Where illegal immigration, business and the law collide
“Look, I’m not a criminal. I don’t go around breaking the law, because for one thing I have way too much to lose. I do everything by the book. But if this law goes into effect, I’m telling you I’m not going to follow it. I’m just not. Because I can’t.”
I was sitting at a restaurant bar, talking to its owner about the potential impact of House Bill 87, the illegal immigration bill. He had contacted me, asking if I wanted to hear “the economic perspective of a small business owner,” with the understanding that he would remain anonymous.
“Some restaurant owners who publicly opposed this bill have received death threats, leading me to want to stay below the radar,” he explained in the email. On that basis, we agreed to meet.
If the law survives legal challenge and goes into effect, the owner said, he would face two choices: He could obey the law, lose a very big chunk of his ktichen staff and be forced out of business; or he could evade the law and save his business.
“I’ve got my future and my family’s future tied up in this,” he said, looking around at the bustling restaurant. “We’re doing good right now, but I’m in debt millions of dollars. And when I made that decision (to borrow the money), I didn’t have any idea that they’d be passing a law like this. My bank didn’t have any idea they’d be passing a law like this.”
“I don’t get it. They talk about jobs jobs jobs. The only two industries generating revenue and jobs for Georgia are hospitality and agriculture. And this is going to ruin them both. And it’s not just my kitchen staff who will lose their jobs. All of my front-of-the house workers [bartenders, waiters, hostesses], they’ll be out of work too. We’ve already lost the construction industry, and now we’re going to lose these too. Nobody I know is considering opening another restaurant in this state.”
In fact, if the construction industry was still booming as it was a few years ago, he said, there’s no way the Legislature would have passed HB 87. Back then, too many politically connected people were making too much money off illegal workers. And the hospitality and agriculture industries just don’t have the clout that developers once wielded.
Right now, he said, he does everything he can to abide by the law. He doesn’t pay anybody off the books, which means that everybody on his staff is paying taxes. “This claim that they don’t pay taxes — I don’t get that,” he says. “Yeah, they may not pay a lot in income taxes, but nobody else in those jobs does either [because they don't make a lot of money]. But they pay sales taxes, property taxes, unemployment taxes, and they’re paying a lot of money into Social Security that they’re never going to get back.”
“See that guy right there,” he said, nodding his head toward a nearby waiter. “He’s been in this country since he was five, when his parents brought him here. He graduated from high school here, and he probably speaks better English than I do. He doesn’t know a damn thing about Mexico. And they want to send him back? Back to what? Have you seen what’s going on in Mexico these days?”
“I’m trying to grow my business; I’m trying to help my people grow and build good lives. I don’t think the politicians know what they’re doing. I just don’t think they’ve thought this through.”
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780 comments Add your comment
Fred
May 24th, 2011
4:18 pm
Joe Mama: I understand bro. I have many Hispanic friends, illegal and legal. They AREN’T the “problem” we have in this Country.
I really hate to say this, but the Republicans are making the Mexicans the equivalent of what the National Socialists in Germany made the Jews in Germany in the late 1920’s. It started out small but look what it led to. We can’t let that happen. I WON’T let that happen.
josef nix
May 24th, 2011
4:18 pm
USMC
“The Illegal Aliens from south of the border are the first group to come to the U.S. and NOT assimilate; that’s a problem.”
Oh, I don’t know….the Yankees coming down here have a longer history… and, yes, I AM serious…
jm
May 24th, 2011
4:18 pm
These kinds of people make me almost cry…..
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/bill-gates-and-total-invest-in-sadoways-liquid-metal-battery/
The dirtbags that keep asking for subsidies, and the government retards that screw things up make me want to cry, but for the opposite reason (than the reason behind the article).
Bosch
May 24th, 2011
4:18 pm
“You’re not going to change my mind about what is to me a very reasonable assumption given the overall situation.”
Thing is, bigots do not usually stand up and say, “I am a bigot.” They hide this from themselves, much less from you or me. — Leonard Pitts
Thulsa Doom
May 24th, 2011
4:20 pm
deegee
May 24th, 2011
4:15 pm
So, I suppose that if I go to Chinatown in San Francisco and I observe people speaking Chinese then I am to assume that they are illegal immigrants? Is that correct, Thulsa?
Nope. You’re completely missing the whole point, scope and context of what we’re talking about.
md
May 24th, 2011
4:20 pm
“He believes that to get people of comparable quality, he would have to raise wages considerably, and as he put it, that would break his business model and make his business unprofitable. He does not believe he has the pricing power needed to simply raise prices.”
Tough doo doo……..
Let him play by the rules like many others are doing…………….just because his model sucks, that doesn’t give him carte blanch to cheat………….
and:
“Look, I’m not a criminal. I don’t go around breaking the law, because for one thing I have way too much to lose. I do everything by the book. But if this law goes into effect, I’m telling you I’m not going to follow it. I’m just not. Because I can’t.”
then:
“See that guy right there,” he said, nodding his head toward a nearby waiter. “He’s been in this country since he was five, when his parents brought him here. He graduated from high school here, and he probably speaks better English than I do. He doesn’t know a damn thing about Mexico. And they want to send him back? Back to what? Have you seen what’s going on in Mexico these days?”
