Thread: Welfare is problem, not immigration

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Thursday, August 31, 2006

Welfare is problem, not immigration
Guest Opinion

by John Semmens

Thursday, August 31, 2006


One of the big arguments for tightening immigration barriers is the fear immigrants will enlarge the welfare rolls. An example of this fear was recently demonstrated in California at a hearing of the House Government Reform Committee in San Diego.

"San Diego may be the gateway to Mexico, but our taxpayers are the doormat," County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Horn said. "Every dollar spent on providing services to illegal immigrants or their children is a dollar that isn't used on taxpaying citizens."

The idea of people sneaking into the country to soak the American taxpayer provokes anger. To be fair, though, native-born Americans are already soaking the American taxpayer and ought to provoke a similar anger. In fact, illegal immigrants account for only a tiny minority of those currently on the welfare rolls.

Those who run the gauntlet of fences, guards and environmental hardships to illegally enter the United States evince a measure of enterprise that would seem to make them unlikely to seek out welfare benefits.

An illegal immigrant arriving in America is more apt to avoid contact with government authorities than to try to scam the system. The bureaucracy normally requires those applying for welfare to show a birth certificate, visa, or passport to sign up for food stamps or cash assistance. Illegals would need to steal or forge such documents if they are to game the system.

Rather than go to the trouble of trying to defraud the welfare system, illegal immigrants are more likely to proceed directly to vacant, entry-level, low-paying jobs. Working illegals are not a burden to the economy. They provide useful services and pay taxes to help support the government.

The worry that an influx of illegal aliens may lead to a potentially crushing welfare burden is not entirely unwarranted. There are political elements in the U.S. who view a rising welfare clientele as a key to electoral success.

Inasmuch as reforms enacted during the 1990s significantly reduced existing welfare rolls, the power base of those favoring big government has been diminished. So, while the welfare system current drain on our economy cannot fairly be blamed on illegal immigrants, unrestrained immigration could significantly worsen this drain.

It is the welfare system that has sucked generation after generation of American citizens into the trap of dependency. The availability of government subsidies lures people away from the effort of work.

The opportunity to get compensation for drug and alcohol related disabilities lowers people's resistance to these vices. Payments to unwed mothers undermine the incentive to take precautions against unplanned pregnancies.

These evils of the welfare system predate any problems we may perceive arising from illegal immigration. The pernicious effects of the welfare system would continue to take a toll even if our borders were perfectly impervious to illegal penetration.

In short, the problem isn't Mexicans. The problem is the welfare state.

When government takes on paternal responsibility for everyone it is an open invitation to freeloaders - at home and abroad. The solution is not closing our borders. It is eliminating the practice of robbing taxpayers to provide benefits for a client underclass.

This would remove the disincentives for work inherent in the system. It would also return money to the private sector, where it could sustain more business activity and investment - providing more jobs for natives and immigrants.

Whether these clients of the welfare state are Mexicans or native-born Americans, the process of robbing taxpayers to support them is wrong. Focusing attention only on Mexican "invaders" turns the issue into one of race and nationality and obscures the moral wrong of theft.

People traversing geography in search of a better life is how the American continent was populated. There is no moral foundation for policies that attempt to close the doors so we can preserve the good life for us. There is no real us vs. them.

We are all human beings trying to survive and provide for our families. The crime is that government coercion is used to force some to take on the responsibility of providing for others.

John Semmens is an economist and policy advisor to The Heartland Institute. He can be reached at jsemmens@cox.net.

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The idea of people sneaking into the country to soak the American taxpayer provokes anger. To be fair, though, native-born Americans are already soaking the American taxpayer and ought to provoke a similar anger. In fact, illegal immigrants account for only a tiny minority of those currently on the welfare rolls.

Yes, Americans who take advantage of our social services, angers me as well, but the services that illegals and their children use, extend well beyond welfare. They're getting a "free" public education at our expense. Thirty percent of federal prisoners are illegal aliens, at our expense. Over a thousand Americans are killed every year by illegal aliens. Hospitals lose millions of dollars serving illegal aliens who never pay their bills, leaving us to pay higher medical bills. Law enforcement, fire departments, emergency medical services, all must provide services to 12+ million illegal aliens, who shouldn't even be here. Then there's the depressed wages for Americans, due to illegal aliens who will work for less. The list goes on and on, yet people like the author of the above article want to excuse it all, because "some" Americans abuse our welfare system. Somehow, in my mind, they don't equal out.

The idea of people sneaking into the country to soak the American taxpayer provokes anger. To be fair, though, native-born Americans are already soaking the American taxpayer and ought to provoke a similar anger. In fact, illegal immigrants account for only a tiny minority of those currently on the welfare rolls.

ok, we have problems...every country does. Does that mean we HAVE TO take on everyone who decides to illegally cross our borders? We can deal with our own problems if the playing field is fair, but illegal aliens seem to have all the rights with this administration.
Why do we have to justify this? THEY ILLEGALLY CROSSED OUR BORDERS...we have a system in place and they have broken the law.
They need to go home and change their country. Protest in THEIR streets. They have oil and two coastlines that could prosper their country...they just have to deal with their corupt government...as we have to deal with ours, and I'm am sure we will!

