Thread: Biden: Blame Immigration Woes On Mexico

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/ ... _2008.html

Biden: Blame immigration woes on Mexico

By JIM DAVENPORT
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Sen. Joe Biden, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's incoming chairman, wants to get tough with Mexico, calling it an "erstwhile democracy" with a "corrupt system" responsible for illegal immigration and drug problems in the U.S.

Biden, D-Del., was in Columbia on Monday in his first postelection trip to this first-in-the-South presidential primary state as he continues to line up support for his presidential bid.

During a question-and-answer session before more than 230 Columbia Rotary Club members, Biden was asked about immigration problems.

Biden, who favors tightening the U.S.-Mexico border with fences, said immigration is driven by money in low-wage Mexico.

"Mexico is a country that is an erstwhile democracy where they have the greatest disparity of wealth," Biden said. "It is one of the wealthiest countries in the hemisphere and because of a corrupt system that exists in Mexico, there is the 1 percent of the population at the top, a very small middle class and the rest is abject poverty."

Unless the political dynamics change in Mexico and U.S. employers who hire illegal immigrants are punished, illegal immigration won't stop. "All the rest is window dressing," he said.

An even bigger problem are illegal drugs "coming up through corrupt Mexico," he said. "People are driving across that border with tons, tons - hear me - tons of everything from byproducts for methamphetamines, to cocaine, to heroine."

Covering a variety of topics, Biden kept most of the crowd in their seats for an hour - twice as long as scheduled.

"I warn all of you, all of you making more than a million bucks - I hope you all are - I'm taking away your tax cut," Biden said. "I'm not joking."

The extra revenue would generate $75 billion a year and pay for a backlog in national security and local law enforcement programs, Biden said.

Biden's appeal for bipartisanship captured Bruce Rippeteau, a former Rotary president who says he's in the Genghis Khan wing of the Republican Party.

He "was saying some important things in a nonpolitical way," Rippeteau said.

"I want to compliment him about what he didn't say," Wilson said. "He never one time mentioned weapons of mass destruction."

Biden will lead the Foreign Relations panel because Republicans around the nation lost seats in the Nov. 7 elections. That tide didn't reach Republican-dominated South Carolina, where the GOP maintained its four U.S. House seats and Democrats kept their two.

I don't care for Biden, but this is at least encouraging rhetoric (with the exception of the typical Democrat desire for more taxes rather than less government).

Be very leary of the Delawarean with forked tongue.

UB

Originally Posted by CrocketsGhost

I don't care for Biden, but this is at least encouraging rhetoric (with the exception of the typical Democrat desire for more taxes rather than less government).

Please let him tax everyone making more than $1 MILLION !

Originally Posted by magyart

Originally Posted by CrocketsGhost

I don't care for Biden, but this is at least encouraging rhetoric (with the exception of the typical Democrat desire for more taxes rather than less government).

Please let him tax everyone making more than $1 MILLION !

Many people do not understand what a greedy comment that is. these days, $1 million puts a breadwinner about where being upper middle class was in my grandparents' day. And we're not talking about whether they are taxed or not. Make no mistake, Biden is talking about PUNITIVELY taxing those making that money at a much higher rate than what most people pay.

Now, I ask you, If a guy making $1 million/ year is taxed at the same RATE as a person making $50,000/ year, is he not already paying 20 times as much for THE SAME government services? Why should he pay 20 times as much for the same government services? Does he have a larger stake in the military? Does he gain that much more from Social Security? Does he get 20X the police protection or free education? Does he get 20X more federal highway usage?

Bear in mind that this guy is also paying MUCH more in telecom taxes, probably property taxes and sales taxes, more in the taxes applied to any extra services or utilities he uses, etc.

This is the reason that the Founding Fathers ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITED direct taxation except in times of national emergency, and even then ONLY BY APPORTIONMENT. They fully understood that people are jealous-hearted bastards who begrudge others their successes, to the point that they convince themselves that they actually DESERVE a portion of the property of the more successful. That isn't a free republic. That is DAMNED SOCIALISM. If you're a socialist, fine. Admit it and that you have no more respect for the bounds of personal property than the illegal aliens have for our national boundaries.

