Due to the fact that it is an election year, I am seeing tons of debates, speeches, articles etc about the candidates. I am finding something hard to get my head around. It is the Tea Party candidates using Christianity as a reason we should vote for them. What I am having serious issue with, is the fact that Jesus never would have belonged to the tea party. In all his actions and teachings, we can surmise that he would have been a left wing liberal. Consider the Following:
The Beatitudes-Clearly Jesus saw the way to heaven as being humble and without worldly trappings.
Conservative Republicans are all about hoarding the almighty dollar. Let's not have those millionaires and corporations pay taxes. Jesus actually tells people (all people) to pay their taxes in Luke 20:25 “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Tea Party Republicans do not believe in social service programs. But in Matthew 25:35-40, Jesus said the following. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ Clearly he believes in taking care of the poor, the hungry and the imprisoned. This passage would also refer to the blatant discrimination and racism directed at immigrants. They are the strangers we are not inviting in.
Republicans also do not seem to grasp the Love your Neighbor concept. Hence the wars, that have little to do with people, and everything to do with money and position. Jesus said, when asked about the greatest commandments in Mark 12:29-33 29 Jesus answered,“The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; 30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ 31 The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that HE IS ONE, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM; 33 AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE ONE’S NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” He makes it real clear about what he expects us to do.
In addition, I honestly think Jesus, if he was in our world today, would be sitting on Wall Street with the protesters. I come to this conclusion based on his teachings in scripture and the official doctrines of most Christian churches, which are based on these teachings.
I am writing this, not to debate Christianity vs other religions (or lack thereof). I am writing this to point out the blatant hypocracy perpetrated by the Tea Party republicans in order to get votes. As far as I am concerned, Jesus was not political, but if he had been he would have been as liberal as they come. Nowhere near the Republicans.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Why I love my Bocadillo de jamón en Honduras (Honduran Ham Sandwich)
The other day there was a great article written in the NY Times, American-born wives married to U.S. deported or banned spouses band together via online networks . The article was about women I have met online through a support group for women and men in the same situation and one working for Immigration Reform. I loved the article because it told real stories of real people whose families are being torn apart by US Immigration Policy. I admire these women because they are not willing to be complacent and just give up. They are fighting for their families, their spouses and providing support to others in the same situation. As is true in any forum, you have the "trolls". These are the people who, protected by hiding behind their computers, can spout all the hate and racism they want, not caring who they hurt. One of the worst trolls posted the following...."Women love to date losers, can I ask you women the size of your husbands bank accounts? Could it be 4 figures at best, or perhaps zero! It's not so much that these men have immigration problems that disturb me. It's the whole package, I'm sure they have zero bank accounts, zero job opportunity, and wives and children in their home countries. A woman will fall in love with a ham sandwich.". I mean seriously, does this guy really think he could say that to any woman's face and not get slapped?
Because this man thinks a woman would fall in love with "a ham sandwich" I have decided to follow the woman I admire above (who have already made their lists) and tell you 25 reasons why I love my Bocadillo de jamón (Ham Sandwich)
1. I do not know how many times I had heard from men before "what do you want, a mind reader?" Well he is a mind reader, so to speak. Even when I think I am doing a good job of hiding my feelings, he always can tell when I am sad, hurt, stressed, tired or fighting a migraine. It is amazing how empathic he is.
2. Because we were not married, we did not live together, but anytime he came over he would help clean, take out the trash, insist I call him when home from the grocery store to bring in groceries (significant because I live in a 3rd floor apartment), clean up dishes, and always asked what else he could help with. All of this was done without me ever having to ask. He just saw what needed to be done and did it.
3. He is incredibly intelligent. When he was 7, he knew he wanted to come here, so he got an English Bible and Spanish Bible and studied them 2-3 hours a day to learn English. Also, though he left school when he was 12 to work, he is a voracious reader, loves watching the History and Discovery Channels, and generally keeps up with current events globally better than I do.
4. When we are together or even talking on the phone, he is completely engaged. He actually listen to me and cares about what I think. We can talk for hours and he never seems distracted, or like he does not want to talk. If it is important to me, it is important to him. (the reverse is also true)
5. Trust is huge. He trusts me completely and has never given me reason not to trust him. He is honest and straightforward. He has also trusted me enough to open up and tell me things about his hopes and dreams from childhood as well as thoughts and feelings about other things, which he has told me he has never told anyone else.
6. He is so appreciative of everything. Even the most mundane things I do, he says thank you, or how much he appreciates. It is amazing how wonderful it feels to be appreciated.
7. He is incredibly humble. He can not seem to understand what I see in him or that he is incredibly attractive to me. When I tell him things, he acts like "well that is just how is supposed to be" not like he is anything special.
8. He is so sensitive to my needs. There have been times he needed to go somewhere, and I fell asleep on him watching TV or something, and he always waited until I would wake up on my own. When I felt bad for making him late he would just say, "You needed your sleep, I knew you were tired."
