Immigration Debate

[6thGen]

The whole wall in Texas bothers me greatly yet I have no idea how to handle the porous borders - I just know a little about the psychological impact of such a barrier can be far-reaching.

That, and the fact that it is ridiculously easily breachable.

 

[scooterbug44]

Mango,
The whole wall in Texas bothers me greatly yet I have no idea how to handle the porous borders - I just know a little about the psychological impact of such a barrier can be far-reaching.

The fact that we have gone from "Ich bin ein berliner" (sorry, my written german is very rusty) and "mr gorbatrev tear down this wall" to BUILDING walls is very disconcerting. A physical barrier is not only psychologically damaging, it is easily breached. We need to strictly enforce our existing laws instead of coming up with farfetched and ineffective solutions.

 

[Chickpea]

The fact that we have gone from "Ich bin ein berliner" (sorry, my written german is very rusty) and "mr gorbatrev tear down this wall" to BUILDING walls is very disconcerting. A physical barrier is not only psychologically damaging, it is easily breached. We need to strictly enforce our existing laws instead of coming up with farfetched and ineffective solutions.

Agreed Scooterbug with your point of enforcing existing or new laws, and btw: the fact that there are thousands of entry points from Canada into this country make the whole wall idea even more ludicrous - true, a Mexican will have a hard time getting into Canada but if you were a terrorist, where would you head????? (although I know this is not a terrorism thread!).

 

[6thGen]

Agreed Scooterbug with your point of enforcing existing or new laws, and btw: the fact that there are thousands of entry points from Canada into this country make the whole wall idea even more ludicrous - true, a Mexican will have a hard time getting into Canada but if you were a terrorist, where would you head????? (although I know this is not a terrorism thread!).

Chickpea, don't look now, but you are actually making part of my argument. Better wash your keyboard out with soap.

 

[ladyj]

I wouldn't advise washing the keyboard with soap.
I tried that once and ended up typing li e th s.

 

[Chickpea]

Chickpea, don't look now, but you are actually making part of my argument. Better wash your keyboard out with soap.

I am OK with the fact that we agree on some things...

 

[elgordoboy]

You assume that the current group of immigrants would behave in a similar manner to those in the past;6th Gen, you might be right, but I challenge you to identify the immigrant group from our history who burnt their first calorie on US soil breaking United States law. Which historic group envisioned sending the bulk of their assets back to the country from which they came instead of focusing on living the American dream? Do you really think Ted Kennedy and his ilk are going to tinker with the minimum wage to correct social ills at this point?

Here is the bottom line-Nobody argues the fact that granting pseudo-citizenship to tens of millions of people will be any cheaper than several billions of dollars, and this isn't a one time cost. WHAT HAVE OUR PRO-AMNESTY SENATORS AND PRESIDENT DONE TO ENSURE THE COSTS WILL BE PAID??? The illegals can't pay for it;the stat I saw was that each illegal man, woman and child here already represent a roughly $20,000 drain on the treasury annually...how are we going to pay for this foolishness? Cut taxes? Cut programs? Raise taxes? Note I am not asking what 6thGen would do about raising the money, what are the architects of this bill doing to assure this is not an unfunded mandate?

Hmm, $20,000 per each illegal man, woman, and child per year. Tens of millions of people? Let's just use 2 "tens of millions". I still haven't put my shoes back on from the other thread so while I have my toes out to count on......$400,000,000 annually? Nearly half a trillion?
Seems an absurd statement.

 

[Bob]

Hmm, $20,000 per each illegal man, woman, and child per year. Tens of millions of people? Let's just use 2 "tens of millions". I still haven't put my shoes back on from the other thread so while I have my toes out to count on......$400,000,000 annually? Nearly half a trillion?
Seems an absurd statement.

That's a little less than the current Iraq War cost, and that is indeed an absurdity.

 

[30A Skunkape]

Hmm, $20,000 per each illegal man, woman, and child per year. Tens of millions of people? Let's just use 2 "tens of millions". I still haven't put my shoes back on from the other thread so while I have my toes out to count on......$400,000,000 annually? Nearly half a trillion?
Seems an absurd statement.

OK, lets say they present a liability of $1 per head...you want to cough up the pesos? I stand by my math based on the fact that I have seen dozens of these folks sucking up health care gratis, (or is it libre?) and the bills, if ever actually paid by anybody would be tens of thousands of dollars.

 

[elgordoboy]

Do "these folks" offer any benefits to our society? Some numbers I saw a few months back though I am sure it has changed some due to the housing slow down: Illegal aliens make up %8.6 of the work force, national unemployment is %5.4. Assuming all unemployed could step in and be productive immediately, what do we do with the other %3? That would still leave a goose egg in the jobless rate which is surely not healthy for the countryand an aging population should welcome new blood. But this is a nation of laws!! How many people here "smoke"? Anyone ever leave any of our fine establishments a little over the limit? I am not advocating a run on social services by Illegals but in the same vein I see a few of our own citizenry wrongfully using those same services. Having lived in rural GA and now in "rural" FL, native born can be much more abusive of our system imo