Way to go Biden.........WHERE WERE YOU BEFORE? Head in the sand?

Putz... and YES, a forked tongue.

What the hell has this putz done all these years to HELP stop the INVASION of Illegals?

.

What the hell has this putz done all these years to HELP stop the INVASION of Illegals?

Voted for comrehensive immigration reform of course!

So now he's a tough guy?

Originally Posted by CrocketsGhost

Originally Posted by magyart

Originally Posted by CrocketsGhost

I don't care for Biden, but this is at least encouraging rhetoric (with the exception of the typical Democrat desire for more taxes rather than less government).

Please let him tax everyone making more than $1 MILLION !

Many people do not understand what a greedy comment that is. these days, $1 million puts a breadwinner about where being upper middle class was in my grandparents' day. And we're not talking about whether they are taxed or not. Make no mistake, Biden is talking about PUNITIVELY taxing those making that money at a much higher rate than what most people pay.

Now, I ask you, If a guy making $1 million/ year is taxed at the same RATE as a person making $50,000/ year, is he not already paying 20 times as much for THE SAME government services? Why should he pay 20 times as much for the same government services? Does he have a larger stake in the military? Does he gain that much more from Social Security? Does he get 20X the police protection or free education? Does he get 20X more federal highway usage?

Bear in mind that this guy is also paying MUCH more in telecom taxes, probably property taxes and sales taxes, more in the taxes applied to any extra services or utilities he uses, etc.

Warren Buffet and I agree that people making more money should be able to pay more taxes. ( Buffet is a capitalist ) If memory serves me correctly, Warren believes the rich can simply afford to pay more. IMO people making $1 million dollars or more per year do get more police protection and govt. services, than the middle class. I would imagine they drive more than the average person, so they should pay more federal highway tax.

Since our govt. revenues (taxes) are less then govt. spending, we are all under taxed. If govt. spending, especially earmarks, isn't drastically reduced, taxes will go up.

As for social security, if your income remains in excess of $1 million a year - you really don't need a social security check. I've heard rumors a few generous people actually give theirs back.

I don't make a million a year, but I make a good salary. Our govt. may not always be the most efficient financial manager, but performs some tasks we simply can't do. The govt. supports the self defense of our nation. I'm glad some of my taxes contribute to this effort. I believe I should pay more than someome making $100,000, $50,000 or $25,000 a year. (My charitable contributions and church contributuions should also be greater.)

I certainly don't begrudge anyone financial success, nor am I a socialist.
I have my own business. Someday I hope to make $1 million a year or perhaps sell the company for several million. The company has grown a little, every year, for seven years. Since it's a healthcare company, I think it will continue to grow.

I seriously doubt our great country will be able to eliminate income taxes. I doubt the tax system will ever be completely fair or we will all be able to agree on equitable tax system. Our country has matured and developed into the greatest financial empire of democracy, that has ever existed. I'm positive our founding fathers, merely 200 years ago, never imagined how great our sucess would be.

I don't endorse PUNITIVELY taxing those making $1 million or more. However, I believe the richer you are, the easier you can pay taxes. I believe the rich receive more tax benefits than the middle class.[/b] I should pay more tax than people who make less than I do. If you make $1 million a year you can afford to send your kids to collage. If you only make $50,000 a year, you may not be able to afford this expense. Collage tuition, room and board can easily be $15,000 - 20,000 per year. Therfore the millionaire receives more govt. services, for collage.

I want the very rich to pay more than I do. However, I don't want the benefit from the additional taxes a millionaire "may" pay. I want those taxes to support people in need or the defense of the nation.

You may be a very generous and giving person, but some segments of our nation have become very greedy. Corporate leaders aren't happy with a few million dollars. They want to make hundreds of millions. They demand a salary, bonus, vacation, expense accts., stock options, body guards, etc. The CEO of United Healthcare just retired with a pension worth over $1 BILLION dollars.

