May 2, 2006

I truely don't understand the protests and marches that occured yesterday. All the new legislation does is criminalize illegal immigration, it isn't going to hurt people who are legally here...which most of the those marching were. Also didn't people immigrate here to work? Why boycott work? All that will do is end up getting you fired at many businesses. The day of the march I recieved a job offer and saw a sign at a Burger King where only 2 people were working during just after peak hours and there were signs everywhere, which read "Now hiring, must be able to work all shifts and all positions." I have never seen such a desperate plea from that place, even when they had the crew working there that screwed up every single order. Getting yourself fired or boycotting exactly what you immigrated here for isn't going to help. When my ancestors came to this country they came, got jobs, and worked their asses off. Even better was what my great great grandfather did when he came to the United States, he invested and purchased land for his sons. Now hundreds of acres in Iowa are owned by their descendents. Then of course those who are anti-immigration are just as confusing in their point of view. I mean you don't see Native Americans out trying to slow immigration. My father-in-law is 3/4 Choctaw and even though he says some very prejudice things about hispanic immigrants he was always for giving them an oppourtunity when he ran his own bussiness, and he didn't under pay them. So many people out there whine and complain about immigrants or illegals taking their jobs, well if you are applying somewhere where they are hiring illegals and you know it blackmail the place "Hire me or I turn you in" just don't expect to make more than minimum wage. Immigrant labor, legal and illegal does have a positive impact no one could afford lettuce if people who's families have lived in the US for generations were out there picking it. Not many people are willing to do that kind of work, I would probably do the work, but then again I'm just trying to get by until I finally get my ass out of school.

My suggestion is don't throw illegals in prison and don't deport them, fine them and tax the hell out of them. Once one is found to be an illegal immigrant and found to be working they should be fined the total ammount of their next paycheck, and a 30% tax should be attached to their taxes from that point forward...yes keep them here, give them a guest worker card of some kind, but since they worked without it initially they have to pay the fees, and of course the fees would help to recover any money that they may have cost or not paid in previous taxes. Also the company which hired them should be fined and an additional tax penalty should be put inplace on the business. Also in order to get any kind of government aid one shoul have to PROVE that they are a citizen, and if found to be using any kind of aid without being a citizen they will have to pay it back through garnishment of paychecks. Hell the US government could really make some money off a plan like that. Anyone found trying to cross the border should be fined, if they have no money then they should be deported, or ask them to sign a contract where they would be able to gain legal status by learning English and joining the US military. Considering the US military is stretched so thin and being used so much in foriegn actions a few hundred extra new recruits a month would be helpful.

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with legal immigration, the vast majority of my ancestors legally immigrated to the United States, with the exception of the small fraction of my ancestors who arrived in late colonial times. I can in no way say that immigration is a bad thing, it isn't, it is part of what makes the USA a great nation. The influx and mixing of differing cultures can be a very beneficial thing, of course uncontrolled it may become a bad thing, which is exactly why legal immigration should continue, while illegal immigration nees to either be stopped or the government needs to find a way to make money off the illegals to recoup the current and previous costs associated with illegal immigrants being here.