Two contradictory statements………he knows he’s hired illegal workers, so the first sentence is a bald faced lie………….
Fred
May 24th, 2011
4:21 pm
USMC: The Illegal Aliens from south of the border are the first group to come to the U.S. and NOT assimilate; that’s a problem.
No they aren’t dog. The Asians have been here for 100’s of years and won’t learn the language. Take your ass down to Chambodia (Buford Highway) and read teh store signs.
Just damn.
Steve
May 24th, 2011
4:21 pm
Sounds like his workers are stealing SSN’s to pay taxes…Jay also takes his side with doing any financial analysis…just the guys word.
What a joke of a column.
Brosephus
May 24th, 2011
4:22 pm
You’re lucky he didn’t talk you into ‘Bucephalus.’
That would have taken a lot more convincing…
josef
Conspiracy!!
AmVet
May 24th, 2011
4:22 pm
With the $14,000,000,000.00 giveaway handed out to them, Porsche “promises” (HA!) to add 100 jobs to the Atlanta economy.
The “free market” wins once again and we the people lose…
deegee
May 24th, 2011
4:23 pm
How am I missing the point, Thulsa? Are you saying that illegal immigration among Asians doesn’t exist?
Mighy Righty
May 24th, 2011
4:23 pm
I don’t worry about the language thing. There are neighborhoods in L.A. and Miami where english is not spoken. In L.A. they speak Mexican, in Miami Spanish. There is a significant difference. Both languages are spoken by U.S. citizens.
Thulsa Doom
May 24th, 2011
4:23 pm
Bosch
May 24th, 2011
4:18 pm
“You’re not going to change my mind about what is to me a very reasonable assumption given the overall situation.”
Thing is, bigots do not usually stand up and say, “I am a bigot.” They hide this from themselves, much less from you or me. — Leonard Pitts
Bosch,
So if you think some of the people around you are illegal aliens than you are automatically a bigot? If so then there are a helluva lot of bigots that don’t even know they’re bigots. And if someone takes away from Jay’s article today the idea that there are a lot of illegals in the restaurant industry then I guess that makes them a – you guessed it- a bigot! Who can argue logic like that?
Message from Matti
May 24th, 2011
4:23 pm
jo nix @ 4:18,
Excellent point. I have noticed this as well.
josef nix
May 24th, 2011
4:24 pm
JOE
Interesting point on “be” speaking…when we were “shopping” for a place to bring up the kids, Floyd County got its first “green light” when we were visiting, stopped at Burger King and at the next table there was a Cherokee grandma speaking the language with the grandbabies…they spoke it back to here, but used mostly English among themselves…as Unmentionable said, “that is what I’ve always wanted to hear, the native language on native land doing daily things…”
getalife
May 24th, 2011
4:24 pm
Josef,
Do you watch Treme on HBO?
Good music.
I can’t understand these drunk Cajuns trying to speak English
Thulsa Doom
May 24th, 2011
4:24 pm
deegee,
As I understand it 11% of all illegal aliens are from China.
Thulsa Doom
May 24th, 2011
4:25 pm
Make that Asia not China.
josef nix
May 24th, 2011
4:25 pm
getalife
Yes! And Swamp People…that subtitling gets on our nerves here though! WE understand everything they’re saying, thank you anyway…why not subtitle the moderator’s English..eh”
But, glad you’re here…I think you more than anybody else understands what I’m saying about what it takes to hold onto your language, from the French perspective…
md
May 24th, 2011
4:26 pm
“That’s why I advocate some form of amnesty, to rationalize all this.”
And a second amnesty will compound the problem when it comes time for the third, fourth, and fifth…..
The first one already set the precedent………and the numbers bear it out…….it’s an exponential equation unless we first fix the borders……………
deegee
May 24th, 2011
4:26 pm
So, Thulsa why would you assume that hispanics speaking Spanish are illegal immigrants but I’m missing the point by asking you whether you assume that Asians speaking their native language are not illegal immigrants?
Joe Cool~"PRESIDENT Obama" Tells Birthers,"Thanks For Playing BI+CHES"
May 24th, 2011
4:27 pm
“Are you saying that illegal immigration among Asians doesn’t exist?”
So true. Remember those 513 immigrants they were trying to sneak into the US a week ago:
Inside the tractor-trailers, they found 513 people from El Salvador, Ecuador, China, Japan, Guatemala, India, Nepal, Honduras and the Dominican Republic.
None FROM Mexico.
Joe Mama
May 24th, 2011
4:27 pm
Mr. Doom — “If you will go back and re read you will see that I was talking about people who couldn’t understand any of the English that the English speaking cashier was saying to them.”
Yeah, the first time I saw you say that here was 5-10 minutes ago. Do you suppose you could show me where you posted that prior to oh, 3 PM today on this thread? You could have saved us all a lot of posting.
Otherwise, I’m thinking that you might be backpedaling at this point.
“It wasn’t a matter of wanting to speak Spanish amongst themselves which I understand perfectly well. It was a matter of people who couldn’t speak or understand a word of English that is being spoken to them.”
