07.27.07
Immigrants - Become Legal for Equal Standing
A few weeks ago I blogged about Parkland in Texas, a hospital who seems to specialize in delivering babies for parents who are not American citizens. No questions are asked and non-citizens who are not paying taxes are given complete care and treatment at no cost. The point of my article was to explore who is actually paying for this (taxpayers who are not privy to equivalent benefits, even in their most serious time of need) and raise awareness about how the money we are contributing to the system is being used. While taxpaying citizens do not have access to adequate medical care, single mothers send their children to bed hungry and veterans remain homeless, we wage overpriced wars in other countries and cater to people who illegally enter our borders.I received a comment about the blog that stated, “All I would like to say is that no one has no right to call someone else an ‘illegal immigrant’ or call a group of people ‘illegals’. If you think it is not fair how American citizens are not receive all these things the ‘illegals’ are receiving, then try writing articles on how the USA should focus on that, and not some war in the middle of nowhere.”
Actually, that was my point – to raise awareness about where our ever-increasing taxes are being spent without our consent and that our country has other priorities to address first. If a country collects money from people, their first obligation it to those people. When work and we pay into the system, we expect to have a minimally acceptable standard of living that includes basic housing, food and medical care. An increasing number of people who are taxpaying citizens cannot make that happen and do not get adequate assistance. When a country is experiencing these conditions, you don’t mind everyone else’s business and engage in a war to profit the people in power internationally. It is also not a time to start taking care of people who illegally entered your borders and never paid into the system.
I pondered the term “illegal immigrant” and wondered why, in a country that still enjoys freedom of speech, a person would not have a right to use these words. Illegal immigrants are exactly what the name implies – people to travel to another country and begin to reside there illegally. I then considered other possible terms for the behavior. Would squatter or border crasher be more appealing to these folks, who also want us to immediately start flying their flag and speaking their language to accommodate them further?
Don’t get me wrong, I believe in the concept of America, freedom, democracy and the opportunity for people to come here to try to improve their lives. Let’s consider the two alternate terms I came up with for illegal immigrants. Squatters are people who stay in a house or apartment without having a proper legal agreement with the owner of the property and without paying rent. Any landlord knows that a squatter can cost thousands of dollars before you can actually get them to leave. People have lost their savings and their homes because of squatters. When someone comes to this country without the benefit of legalities, they are parking themselves here at the expense of everyone else. Before you know it, we have spent thousands of dollars on a person who decided the grass was greener on the other side and they were going to enjoy it no matter what – even if they did not have the right or the money.
However, even the law eventually addresses squatters who are forced to move on.
I then thought about the term border crashers, which is a variation on a party crasher. Let’s think about this concept for a moment. A wealthy mogul is throwing a benefit party with pricey tickets. You live a couple of miles away and the party looks rockin’ when you pass by so you decide to join it. You wander around eating from the buffet, sipping drinks and even swim in the heated kidney-shaped pool until someone notices you are a stranger. Do you think they will let you stay at the party? Most likely you will be removed and/or arrested. At the very least, you will be required to fulfill the same requirements as everyone else – have permission from the host and pay for your ticket. This makes sense, doesn’t it? It is not your home and you certainly don’t have the right to start hanging out there because you see a party going on.
The same concept applies to – yes, I am continuing to use the term – illegal immigrants. I understand the desire to make a better life for your children and improve your standard of living. Go through the process of becoming a legal citizen and learn about the country you live in. Speak the native language and assimilate into the culture by accepting the flag of the country and its rules. Ultimately, this will be beneficial to both the immigrants and the citizens of this country. Immigrants have been used and exploited by wealthy people in this country for too long. Rich folks who could afford to pay full salaries to citizens choose to pay substandard wages to immigrants who are desperate to find a better way. Now because this exploitation of immigrants has come to the forefront, feeble attempts are being made to legitimize illegal behavior so the wealthy people can keep cheap labor. In fact, pardoning immigrants is intended to make them feel even more obligated to the people who are actually taking advantage of their situation.
When immigrants decides to become legal rather than illegal, they are taking the right action on behalf of themselves and their families. Gain the power of learning the language, furthering your education and have the reassurance of being legal. An immigrant who becomes a legal citizen is on solid ground and in a position of power, rather than subservience. Further, taxpaying citizens and legal immigrant should be banding together for a better way of life for all citizens of America, since less ten percent of the population monopolizes the majority of wealth in this country. Rather than letting politicians pit us against each other, we should unite and fight for equal standing for everyone – not just the people with power and money.
Latest posts by MamaSaid
- Being Leader of Your Own Life - March 20th, 2008
- The Disposable World Mindset - March 18th, 2008
- Stay Strong To Your Convictions - February 23rd, 2008
- Protect Your Privacy In a Predatory World - January 20th, 2008
- Don't Wan't FDA Clones? You're Not Alone - January 17th, 2008
- More About False Promises to Veterans - January 4th, 2008
- Realize The Power That Lies Within in 2008 - January 1st, 2008
- Words of Teddy Roosevelt About Being American - November 17th, 2007
- The Rush for Free Money - October 10th, 2007
- Illegal Immigrants Want More While Veterans Get Nothing - September 21st, 2007
- The Bank of America Fails to Live Up to its Name - August 22nd, 2007
- False Promises to Veterans and a Possible Draft - August 13th, 2007
- Censuring Bush for Assaulting the Constitution - July 23rd, 2007
- Independence Day - A Time to Fight for True Freedom - July 4th, 2007
- Illegal Immigrants Find A Parkland - June 25th, 2007
Mike said,
October 22, 2007 at 8:45 pm
I read your article while browsing for info on this subject. It’s well written and you seem well informed. I did want to mention one thing though that you ommited and maybe aren’t aware of.
I have worked for years with illegal immigrants. Yet everyone has to fill out the I-9 and show ID, have a SS number etc. to work there. Many of these people are my friends, and I’ve got to know how it all works.
They simply buy a social security number and use it -usually- just for employment. It doesn’t cost that much, about $200. Often, less. So, they pay taxes. I know a lot of seasonal workers don’t, or the jack-of-all-trades people one can hire of the work corners get paid under the table. But literally millions of workers have a fake social security number and pay taxes.
Here’s the kicker… I’m a legal citizen, hate taxes, and at the end of each year I file my tax returns to get every dime of it back that I possibly can and pray that I don’t owe more. Now imagine your an illegal, have a fake social… Are you going to file to the government and ask for some of that money back? Nope, you’re scared to death of the government. You just let them have all your taxes.
In the end, many of them pay more taxes than you and I.
I’d like to hear back from you.
dogoftheages@yahoo.com
Kevin said,
October 26, 2007 at 6:57 am
As far as taxes go we should all jump on the train of corporate loop holes. The middle class american has to work half a year to pay the government. If you create your own small business and make it into a corporation you
Can spend and give the government whatever you have left at the end of the year.
There may be a few illegals that pay taxes but that doesnt solve the problem of all those others that dont. They are making a small controbution which does not feel fair to the rest of us americans.
Jay said,
December 30, 2007 at 9:22 pm
The fact that SOME pay taxes doesnt make up for how much they cost US not the fat cats who benefit from almost slave labor… Also if they were not here those jobs would pay a real wage and therefore be done by CITIZENS who need the jobs. They say they are helping us they are only helping the rich and hurting the other 90% of us terribly. Do it right or get out!!