9. He is incredibly playful. He loves to tease me. One of the things we love to do is watch 12 Corazones together (a Spanish Dating show for those of you that have never seen.) For anyone that has seen, at one point I had told him I thought Edward O (one of the shows hosts) was cute. After then anytime Edward O came on, he would threaten to turn the channel or act like a hurt puppy that I was going to leave him for Edward O. I would just bust out laughing. We would also wrestle over the remote control on numerous occasions, lol)
10. He loves my cooking. Even boring old meatloaf. He would compliment everything I gave him, eat every bit, and thank me. I love to cook so having someone that loves my cooking means a lot to me.
11. For any of you that have read the book The Five Love Languages (if you have not read I highly recommend), we speak the same love language. Acts of Service. Neither of us are good with the flowery words and I am not a woman who cares about getting candy or flowers. We both show love by doing things (like the aforementioned taking out the trash (down 3 flights of stairs) or bringing up groceries (up 3 flights of stairs) without ever having to be asked. For me being an independent, do it myself kind of woman, this was hard in the beginning. Whenever I asked my ex to do anything, he would act like I was selfish. Letting someone else do something for me without feeling guilty was hard.
12. He loves my kids. All 6 of them. He has no kids of his own, but calls my kids mi hija and mi hijo. He plays with them (the younger ones), gives boy advice (to the older ones) and always backs me up with discipline (listen to your mom because she loves you and wants what's best for you.) I can tell you their own father never did that. Even my mom noticed when he was sitting on the floor with them at Thankgiving playing a board game with them that he had no idea how to play. She remarked (ex name) would have never done that.
13. He makes me feel precious to him. He is always telling me how intelligent I am, how good of a mom I am, and how beautiful my heart is. He says he has never met anyone, in all his travels etc, that is like me. He says I am amazing. And when he says it, I believe him. Even though I do not always feel like this, I never doubt that is how he sees me.
14. He loves to cuddle. He always has to have some part of him touching me when we are together. It is not a clingy, needy touch. We will watch TV on the couch and he will drape his leg over mine, or pull me against his chest, and we can sit their for hours watching a movie or talking and just being close.
15. He claims he does not know how to cook, but loves to be in the kitchen with me and will help cut vegis, meat, and offer suggestions of spices and combinations to try. And everything always turns out wonderful. I can make anything with a recipe, but am insecure about just "winging it" in the kitchen. He has helped me to be more open to just experimenting with spices and things to see what happens.
16. He is always extremely conscious of the fact I am a single mom with 6 kids. He never wants to make any additional work for me or inconvenience me. He acts like it is a huge deal for me to get a beer out of the fridge for him. I have to position it as, I am going to kitchen anyway, do you want something. Then he acts miffed if I only come back with something for him, lol.
17. He takes an honest interest in anything that is interesting to me. For those that know me, know I am a Farmville Addict. He does not even know how to do anything on computer other than google searches for news. If he is watching Spanish Language TV, I will get on laptop next to him and play on my farm. He has been known to pause the TV and ask what is new on my farm, and even offer suggestions of things I can do with it. And he actually seems interested even though he had no interest in getting a farmville account himself, lol. (yes I suggested it)
18. He is an incredible Artist. He has drawn me 3 beautiful pictures and even framed them before giving to me. They are from the heart, not pictures of things he has seen with his eyes. The are among my most prized possessions.
19. He has what I can only describe as a calming energy. If I am stressed or out of sorts, all he has to do is give me a hug or hold my hand and I can feel a sense of calm come over me. It is really hard to put into words, but it is an incredible feeling.
20. I get migraines. They can be debilitating. My ex would complain when I would get one like "oh geez, nothing is going to get done or I will have to do it myself." If I get one he will sit and hold me while I sleep or rub my head (which, maybe due to his energy, actually helps relieve the pain). He never complains or acts like he is put out because I am out of commission for a day (or 2 or 3).
21. He is the hardest worker I have ever seen. He puts 100% into everything he does and never complains. Even when he is sore or tired he is never grumpy or short with me.
22. We never argue. He is an excellent communicator. We can discuss anything and even if we have a difference of opinion, we can always come to an agreement. I do not think either of us has even been truly angry with the other one. It is funny when we are debating something and I present my case and if he decides is right, he will just say "Ok, you win", lol. I try and tell him it is not a competition and I want to hear his side to but he will just say I made a good argument for my case so he agrees with me, lol.
23. He is not into sports at all. He will watch soccer occasionally if Honduras is playing, like in the World Cup, but it is not an obsession like I have seen in his friends. He would much rather be watching old movies (Vicente Fernandez or Cantinflas). Aside from that he loves Discovery and History Channel.
24. One of the biggest compliments he ever gave me was that I was like his mom. I know how much he loves and respects his mom (he has told me all about her on numerous occasions) and to me that was the ultimate compliment, to be in the same context with her. I cannot wait to meet her.
25. I admire his loyalty. He would never turn down someone that needed help, even a stranger. He would never gossip, lie, or hurt someone intentionally. If someone tries to hurt him, he just brushes it off but if someone tries to hurt someone he cares about he becomes very protective. In his words, "I am a pit bull" when it comes to protecting someone he cares about.
