Posted on 05/22/2006 12:29:28 PM PDT by 300magnum
Remember back to what the immigration issue was about when it began to concern Conservatives. It had nothing to do with racism, guest worker programs, fences along the border, or questions of amnesty. It was about the United States government refusing to enforce the law.
We thought it was wrong for people, who came into the country illegally, to be given free college tuition, released back into the general population after they committed a crime, rather than being immediately deported, issued drivers' licenses, and free medical care. Not because we are cruel and heartless people who do not care about the suffering of others, but because our government had decided to enforce the laws unequally.
If you decided tomorrow that you were not going to pay any more taxes to the government, how long do you think it would be before you suffered repercussions? Oh, I would say about a year or so. About a month and a half after next year's tax deadline, the IRS would be on you like a chicken on a June bug. Threatening letters, liens on your property, garnishments on your paycheck, lawsuits, and even jail time would await you because "you broke the law." Your credit, finances, and life in general would be literally destroyed because you chose to ignore a piece of federal legislation.
How is not paying taxes any different than ignoring immigration law? Just as the illegal immigrant is financially better off violating the law and coming to the United States, you would be better off if you had access to the 35 to 50% of your annual income that is consumed by taxes. Just as most illegal immigrants commit no crimes other than their being here illegally, you, too, would be a model, productive, citizen except that the government would not be getting its cut. And, as far as most illegal immigrants are paid "under the table," or otherwise off the financial books and pay no taxes anyway, there would be no difference at all if you stopped paying taxes.
Since many of our leaders think that 10 million illegal immigrants in the United States indicates that we need to completely rework our immigration law, does that mean if 10 million Americans refused to pay taxes they would throw out the tax code? Far from it.
This is why Conservatives are upset about illegal immigration, and why we are dissatisfied with the response to it from Washington. Our elected leaders have chosen to coddle a group of scofflaws, reworking the law to accommodate them, and granting as sacrosanct the same privileges that would be denied every American if they chose to do the same thing. I am not completely certain, but do not the 14th Amendment's "equal protection" clauses also guarantee "equal enforcement" of the laws?
So, maybe it is not taxes. If illegal immigrants get to break immigration laws if they have a good reason, can we pick a law to not obey if it suits our needs? "Sorry officer, but you pulled me over for speeding without realizing that I am exercising my "Mulligan Clause" on speed limits. Maybe you should point your radar at my neighbor, he gets to ignore local zoning ordinances."
All we wanted was the current law to be enforced. How can Congress go through all this political drama about changing illegal immigration laws when we have never enforced them to begin? Maybe the laws on the books are great! Maybe they would work if our government could muster the resolve to actually implement them.
The bottom line in Washington is showing us where their real priorities are. Taking away our money for them is way up on the list, defending our culture, society, and respect for the rule of law, low. How long will it be before everyone, not just illegal immigrants, ignores them and their messed up priorities?
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Justin Darr is a freelance writer living in the Philadelphia area with his wife and twin children. He can be read widely on the Internet and in publications across North America and in Europe. Justin is a staff writer for The New Media Alliance, and proud member of the MoveOff Network.
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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.
Or maybe great minds just think alike! $;-)
You did get the jump on him!
Well, there's the solution.
We'll just transfer some IRS agents to ICE and tell them that there are millions of 'citizens' who aren't paying their taxes.
By May 15, 2007, the illegal immigration problem will have been solved because every single one will be in debtors' prison alongside Richard Hatch (Survivor winner & tax evader)
Lol, "chicken on a june bug"! Unfortunately it's true.
Outside of the Statute of Limitations which has saved many taxpayers, the IRS has offered amnesty many times and often settles for a fraction of that owed. Otherwise just ask the law offices of Ronnie Deutsch. She'll settle your IRS debt for only $20.
It was about the United States government refusing to enforce the law.
Actually, I keep thinking ALL who have their taxes withheld through their employer should MAXIMIZE the withholding number they claim....up to 10 - yes TEN....that means YOU keep more of YOUR money, and the government gets LESS (right now, anyway....)
quite frankly, many states have tax amnesties where you only pay the tax owed and no penalties or interest.
further, the IRS may negotiate your tax if you are unable to pay the full amount.
I do not like this particular argument for reducing illegals.
For me the best argument is common sense. It is clear we have too many illegals comming from the southern border and the number needs to be reduced.
It is also common sense to me that a guest worker program is needed for a limited number of workers.
I've said this before on this board. Let some city try to opt out of some program beloved of the liberal velvet dictatorship, affirmative action for example, the way they opt out of immigration enforcement and see what happens. Democracy in America is a sham.
From personal experience......BWAaaaHaaaaaHaaaaHaa!
CAN and WILL are not necessarily related.
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