The Immigration Protests

This issue is precisely why I argue that veering too far in either direction is dangerous, because the far left can come up with some really apeshit ideas too.

This issue essentially boils down to whether illegal immigrants should be allowed to break the law, and I'm really surprised the right is not taking off the kid gloves and calling it exactly what it is. There is a time and place for realpolitik, but this isn't it. You only resort to making deals with the devil when you cannot realistically enforce the laws as printed - giving sterile needles to drug addicts to at least try to curb the spread of HIV, for example.

Here, we can enforce our immigration laws in an effective manner. There is certainly no need for compromise, if the government would just take the proper steps to enforce the law. I just don't know that anybody is offering an effective solution. Glorified amnesty sure as hell isn't the solution, but increasing the border patrol and building a big wall doesn't seem like much of a solution. Are they giving INS more manpower to ship back the illegals that inevitiably sneak through, and those that are already here?

No, the real solution is to ensure there are no jobs for Mexicans. That means coming down on Wal-Mart, construction companies, and farms with the Hammer of God. Get INS to drop by Wal-Mart regularly, and every time they catch a guy without a green card working there, giant ass fuck fine for his employer. That's cutting off the head of the snake, but unfortunately it'll never happen under a Republican congress.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Probably won't happen under any Congress unless hell freezes over and we get a non-partisan moderate majority. But that tends to be true of most sensible legislation.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Quote:

Posted by gukarma
I've recently heazrd in NPR that in some industries, such as that of masons, illegals make up more than 40% of the work force.

They also said that these are well-paying industries - 15-20 dollars an hour - and that the home-building market, which is responsible for 15%-18% of our GDP.

The people who are on the official payroll make 15-20 dollars an hour, sure. But you honestly think the Mexicans are seeing those kinds of wages? When the going rate is $15/hour, and you're only paying your undocumented workers 5, that's a substantial chunk of change going back into your own pocket, and you'd better believe those contractors are doing so.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Quote:

Posted by insertnamehere
I am sick and tired of people ignoring this part of the debate and how illegals are contributing more to the economy than draining.

It's getting ignored largely because it's a bullshit argument. Given that these "undocumented workers" are so named for a reason, it's hard to say exactly how many are using fake Social Security numbers, but I seriously doubt that many actually do so. Meanwhile, they are NOT paying any state or federal income taxes, and while they're sitting on jobs Americans might otherwise be holding, those Americans are drawing unemployment and welfare checks from the government.

Meanwhile they're also putting a strain on the health care system, their presence on the road drives up insurance premiums, their put additional strain on the public school systems, and so on. It's hardly a simple matter of money into Social Security = immigrants paying their way - even if we broadly assume a significant percentage of those 12 million illegals even ARE paying into SS.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?