I don’t believe you explained that at all before now.
“And it is of my opinion that if you have a number of people none of which can understand any of the English that the cashier is speaking to them that its a reasonable bet that some of them are here illegally.”
But still only a bet nonetheless, as was pointed out to you earlier. A person could easily be here legally (as a tourist or even an immigrant) and not be able to speak English. A lot of people on your side of the aisle seem to conflate skin color and accent with legal status in the USA. I have a coworker with a blonde, blue-eyed English-born wife, while my Hispanic wife (who speaks English with no accent) was born in southern California.
Guess which one gets pulled for secondary screening? The blonde with an accent or the brunette without one?
Bosch
May 24th, 2011
4:27 pm
“So if you think some of the people around you are illegal aliens than you are automatically a bigot?”
If you look at a HIspanic person that you do not know, and the automatically assume they are here illegally based on nothing but your own prejudices, then yes, I think you are definitely a bigot.
” If so then there are a helluva lot of bigots that don’t even know they’re bigots”
Yes, I would certainly agree with you there. I think for many individuals, bigotry and racism are subconscious and subtle.
pogo
May 24th, 2011
4:28 pm
Let’s face it, when it all comes down to it, this is all about greed. Business and farmer’s wants their labor for cheap (and make no mistake, illegal immigrant labor is cheap only because IT IS illegal immigrant labor) to make more profits and consumers want what they want at the cheapest price possible. Meanwhile, millions of Americans are without jobs because either they are unwilling to do the work or they are unwilling to work for the slave labor wages that the immigrants are being paid. And the inherent costs to the taxpayers for having our “slave labor” force here to deliver higher profits for business and farmers and for cheaper costs to consumers is destroying us all because this labor doe’s not pay into the BIG spending programs (Medicare, Medicaid and SSN) because they are undocumented. But they have access to Medicare, Medicaid and Foodstamps without ever having paid one cent into them. At this point, I don’t think that even the illegal immigrants in this country want to become citizens because they know that they will have to pay all of the taxes that are associated with becoming a citizen if they do. In fact, I know they don’t. They want the social benefits without paying the taxes. We are screwed.
Thulsa Doom
May 24th, 2011
4:28 pm
Bosch,
But of course someone who took the time to learn Spanish and lived and traveled extensively through Central America has just got to be bigot? Right Bosch?
Bosch- No te das cuenta de lo estupido que su comentario fue?
Bosch
May 24th, 2011
4:28 pm
“But of course someone who took the time to learn Spanish and lived and traveled extensively through Central America has just got to be bigot? ”
As I said, if you automatically assume someone is here illegally based on nothing but your own prejudices, then yes, I would definitely consider youa bigot.
Fred
May 24th, 2011
4:29 pm
josef nix
May 24th, 2011
4:17 pm
FRED
And who made English that “language of the country.” We make a point of speaking French whenever we’re down home…it’s a political statement…
I knew there was a reason I didn’t trust you and that you stabbed me in the back once. F the french. The most duplicitous and useless culture on the face of the Earth. I CAN speak french, but I won’t. I will NEVER turn my back on a french person. I won’t even dignify them by using an capital F when I type french or france. If only we could have helped Europe during WWI and WWII and let the Germans keep france. But then not even the Germans really wanted france. Had they decided to exterminate the french instead of the Jews the whole world would have been better off.
Message from Matti
May 24th, 2011
4:29 pm
getalife,
I love Treme! And um, I turn on closed captioning.
josef nix
May 24th, 2011
4:30 pm
FRED
We’ve been there…
But which French are you talkin’ about Willis? The ones in Canada? The ones in the South? The ones in Haiti…? I’m not overly fond of the ones from Europe myself…though I’ve known a lot of Belgians and Swiss I was rather fond of…and the folks from Provence aren’t a bad lot…
Thulsa Doom
May 24th, 2011
4:32 pm
Bosch,
Entonces todos somos probablemente un monton de fanaticos.
Bosch
May 24th, 2011
4:32 pm
And Doom, I speak and write some Spanish too — your bigotry sounds alot more stupid than my comment….
getalife
May 24th, 2011
4:32 pm
Matti,
I like Boardwalk Empire.
There are some good shows on HBO and Showtime.
Joe Mama
May 24th, 2011
4:33 pm
Doom — “But of course someone who took the time to learn Spanish and lived and traveled extensively through Central America has just got to be bigot? Right Bosch?”
This is what makes your insistence on our acceptance of your leapt-to conclusions all the more perplexing to us.
deegee
May 24th, 2011
4:33 pm
Thulsa, don’t give up your day job.
Fred
May 24th, 2011
4:34 pm
Crap. Been drawn in to pig wrestling again dammit.
Pig Wrestling: In order to wrestle a pig, you have to get down in the crap and get crappy. And the pig likes it.
Bosch
May 24th, 2011
4:34 pm
“This is what makes your insistence on our acceptance of your leapt-to conclusions all the more perplexing to us.”
Yeap.