Well I am sure I could come up with more, but I will stay at 25 for now. I am proud to love the man I do and if someone thinks of him as a ham sandwich, so be it. I wish everyone could find a ham sandwich that means as much to them as mine means to me. I never in a million years thought that I would find anyone that "fit" with me as perfectly as he does. He may not be perfect, but he is perfect for me. Te amo mi Bocadillo de jamón . (I love you my Ham Sandwich).
Because this man thinks a woman would fall in love with "a ham sandwich" I have decided to follow the woman I admire above (who have already made their lists) and tell you 25 reasons why I love my Bocadillo de jamón (Ham Sandwich)
1. I do not know how many times I had heard from men before "what do you want, a mind reader?" Well he is a mind reader, so to speak. Even when I think I am doing a good job of hiding my feelings, he always can tell when I am sad, hurt, stressed, tired or fighting a migraine. It is amazing how empathic he is.
2. Because we were not married, we did not live together, but anytime he came over he would help clean, take out the trash, insist I call him when home from the grocery store to bring in groceries (significant because I live in a 3rd floor apartment), clean up dishes, and always asked what else he could help with. All of this was done without me ever having to ask. He just saw what needed to be done and did it.
3. He is incredibly intelligent. When he was 7, he knew he wanted to come here, so he got an English Bible and Spanish Bible and studied them 2-3 hours a day to learn English. Also, though he left school when he was 12 to work, he is a voracious reader, loves watching the History and Discovery Channels, and generally keeps up with current events globally better than I do.
4. When we are together or even talking on the phone, he is completely engaged. He actually listen to me and cares about what I think. We can talk for hours and he never seems distracted, or like he does not want to talk. If it is important to me, it is important to him. (the reverse is also true)
5. Trust is huge. He trusts me completely and has never given me reason not to trust him. He is honest and straightforward. He has also trusted me enough to open up and tell me things about his hopes and dreams from childhood as well as thoughts and feelings about other things, which he has told me he has never told anyone else.
6. He is so appreciative of everything. Even the most mundane things I do, he says thank you, or how much he appreciates. It is amazing how wonderful it feels to be appreciated.
7. He is incredibly humble. He can not seem to understand what I see in him or that he is incredibly attractive to me. When I tell him things, he acts like "well that is just how is supposed to be" not like he is anything special.
8. He is so sensitive to my needs. There have been times he needed to go somewhere, and I fell asleep on him watching TV or something, and he always waited until I would wake up on my own. When I felt bad for making him late he would just say, "You needed your sleep, I knew you were tired."
9. He is incredibly playful. He loves to tease me. One of the things we love to do is watch 12 Corazones together (a Spanish Dating show for those of you that have never seen.) For anyone that has seen, at one point I had told him I thought Edward O (one of the shows hosts) was cute. After then anytime Edward O came on, he would threaten to turn the channel or act like a hurt puppy that I was going to leave him for Edward O. I would just bust out laughing. We would also wrestle over the remote control on numerous occasions, lol)
10. He loves my cooking. Even boring old meatloaf. He would compliment everything I gave him, eat every bit, and thank me. I love to cook so having someone that loves my cooking means a lot to me.
11. For any of you that have read the book The Five Love Languages (if you have not read I highly recommend), we speak the same love language. Acts of Service. Neither of us are good with the flowery words and I am not a woman who cares about getting candy or flowers. We both show love by doing things (like the aforementioned taking out the trash (down 3 flights of stairs) or bringing up groceries (up 3 flights of stairs) without ever having to be asked. For me being an independent, do it myself kind of woman, this was hard in the beginning. Whenever I asked my ex to do anything, he would act like I was selfish. Letting someone else do something for me without feeling guilty was hard.
12. He loves my kids. All 6 of them. He has no kids of his own, but calls my kids mi hija and mi hijo. He plays with them (the younger ones), gives boy advice (to the older ones) and always backs me up with discipline (listen to your mom because she loves you and wants what's best for you.) I can tell you their own father never did that. Even my mom noticed when he was sitting on the floor with them at Thankgiving playing a board game with them that he had no idea how to play. She remarked (ex name) would have never done that.
13. He makes me feel precious to him. He is always telling me how intelligent I am, how good of a mom I am, and how beautiful my heart is. He says he has never met anyone, in all his travels etc, that is like me. He says I am amazing. And when he says it, I believe him. Even though I do not always feel like this, I never doubt that is how he sees me.
14. He loves to cuddle. He always has to have some part of him touching me when we are together. It is not a clingy, needy touch. We will watch TV on the couch and he will drape his leg over mine, or pull me against his chest, and we can sit their for hours watching a movie or talking and just being close.
15. He claims he does not know how to cook, but loves to be in the kitchen with me and will help cut vegis, meat, and offer suggestions of spices and combinations to try. And everything always turns out wonderful. I can make anything with a recipe, but am insecure about just "winging it" in the kitchen. He has helped me to be more open to just experimenting with spices and things to see what happens.
16. He is always extremely conscious of the fact I am a single mom with 6 kids. He never wants to make any additional work for me or inconvenience me. He acts like it is a huge deal for me to get a beer out of the fridge for him. I have to position it as, I am going to kitchen anyway, do you want something. Then he acts miffed if I only come back with something for him, lol.
