Two weeks ago, President Obama gave educators something to celebrate when he issued an This is a remarkable step for human rights, especially for an Administration that has deported people at a faster rate than its predecessors.
I’m glad that a weight has been lifted from the shoulders of any undocumented students who will pass through my classroom. Without the threat of arrest, detention and deportation, they’ll be able to better focus on academics and preparing themselves for the responsibilities of adulthood.
As a teacher, I believe in the worth of all of my children. So it’s painful to hear all of the hateful baloney stirred up by Mr. Obama’s executive order. Issue number one: taxes.
The reality is that, in general, undocumented families work hard, pay many taxes (e.g. sales taxes) and do their best to raise their children as productive members of society. Undocumented people are completely ineligible for welfare or Social Security. Even legal permanent residents have to pay into the system for at least ten years before obtaining any eligibility.
I am valued for what I contribute to society as a teacher, not what I contribute to the U.S. government as a tax-payer. Why would we judge a person’s total value as a human being based on what taxes they do or don’t pay?
The whole issue of taxes is a red herring.
Besides, the real tax cheats are perfectly legal. Between the years 2008-2011, Pacific Gas & Electric made $6 billion in profits while paying an effective federal tax rate of negative 18.4 percent. PG&E – the corporation that destroyed an entire neighborhood in San Bruno – is just one of 26 major companies that have paid no net federal income taxes for the past several years. What an outrage.
Mr. Obama’s executive order will simply sweep clear some of the fear and anxiety that exists amongst undocumented people. But let’s be honest. His executive order is also extremely narrow in scope. The requirements, according to CNN:
“Under the new policy, people younger than 30 who came to the United States before the age of 16, pose no criminal or security threat, and were successful students or served in the military can get a two-year deferral from deportation.”
So the truth is that a modest number of people will receive a two-year reprieve from the painful disruption of deportation. How sad that our expectations for progress are so low that this is something that excites those of us who care about human rights?
A better step would be to provide a pathway to permanent citizenship for all undocumented youth. Even better would be to welcome all immigrants with open arms to the wealthiest country in the world.
If that increases government costs, so be it. I know of at least 26 places to find some extra money.
I have dream of a country where illegal (NOT undocumented but ILLEGAL) aliens are kicked out of the country, regardless of their age. I have a dream of a country the Constitution is obeyed and not mangled as in the recent Supreme Court ruling that Obamacare is consitutional. I have a dream of a country where a person is free from excessive taxes. I have a dream of a country that allows me to use all of the roads that my taxes paid for (i.e. no HOV lanes). I have a dream of a country that celebrates the fact that we are all Americans without a prefix.
Permitting these people to obtain permits, legally work and therefore pay income tax benefits both them and our nation. The president correctly called this change “the right thing to do.” No one can show any benefit in deporting some 800,000 people who graduated from American high schools. Since even immigration foes propose no means of doing this, apparently they want these American-raised young people to live as a permanent underclass. As a teacher, I’ve met some of the young people in question and I can tell you they deserve better than that. The same congressional Republicans who accuse President Obama of misusing executive authority have raised obstructionism to unprecedented heights. Only a GOP-led filibuster prevented the DREAM Act from becoming law in 2010. Mitt Romney criticizes the timing but can’t bring himself to say whether he approves of the decision. While his critics bicker and dodge tough questions, the president is leading.
Define "undocumented"
As I wrote above, I'm sure you were perfectly fine when Bush "unilaterally" decided to do something. Right? Right?
As soon as I can selectively follow the IRS tax code without repercussions, I'll tell you what Obama is doing is legal.
For your information, Ms Hemphill, I am not a Republican, much less a bigot. I advocate a smaller government. That means I do not wish for the government to control aspect of a person's life. I advocate equality for all. When done on an apple-to-apple basis, there is equality in many areas. In other areas, there is still some work to be done. Let's take one of your rants (there's too many to cover here): equal pay for women. In many occupations, women may be paid less than men. The reason? Women have been working in those occupations for a shorter period. For example, John and Mary both are widget counters. John earns $10 an hour. Mary earns $8 an hour for the same exact job. That's unequal pay for women, right? Wrong! John has been on the job for 10 years while Mary has only done it for 7 years. It's only right that the person with the longer tenure at work be paid more. If Mary had been working for 10 years and John 7 years then the salaries would have been reversed.
Answer to above - The President has no power to make laws. The Constitution reserves this to Congress. Second, the US is not at fault for not giving amnesty to "younger" illegal immigrants. It is the PARENTS fault for putting these youngsters in the position that they are in. Third, how do you deal with the waiting list of people trying to emmigrate legally. Finally, how does Mexico deal with illegal immigrants who move south to live cheaply. Maybe when Mexico treats southbound immigrants the same way as they want the northbound immigrants to be treated in the US, I'll soften my stance. If you want to learn more about the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, Hillsdale University has a very good free online course (10- 40 minute lectures). www.hillsdale.edu
Obama busted more pot shops in medicinal marijuana states than Bush did in 8 years. Obama deported more illegal immigrants than Bush did in 8 years. Obama has kept Guantanamo open Obama has expanded his extra-judicial death drones to include American citizens abroad. Obama raised more money from Wall Street. Bush's Justice Department would not have dared to blatantly ignore voter fraud and voter intimidation; Obama's did and does. Obama set up a system of illegal straw buyers to get guns to drug gangs in Mexico, and those guns were used in hundreds, if not thousands of murders of Mexican citizens and our own Border Agent, Brian Terry. etc etc.
Well we sure don't climb over the fence, swim across the river or tunnel to the other side then hide like rats till it's dark out to make our move. Nope, we pretty much fly or drive through the border stations. "how do you deal with the waiting list of people trying to emmigrate legally." My guess would be just like you wait in line for anything else, grocery store, bank, movie theater, concerts etc, etc, etc..............
As for Summer... surprised s/he is still on the Obama bandwagon... after all, it was Obama's DEA on Tuesday that took the initial steps to shut down the one of the largest Bay Area MMJ facilities... that would be Harborside with locations in Oakland and San Jose.... yeah, you go Obama!