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Firstly, I want to say that this debate has been a lot more civil than originally thought. Most other sites, this debate would have come to flame wars very quickly....Thumbs up to all TFPer's.
And now, more thought fodder...Illegals ARE a problem. Some of us justify it by saying how they contribute to the greater good with the GNP and doing work that none of us would do and such. Let's put a different light on that.
Like ShaniFaye said, in our areas, it is not uncommon to see a large group of illegals amassed outside stores like Lowe's and Home Depot waiting for some contractor to pick them up for work. One Home Depot in particular is located across the street from a Staples. The illegals are so bad in that area, that Home Depot finally had to force them from entering the lot. So then the illegals gather across the street at Staples. Unfortunately for Staples, there is enough right of way on the side of the street that they can't force them off their lot. They just have to put up with it. Numbers go down, and the store eventually closes.
An old neighbor hood was fairly well kept, then the low mortgage rates in the early/mid 90's takes hold, housing becomes a lot more affordable. A Mexican family moves in. Then others move in to the same house. Before long, relations of this family have purchased a few other houses in close proximity. There are junker cars, loud music, pot smoking, numerous police visits, and even an INS visit. Now, the home value in the immediate area has gone down dramatically, and other older home owners are losing money in a market that should have been pretty stable.
Now, I have actually witnessed, heard, and smelled both events. I doubt there's a news report, but they did happen.
Now let's replace "Mexican" and "illegal" with "white" or "colored" and "poor" and "legal". What's the difference? Difference is if the market and economy of an area is going to be dragged down by "legal" persons, than that is a function of society. If that's what it's like to be part of society, then I can accept that. But these people aren't a part of our society. They haven't come here legally, most don't want to assimilate, and they are not part of our society. Part of Mexico's society have decided to come here and still be Mexico's society. They don't integrate with ours, they only leech off of it.
The short of it is this. If they would come here and really want to be part of our society like so many others before them, then I could see how this would be a "non-problem". But that isn't happening, and I think that a lot of Americans are getting frustrated by that.
Now, a potential solution.....Most coyotes are charging into the thousands of dollars to smuggle a person into our country. I say that America set up a policy to where anyone who wants to become a citizen can pay $2000 dollars to do so provided they pass a very basic english skills test and of course, a background check. This would allow for "legal" immigration AND reduce the crime rate along the border dramatically.
Just a thought.....
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"No laws, no matter how rigidly enforced, can protect a person from their own stupidity." -Me-
"Some people are like Slinkies..... They are not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs." -Unknown-
DAMMIT! -Jack Bauer-
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