The go - go years of the stock market's 1990's has disapperred. Why, because some of the crooks started going to jail. Many inflated profits disapearred. Even the mutual funds have needed to clean up their acts. They were as crooked as a dog's hind leg. This same corporate greed contributes to hiring of millions of illegals. Too many managers of large corporations have become very greedy. Business owners that hire illegal aliens are greedy. People that don't want to pay taxes are greedy.

If I'm lucky, I'll be around another 30 years. I hope the business is a fantastic success. I don't want a bigger house or a faster car. I still love my first wife of 30 years. With my financial success, I can help others.
I've already set up an IRA for each daughter. I wish I could fully fund each one. I hope to finance four years of collage for all of them. Christmas bonuses are paid to employees, if the company does well. I wish I had the financial means to contribute more to my church and community.

I wish every American child, under the age of 19, had some form of health care. I would be willing to pay more taxes to accomplish this.
However, I don't envision it happening. As a nation, we have become too selfish. I predict employer paid health care will almost disappear. The defined pension plan is almost gone. It's on our back now, in the form of a 401k. Health care will be added to the list of things the employee must pay for.

Unfortunately, taxes are here to stay. I'm NOT a socialist. I don't need to benefit from your taxes. I also pay my share of taxes. As a whole, we may not be taxed enough. President Bush has spent 300 billion dollars in Iraq and hasn't leved taxes to pay for it. His admin. has been most reckless in regard to financial mismanagement. Many greedy Americans would just as soon pass this burdon to our children.

If we stay honest, we will not escape taxes or death. Since this is a web site about illegal immigartion, let's not needlessly bore everyone with our different views regarding TAXES.

MAG
I don't want to get into this conversation but I do want you to think about this one thing.

** The very rich, who should be paying more taxes simply by virtue of making the vast numbers of dollars..........are not. They are not - including BUFFET {no fool} - because they have more tax shelters than you can shake a stick at. This is where the average millionaire or average middleclass person is left holding the bag.

The less fortunate don't pay a dime but get services that others do not.

So........again, the hard working guy or gal is holding the bag.

Over Taxing the wealthy is a joke. The millionaire will find it not worth making the million and will probably eliminate some jobs from the American job market while the MULTI MILLIONAIRE/BILLIONAIRE will continue to smile all the way to the off shore bank and tax shelters. Most of them have already off shored.

Not a healthy idea either way you cut it, Mag. Socialism is only good for the most wealthy.......they're the ones who will actually be protected. 85% tax with the tax shelters available = about 0 increase in revenue.
{especially when new laws are written to protect the mega wealthy!}
EXCEPT for the middle of the road business person who again, gets the burden slammed into his/her face.

my 2 cents

.

Our immigration problems are our responsibility, not Mexico's. Sure we can line up and point a finger and blame it on Mexico ... they draw them maps; encourage them to cross the border; give them little books with directions to the USA ... we can't stop them from trying .. but we can stop them from succeeding. Any US Senator that thinks he's going down Mexico way and change their agenda ... needs to catch up on the language of free trade agreements and the SPP/NAU Agenda. It would be funny if it weren't so tragic that a senior member of the US Senate would prefer to blame the government of Mexico for the failures of the government of the United States to stop illegal immigration. I guess Biden thinks that's safer than dare to criticize this President and Administration ... the job he's paid to do ... and one can only muse as to why that would be.



As to the tax cuts ... kiss them good bye. Democrats will not extend them. They will instead raise them on the middle class starting with $200,000 joint income per year ... not $1 million .... and the money will not be used to fund "back log" or pay down the debt ... it will be spent on more government ... the depletion of capital and investment will trigger a recession and cause the "dive".

That's just part of what happens when you keep a President and Vice President whose actions cost their party control of the US Congress.



OR ... you could rally and impeach them, make Dennis Hastert President; see if we can get the Fair Tax passed which would eliminate the income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax altogether. Hastert supports the Fair Tax.