OK, I've finally spent some time thinking about immigration, and I have some questions for those more informed than myself.
It seems that the biggest complaint I hear is that these people are a drain on out school and medical system. Here goes- aren't all people who don't own property drains on our education system? My dad bithced for the first 18 years of my life about apartment dwellers. My argument to him was always that the owner of the apartment complex had to pay property tax and therefore those people weren't leaches (or at least as leachy) as they first appeared. I would say the same thing is true of immigrants. I hear you - but Erik, they life 5 families to one apartment. Yes, some do. I've never met any, but I'm sure some do. I would say that this is minor. Please convince me I'm wrong.
The medical system is even more intriguing. I've heard estimates that between 10 and 13 million illegals are here. Let's be generous and say 15 million - 0.5% of the U.S. population. I would bet that countries like France and the U.K. have similar numbers. They may not be Mexicans, but in London I heard complaints about illegals there too. Here we go. These two countries have national medicine. They pay exponentially less for health care than we do. REVIEW- they have the same percentage of illegals (I would guess) and they pay LESS for health care. In fact, my student there on a visitors visa last year got hurt in the parade. She had 4 hours in a hospital, consult with a doctor, X-Ray, cast, crutches, all the bells and whistles. She paid $0.00. She was a drain on their healthcare system. There medicine is still cheaper. I hear you here to- but Erik, their medicine sucks. They have lines and get told when they can see a doctor. EVERY English person I spoke to loved their system. And, by the way, my insurance company tells me when and what services I am allowed to have... Maybe illegals aren't the problem here either...
You want to know what I think? I think we resent them because that's what we always do. Our great-grandparents resented the Irish and Italians. My parents resented blacks and Cubans. We resent Mexicans. Why? Because they're different. they don't speak our language. We don't understand them.
The last thing I hear is that many of them are criminals. Are more of them criminals than those of us already here? I doubt it as that we have the largest percentage of citizens in jail of any country in the world...
I think the solutions is easier immigration. Anyone who wants to come to the U.S. should be welcome- as a matter of morality and economy. These people help make our economy go, why not let them? To come in, all you have to do is register. I hear you again- Erik, they'll still work under the table! No they won't. Not if you position a cop at every QT at 6 am, and in every new neighborhood going up, and everywhere grass needs to be mowed, and in every orange grove. Let's take the "Minutemen Brigade" and get them to help stop citizens from hiring people under the table.
I doubt anyone will agree with me here, but I wanted you all to hear the other side.
One more question. How many illegals do you all know? I bet Kirkdiggity will win... but I'd like to know how much this impacts us in the real world. You know, the world outside of talk radio...
for the record. I have met 0 illegals- ever.
ML,
E
P.S. Let's let the tax cuts expire. I'll pay my extra $80 dollars a year and Bill Gates can pay his extra $100,000, and we'll be closer to a balanced budget than yesterday.