Thulsa Doom
May 24th, 2011
4:37 pm
Bosch
May 24th, 2011
4:28 pm
“But of course someone who took the time to learn Spanish and lived and traveled extensively through Central America has just got to be bigot? ”
As I said, if you automatically assume someone is here illegally based on nothing but your own prejudices, then yes, I would definitely consider youa bigot.
Sorry Bosch but I think there is a disagreement on what is a reasonable assumption and a racist belief. For example if 100 white or black people go to El Azteca for example on Roswell Rd how many of those white or black people unconsciously believe that several of the employees are probably illegal aliens? Are they all bigots because they may consciously or unconsciously believe several of those employees are here illegally? Likewise if you go down Buford highway and you see a ton of Hispanic faces are you likewise a bigot if you consciously or unconsciously think some of them are going to be illegal aliens? Or is it a reasonable assumption given that Atlanta has a sizeable illegal alien population?
AmVet
May 24th, 2011
4:38 pm
pogo makes a good point, that we all know about.
If those home builders and contractors and landscapers and Burger King used legal immigrants or American citizens, things would likely cost more.
But to me this is like saying that obeying the laws is gonna cost more. Or paying ANYTHING in federal income taxes is gonna cost more.
BFD!
This is the very mentality that promotes the wholesale shipment overseas of not just jobs, but entire industries.
American business used to operate under the model of “enlightened self-interest”. No more.
For example, Henry Ford was having a hard time selling his automobiles. And what did he do? He raised the wages of his workers!!!
His reasoning was that they could now afford those cars they were making.
And it worked.
Can you imagine these Titans of Malfeasance and Criminal Negligence doing this today???
They seem to be driven by self-interest only…
Joe Mama
May 24th, 2011
4:40 pm
Doom — “Sorry Bosch but I think there is a disagreement on what is a reasonable assumption and a racist belief. For example if 100 white or black people go to El Azteca for example on Roswell Rd how many of those white or black people unconsciously believe that several of the employees are probably illegal aliens? Are they all bigots because they may consciously or unconsciously believe several of those employees are here illegally? Likewise if you go down Buford highway and you see a ton of Hispanic faces are you likewise a bigot if you consciously or unconsciously think some of them are going to be illegal aliens? Or is it a reasonable assumption given that Atlanta has a sizeable illegal alien population?”
I think you’re missing the macro and micro difference, Doom.
Nobody here is saying that there’s no possibility of any of those people being illegosos. What we’re objecting to is your claim that, without apparent evidence or proof, your insistence that some SPECIFIC Hispanic people *were* illegosos, just based on your observations that you posted.
I think you’re mixing macro and micro up here.
Hillbilly Deluxe
May 24th, 2011
4:42 pm
Yes! And Swamp People…that subtitling gets on our nerves here though!
Mine, too. I’ve never spent a day in the bayou country, although I did work briefly with some Cajuns from LaFayette, and I understand every word they say. All you have to do is listen.
Thulsa Doom
May 24th, 2011
4:42 pm
Well Bosch,
I guess you’re the sole arbiter of who is a bigot and who isn’t. Interesting that you’re even more judgmental of me than I was in believing that some of the people who can’t speak English to the cashier may have been here illegally. Must feel good to know in your moral superiority and smugness that you can just deem who is and isn’t a bigot based upon a general observation that is debateable in and of itself as to whether or not its a bigoted observation.
Fred
May 24th, 2011
4:42 pm
What’s the difference in what “french” you are talking about Jonix? The ones in Canada managed to only victory the french have had in about 500 years when they conquered 1/3 of Canada. As for the rest of them? If they (include yourself if you wish) consider themselves french then move the hell back to france. YOU are American. You aren’t Cherokee, you aren’t french. I don’t do that hyphenated crap. If you AREN’T American, then get the hell out. It’s quite simple.
QUIT trying to divide our Country. It was founded on the strongest and the smartest of people from all over the World. It worked for a while until people started dividing again. I don’t do the division thing and despise those who do. Remember “melting pot”
Oh and DON’T EVEN throw in the Cherokee thing. WHat happened to the folks who lived on that land BEFORE the Cherokees got there? The ones referred to sometimes as “Those who came before.”
The trail of tears was sad. It was a travesty. But at least the Cherokees weren’t wiped out.
Joe Mama
May 24th, 2011
4:43 pm
Fred — “The trail of tears was sad. It was a travesty. But at least the Cherokees weren’t wiped out.”
My wife had thought, before she moved here, that all the remaining Cherokee were in Oklahoma. She didn’t realize that some of them had seen which way the wind was blowing, so they headed for the hills and escaped the forcible resettlement.
And that’s a pretty cool thing, when you think about it.
md
May 24th, 2011
4:46 pm
“For example, Henry Ford was having a hard time selling his automobiles. And what did he do? He raised the wages of his workers!!!”
Well….Walmart is using the same basic premise…..lower the prices so the workers can afford the crap………
It’s a fine line…….raise those prices, and the folks that rely on the Walmarts of the world will only be able to buy less………it’s been mentioned many times before….there will always be poor.
josef nix
May 24th, 2011
4:46 pm
Okay, just doing my EOI duties here, but making the assumption here in Atlanta has certain aspects which while not exactly PC, nonetheless are necessary. At my school site we have to keep it in the back of our minds at all times in order to know how to handle certain sensitive issues in dealing with the children’s parents…while we certainly do not keep a record of who we “suspect” and who we don’t, we have “our ways” and, whenever one of those sensitive cases come up, we know how to determine “definitely not” and “probably so.”
