The Only Things Absolutely Certain Are Death, Taxes

Benjamin Franklin wrote to a friend at the time this nation was being founded that the only things absolutely certain in this world were death and taxes. Had he been alive today he would have added a third certainty: Amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Here we go again. Mexican President Vicente Fox hosted Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt at his ranch in central Mexico to discuss, among other things, how to handle the 3 million Mexicans currently living in the United States without visas. Then, of course, there are millions more from Central and South America as well as from nations in the Middle East and India. Many of these got here legally but have just stayed here when their visas expired.

There is a group of policy makers in Washington who say: "Let them in." They argue that these illegals are filling jobs that Americans don't want anyway and thus they are helping to keep our economy going. There is another group of policy makers in Washington who want to close the doors to further immigration. This group was not in favor politically until September 11th. Now their arguments are being listened to.

Then there are a few of us in between. We agree with the view that there needs to be a way for those who want to work in this country to be able to do so, but on the other hand it is absolutely essential that this kind of program be done legally.

The problem with just declaring another amnesty program is that it invites more and more illegals to come to this country. Why not? The odds are with you. If you work hard and stay out of trouble, there is an excellent chance in due course you will be granted citizenship. That is just not right. As far as the Mexicans are concerned, the Democratic leadership in Congress figure they have Bush boxed in. He and his party are making a big push to win the Hispanic vote. So if the Democrats can manage bringing the issue up on the Congressional agenda, Bush will surely sign the bill. And should House Speaker Denny Hastert decide to resist the initiative, why the Republicans can always be branded as racist.

Those who are regular readers of this column know that my father was an immigrant from Germany at the time of hyperinflation in 1923. His aunt, God rest her soul, wrote a letter to the author of a book entitled "Over the Sea and to the Altar." It was written by a baker from a neighboring town in Southern Germany who had gone to America and had become a Catholic priest. My father's aunt told the priest that her nephew was very bright but there were no opportunities for young people in Germany at that time. My father worked on a farm for a fixed income. At the end of the month, when he was paid he didn't even have enough money to buy a glass of beer at a neighborhood tavern.

The letter his aunt sent went to the publisher. They sent it to St. Mary's hospital in Racine, Wisconsin where this priest served as chaplain. He did not know my father or his family. The requirements in those days to get someone into this country were to have a sponsor. That sponsor signed a document saying that if anything happened to the person being sponsored in the first five years of being in this country, the sponsor would incur all liabilities. The Hospital Chaplain recruited a foreman at the J. I Case Company, a manufacturer of tractors (again someone who knew nothing about my father or his family) to be my father's sponsor. My father was all of 19 years old. On the one hand, his liabilities would likely be less than someone older. On the other hand should he have come here and had contracted smallpox, which was very prevalent at the time, the sponsor would have had to foot the bill for five years. No public assistance of any kind until after five years.

Well, the priest, in remarkably rapid time for that day in age, sent back a ticket on a steamship to America, the exit fee required by Germany at the time, a train ticket from New York to Racine and the all-important sponsorship. My father immediately went to night school to learn English. Then he ended up working for that same hospital for 50 years. As soon as he figured he could afford it, he sponsored his brother and later two of his sisters coming to America.

If we had this kind of a system still required in this country, the problem of illegal immigrants would disappear. If the doors were open, but only to those who could demonstrate, in iron clad fashion, that they had this kind of sponsorship then we would go a long way toward solving the illegal immigration problem.

What about the Muslims from the Middle East? My colleague Bill Lind has suggested they be politely shown the door in the light of events of September 11th. Even Jimmy Carter sent all Iranian students packing after the hostage crisis there caused Americans to be locked up. We have absolutely no obligation to have everyone on earth seek residency or citizenship here.

Yes, it is discrimination to tell one group or another, "Sorry you can't live here." There are peaceful Muslims, but how will be know for sure? The fact is they are not entitled to be Americans. Perhaps at another time. Right now we have to be about the business of saving what is left of this country.

The illegals are criminals who have shown a contempt for our laws. Many are into smuggling drugs into this country. Also, on news it was reported how Mexcians are increasigly smuggling Middle Eastern men into this country from Mexico.

The U.S. admits almost 1,000,000 legal aliens annually, the highest sustained rate in our history
For every 100 illegal aliens who find jobs in the US., 65 American workers are displaced
In 1986, Congress granted amnesty to 3.1 million illegal aliens.
In 1990, Congress increased legal immigration by 40%, and granted amnesty to the illegal relatives of aliens who benefitted from the previous amnesty.
Each year, more than 72,000 aliens are arrested for drug offenses in the U.S.
More than 25% of all federal prison inmates are aliens.
In 1992, immigrants cost taxpayers $42.5 billion net in public assistance.
Between 1997 and 2006, the projected total net cost to taxpayers for immigration will be $865.98 Billion.

taken from HERE

These amnesties are needed????

Good point.

If nothing is done about deporting illegals, countries will keep encouraging their surplus populations and deviants to migrate here.

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