Bush’s Stance on Immigration Has Roots in Midland

NY Times ^ | 6/24/07 | JIM RUTENBERG

[okie01]

As a boy, and later as a young, hard-drinking oilman, his friends say, Mr. Bush developed a particular empathy for the new Mexican immigrants who worked hard on farms, in oil fields and in people’s homes, and went on to raise children who built businesses and raised families of their own, without the advantages he had as the scion of a wealthy New England family.

Unless Midland was a lot different from other West Texas towns of the time, all those "Mexican immigrants" the Times refers to were actually American citizens -- and had been for over one hundred years.

Yeah, sure, they spoke Spanish, maintained their Spanish culture and cooked Mexican food. But they also spoke English, called themselves "Americans" and were, in fact, American citizens!

As usual, the New York Times is ignorant of the truth.

[Aria]

I grew up in southern California and the place I used to know, with fragrant orange groves and open fields is gone. How awful that it’s been turned into a third world hole. This desire Democrat’s have for more political power and business’s desire for cheap labor is a perfect storm that has brought out the worst at the expense of something that was once so great. I’m angry, but sad too.

[Ohioan]

Mr. Bush developed a particular empathy for the new Mexican immigrants who worked hard on farms, in oil fields and in people’s homes, and went on to raise children who built businesses and raised families of their own, without the advantages he had as the scion of a wealthy New England family.

As did all of the settler groups that came here from Europe, as well as the European immigrants who followed after nationhood--at least up until the Welfare State began to corrupt motives. There is not justification for changing the fundamental culture of America, because some Mexicans are hard working and family oriented. Other Mexicans are filling jails and prisons, today, both in Texas and other States. Neither those virtuous Mexicans nor the Mexican criminals really define the issue here; nor does the article or my comment really even touch upon the considerable cultural divide involved here.

This merely points up the President's confusion, not his compassion and not his wisdom.

For my part, I think I had him nailed last year, when this response to his May 15, 2006 address on Immigration, was posted at my Conservative Resource Center:

Answer To President On Immigration.

Personally, I might share the President's enthusiasm for the good Mexicans, who practices their industry and family values in Mexico. But their virtue will not confuse my sense of what is in America's best interest--which is the President's duty, as it is my desire.

William Flax

[Aria]

Non citizens get “social security disability”? And I’ve worked all my life and will only be allowed a pittance back of the money they confiscated??????
I couldn’t be more disgusted. What a mess we’re leaving for the next generation.

[BnBlFlag]

This article is a crock of of steaming shiitte. The bill has it’s roots buried under the Altar of Globalism.

[Qout]

Midland County’s experience:
1990 Midland per capita personal income: $22,610
2002 Midland per capita personal income: $33,728

Bush calls that “growth”. He doesn’t see it as a zero-sum economy. On this issue he seems to be a believer in supply-side economics. The facts seem to support him.
Midland’s 2003 Hispanic population was 32%.

[Shermy]

Hmm.. where’s the 2001-2006 stats??

[Baladas]

Do you have a source for that? The per capita income for the city was $20,884, acccording to lame wikipedia.

[skeeter]

So we should throw our sovereignty and 225 years' worth of blood and toil building the greatest nation and people the world has ever known to the wind because Mr Bush feels 'comfortable with hispanic culture' and likes Mexican food.

Amazing how 60+ years of wealth & privilege can skew one's sense of perspective.

[skeeter]

So maybe this is a dumb question ...but how can they get s/s if they haven't paid in?

I am personally aquainted with this process and can assure you that they can and do collect, and by the billions.

I know an immigrant who is taking the hundreds of thousands she made in real estate speculation back to the country of her birth for her retirement, and is planning to return 6 months every year to the US to collect SSI and Medicare benefits.

[Aria]

Is she legal or illegal and did she pay in...i.e. is she getting her money back or is she taking mine...and yours....?

[skeeter]

She's legal, but availed herself of one of several shortcuts to citizenship. If you know what I mean.

And no, she didn't pay into the system by way of payroll taxes.

[dennisw]

Unless Midland was a lot different from other West Texas towns of the time, all those "Mexican immigrants" the Times refers to were actually American citizens -- and had been for over one hundred years.

Many but not all. IOW they weren't all Spanish remnants from when the USA won the war of 1848. Some were but not as many as you might think

[dennisw]

Non citizens get “social security disability”? And I’ve worked all my life and will only be allowed a pittance back of the money they confiscated??????

They are legal residents of course. Green card holders and yes it's a damn disgrace

[dennisw]

Green card holders are eligible for SS disability income. Often this is greater than what retired Americans get from the real Social Security
_________________
_________________
_________________

From Social Security website
http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:Nb9rgkYRwHoJ:www.ssa.gov/disability/Adult_StarterKit.pdf+%22social+security+disability%22+legal+resident&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

Adult Disability Interview
You should have as much of the following information as possible ready for your interview.
Keep your appointment, even if you do not have all of the information.
We will help you get any missing information.
Check off the items below as you get them together for your interview.
The enclosed Worksheet will help you collect the information
you need for your interview.
Medical Information:
Names, addresses and phone numbers of all doctors, hospitals and clinics.
Patient ID number(s)
Dates seen
Name(s) of medicine(s) you are taking
Medical records in your possession
An original or certified copy of your birth certificate.

If you were born in another country, we also need proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency

[Walkenfree]

Actually SSI is a Welfare program, Called; Supplemental Security Income. And the medical program is not Medicare, It’s Medicaid. (Another Welfare program.) Used to be called OAS, (Old AGE Supplement), Back in the 1960’s they lumped these Welfare programs into the General Funds, as well as Social Security (FICA) funds. The rules still abide for eligibility to Social Security, “Must have worked and paid in to the FICA Forty Quarters or 10 years. Medicare is linked to the FICA (Social Security) which you pay into for 40 quarters to be eligible. The other folks
(Welfare,*(low income)’ not eligible to Social Security)or Medicare, receive SSI and in California SSP, (supplement for the higher cost of living.) Immigrants are not eligible to the Welfare Programs, until they become Citizens. Big Incentive, Eh?

[Travis McGee]

U.S. Constitution, Article 4 Section 4:

"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,

and shall protect each of them against Invasion;"

---

Invasion: \In*va"sion\, n. [L. invasio: cf. F. invasion. See Invade.] [1913 Webster]

1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.

[skeeter]

You sound far more knowlegable than I do, perhaps you can tell me what is available to a non-citizen permanent visa holder. My mother in law received food stamps, medical and some sort of cash disbursment for years before becoming a citizen, and thats a fact.

She subsequently became a citizen (even though she speaks not a word of english), so I guess its all moot.

She gets better medical coverage than do my parents, both USA born and bred.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Just say NO to Illegal Alien Amnesty!! Keep calling!! It’s NOT OVER!!

U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121

U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121

White House comments: (202) 456-1111

Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep

Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

[okie01]

IOW they weren't all Spanish remnants from when the USA won the war of 1848.

You are correct. I overstated my case. Nonetheless, the "Mexican immigrants" that Bush knew in Midland in the sixties were almost certainly a.) legal and b.) American citizens -- most for a very long time.