17. He takes an honest interest in anything that is interesting to me. For those that know me, know I am a Farmville Addict. He does not even know how to do anything on computer other than google searches for news. If he is watching Spanish Language TV, I will get on laptop next to him and play on my farm. He has been known to pause the TV and ask what is new on my farm, and even offer suggestions of things I can do with it. And he actually seems interested even though he had no interest in getting a farmville account himself, lol. (yes I suggested it)
18. He is an incredible Artist. He has drawn me 3 beautiful pictures and even framed them before giving to me. They are from the heart, not pictures of things he has seen with his eyes. The are among my most prized possessions.
19. He has what I can only describe as a calming energy. If I am stressed or out of sorts, all he has to do is give me a hug or hold my hand and I can feel a sense of calm come over me. It is really hard to put into words, but it is an incredible feeling.
20. I get migraines. They can be debilitating. My ex would complain when I would get one like "oh geez, nothing is going to get done or I will have to do it myself." If I get one he will sit and hold me while I sleep or rub my head (which, maybe due to his energy, actually helps relieve the pain). He never complains or acts like he is put out because I am out of commission for a day (or 2 or 3).
21. He is the hardest worker I have ever seen. He puts 100% into everything he does and never complains. Even when he is sore or tired he is never grumpy or short with me.
22. We never argue. He is an excellent communicator. We can discuss anything and even if we have a difference of opinion, we can always come to an agreement. I do not think either of us has even been truly angry with the other one. It is funny when we are debating something and I present my case and if he decides is right, he will just say "Ok, you win", lol. I try and tell him it is not a competition and I want to hear his side to but he will just say I made a good argument for my case so he agrees with me, lol.
23. He is not into sports at all. He will watch soccer occasionally if Honduras is playing, like in the World Cup, but it is not an obsession like I have seen in his friends. He would much rather be watching old movies (Vicente Fernandez or Cantinflas). Aside from that he loves Discovery and History Channel.
24. One of the biggest compliments he ever gave me was that I was like his mom. I know how much he loves and respects his mom (he has told me all about her on numerous occasions) and to me that was the ultimate compliment, to be in the same context with her. I cannot wait to meet her.
25. I admire his loyalty. He would never turn down someone that needed help, even a stranger. He would never gossip, lie, or hurt someone intentionally. If someone tries to hurt him, he just brushes it off but if someone tries to hurt someone he cares about he becomes very protective. In his words, "I am a pit bull" when it comes to protecting someone he cares about.
Well I am sure I could come up with more, but I will stay at 25 for now. I am proud to love the man I do and if someone thinks of him as a ham sandwich, so be it. I wish everyone could find a ham sandwich that means as much to them as mine means to me. I never in a million years thought that I would find anyone that "fit" with me as perfectly as he does. He may not be perfect, but he is perfect for me. Te amo mi Bocadillo de jamón . (I love you my Ham Sandwich).
Friday, July 1, 2011
Thoughts for today
I have been sitting here pondering the state of the US government. With all the talk about Debt Ceilings, Minnesota's government shutdown, all the anti immigration laws going into effect among Southern States etc, I am hearing a lot of people talking about both sides, but no one is DOING anything. Most people I know have no clue who their Federal Senators or Representatives are and fewer know who represents them at a state level. Even the ones that vote seem to have no clue. In addition to that many people cannot remember who they voted for, if they voted, and many cannot say if the person is a Republican or Democrat. The worst is even the ones who know, and who voted, cannot tell you their Senators' or Rep's stance on most issues. What has this country come to? Democracy is supposed to be a government of the people by the people (as quoted in the Gettysburg Address). Our country, as it stands, is not operating as one at the moment. This is not the government's fault. Who are they to rock the boat when they can do whatever they want and just keep getting re-elected. This is the people's fault. WE THE PEOPLE (from the preamble to the Constitution). When I hear people complaining about the government I ask, who did you vote for? Did they/do they support that bill you are complaining about? Have you written them to tell them how you feel? Are you going to research the candidates better next time you vote? Most of the time, people just want to complain, but the way they behave never changes. They do not research, they do not write or call their congressmen, etc. They just sit back and whine. What the heck does that accomplish? Absolutely nothing. This country is going down the tubes fast because the average American just wants to sit back on their butt and whine and complain and expect others to do something for them. There are many other countries, newer democracies, where the people are willing to risk death to cast their vote, and less than 50% of American's even go to the polls, unless it is a presidential election. Our young people are even worse. They have a sense of entitlement and laziness that crosses over to their political involvement. I was watching TV not too long ago and they were interviewing college students. All knew who the president was, but many did not know who the vice president was, many did not know who their governor was, and sadly most had no clue at all who was the Speaker of the House or the Senate Majority Leader. What are they teaching our kids in school? I also see all these posts about saying the Pledge of Allegiance in schools. I know the controversy is on the phrase "Under God" but I am not addressing that. I am addressing the statement "I pledge allegiance to the flag, of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands." How can we ask our children to pledge their allegiance to "the republic for which it stands" when most have no clue what they are pledging allegiance too. I am all about patriotism etc but to simply brainwash our kids to be patriotic because they should, and not educate them and empower them to fully participate in our political system is wrong. Democracy is about participation by the people, not complacency and acceptance of whatever comes our way. We might as well be a monarchy (which has a figurehead and parliament). I am not anti American Government. I am disgusted with the laziness, cynicism, and apathy of the average American citizen.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Solution to Georgia's Migrant Farming Issue
OK I could not resist so I sent the following email to Governor Deal in Georgia.
