This Will Not Help

In replying to a comment on my last post, I said that sticking our heads in the sand, and pretending that problems do not exist, will not help. I was talking about the illegal immigration problem, but that is not the only problem going on in this country, and in our political system.

When I watched, and heard Democratic Congressman Pete Stark saying during a debate on children's healthcare: "But you're going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the President's amusement," I was sickened, not only at the mean-spirited words, but at the total lack of respect for our President, our country, and the families of our troops. Worst of all, it seems that it was perfectly acceptable to the rest of the Democrats. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi issued a statement saying that the remarks were inappropriate, but I am not aware of any others.

It seems to me that the only thing on everyone's mind, is their own self-interest, and that of their cronies, and others who can benefit them.

Health, and education are not the only problems we are faced with, on a daily basis. Our cities are going down the tube, crime is rampant, illegal drugs are destroying a whole generation, and racial issues abound.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A Democratic presidential candidate wants a Justice Department voting rights official fired for a comment the official made about elderly minorities. Barack Obama sent a letter to the Justice Department today, calling the remarks by John Tanner "offensive and dangerous." Tanner is head of the Justice Department's voting rights division. Tanner's remarks came during a panel discussion on voter ID laws earlier this month. He said certain laws hurt the elderly but aren't a problem for minorities, because minorities don't grow old -- quote -- "the way white people do. They die first." A Justice Department spokesman says the October 5th remarks by John Tanner had been "grossly misconstrued."

I agree that the above statement by the Justice Department official was less than sensitive, but is it reason enough to be fired? Was it more insensitive than the statement made by Congressman Stark? So far, I haven't heard Barak Obama make any objections to that particular statement. Somehow, I get the impression that Obama is more interested in racial issues, and the times when I have read his statements, and he mentioned, "my people," he was always talking about African-Americans, which makes me wonder about certain of his motives. I always thought that a presidential candidate should have the concerns of all the people at heart.

I mentioned, also, in my reply to a commenter, that I must be coming across as a really heartless individual because I keep talking about illegal immigration. I think that I probably have as much sympathy, and empathy, as anyone, but I am concerned about the direction in which this country is headed. I am concerned about the plight of the everyday, ordinary, citizen. My heart aches when I see a homeless person. It aches when I see those who struggle to survive, having to decide between this month's prescriptions, and enough food to last between SSI, and Social Security checks. It hurts when I see young families, struggling, with both parents having to work to pay for the bare essentials needed for their children, existing on minimum wage, in most cases. I am saddened when I see discrimination in any form, against anyone, regardless of color, or religion, or nationality.

I am not heartless, and without compassion, but I am a realist, and I can see what is happening all around me. Some of it is obvious, and some of it is not so apparent to many, but it is happening. Pretending otherwise is not going to help, and until we realize, as a nation, where our priorities lie, it is going to get worse, rather than better.

Cheap Labor?

An article which appeared in a North Alabama newspaper:

Hispanic majority at Crossville Elementary


The Reporter

Published September 22, 2007

Wanting a better life for their children has led numerous Hispanic families to Marshall and DeKalb counties, many working for poultry plants. Their children have become recognizable fixtures within many schools on Sand Mountain, in Marshall, DeKalb and Etowah counties.

While the true, most accurate number of Hispanic families living within the area may never be known, Crossville Elementary can prove it has a majority-Hispanic enrollment – the first such majority in the state.

During his tenure, Crossville Elementary School Assistant Principal Ed Burke said he has seen the enrollment rise to just over 900 students in the school, which houses students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Hispanics make up just less than 53 percent of the student population.

He has also seen numerous changes in the way students are taught.

“We have definitely had to get more creative,” Burke said. “We have done several different things and we are still trying new things all the time.”

Many Hispanic students need additional help with English. Burke said the state board of education has realized Crossville’s needs and has given the school additional funding.

Accurate and specific numbers were not available from the state board of education Friday morning.

