3. I have yet to see some unbiased and concrete numbers of exactly how much money people think that the immigrant population is sucking out of our economy. The fact is that many immigrants do pay taxes but, for lack of documentation or fear of deportation, they cannot or will not apply for the services provided by those taxes. Besides that, I have already discussed the benefits we gain and the contributions they make to our economy.
4. I have also heard some people talking about the criminal activities that undocumented immigrants participate in. (I will not be addressing the idea the coming over without documents is illegal in and of itself at this time.) I have always thought this to be a myth. I always figured that they would be doing their best to stay on the right side of the law to avoid any possibility of deportation. Then there was a study done, and I was right.
"For example, among men ages 18-40 – the age group most likely to commit crime – the U.S.-born are 10 times more likely than the foreign-born to be in jail or prison. Even among non citizen men from Mexico ages 18-40 – a group disproportionately likely to have entered the United States illegally – the authors find very low rates of institutionalization. Such findings suggest that longstanding fears of immigration as a threat to public safety are unjustified.(taken from www.ppic.org)" 10 TIMES LESS LIKELY!!!
5. Those findings lead me to another topic. National Security. I could and probably will write another blog on this subject entirely, but for now, I will say that i am sick of the topic being used to instill fear in the hearts of Americans in order to manipulate public opinion and destroy public policies. Now, what does this have to do with immigration, exactly, nothing. However, it is one of the first things out of politicians mouths when discussing immigration. How can we justify building a wall? National security of course... well, OK then, why are we not talking about building a wall along the border with Canada? Studies show that it is easier to get over that border illegally anyways. Then there is the idea that terrorists are coming over the borders... these hypothesis are unfounded and ridiculous. The terrorists come in legally, with papers and passports. Don't try to use scare tactics to get my support! As stated above, immigration as a threat to public safety is a myth.
There are plenty of other disgusting myths used as propaganda to push and anti immigrant agenda. for more information check out this page: www.immigrationforum.org/documents/TheJourney/MythsandFacts.pdf
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Politics-Immigration
The immigrants are not to blame, it is the laws that are wrong!!!
1. The wall- While I may not agree with Bill Richardson on everything, I agreed completely when he said (paraphrasing)- If you build a 10 foot wall, all you will find on the other side is a bunch of 12 foot latters.
If a desert, and river and other extreme conditions will not keep them out then a silly wall wont either. besides what kind of countries build walls around themselves, oh yeah, Communist East Germany did it! That is just who we want o model ourselves after...or not.
I do find it ironic that just over 2 decades ago it was the Republican prince Ronald Reagan that was key in the demolition of the Berlin Wall. Now it is that same party that is championing the construction of our own version!
2. Speaking of Ronald Reagan, it was the same Mr. Reagan that signed the Immigration Reform and Control bill into law. That law gave amnesty to undocumented immigrants living here in the U.S. at the time. What is so wrong with that?!?
I guess we could try Huckabee's rediculous plan. Yeah! we will give them 160 to return home to get "in line". Then we will watch our economy really drop as the price of food goes through the roof! No more eating out, their will be no cooks! yeah right! if life was too expensive before, ha!
ok, so maybe that wont work, but maybe we can somehow get those 7oo or so Immigration and Customes Enforcement officers (ICE) to round up all 12 to 15 million undocumented immigrants that are estimated to be here. Now, keep in mind, this is a country with ideals, we must respect human rights, and we must not use racial profiling in the process (and yes, we believe that "all men are created equal" not just all men that are born on this side of that immaginary line called the border) and remember, because it is all good conservative republicans that seem to be against amnesty, we have to conduct this huge undertaking with the resources that we have because we cannot raise taxes! (actually, that is something i will agree with, I don't want my money contributing to such an outrage)
to be continued...
1. The wall- While I may not agree with Bill Richardson on everything, I agreed completely when he said (paraphrasing)- If you build a 10 foot wall, all you will find on the other side is a bunch of 12 foot latters.
If a desert, and river and other extreme conditions will not keep them out then a silly wall wont either. besides what kind of countries build walls around themselves, oh yeah, Communist East Germany did it! That is just who we want o model ourselves after...or not.
I do find it ironic that just over 2 decades ago it was the Republican prince Ronald Reagan that was key in the demolition of the Berlin Wall. Now it is that same party that is championing the construction of our own version!
2. Speaking of Ronald Reagan, it was the same Mr. Reagan that signed the Immigration Reform and Control bill into law. That law gave amnesty to undocumented immigrants living here in the U.S. at the time. What is so wrong with that?!?
I guess we could try Huckabee's rediculous plan. Yeah! we will give them 160 to return home to get "in line". Then we will watch our economy really drop as the price of food goes through the roof! No more eating out, their will be no cooks! yeah right! if life was too expensive before, ha!
ok, so maybe that wont work, but maybe we can somehow get those 7oo or so Immigration and Customes Enforcement officers (ICE) to round up all 12 to 15 million undocumented immigrants that are estimated to be here. Now, keep in mind, this is a country with ideals, we must respect human rights, and we must not use racial profiling in the process (and yes, we believe that "all men are created equal" not just all men that are born on this side of that immaginary line called the border) and remember, because it is all good conservative republicans that seem to be against amnesty, we have to conduct this huge undertaking with the resources that we have because we cannot raise taxes! (actually, that is something i will agree with, I don't want my money contributing to such an outrage)
to be continued...
Bienvenidos
My wife says that I talk too much about politics and philosophy and that I always want to be right. I guess I will have to say that she is right.
What else could I could but open up a blog?
This is the perfect forum to test theories, and to express one's thoughts.
If politics and religion are not allowed at the dinner table they sure are allowed here.
I am starting this blog as an experiment. If I am really as alone as I sometimes feel in my some of my opinions. I want to know what people think about what I have to say. I learn through communication and like to communicate what I learn. If I can find people of similar interest and opinion, I want to work with them. If I can find people of different interests and opinions, I want to hear what they have to say, contemplate and consider their views, and give them something to think about as well.
Here we go!
What else could I could but open up a blog?
This is the perfect forum to test theories, and to express one's thoughts.
If politics and religion are not allowed at the dinner table they sure are allowed here.
I am starting this blog as an experiment. If I am really as alone as I sometimes feel in my some of my opinions. I want to know what people think about what I have to say. I learn through communication and like to communicate what I learn. If I can find people of similar interest and opinion, I want to work with them. If I can find people of different interests and opinions, I want to hear what they have to say, contemplate and consider their views, and give them something to think about as well.
Here we go!
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