves yet the ones that cross illigally to work want the same rights? I DON'T THINK SO!
Why don't I see people protesting the long border waits for the legal citizens that work here every day?
why must there be protest to encourage illegal border crossing? The illegal border crossers give the legal border corssers a bad name. And for whomever thinks this is racist FU! this isnt about race, it's about being here legaly and going about doing things the right way.
http://prelude619.blogspot.com
http://members.cox.net/prelude619/googlex.html - xelloss, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8@beguiledfoil
The problem I have with illegal immigration is this, My grandfather came to this country after WWII from Holland. It took him 2 years waiting on a list to come over, after he got sponsored he was sent off to war with Korea. He fought and was injured and was awarded the purple heart. That was the price he payed for his, his family's and my family's freedom. Even people today by the thousands come into this country legally. They go through the same process as everyone else and become citizens. However how does this make it fair for people that go through the legal progress when people are just being transported over the borders illegally and since its on the law books the police or no one enforces it. It takes hard work to come here legally and for people to bypass all of that it really isn't that fair at all.
My local news station told that most Hispanic people were out in protest against immigration reform. But what we need is immigration reform. Make more people come here legally. But still we need to control the flow of people to accommodate every ones needs. This is the challenge, but the real challenge is for Mexico to become a good country. The corruption really needs to stop and our government should really pressure Mexico more in treating its people better. I don't blame the people at all, I know they fight with massive protest and want their government to listen to them. But does American really need all the burdens on her shoulders? We have enough problems as it is. I just don't see this country lasting much longer from the way its running, but then again you never know. - OUChevelleSS, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8Actually, part of the problem with our economy is that we're supporting people who don't pay taxes...i.e. illegal immigrants.
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