Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] [MLUG][Politics]The great immigration wash-out

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

I just don't think you guys understand the nature of the problem.

(A) we want cheap illegal workers

(B) it is impossibly expensive to round people up and ship them off to 
other countries

(C) no matter how 'tightly' you 'seal' the borders, people can *easily* 
get into the country.  Example: tourist visa or student visa.

(D) once they get in via C, and they decide to overstay their visits, you 
have to deal with A and B:  we don't want them to leave and it costs too 
much to kick them out.


Thus, I conclude, again, that you have to deal with the problem on the 
demand side.  If you don't want "illegals" hanging out here, you have to 
stop giving them jobs.  Believe me, if there were no work, they would not 
come here.  I know enough of these people to tell you that I am very sure 
of this.  I also have heard enough expert opinion to convince me that I am 
right.

I'm not as sure about what would work, but I think harsh penalties for 
hiring illegal aliens would do the trick.  Is that what we want? 
Obviously, it isn't what the employers want.  Would a reduction in the 
size of our cheap labor force help you and me?  Hell no!  So why do we 
want it?  Are these "illegals" really costing us so much in education, 
medical treatment, etc., that it would be worth our while to round them 
up?  I don't think so.  Prove it.  Besides, if that was the problem we 
could just stop providing services to them and see where that leaves us.

I know it seems simpler than it is:  "Illegal" means "illegal" after all. 
But we have many years of policy that encourages people to do what they 
have been doing.  The occasional amnesty proclamation tells them "hang in 
there."  Isn't it ironic that the same people who talk about rounding them 
up and shipping them out are also considering giving them amnesty?  What 
are these poor immigrants supposed to think?  What is the message they are 
hearing?

Listen, I really don't care about these people and I have no problem with 
you shipping them all back to where they came from.  It isn't an emotional 
thing for me.  I just know that you aren't understanding how this works.

Mike

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