I was reading an article about the millions of crops that are going to die due to lack of migrant labor as a result of the recent legislation in Georgia and I had a solution. One of the biggest reasons people support the legislation is because the belief that the undocumented immigrant population is taking the jobs. Well, your first step was to eliminate that competition, so now there are many jobs open to the people in Georgia in agriculture. That said, if I were in Georgia, I would say, there are jobs to be had, so if you are currently on unemployment, your unemployment will stop and you can work on a farm picking onions, peaches, etc. When the season is over, if there are no more jobs, then the people can go back to collecting unemployment. They should be required to fill the positions, unless they can get documentation from an approved doctor that they have some disability which would preclude them from doing farm work. Why should the working Georgia taxpayers support people just hanging out on unemployment when there are jobs to be had. I would consider any able bodied unemployed person in Georgia who refuses to step up and take an open farming job to be committing fraud against the unemployment system. Just wondered if you had considered this. Would help your state budget, your farmers, and would prove once and for all you did what was best for the state by approving this bill and saving all those jobs for your voting constituency. Hope you have a great day.
I was reading an article about the millions of crops that are going to die due to lack of migrant labor as a result of the recent legislation in Georgia and I had a solution. One of the biggest reasons people support the legislation is because the belief that the undocumented immigrant population is taking the jobs. Well, your first step was to eliminate that competition, so now there are many jobs open to the people in Georgia in agriculture. That said, if I were in Georgia, I would say, there are jobs to be had, so if you are currently on unemployment, your unemployment will stop and you can work on a farm picking onions, peaches, etc. When the season is over, if there are no more jobs, then the people can go back to collecting unemployment. They should be required to fill the positions, unless they can get documentation from an approved doctor that they have some disability which would preclude them from doing farm work. Why should the working Georgia taxpayers support people just hanging out on unemployment when there are jobs to be had. I would consider any able bodied unemployed person in Georgia who refuses to step up and take an open farming job to be committing fraud against the unemployment system. Just wondered if you had considered this. Would help your state budget, your farmers, and would prove once and for all you did what was best for the state by approving this bill and saving all those jobs for your voting constituency. Hope you have a great day.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Myths and Realities on Illegal Immigration including sources and documentation (Copied from BorderAngels.com)
Myths
The presence of undocumented immigrants in the United States has increasingly led to a passionate and polarizing debate, characterized by worrisome and inaccurate portrayals of immigrants, particularly during the November 2010 midterm elections. Therefore, it is even more urgent today to engage all social actors in an informed and objective discussion about the real costs and benefits of migration for the United States. The following sets straight some of the most common myths associated with this issue.
1. Myth: Undocumented immigrants are getting government services for free.
REALITY: They actually give more than they take. Over the past two decades, most studies that have tried to estimate the fiscal impact of immigration in the United States have concluded that the tax revenue generated by immigrants —both legal and undocumented— exceeds the cost of the services they use. Thus, an Economic Report of the President published in 2005 estimated that all immigrants, regardless of status, paid on average US$80,000 per capita more in taxes than the cost of the government services they were expected to use over their lifetime. Stephen C. Goss, the chief actuary of the Social Security Administration, said that by 2007, the Social Security trust fund had received a net benefit of somewhere between US $120 billion and US $240 billion from undocumented immigrants. That represented 5.4% to 10.7% of the trust fund’s total assets of US$2.24 trillion that year. The Social Security Administration estimates that two-thirds of unauthorized immigrant workers (about 5.6 million people) were paying into the system in 2007. Unauthorized immigrants paid a net contribution of US$12 billion in 2007 alone.
2. Myth: Undocumented workers do not pay taxes.
Reality: They do, and in several different ways. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the majority of undocumented immigrants pays income tax using, among other mechanisms, Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN’s), while most employers withhold federal, state and local taxes from such workers. In fact, between one-half and three-quarters of undocumented immigrants pay federal and state income taxes, Social Security, and Medicare taxes. Undocumented immigrants pay the same real estate taxes—whether they own homes or taxes are passed on to them through rents—and the same sales and other consumption taxes as everyone else. The majority of state and local costs for schooling and other services is funded by these taxes. Additionally, the U.S. Social Security Administration has estimated that three quarters of undocumented immigrants pay payroll taxes, and that they contribute US$6-7 billion in Social Security funds that they will be unable to claim (Porter 2005). This amount, moreover, keeps accumulating, generating US$6 to US$7 billion in Social Security annual tax revenue, and an additional US$1.5 billion in Medicare taxes. This money, according to the 2008 annual report of the Social Security Board of Trustees, will help reduce the SSA’s projected longterm deficit by 15%, which is equivalent to a 0.3% rise in the pay roll tax.
3. Myth: Undocumented workers are a burden on the U.S. economy.
Reality: Immigrants not only pay taxes, but they also contribute significantly to the economy.