Thulsa Doom
May 24th, 2011
4:47 pm
Joe Mama,
My belief that some of those people that can’t speak a word of English to the cashier is a common belief that probably many of us would casually accept but just won’t admit. How many people on here before today probably have the belief that there are a good number of illegal aliens in the construction or restaurant industries? Probably a good many of people on this board believe that there are a significant number of illegal aliens in these industries? Can they prove it? Probably not but a lot of people may in fact believe that. Does that make them bigots for thinking that? If you went out and asked 100 white or black people if there are a good number of illegal aliens working in the construction or restaurant industries how many of them would say yes? Be honest about it. A lot of people would think that and I suspect you probably know that. Does that make them bigoted if they think that?
Paul
May 24th, 2011
4:47 pm
afternoon, josef
“It’s my fourth!”
Care to go for a fifth? (I like how the stewardess translates back)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa1rjCZxtxo&feature=related
Or a sixth?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzrtS7YPeD8
Jay
May 24th, 2011
4:48 pm
Bosch, Doom, let’s move on.
Fresh sheets upstairs.
josef nix
May 24th, 2011
4:48 pm
FRED
Don’t get your skivvies in such a wad! Who’s being divisive…? Where did I ever say I WASN’T American…I’ll just thank you not to try and tell me what I have to do to be an American…you’ve hooked up with Imam Torquemada Parse-On Brownlow on that Yankee Sharia thingie…
Bosch
May 24th, 2011
4:50 pm
Doom,
Now you are changing the goal posts with the words “some” and “several.
Joe Mama
May 24th, 2011
4:50 pm
Doom — “How many people on here before today probably have the belief that there are a good number of illegal aliens in the construction or restaurant industries? Probably a good many of people on this board believe that there are a significant number of illegal aliens in these industries? Can they prove it? Probably not but a lot of people may in fact believe that. Does that make them bigots for thinking that?”
I don’t think it’s bigoted to assume that there are *some,* no.
I do think it’s bigoted to say ‘yo, these peeps right here are illegosos’ based on no more than you claimed, yes.
Do you see the difference?
TruthBe
May 24th, 2011
4:50 pm
First of all where is the concern for the legal immigrants that did it right and obeyed the immigration laws? Employers can still hire low paying wage earners that have legal right to work papers under House Bill 87. The Restaurant Owner is breaking the law and is one of the main reason that we have these illegal immigration problems in American. Of course Mexico and much of the other Latino Countries are at fault for treating their own Citizens so badly. Obama and the Corrupt Democrats dont give a darn about these people they just want their votes if they make them legal period. Obama equals what have you done for me today. Politicans only care about themselves and what we the people can do for them including illegal immigrants for cheap labor to care for them
AmVet
May 24th, 2011
4:51 pm
“Well….Walmart is using the same basic premise…..lower the prices so the workers can afford the crap………”
Disagree, driving the market DOWN with cheap crap and lousy value is not the same as helping it UP with quality products, better values and higher wages to afford them.
Paul, the Airplane skit is classic, but I only made it through 20 seconds on the Valley Girl clip.
Kam will say we’re better than that, but I say waterboard ‘em!
Fred
May 24th, 2011
4:52 pm
Joe Mama @ 4:13:
Yeah it is. There is no way to “reconcile” what was done to the Cherokee’s, and the rest of the Indians, (sorry, I won’t call people who crossed the Bering Straits a thousand years ago “Native Americans”). nor is there a way to reconcile slavery and the injustice done to the blacks here in this Country. We need to move on. It didn’t happen to any of us. WE know better. Or at least I used to think until this whole Illegal Alien fire flamed up…………
Thulsa Doom
May 24th, 2011
4:53 pm
Bosch,
Changing the goal posts with some or several? Whatever dude. If you want to parse and nitpick words be my guest. Otherwise just go back to your tried and true practice of calling people that really don’t know bigots.
josef nix
May 24th, 2011
4:58 pm
PAUL
YAY…fresh sheets upstairs… to thoise in the know, works like a charm every time, doesn’t it? But, I’ll go up there and see whazzup.
Where illegal immigration, business and the law collide | Jay Bookman | My Wordpress Blog
May 24th, 2011
5:01 pm
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Thulsa Doom
May 24th, 2011
5:02 pm
I do think it’s bigoted to say ‘yo, these peeps right here are illegosos’ based on no more than you claimed, yes.
Do you see the difference?- Joe
Nope. I really don’t. If I see a number of people that can’t speak a word of English to the cashier than my reasonable assumption is that some of them are probably illegals. Doesn’t mean I hate them or am bigoted against them or prejudiced against them or whatever- especially since I stated in my first or 2nd post today that I was pro immigration. I’ve had a lot of interaction with the Hispanic community over the years since I can speak Spanish and its just been my observation in knowing a good number of them that the ones that can’t speak a lick of English in their 20s and 30s in many times have tended to be illegals. If you have experience speaking with them and interacting with them you you tend to notice things like this. Its nothing more than observation and observed behavior. I’ve had a pretty good amount of interaction with them in my life in case you haven’t noticed. Let me know when you are tired of beating this dead horse. I’m about done with it.
