| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"_ G O D _" |
| Date: |
29 Nov 2005 11:08:47 PM |
| Object: |
To zap illegals, jail those who employ them |
Blank
To zap illegals, jail those who employ them
by Cynthia Tucker
http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/tucker/2005/113005.html
President Bush gave a speech designed to reassure
his conservative base that he is serious about protecting
the country from illegal immigrants.
Speaking before an invitation-only audience in Tucson,
Ariz., the president didn't spend too much time talking
about the valuable contributions that immigrants have
made or about granting them the opportunity to become
citizens. Instead, Bush focused on fences and raids and
deportations. In so doing, he reached out to a disaffected
Republican constituency that is increasingly hostile to
immigrants — especially to those Latinos who enter the
country illegally.
Bush's tough talk will certainly have widespread appeal
in Georgia, where many voters have become anxious - even
angry — at what they perceive as the staggering burden
of illegal immigration. There is a backlash brewing - a
rising tide of frustration born of resentment over schools
forced to accommodate non-English speakers, hospital
emergency rooms beset by uninsured patients and perceptions
of higher crime rates.
Over the past decade, the immigrant population has grown faster in Georgia than in
nearly all other states. Immigrants — with and without documents — find work in
carpet mills in Dalton, poultry plants in Rome, farms in South Georgia and
construction companies throughout metro Atlanta.
But Bush failed to call for the one policy change that would make the greatest
difference in deterring illegal border crossings: harsh penalties for employers who
hire undocumented workers. Most illegal immigrants, especially those who come in
through the porous Mexican border, are drawn to this country by the promise of work.
If jobs dried up, the torrent of illegal immigrants entering the United States would
diminish to a trickle. And the best way to curb the hiring is to put employers in
prison for hiring illegally.
But the president didn't say one word about harsh penalties for businesses. That's
because business executives are a core GOP constituency, and Bush doesn't want to
risk alienating them.
Oh, he gave the usual lip service to the idea of responsible hiring. He spoke of his
plan for providing temporary permits for immigrants to work in those industries that
need their labor, and he described IDs that would be tamper-proof, thwarting the
common practice of using fake IDs. He announced the expansion of a program called
"Basic Pilot," an automated system through which businesses may determine whether a
prospective employee is authorized to work in this country. Basic Pilot is now
available for use nationwide. But employers are not required to use it.
Bush didn't say anything about business owners who knowingly hire illegal immigrants
because their labor comes cheap: They will work for less than minimum wage; they
don't seek health insurance; they don't complain about safety violations in the
workplace.
It's not difficult for employers to check on the immigration status of prospective
workers. The Social Security Administration maintains a database of all Social
Security numbers. It's easy enough for employers to learn whether a worker's number
is valid. But many employers don't do that.
While many industries claim they can't find willing American workers, the truth is
that they could find more Americans willing to do tough, dirty jobs if they paid more
for their labor. Is it true that poultry plants couldn't find enough Americans to
fill job openings? Or is it more likely they couldn't find enough American laborers
for the wages they were willing to pay?
Of course, the higher labor prices would be passed on to consumers if the Bush
administration and Congress really cracked down on illegal hiring. Homebuilders, for
example, get to squeeze out a bit more profit when they use illegal workers, but they
also pass some of the savings on to consumers. Houses are cheaper — and so is
chicken, farm produce and lawn care, among other things — because illegal immigrants
do so much of the labor. Americans who denounce illegal immigrants may not have
calculated the additional costs they'd incur once that labor disappears.
It's easy to bash illegal immigrants. They are desperate; they are vulnerable; they
don't vote. But they are here only because we've developed a bipolar policy that
devours their cheap labor while discouraging their assimilation. If we are serious
about curbing illegal immigration, the place to start is with business owners who
hire illegal workers.
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_____________________________________________________
I intend to last long enough to put out of business all *****-suckers
and other beneficiaries of the institutionalized slavery and genocide.
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"The army that will defeat terrorism doesn't wear uniforms, or drive
Humvees, or calls in air-strikes. It doesn't have a high command, or
high security, or a high budget. The army that can defeat terrorism
does battle quietly, clearing minefields and vaccinating children. It
undermines military dictatorships and military lobbyists. It subverts
sweatshops and special interests.Where people feel powerless, it
helps them organize for change, and where people are powerful, it
reminds them of their responsibility." ~~~~ Author Unknown ~~~~
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