Re: Immigration -- Common Sense is Wrong?

[GreenScoutII]

I find it interesting that no one, Republican or Democrat, really seems to understand what causes illegal immigration to begin with. It seems to me that if there were no one hiring these folks, there would be precious little reason for them to come.

I am a Libertarian, but one area where I strongly disagree is immigration. I do not support an open border/citizen of the world approach to immigration.

It is frequently said that immigrants take jobs Americans don't want. Well, there is some truth to this idea, but one must consider why this may be so. Whenever a country has a huge influx of largely unskilled immigrants, they will usually drive wages down in jobs that are already on the lower end of the wage scale. Often, illegals will work for even less than minimum wage. They effectively out compete the natives on price. While this makes Republicans salivate over the prospect of cheap labor, these low wages are what frequently drive these immigrants to seek the various forms of public assistance which our government provides. So, essentially, various businesses have been able to pass along the real labor cost onto the taxpayers.

If we want to stop illegal immigration, we need to prosecute the businesses hiring them. If wages in these industries which are particularly prone to using illegal labor go up to a level where Americans could actually afford to live on them, there will be less demand for public assistance and greater tax revenue.

There is no societal benefit to cheap labor.

[esaabye]

+1

Well said

[ColoEnthusiast]

If we want to stop illegal immigration, we need to prosecute the businesses hiring them. If wages in these industries which are particularly prone to using illegal labor go up to a level where Americans could actually afford to live on them, there will be less demand for public assistance and greater tax revenue.

There is no societal benefit to cheap labor.

Exactly! If the owner and ceo's got an automatic 6 month jail sentence, illegals would leave real soon. Auto insurance would go down drastically, as would health insurance.

As could taxes for:

Less Foodstamps
Less Welfare
Less WIC
Less LE
Less prisons (huge numbers of illegals in prison)
Less Medicaid
Less healthcare fraud for free services (many hospitals have closed due to illegals stealing services)
Less schools (California builds one per day to accommodate illegals!!!)

Then there are the benefits of less urban blight, much less crime, fewer DUI deaths, less traffic, 20 million or so fewer polluting vehicles, less water useage, less energy useage, etc. etc. etc....

STILL WAITING TO HEAR A LEGITIMATE DOWNSIDE..

Skilled, legal immigrants are a benefit. Other countries are smart enough to screen their applicants. Apparently many Americans don't think our country deserves decent, productive, and law-abiding people.

[Anton]

Skilled, legal immigrants are a benefit. Other countries are smart enough to screen their applicants. Apparently many Americans don't think our country deserves decent, productive, and law-abiding people.

66% of Americans, according to the latest polls, support Arizona SB1070. Americans understand what should be done and the problems illegal immigration poses. The problem is that our "representatives" don't give a **** what Americans think, they'll do what they want to do (or don't do anything at all, in this case) regardless. At BEST we'll get another amnesty bill pushed through with the claims that they're attempting to tackle the problem, while simply making it worse.

[sniper7]

I say go to the opposite extreme and call illegal immigration an invasion and enforce it with military force similar to actions they would take against taliban.

[ChunkyMonkey]

I say go to the opposite extreme and call illegal immigration an invasion and enforce it with military force similar to actions they would take against taliban.

nahhhh..dont want to see M1A2 rolling down Tucson. LOL

[sniper7]

nahhhh..dont want to see M1A2 rolling down Tucson. LOL

Yeah I was just being facetious.

i definitely want to see them stopped from coming across the border and any that are here illegally and caught punished

[ColoEnthusiast]

HERE IS THE AMNESTY PROGRAM.

All illegals are given 1 year to leave the U.S. with no sanctions.

1. They can sell their houses, furnishings and any other property they choose to liquidate.
2. They may take their vehicles, whatever property remains, and the proceeds from their sales.
3. They may apply for citizenship now, if they have followed these requirements.

Preference is given on these slots to people who:

1. Did not receive illegal services while in the U.S.
2. Were not criminally charged.
3. Can show self sufficiency.

Illegals who have disregarded this program:

Will lose forever the ability to apply for citizenship. Period.
Will forfeit any and ALL property to confiscation.
Will be deported.

Once company CEO's and owners face 6 month MANDATORY JAIL SENTENCE for having illegals working for them, the jobs will dry up immediately.
We would not have to deport most of them, because if it comes to that, they could NEVER become a legal citizen and lose everything. They would leave on their own.

[Anton]

I say go to the opposite extreme and call illegal immigration an invasion and enforce it with military force similar to actions they would take against taliban.

It certainly is a demographic invasion. But one isn't allowed to say such things these days.

[theGinsue]

It certainly is a demographic invasion. But one isn't allowed to say such things these days.

RACIST!

Whoops. Sorry, had a "liberal moment".

I agree 100% with what you say!