Brittanicus
May 24th, 2011
5:02 pm
ARE WE REALLY THAT STUPID?
Strange that those Georgia farmers are not saying that when an illegal worker falls sick; he transports him/her to the emergency room? This could be the same crisis that would hit Utah, if the Guest Worker program materialized in the Mormon State? That means his liability to the sick/injured Guest Worker is void and becomes the financial burden of the US taxpayer whilst the hospital passes on the fee. Then we have the children of the agricultural workers who taxpayers are forced by the judiciary to support their education. Then under the 14th amendment a female when a baby is born becomes an instant citizen collecting cash payments, food stamps low income housing and free natal care. All this cost is assumed from your taxes and is in the hundreds of billions a year. Outside of farm workers are the economic illegal aliens who come here to have their babies, and place an unimaginable strain on our schooling system. But this is just part of the layers upon layers of foreigners, who are indirectly stealing tax payer’s money.
Another great fraudulent game is illegal nationals, paying nothing into the tax system, but collecting up to $5,600 dollars per household. More than one in four immigrant households received the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in 2009—nearly twice the 13.2 percent rate of households headed by Native Americans. And since immigrant households are larger (primarily because of higher fertility rate), their EITC payments are larger than those received by citizens and naturalized citizen households. “The Earned Income Tax Credit and Illegal Immigration: A Study in Fraud, Abuse, and Liberal Activism”, by financial analyst and economist Edwin Rubenstein. This is not a myth, but fact about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the largest anti-poverty program in the United States, which is the “most illegal-immigrant friendly,” explains Edwin Rubenstein, author of the new report.”
In 2007, more than 23 million households received more than $47 billion in the EITC payments.” He Rubenstein said “between one-quarter to one-third of all EITC claims are ‘improperly paid’ according to the General Accounting Office. The EITC – like most of the tax code, operates on the honor system. The U.S. Congress allows and supports one of the most fraudulent taxpayer misuse schemes ever conceived within the Federal Government. It’s time the administration eradicated this program, allowing millions of aliens who to entered American soil, while draining billions out of the United States Treasury. Tax relief” goes to people who never paid a cent in taxes, and may have already defrauded the government of huge sums each year. Bring this abuse to the attention of your Federal, State politicians about this fraud which illegal aliens are stealing from you. Expenditures of more than $55 billion per year, is a combination of EITC spending that is associated with traditional welfare programs.
I watched a meeting of the Cato Institute on C-Span, which slurred Bloggers like me, saying that illegal workers were an economical benefit to America? Frank Sherry should be asked about Earned Income tax credit and try to deny it? No person, celebrity or anyone else has a right to complain, as we have more legal immigration than any other part of the world, that includes seven secret amnesties since the 1986 (ICRA.) As for illegal aliens, that if the aroused TEA PARTY has anything to do with it, no Amnesty will ever be passed. All we are doing now is importing more poverty for taxpayers to contend with?
The border remains open for more criminals to cross over, as areas around lakes in Texas, places along the Rio Grande, where there are examination foot traffic bridges that still is unsecured. Hundreds of miles are still simple barbed wire fences fallen into disrepair and keeps no marauder of our sovereign land? If Congress intended to stop these invaders, they would not only have made it a–FELONY– to enter; same as Mexico, but would have constructed the double-fence as enacted in the 2006 Secure Fence Act. It would have restricted the endless criminals, as it would have been adorned with razor wire. EVEN THE SINGLE LINE FENCE IS NOT COMPLETED FOR THE SEVEN HUNDRED MILES. ITS ALL ONE BIG SICK JOKE BY BOTH PARTIES, ON THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS?
The Liberal wing of Democrats are trying to drive a wedge between Hispanics and the General population, But the plain fact is that there are millions of legalized and multi-generations of Hispanic citizens, who wish to disassociate themselves from South of the border. Equally abhorrent are overstays recognized to be 40 percent of the illegal occupation. If Mexico and other countries has a way of tracking arrivals through ports of entry, by plane, ship or even over the Canadian border, why is this not implemented by Homeland Security and ICE? Hispanic and honest legalized immigrants are cordially welcome to join the TEA PARTY.
It’s more important than ever to join the PEOPLES party, the TEA PARTY. The Tea Party is for all legal Americans, naturalized citizens and those holding green cards. Offend or please! Americans must dissolve the power mongers influence and open border nuts in Washington. The monolithic Tea Party will vote them out in the next election, or we will continue the US path of financial disintegration. This un-American movement will not be tolerated, and should never be ratified without a national referendum. Our country is a nation of laws, especially when it comes to integration of other countries. Currently the Democrats desire to force on—ALL—the American peoples a new Amnesty, cloaked in Immigration Reform. Indirectly the Dream Act would have the same purpose, allowing these Students to sponsor family members. Chain Migration is already accelerating and costing Americans billions of dollars a year. Sanctuary states are another enigma, which is about sheltering foreign nationals which is California’s and Nevada’s cross to bare.