In a 2007 report, the White House Council of Economic Advisers concluded that, because immigrants increase the size of the total labor force, they complement the U.S. born workforce, and stimulate capital investment by adding workers to the labor pool. Immigration increases the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by roughly US$37 billion each year.9 Given that employment has been the main driver behind undocumented immigration to the U.S. in recent decades, it should come as no surprise that this group is particularly hard working and has a high employment rate (96%).10 Moreover, beyond undocumented immigrants, the Hispanic community as a whole has increasingly contributed to the U.S. economy. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Census Bureau, Hispanic owned firms increased by nearly 44 percent between 2002 and 2007, growing from 1.6 million businesses to 2.3 million. Employment at Hispanic-owned firms also grew by 26 percent from 1.5 million to 1.9 million workers, a growth rate significantly higher than that of non-minority-owned firms. Hispanic-owned businesses generated US$345.2 billion in sales in 2007, up 55.5 percent compared with 2002. And finally, of all Hispanic-owned firms with multiple employees, approximately 44,000 have revenues of more than US$1 million, representing an increase of more than 51 percent over 2002.
4. Myth: Undocumented immigrants are taking jobs away from Americans.
REALITY: Undocumented Immigrants differ from U.S. citizens in their economic sectors and occupation.
Among unauthorized immigrants in the labor force, 30% are service workers and 21% are construction workers. An additional 15% are production and installation workers. Two-thirds (66%) of unauthorized immigrant workers are employed in these three broad categories; by contrast, only 31% of U.S.-born workers perform those jobs. Unauthorized immigrants provide an important source of manpower in agriculture, construction, food processing, building cleaning and maintenance, and other similar jobs, at a time when the share of low-skilled, U.S.-born individuals in the labor force has fallen dramatically. Not only do unauthorized immigrants provide an important source of low-skilled labor, but they also respond to market conditions in ways that legal immigration presently cannot. Undocumented inflows broadly track economic performance, rising during periods of expansion, and stalling during downturns. Undocumented immigration is sensitive to labor market demand. Immigrants are more likely to work in seasonal activities, such as agriculture, which suffer the largest job losses during downturns. Therefore, the size of the immigrant population changes in response to economic downturns or expansion. Immigration is not the cause of today’s high unemployment rates. In fact, reliable estimates show that immigration levels —both undocumented and applications for H-1B visas for high-skilled professionals— have fallen along with the economic downturn. In the longer term, however, the U.S. economy is also likely to need immigrant labor as the fertility rate in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is projected to fall below the replacement level by 2015-2020. The number of workers age 55 and over will likely increase by 49%, compared to projected increases of only 5% among those 25 to 54 and 9% among the 16 to 24 age group, creating a gap in the population pyramid between the economically active population and those in retirement age that is likely to be filled by immigrants.
5. MYTH: Undocumented immigrants are a burden to the healthcare system.
REALITY: Quite the contrary, immigrants contribute more than they take.
Federal, state and local governments spend approximately US$1.1 billion annually on healthcare costs for undocumented immigrants, aged 18-64, or approximately US$11 in taxes for each U.S. household. This compares to the US $88 billion spent on all health care for non-elderly adults in the U.S. in 2000. Foreign-born individuals tend to use fewer health care services because they are relatively healthier than their U.S.- born counterparts. For example, in Los Angeles County, “total medical spending on undocumented immigrants was US$887 million in 2000, 6% of total costs, although undocumented immigrants comprise 12 percent of the region’s residents.” A 2007 study based on data from the 2003 California Health Interview Survey found that “undocumented Mexicans and other undocumented Latinos reported less use of health care services and poorer experiences with care compared with their U.S.-born counterparts.” In 2007, the Oregon Center for Public Policy estimated that undocumented immigrants pay state income, excise, and property taxes, as well as federal Social Security and Medicare taxes, which “total about US$134 million to US$187 million annually.” In addition, “taxes paid by Oregon employers on behalf of undocumented workers total about US$97 million to US$136 million annually.” As the report goes on to note, undocumented workers are ineligible for the Oregon Health Plan, food stamps, and temporary cash assistance. A study by the Iowa Policy Project concluded that “undocumented immigrants pay an estimated aggregate amount of US$40 million to US$62 million in state taxes each year.” Moreover, “undocumented immigrants working on the books in Iowa and their employers also contribute annually an estimated US$50 million to US$77.8 million in federal Social Security and Medicare taxes from which they will never benefit. Rather than draining state resources, undocumented immigrants are in some cases subsidizing services that only documented residents can access.”
6. MYTH: Undocumented immigrants are responsible for higher crime rates.
REALITY: Current and historical studies show instead that immigration is associated with lower crime rates and lower incarceration rates.