One of the big arguments for tightening immigration barriers is the fear immigrants will enlarge the welfare rolls. An example of this fear was recently demonstrated in California at a hearing of the House Government Reform Committee in San Diego.

"San Diego may be the gateway to Mexico, but our taxpayers are the doormat," County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Horn said. "Every dollar spent on providing services to illegal immigrants or their children is a dollar that isn't used on taxpaying citizens."

The fact is that not every dollar being spent is a welfare roll dollar. The economic costs far exceed just welfare payments.

The idea of people sneaking into the country to soak the American taxpayer provokes anger. To be fair, though, native-born Americans are already soaking the American taxpayer and ought to provoke a similar anger. In fact, illegal immigrants account for only a tiny minority of those currently on the welfare rolls.

The American taxpayers make their choices at the polls and through those they elect. If they feel they are being "soaked" and are angry, they should dismantle the welfare system. Right now welfare exists. The fact is no illegal alien should be a participant.

Those who run the gauntlet of fences, guards and environmental hardships to illegally enter the United States evince a measure of enterprise that would seem to make them unlikely to seek out welfare benefits.

Those who enter the United States illegally envince a measure of moral corruption, desire to steal from their neighbor, and make the a very likely welfare candidate.

An illegal immigrant arriving in America is more apt to avoid contact with government authorities than to try to scam the system. The bureaucracy normally requires those applying for welfare to show a birth certificate, visa, or passport to sign up for food stamps or cash assistance. Illegals would need to steal or forge such documents if they are to game the system.

Rather than go to the trouble of trying to defraud the welfare system, illegal immigrants are more likely to proceed directly to vacant, entry-level, low-paying jobs. Working illegals are not a burden to the economy. They provide useful services and pay taxes to help support the government.

I think a "fresh" illegal may enter a rural community at first and lay low. However, the socialist/communist recruiters know where these illegals reside. It won't be long until the illegal's support system drops by with "education" and sources of forged documents. Thereafter, churches sponsor "fiestas" to sign illegals up for their "rightful" benefits.
They deliver useful services cheap for business. There are many burdens to the economy and much cost shifting.

The worry that an influx of illegal aliens may lead to a potentially crushing welfare burden is not entirely unwarranted. There are political elements in the U.S. who view a rising welfare clientele as a key to electoral success.

Yes, that would be George Bush, Neocons and RINOs and everyone left of them.

Inasmuch as reforms enacted during the 1990s significantly reduced existing welfare rolls, the power base of those favoring big government has been diminished. So, while the welfare system current drain on our economy cannot fairly be blamed on illegal immigrants, unrestrained immigration could significantly worsen this drain.

George Bush is riding herd on the largest government known in the history of mankind. I'll take your diminished power base as an error. Let's not forget that NO dollars were ever intended for illegal aliens. They were supposed to be across our border. We can fix it!

It is the welfare system that has sucked generation after generation of American citizens into the trap of dependency. The availability of government subsidies lures people away from the effort of work.

Yeah, ya pay people to stay at home they will. Also, if wages get lower than expenses of a job guess what people can't afford, a job.

The opportunity to get compensation for drug and alcohol related disabilities lowers people's resistance to these vices. Payments to unwed mothers undermine the incentive to take precautions against unplanned pregnancies.

Yup. Reduces the opportunity costs.

These evils of the welfare system predate any problems we may perceive arising from illegal immigration. The pernicious effects of the welfare system would continue to take a toll even if our borders were perfectly impervious to illegal penetration.

Nonetheless, it doesn't cause me to quit fighting the invasion of my country.

In short, the problem isn't Mexicans. The problem is the welfare state.

The problem is all freeloaders and all illegal aliens.

When government takes on paternal responsibility for everyone it is an open invitation to freeloaders - at home and abroad. The solution is not closing our borders. It is eliminating the practice of robbing taxpayers to provide benefits for a client underclass.
This would remove the disincentives for work inherent in the system. It would also return money to the private sector, where it could sustain more business activity and investment - providing more jobs for natives and immigrants.

Let's work on that next.

Whether these clients of the welfare state are Mexicans or native-born Americans, the process of robbing taxpayers to support them is wrong. Focusing attention only on Mexican "invaders" turns the issue into one of race and nationality and obscures the moral wrong of theft.

Yes it is all morally wrong. The focus should be on all invaders and freeloaders.

People traversing geography in search of a better life is how the American continent was populated. There is no moral foundation for policies that attempt to close the doors so we can preserve the good life for us. There is no real us vs. them.

You are badly mistaken here. We have a right under our founding documents to preserve a good life for our citizens. There are American citizens and also those that would do them harm.

We are all human beings trying to survive and provide for our families. The crime is that government coercion is used to force some to take on the responsibility of providing for others.

Go run for office, support candidates, vote or quit paying.

Hmm, let's see. Sneak into country illegally, have minimal education, poor job skills, making slave wages. Gee that doesn't sound like a formula for welfare now does it.

Originally Posted by steelerbabe

Hmm, let's see. Sneak into country illegally, have minimal education, poor job skills, making slave wages. Gee that doesn't sound like a formula for welfare now does it.

And breed like you have unlimited income

Illegals would need to steal or forge such documents if they are to game the system.

So that's NO problem! What's the point? Surely you know this is rampant!