Burke said the school has hired additional English Language Learner teachers, educators who work with children who speak little or no English.

These teachers are able to pull students into smaller groups, giving them additional reading and writing instruction.

Student transportation is another area where Burke has seen large growth. Currently, Crossville Elementary utilizes a fleet of 19 buses, up eight from when Burke started his position.

The number of Hispanic students has increased in the state’s public schools. The state’s enrollment in kindergarten through high school was 739,760, with Hispanics making up just 3 percent, or 23,219 students. Hispanics also made up 3 percent of the state’s population in 2006.

DeKalb County’s demographics for 2006 show an estimated 68,000 population, with Hispanics accounting for 9 percent of the total.

The Associated Press reported there are 1,559 Hispanic students in the DeKalb County Schools, which makes up 18 percent of the 8,810 students enrolled.

*When we lived in that area about ten years ago, I personally knew of people who tried to get employment through the temp force there, and more often than not, were turned down because of the huge numbers of immigrants being granted the jobs. Most of those jobs were for the different positions in the poulty plants there. There were, at the time, many citizens of the area needing employment, and were willing to take anything that was available.

What I never understood, is how they were able to grant those jobs to the immigrants, because at the temp forces, a social security card was required. It is no secret, now, that they were illegal because the poulty plants were raided, and the employment roll of illegal immigrants was so great, that it caused certain of the poultry plants to close.

Business doesn't want to pay a decent wage. Consumers don't want expensive produce. Government will tell you Americans don't want the jobs. But the bottom line is cheap labor.

The phrase "cheap labor" is a myth, a farce, and a lie ~ there is no such thing as "cheap labor."

Take, for example, an illegal alien with a wife and five children. He takes a job for $5.00 or $6.00 per hour. At that wage, with six dependents, he pays no income tax, yet at the end of the year, if he files an Income Tax Return, he gets an "earned income credit" of up to $3,200 free. He qualifies for Section 8 housing and subsidized rent. He qualifies for food stamps. He qualifies for free (no deductible, no co-pay) health care. His children get free breakfasts and lunches at school. He requires bilingual teachers and books. He qualifies for relief from high energy bills.

If they are, or become, aged, blind or disabled, they qualify for SSI. Once qualified for SSI they can qualify for Medicare. All of this is at the taxpayer's expense. He doesn't worry about car insurance, life insurance, or homeowners insurance.

Taxpayers provide Spanish language signs, bulletins and printed material. He and his family receive the equivalent of $20.00 to $30.00 per hour in benefits. Working Americans are lucky to have $5.00 or $6.00 per hour left after paying their bills.. and his. The American taxpayers also pay for increased crime, and other things generated by the issues of illegal immigrants.

Cheap labor? YEAH RIGHT!

There are many issues at stake, and come election time, I think illegal immigration is a pretty important one to keep in mind when deciding the candidate to whom you will give your vote.

Ponderisms

*AFTER POSTING THIS LAST NIGHT, AND READING IT ON HERE TODAY, I NOW REALIZE HOW RIDICULOUS SOME OF THESE THINGS SOUND. ALSO, I NOTICED THAT TWO LINES WHICH I HAD PLANNED TO EDIT OUT, WERE STILL THERE..SO, NOW THEY ARE EDITED! IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHY I AM HOLLERING AT YOU HERE, IT IS BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW FOOLISH I FEEL FOR POSTING IT IN THE FIRST PLACE!

* I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes.

* Gardening Rule: When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.

* The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.

* Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.

* There are two kinds of pedestrians: the quick and the dead.

* Life is sexually transmitted.

* Health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

* The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.

* Some people are like Slinkies. Not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

* Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.

* Have you noticed since everyone has a camcorder these days no one talks about seeing UFOs like they used to?

* Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again

* All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.

* In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.

* How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?

* Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer?

* If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?

*If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

* Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup?

* Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him on a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?

* Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive faster?

*Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?

* Do you ever wonder why you gave me your email address?

I live in my own little world. But it's OK... They know me here!