Since the early 1990s, as the immigrant population, especially the undocumented one, increased to historic highs, the rates of violent crimes andproperty crimes in the United States decreased significantly, in some instances to historic lows - as measured both by crimes reported to the police and by national victimization surveys. Moreover, data from the Census and a wide range of other empirical studies show that for every ethnic group without exception, incarceration rates among young men are lowest for immigrants, even for those who are the least educated. This holds true especially for the Mexicans, Salvadorans, and Guatemalans who make up the bulk of the
undocumented population. These patterns have been observed consistently over the last three decennial censuses, a period that spans the current era of high immigration. One can also recall similar national level findings reported by three major government commissions during the first three decades of the 20th century. The lowest incarceration rates among Latin American immigrants are seen for the groups who account for the majority of the undocumented: the Salvadorans and Guatemalans (0.52 percent), and the Mexicans (0.70 percent).
THE BOTTOM LINE: Undocumented immigrants are an important component of the U.S. economy. They meet the labor demand in sectors in which they do not directly compete with U.S.-born workers. The great majority of migrant workers are taxpaying, hardworking, and law-abiding people who are integrating into U.S. society.
Immigrants don’t want to learn English
The development of English proficiency among non-English speaking immigrants today mirrors that of Nineteenth and early Twentieth century immigration, when masses of Italian, German, and Eastern European immigrants came to America. While first generation, non-English speaking immigrants predictably have lower rates of English proficiency than native speakers, 91% of second generation immigrants are fluent or near fluent English speakers. By the third generation, 97% speak English fluently or near fluently. (Source: Shirin Hakimzadeh and D’Vera Cohn, “English Usage Among Hispanics in the United States,” Pew Hispanic Forum, Dec. 6, 2007. http://pewhispanic.org/reports/report.php?ReportID=82; Janet Murguia and Cecilia Muñoz, “From Immigrant to Citizen,” The American Prospect (Oct. 23, 2005), http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?articleId=10487)
Immigrants Don’t Pay Taxes
Undocumented immigrants pay taxes. Between one half and three quarters of undocumented immigrants pay state and federal taxes. They also contribute to Medicare and provide as much as 7 billion dollars a year to the Social Security Fund. Further still, undocumented workers pay sales taxes where applicable and property taxes—directly if they own and indirectly if they rent. (Source: Immigration Policy Center, “Undocumented Immigrants as Taxpayers,” (November 2007), http://www.ailf.org/ipc/factchecks/UndocumentedasTaxpayer.pdf; Eduardo Porter “ Illegal Immigrants are Bolstering Social Security with Billions,” New York Times, (April 5, 2005)http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/05/business/05immigration.html?ex=1270353600&en=78c87ac4641dc383&ei=5090&partner=kmarx)
Immigrants Increase the Crime rate
Recent research has shown that immigrant communities do not increase the crime rate and that immigrants commit fewer crimes than native born Americans. While the undocumented immigrant population doubled from 1994 to 2005, violent crime dropped by 34% and property crimes decreased by 32%. Furthermore, Harvard sociologist Robert Sampson has found that first generation immigrants are 45% less likely to commit violent crimes than Americanized, third generation immigrants. (Source: Immigration Policy Center, “Ímmigrants and Crime: Are They Connected,” December, 2007,http://www.ailf.org/ipc/factchecks/CrimeFactCheck10-16-07.pdf; Robert Sampson, “Open Doors Don’t Invite Criminals,” The New York Times, March 11, 2006, A15; Executive Office of the President: Council of Economic Advisors, “Immigration’s Economic Impact,” June 20, 2007,http://www.whitehouse.gov/cea/cea_immigration_062007.html)
Immigrants Take Jobs Away from Americans
A recent study produced by the Pew Hispanic Center reveals that “Rapid increases in the foreign-born population at the state level are not associated with negative effects on the employment of native-born workers.” In fact, given that the number of native born low wage earners is falling nationally, immigrants are playing an important role in offsetting that decline. The Urban Institute reports that between 2000 and 2005 the total number of low wage workers declined by approximately 1.8 million while the number of unskilled immigrant workers increased by 620,000, thus offsetting the total decline by about a third. (Source: The Urban Institute, “Trends in the Low-Wage Immigrant Labor Force, 2000-2005,” March, 2007,http://www.urban.org/publications/411426.html; Rakesh Kochhar, “Growth in the Foreign Born Workforce and Employment of the Native Born,” Pew Hispanic Center, August 10, 2006, http://pewhispanic.org/reports/report.php?ReportID=69)
Immigrants are a drain on the United States Economy
The immigrant community is not a drain on the U.S. economy but, in fact, proves to be a net benefit. Research reported by both the CATO Institute and the President’s Council of Economic Advisors reveals that the average immigrant pays a net 80,000 dollars more in taxes than they collect in government services. For immigrants with college degrees the net fiscal return is $198,000. Furthermore, The American Farm Bureau asserts that without guest workers the U.S. economy would lose as much as $9 billion a year in agricultural production and 20 percent of current production would go overseas. (Source: CATO Institute, CATO Handbook for Congress: Policy Recommendations for the 108th Congress,http://www.cato.org/pubs/handbook/hb108/hb108-63.pdf; Executive Office of the President: Council of Economic Advisors, “Immigration’s Economic Impact,” June 20, 2007, http://www.whitehouse.gov/cea/cea_immigration_062007.html; Derrick Z. Jackson, “Undocumented Workers Contribute Plenty, The Boston Globe, April 12, 2006,http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/04/12/undocumented_workers_contribute_plenty/)
Undocumented immigrants are a Burden on the Healthcare System
Federal, state and local governments spend approximately 1.1 billion dollars annually on healthcare costs for undocumented immigrants, aged 18-64, or approximately $11 in taxes for each U.S. household. This compares to 88 billion dollars spent on all health care for non-elderly adults in the U.S. in 2000. Foreign born individuals tend to use fewer health care services because they are relatively healthier than their native born counterparts. For example, in Los Angeles County, “total medical spending on undocumented immigrants was $887 million in 2000 – 6 percent of total costs, although undocumented immigrants comprise 12 percent of the region's residents.” (Source: The Rand Corporation, “RAND Study Shows Relatively Little Public Money Spent Providing Healthcare to Undocumented Immigrants,” November 14, 2006, http://www.rand.org/news/press.06/11.14.html;
Dana P. Goldman, James P. Smith and Neeraj Sood, “Immigrants and the Cost of Medical Care,” Health Affairs 25, no. 6 (2006): 1700-1711)
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
How Current Immigration Policy Violates My Rights As A US Citizen
OK so I know that Undocumented Immigrants have no rights. I am a natural born US Citizen, and my rights are being infringed on by my own government. I am going to list quotes from the Declaration of Independence and then give examples where I am being denied these things. I will use the Abbreviations for citing DOI for the Declaration of Independence and ME for my point of view.