America has plunged into a 14.5 Trillion dollar deficit and is seemingly on the edge of a devastating future, unless we start not only combating illegal immigration that we can no longer subsidize or we become a peons of China and other countries that own our debt. We have little we can do about the illegal immigration until the US government honors its commitment to defend our borders. Congress must implement E-Verify as a mandated business policing problem. And every individual who is arrested must be fingerprinted according to the”Secure Communities” program and forwarded to ICE.
It’s regrettable we don’t follow the same laws as countries in Europe, which is using a “Points-System” for legal immigration. Offering entry visas to the extremely skilled people with profession knowledge in their specialized occupation, as they will not end up in the welfare offices? Many of these people live under primitive circumstances, so saving their wages; sending according to a banking report 46 billion dollars out of America. Every day, the US grows inferior because our senators and congressmen, and corporations, are aiding and abetting, encouraging illegal alien migration into our country. A recent statistic by Visa banking card confirmed wire transfers to Mexico last year reached $40 billion, to South America 25 billion and the Orient 15 Billion dollars in wire transfers.
The 1986 Amnesty cost taxpayers 76 billion dollars. A new immigration reorganization package will outlay an astronomical figure, which comes out your pockets. Even scarier is supporting the illegal alien household that has already settled here? Some say 12 million, but most non-profit sovereignty groups say it’s over 20 million and counting? Can we afford subsidizing the farming community anymore, as they pay nothing in benefits and small living wage? No health care and we pay their children’s schooling. Temporary Guest Worker programs are rampant with deceit, as all special visas for hires. It unquestionably makes no logical sense when 15 million Americans cannot find a job? We just cannot be the emergency room care or education privileges for the rest of humankind, anymore. Another major issue is foreigners voting in only-for-citizens election. This is no longer an isolated issue and States nationwide, need to enact stringent rules that includes showing picture ID to prove they are legally able to vote? Join the Tea Party and also ply your representatives in Washington, State or even local level for answers?
Contact them at Senate—202-224–3121/ House—202-225–3121.
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Thulsa Doom
May 24th, 2011
5:05 pm
Gone upstaris.
md
May 24th, 2011
5:13 pm
“Disagree, driving the market DOWN with cheap crap and lousy value is not the same as helping it UP with quality products, better values and higher wages to afford them.”
And as I said, there will always be “poor” due to numerous and various reasons……raising those costs will only hurt them…………..
josef nix
May 24th, 2011
5:16 pm
As much fun as this one is, upstairs is a riot!
Joe Mama
May 24th, 2011
5:23 pm
Doom — “Nope. I really don’t. If I see a number of people that can’t speak a word of English to the cashier than my reasonable assumption is that some of them are probably illegals.”
It would have made a lot of difference if you’d actually said that ‘apparently couldn’t understand the cashier’s English’ a few hours ago. That’s what makes me think that you fabricated the whole thing.
“Doesn’t mean I hate them or am bigoted against them or prejudiced against them or whatever- especially since I stated in my first or 2nd post today that I was pro immigration.”
I could state that I’m the Czar of all the Russias, but that wouldn’t make it true.
“I’ve had a lot of interaction with the Hispanic community over the years since I can speak Spanish and its just been my observation in knowing a good number of them that the ones that can’t speak a lick of English in their 20s and 30s in many times have tended to be illegals. If you have experience speaking with them and interacting with them you you tend to notice things like this. Its nothing more than observation and observed behavior. I’ve had a pretty good amount of interaction with them in my life in case you haven’t noticed.”
Your ‘reasonable racism’ concept is about as worthy of contempt as the ‘compassionate conservatism’ concept, IMO.
“Let me know when you are tired of beating this dead horse. I’m about done with it.”
There’s nothing making you respond to me, Cowboy.
Adam
May 24th, 2011
5:32 pm
Thulsa: Changing the goal posts with some or several? Whatever dude.
Do you see the difference?- Joe
Nope. I really don’t. If I see a number of people that can’t speak a word of English to the cashier than my reasonable assumption is that some of them are probably illegals
DISQUALIFIED from rational discussion, just like I keep saying.
Culinary School Parent
May 24th, 2011
6:00 pm
And I’m telling you as the mother of a 100% American chef that he is paying about all you can expect to get as a kitchen worker in the South. That includes many of the high end restaurants. Chefs are out of work that have the skill set and work ethic needed. There is absolutely no reason he would have to make drastic price increases.
Midori
May 24th, 2011
6:08 pm
are you guys watching those tornadoes touch down in Oklahoma?
Not Blind
May 24th, 2011
6:10 pm
What the dumb jerk restaurant owner has be doing by hiring illegals has been against the law long before HB87. He is part of the reason we have such a problem and he is the guy that needs to go to prison for breaking our laws. Wanna bet he also LOVES people that pay cash ?????????? How many other laws does he ignore?
RW-(the original)
May 24th, 2011
6:16 pm
This sure reads like Jay B was interviewing himself, but I guess I should mosey on upstairs.
