Thread: Problem in the shadows

Problem in the shadows
By Patrick Kelley (Contact)
Saturday, October 14, 2006

LATE LAST MONTH, Congress made its annual contribution to solving the problem of illegal immigration. It passed a $1.2 billion bill that will start construction of 700 miles of new fence between the United States and Mexico. Congress also approved $380 million to hire 1,500 more U.S. Border Patrol agents and added money to build more detention centers to hold 6,700 more illegal immigrants awaiting deportation.

It is not surprising that Congress spent its time on punitive and protective measures as it addressed the problems of immigration. There is an election next month, and politicians and others have been busy generating a lot of hot air, trying to terrify voters with images of hordes of Spanish-speaking criminals slinking unimpeded across the border. The message has been — and will continue to be until the election has passed — that illegal immigration is a criminal problem.

It is true that any illegal immigration is, by definition, criminal activity.

But the problem is not entirely criminal.

Certainly, there is a legitimate concern about hard-core criminal activity along the border — drug smuggling, people smuggling and the opportunity for terrorists to sneak into the country. Perhaps the fence and the additional border agents will be effective in blocking that criminal activity.

But the larger problem of immigration in the United States is economic, not criminal, and it is found all over the country. It is a shadow economy based on a work force of undocumented immigrants. The shadow economy does in some ways drain the official economy by increasing the demand for schools, health care and social services without contributing its fair share to supporting those services. By providing an exploitable work force to compete with citizens and documented immigrants, it also works to depress wages.

In some ways, this shadow economy bolsters the official economy. Low-wage workers add to the general national productivity and keep production costs down in agriculture and service businesses, which can keep prices down for consumers.

But the overall result for the United States has been the creation of an important segment of the economy that could jolt to a stop if the nation is successful in closing the border with Mexico.

There is good reason to try to control the nation’s borders. But if that is to be done without damaging the national economy, it is also necessary to control the shadow economy. The way to do that is through sensible immigration and guest-worker programs that provide the workers the United States needs and ensures that those workers have the legal protections they need.

The border would be much easier to police if smugglers and other dangerous criminals were the only ones trying to get over, under or through that fancy fence.

Maybe things will calm down enough after the election for Congress to get to work on that.

Patrick S. Kelley

Editorial Page Editor



http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/2006/oct/14/problem/

In some ways, this shadow economy bolsters the official economy. Low-wage workers add to the general national productivity and keep production costs down in agriculture and service businesses, which can keep prices down for consumers.

But the overall result for the United States has been the creation of an important segment of the economy that could jolt to a stop if the nation is successful in closing the border with Mexico.

They've been saying the same thing about the Illegal Drugs for 30 years. "Stop the drug trade and our banks will collapse".

I say then let them and we'll start some new ones.

Isn't it pathetic...these arguments for guest worker program? Mr. Patrick Kelley is suggesting that we find a way to preserve the illegal faction of our economy that was created by illegal immigration; that we find some means by which to sustain abusive labor practices; that we find some way to CONTINUE the sickness that is destroying our nation as demonstrated by the following little analysis:

What percentage of Americans can not sustain themselves at this moment as a result of underemployement:

1. 37,000,000 in poverty

2. 47,000,000 who can't afford medical care

3. 35,000,000 retirees.

Population of 300,000,000 approximately. Substract retirees or age group over 65. 265,000,000 million with heads of households under 65.

37 mm plus 47 mm who can not sustain with employment earnings = 84 million.

Take 84 million of those in poverty and those that do not earn enough to purchase health insurance or pay for their own medical care and divide by 265 million = 31.7% of US Non-Retired Population is either unemployed or underemployed to the extent that they can not sustain themselves or their families.

THAT is 1 out of 3 Americans who can not sustain themselves or their families with both basic necessities of survival and pay for their medical care.

And THIS is an aspect of our "national economy" that we wish to PRESERVE with a Guest Worker Shamnesty Program?

I think NOT.

Anyone who believes the line that is being fed to us that the economy is just humming along obviously is not paying any attention or is just plain stupid. The economy is, in my opinion is well on its way to the toilet. And while the illegals are only one reason for the economic squeeze, it is one problem that could be settled easily if THEY WOULD JUST ENFORCE THE ***** LAW!!!!!

Ask the middle class who works for a living how they think the economy is going. I know what the majority will say. It is not going good as they would like us to believe, just ask my checkbook.