DOI- that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
ME-This is a big one. First of all, as far as the US government is concerned, only US Citizen are worthy of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. After all, isn't it every immigrants dream and these 3 things are the main reasons they are coming to US to begin with? False advertising if you ask me. Also, I am being told whom I can love and not love and that if I want the right to be happy, I can only love a US Citizen.
DOI-That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
ME-First off, I am the governed and I did not give consent for these laws to be what they are, and even the representatives who are supposed to be working in my best interest. I did not get to pick someone to run, the political parties and Special Interest groups did. Also, does anyone remember that we have the right to Abolish an unjust governement? Right, will never happen. And the government looking to effect safety and happiness? The 9/11 bombers were given VISAs and my happiness is the furthest thing from their minds. Also when deporting, only 30% of deportees have any criminal (including traffic) charges at all. So you are spending my tax dollars keeping me safe from hard working, honest people. Go figure.
The climate in the US is one of hate and discrimination. People are only good enough to be here if we can use them. Big business is ok with the undocumented population because they get cheap labor, do not have to pay benefits, and if one gets deported there are 10 more waiting for his job. They will never go to bat for immigration reform because that would cut directly into their profits when they have to increase wages, pay benefits, taxes etc. Also, the US has long had a history of hate. Some of the people we have hated over the years.....The British, The Spanish, The Germans, The French, The Native Americans, The Irish, The Italians, The Polish, The Jewish, The Japanese, The Russians, The Blacks and now The Latinos. Heck during the Civil War we hated whomever was on the opposite side of the slavery issue. Hate is not a new thing nor are hate crimes and laws built to placate the ignorant into letting them think their government supports them. It is just a political tactic used to divert attention from the real agendas and to get contributions and re-elections. It is all about power and money and anyone that things different is deluding themselves. I will end with the poem, written by Emma Lazarus that is on the Statue Of Liberty. Clearly she should be torn down because the message is meaningless.
DOI- that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
ME-This is a big one. First of all, as far as the US government is concerned, only US Citizen are worthy of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. After all, isn't it every immigrants dream and these 3 things are the main reasons they are coming to US to begin with? False advertising if you ask me. Also, I am being told whom I can love and not love and that if I want the right to be happy, I can only love a US Citizen.
DOI-That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
ME-First off, I am the governed and I did not give consent for these laws to be what they are, and even the representatives who are supposed to be working in my best interest. I did not get to pick someone to run, the political parties and Special Interest groups did. Also, does anyone remember that we have the right to Abolish an unjust governement? Right, will never happen. And the government looking to effect safety and happiness? The 9/11 bombers were given VISAs and my happiness is the furthest thing from their minds. Also when deporting, only 30% of deportees have any criminal (including traffic) charges at all. So you are spending my tax dollars keeping me safe from hard working, honest people. Go figure.
The climate in the US is one of hate and discrimination. People are only good enough to be here if we can use them. Big business is ok with the undocumented population because they get cheap labor, do not have to pay benefits, and if one gets deported there are 10 more waiting for his job. They will never go to bat for immigration reform because that would cut directly into their profits when they have to increase wages, pay benefits, taxes etc. Also, the US has long had a history of hate. Some of the people we have hated over the years.....The British, The Spanish, The Germans, The French, The Native Americans, The Irish, The Italians, The Polish, The Jewish, The Japanese, The Russians, The Blacks and now The Latinos. Heck during the Civil War we hated whomever was on the opposite side of the slavery issue. Hate is not a new thing nor are hate crimes and laws built to placate the ignorant into letting them think their government supports them. It is just a political tactic used to divert attention from the real agendas and to get contributions and re-elections. It is all about power and money and anyone that things different is deluding themselves. I will end with the poem, written by Emma Lazarus that is on the Statue Of Liberty. Clearly she should be torn down because the message is meaningless.
The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
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