Paulo977
May 24th, 2011
6:19 pm
joe suggs
“Illegals work these minimum wage jobs because they have to. Make them citizens and they will be on welfare,foodstamps,medicaid,publc housing etc.” !!!!!!!!!!!
Paulo977
May 24th, 2011
6:23 pm
How did joesuggs conclude that citizenship for illegals would land them into destitution?
Paulo977
May 24th, 2011
6:23 pm
Midori
Tornado touch down….
OMG , can only HOPE IT WONT BE TOO BAD1
Thulsa Doom
May 24th, 2011
6:27 pm
Joe Mama- Aaaaaah. So now I fabricated the whole thing. And you can prove that right sport?
“reasonable racism” concept- Aaaaaah. I knew I could count on the race card eventually coming out.
You could state that you’re the czar of Russia and it wouldn’t be true? Yep. You could also state that you are reasonable and rational and that wouldn’t be true either. Ditto for Adam.
Thulsa Doom
May 24th, 2011
6:28 pm
Adam,
Your post is inane and of no consequence. Please try again.
Jay
May 24th, 2011
6:49 pm
Repent?
Pourquoi?
BADA BING
May 25th, 2011
12:22 am
If you can’t run a business by following the law, do you deserve to be in business? What about prostitution? Is it OK to pay for sex under this man’s reasoning? After all, some of these girls are just trying to make a better life for themselves. Sound familiar? (the standard immigration BS line).Let people sell drugs, hell, why not make everything legal? The prices will go down and we will all have fun.
Joe Mama
May 25th, 2011
9:15 am
Mr. Doom — “Joe Mama- Aaaaaah. So now I fabricated the whole thing.”
Didn’t say that, but it’s par for the course, you misrepresenting what others are saying. I quite clearly said that the way you approach this “makes me think that you fabricated the whole thing.” To borrow a phrase from you, work on your reading comprehension.
“And you can prove that right sport?”
Said the guy who can ‘just tell’ that people are illegals based on no more than how they look, what language they’re speaking and how they pay for their groceries at the store.
You ought to be ashamed of yourself. You’ve got a lot of nerve asking people to prove things they never said when you refuse to prove things you actually DID say.
“reasonable racism” concept- Aaaaaah. I knew I could count on the race card eventually coming out. ”
You are just too ridiculous. YOU were playing the race card ALL AFTERNOON.
You can’t possibly be racist because you speak Spanish.
You can’t possibly be racist because you’ve spent time in Central America.
You can’t possibly be racist because you saw this thing happen
You can’t possibly be racist because “reasonable people” agree with you.
You can’t possibly be racist because you have an excuse and justification for the racist things you say.
Puh LEEZE.
“You could state that you’re the czar of Russia and it wouldn’t be true? Yep. You could also state that you are reasonable and rational and that wouldn’t be true either. Ditto for Adam.”
You should talk, Mr. I Can Tell Who’s Illegal Just By Looking.
Francia Lindon
May 25th, 2011
9:56 am
HB87 was modeled after the Arizona Law. What is interesting about the Arizona law is that it was apparently largely written by a quasi-secret organization called the American Legislative Exchange Council. This organization has drafted hundreds of bills for the benefit of its ultra conservative members. One of its co-founders is Paul Weyrich. Weyrch is also a co-founder of the Heritage Foundation and Moral Majority. He is on video saying, “I don’t want everybody to vote. … Our leverage in elections quite candidly goes up as the voting populace goes down.” But unless you’re a vetted like minded legislator and a member of the ALEC, you aren’t permitted to view the website, view legislative drafts, know who its members are or, most importantly, know its source of funding. So my questions are simple, how does adopting legislation from an unknown source outside Georgia subvert the basic concept of an open legislative process and who’s interests are being served?
For more information on the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) go to: http://www.washingtonspectator.org/message.cfm?msg=0notsubs1&CGI_script_name=/articles/20110515alecinaction.cfm&PageName=%2Farticles%2F20110515alecinaction%2Ecfm
buck@gon
May 25th, 2011
11:12 am
Scrappy yesterday,
The problem isn’t gonig away, true; but neither are the illegals still crossing the border. One week ago, agents found 500 people being smuggled in two trucks! The government has hired new agents and finished some new fences, but trust me, the border is NOT secure. The government itself reports that crossings are down 58 percent. That’s not secure! AND reports have shown that federal agents are being told to avoid making arrests wherever possible to eschew having to add to the statistics. This is the tail wagging to dog.
One week ago, agents found 500 people being smuggled in two trucks!
Until the government can prove itself trustworthy, neither I nor the vast majority of Americans will agree with any supposed “path to ward of the state”….. um excuse me… “…to citizenship” that is.
I agree that we do need a path, as you say. What you also say, that nothing more can be done, we all know to be just not true.
Tyler Kent
May 25th, 2011
3:26 pm
Hey, restaurant owner, listen up: The federal government made it a criminal offense to hire illegal aliens way back in 1986. You obviously knowingly violated that law long before Georgia decided to enforce its own version of it. It is illegal to hire illegal aliens. Got it? You committed a crime knowingly. That’s your fault, and all of the consequences of that act are your fault, not the fault of the elected representatives of Georgia or the people who elected them.