Some in Tampa seem to think the Tampa immigration issue is really those SOK'ers that won't go North of Kennedy. The several thousand area residents - legal and illegal - that protested the proposed immigration laws made it clear that it is a lot more than a neighborhood issue - it is a citywide issue - a state wide issue - and a national issue.
Admittedly the SOK'ers (South of Kennedy, for those that don't know the reference) try to act insulated to this "poor" type of "nuisance". But they need to look around in their own neighborhood a little closer.
There are many illegal aliens SOK, just like in most of Tampa. They are living there and working there. You probably know a few without even realizing it.
They provide labor, pay rent, pay taxes, and generate revenue that helps provide additional tax revenues. They are not here for the free ride.
Unfortunately, many have no health insurance (just like many Americans these days too). Many have kids in public schools.
Our country is based on welcoming people to our shores. The idea of a fence or wall blocking access at our borders is a little offensive, but the threats we face today make those ideas something to consider.
However, with millions of illegal immigrants already here; enforcing our borders at this point seems a little late.
When we visit or see pictures of New York, the Statue of Liberty always comes in to view. A gift from the French people. The inscription reads:
"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!"
These words have formed the basis of our Nation's thoughts about welcoming immigrants for over 100 years. Are we now at a point where the basics of American idealogy are to be discarded ? And if so, what does that mean for other basic ideas and freedoms that we have built our country on ? What do you think ?
5 comments:
While it is true to enforce immigration laws and fortify our borders does send the wrong message to our global society and I do agree that this is a "closing the barn door after the horses have made a run for it" lesson.. I do have a few questions. First, how does someone illegally in this country pay taxes? It is my understanding that if employers are paying these workers "under the table" then how is this income reported? And why is the employer not afraid of an IRS audit? It seems that the benefits of cheap alien labor may far outweigh any penalties the employers would face if an audit did occur. Once again capitalism has harbored this problem to a point where it has been allowed to achieved critical mass. To give amnesty to those illegally in our country is a huge slap in the face to our current laws and a great disservice to those who obtained their citizenships legally. Furthermore, to request those already here illegally to pay a fine is to me a slap on the wrist at best. This issue needs national debate as well as a mandate by the goverment as to what the next move will be as this will truly impact our future as a free democracy.
Employers are supposed to have proof of identity of the employee. If the illegal uses a fake social security number, the taxes withheld are going to our coffers without the illegal ever being able to use it. So that means free money to the government without every having to pay social security or anything else.
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