Looking at illegal immigration
February 6th 2008, by Jon White

Every since illegal immigration became a hot button issue in this community, I have decided
to pay more attention to it.

I'm afraid that after much introspection into this issue, I probably do not agree with the
vast majority of people from what I have gathered. I sincerely feel that anything we do to
combat the problem locally, ignores the basic fundamentals of the issue, which needs to be
solved at the national level, first and foremost.

I look at the "illegal immigration problem", as a 3 headed beast.

1. Some immigrants came here without the proper authorization.

2. Some in the business world, exploited cheap labor, and turned a blind eye.

3. The federal government, because of many special interests, also decided to turn a
blind eye, to the "illegal immigration" problem.

So, basically, there are 3 known criminals in this little tale.

 

The "illegals", the Businesses, the Government.

So, the debate is basically two fold.
The following quasi solutions are being proposed.

1. Deport the illegal people.

2. Give them amnesty, meaning that we do not punish them, or we punish lightly.

So, the looking glass, is peered at, as a "black and white" problem.

Basically, the "good and evil" paradigm, or line, of thought.

Black and white thinking does not solve these types of issues. If you seek to identify
"good guys"and "bad guys" in this battle, you are going to come up pretty fruitless.

I mean, who is the bad guy here?

Is it the illegal immigrant, who came here in search of a better life, because of a system that made
the REWARD much better than the RISK?

Of course, yes, the illegal immigrant is at "fault", if you choose to label it that. But, so is
the employer, and more importantly, the government as well, for turning their cheek.

The fact of the matter, is that solid federal policy was not in place to begin with, and the
issue of dealing with immigration must come from the federal level, not local, to solve this
pressing issue, in my opinion.

A small example of this, is that it is said quite often, that "illegals" do not pay taxes.

Dead wrong.

They pay taxes everyday, in the form of sales taxes, when they make purchases, and
that adds up to a HEFTY SUM for just one example.

To cut to the chase, if this issue is to really be solved, here is what I think needs to happen:

1. The income tax must be abolished, and replaced with a fair tax, or something similar.

2. No more redistribution of income to minorities, because of things that happened 100 years ago.  We are not at fault for our ancestor's actions, and the handouts need to end.

3. We do not change our laws or customs to suit the whims of immigrants. They came here,
we didn't go there. Preferential treatment is not an option if we seek "equality".

There may be more things, but I really want to press on the two of the above issues.

One of the main gripe about illegals, is the disparity in taxes, and the "free ride" they
receive. This is all the more reason to jerk out the idiotic income tax system, and actually
tax people on consumption, rather than production.

If everyone has to pay sales tax when they purchase something, or have to pay fees of some sort,
that income has a much lower chance of escaping, and the black market is going to be in trouble!

This would solve the "free ride" issue. I do not deem it wise for a country to label our friends
as "illegals", and they should rethink this decision immediately. I think it's time for the
government to admit that we are not saints ourselves, and that we in fact encourage these actions
behind the scenes in many instances.

If the Mexican immigrant wants to come to America, and work hard, who are we to deny his progress?

America represents a great many, diverse, group of people. We should be welcoming the immigrant,
and not make the process of becoming a citizen so incredibly burdensome.

The other main issue people take issue with, is again, related to the "inequality", that some "illegals" receive,
that is sometimes better than the citizen, who was born and raised here!

Well, no more handouts. No more special privileges. It's like a woman who screams, "I want to
be equal"!   Who am I to object?   Let them have it.    Let things be equal under our law.

(editor's note: When one is receiving perks, benefits, or is living a fine life, the very flawed
concept of altruism is briskly tossed out the door. All human beings, from the rich, to the poor,
perform all of life's actions out of rational self-interest. So, you can understand that an illegal
might not want to give up their benefits, as calls for "equality", generally, if not always, consist
of a selfish motive of some persuasion, no matter your ethnicity or skin color.  Knowing this, it is the job of the system, or government, to create a system most conducive to the "idea" of equality, and should not favor one group of
people, over the other, in any cirumstance, real or political. Equality is the scream of the
oppressed, not of the fat and comfortable.    Change always comes from the hungry, not the satisfied.)

So, no more. End the handouts, and revise the tax code.

If this happens, in my opinion, suddenly, the issue of illegal immigration doesn't seem so bad
anymore as the playing field is increasingly leveled, and the teeter-toter falls into balance.

But, maybe I'm wrong.

Who knows?