Is the immigration issue a scapegoat?
487521
No, it isn't. It's quite simply that in recent years it is getting out of hand. As the owner of a fairly large construction company, I can give you an example why people like myself have such an issue with illegal aliens. In 1995, the cost of framing a custom home was about $7.00 per sq. ft. . In 2005, the cost for the same job is about $3.25 per sq. ft.. This is DIRECTLY related to illegal aliens, in that they are highly skilled craftsmen who can do just as well a job, but because they don't have insurance, or pay taxes, they can cut a bid in HALF, and still maintain the same profit margin. Almost 30% of every penny the company makes goes to taxes alone. Add another 5% of each individual's income for worker's comp. Which illegal aliens can't get, nor can they get the bonding and liability insurance policies I am requred to maintain as a part of doing business. Their average income is $12 per hour. My average payout for wages is $18 per hour. That's per man. So do the math. How much house do you think I can afford to build at $3.25 per foot, at $18 per man hour with a 9 man crew per jobsite? Notice, the cost of housing (along with the price of fuel) has increase almost 150 PERCENT in the past 10 years, yet the income of TENS OF THOUSANDS of AMERICAN construction workers has been cut in half, just so they can compete in an open job market. So tell me mister, who SHOULD I be pissed at? I don't see any senators running the bottom out of my business. But I do support ANY efforts they can make to keep ANYONE else from doing so. The White House has had ZERO impact on my particular job market. The criminal activities of 10 million Mexicans HAS.
603198
The problem is that in order to get a perpetual stream of low wage workers, big business has tangled the amnesty concept up in the guest worker program.  A Senator projected immigration under the guest worker program, including the increased legal immigration going forward, as bringing in an additional 217 million poor immigrants in the next 20 years on top of those already here.  There is no provision for employers to offset the impacts on schools or other services.  \n\nI think the guest worker plan in this form has to go.  I would be OK with legalizing current qualified illegal immigrants so long as I really felt the border was secure and employers could be held accountable.  I would combine the House Bill provisions on border security with the Senate Bill employer database and penalty provisions.  \n\nHowever, an increase in legal immigration assumes that we have really stopped the illegal immigration.  I think we need to make sure the border is actually secure before deciding whether and how much to increase legal immigration rates going forward.
1091930
Good thinking, I can see why now.\n\nThere was an immigrant's right problem but I think they blew it (purposely) out of proportion to cover the Bush - Gas - Iraq issue.
513421
don't blame the Mexicans, blame our govmt. who hasn't done anything in the last 15 yrs about illegal immigration. Blame the banks and business for having "press 1 for espanol", after all this is just the blame game right. our country has changed because of them and the US is the only one to blame. People will be treated the way they allow themselves to be treated, so eventually all illegal immigrants will have amnesty. And Americans will have to stop crying and start doing their own dirty laundry and cutting their own lawns. Too late to do something now, they r here to stay. we should do something to prevent any more form coming NOW, so we don't have this problem again in 10 years.
505173
Definitely.  The issue seemed to arise from nowhere and suddenly the government is devoting 100% of their media time to it.  Bush has been criticized for his domestic policies and focusing too much on Iraq, so illegal immigration gives him a "worthy" cause at home... I imagine that he'll run his mouth for a few more weeks and then just drop the issue completely.
588279
No, but if they did something that people blame on them that true then whats the problem.
46245
Americans with communications skills like yours really can't blame anyone else for their employment troubles, and anyone who thinks this is washing away the American Dream doesn't have the faintest idea what it really means to be an American.\n\nThat being said, illegal immigration is a problem, and it's a problem for one simple reason. We have an system that turns immigration into a burden rather than an opportunity.\n\nThere's absolutely nothing wrong with the idea of someone leaving their homeland and coming to the US to make a new and/or improved life for themselves and their family. However, our government of the last several decades has created and perpetuated an entitlement society. By creating a 'safety net' that attempts to ensure the welfare of everyone (no matter how unproductive they choose to be), we have turned immigration into a burden that drags upon our nation.
306672
By all accounts, we are putting them to work.  And that's fine with most people, especially the people who hire them.  So there is no problem.\n\nBut problems were made.  Because they became more numerous, they became more visible, and so they got more notice.  Eeek!  An immigrant!  Two, three, a dozen, right over there!\n\nNow we have to sort out frightened people's "concerns" against the economic benefits of having them here to do our crop picking, lawn care, babysitting and other low-end jobs.
343719
I think more people are upset at the fact that illegal immigrants are not paying income taxes but are receiveing free services.\nI have to tell clients of mine (all the time) that pursuing a case costs more than what they would recover if we were successful.\nI think that trying to stop the ILLEGAL immigration problem is going to cost much more than what we spend in benefits.\n\nThese are VERY technical economic questions - that even the smartest economists in the world argue about.  \n\nChances are there is no real answer to these questions.  They are simply politically motivated issues that help get people elected.\n\nDOn't fall for it!
226874
Probably.  I haven't noticed any tangible problems from immigration -- other than problems purely stemming from the fact that we've declared a lot of it to be illegal.  As far as I know, the economy is better and lots of things are less expensive as a result of immigrant workers.  I don't think many Americans are eager for many of the agricultural and service industry jobs that many immigrants perform.  If there is an unemployment problem, it has much more to do with outsourcing overseas, and the general state of the economy (to which immigrant labor is a benefit, not a burden).\n\nAs far as making this country what it used to be -- an ignorant, bigotted, Indian-massacring, slave-owning backwater -- I think that's kind of crazy.  But one *good* thing that you *would* need -- is lots of immigrants.
959113
Illegal immigration, whether they are Mexican or Micronesian is a nationwide problem.  It's not a stump issue for a political party, it is a real issue that is having more negative than positive impact on America.  Don't be blinded and frozen in ideology, act and help make this country a better place for you and your family.  If you believe "Bush's illegal wiretapping program" is worth fighting, then formulate a plan and get involved in the political process.  Trying to link two unrelated issues in order to cause a stir accomplishes nothing.\n\nI'm not opposed to Republicans, I'm opposed to people who do nothing but add to our problems in this country.  And no, I'm not Republican.
247787
It is not up to a political party to do something about the Illegal Alien problem.  It is up to us as a people to tell our Representatives what we want to have done about the problem.  We should learn from 9/11 that this is a serious problem that affects us all.  However many including the 9/11 terrorist's entered the country legally and then did not leave when it was time for them to.  Our INS Department does not have the staff to honestly see the job through in most cases.  We have people who have come to our country on a student visa and remain here for many years after it has been expired, and many of these people go to the INS daily trying to get some sort of status to remain here.\n\nYes we have each day people who sneak into the country, but one must realize that many Illegal Aliens came here legally and just never left.  Sometimes it is just a clerical error and others have to do with quota's.  There is a lot more problems with the illegal immigrants than most people know and understand.  The problem needs to be explored and new legislation developed to meet the needs of our country as well as be fair to those who came here legally.
482039
No, we've had the same amount of illegal immigration for the last 120 years.  The only reason that this is even getting press is because certain politicians are looking for a hot-button issue to distract the dumbest in our society so that they don't demand that the politicians deal with real issues like war, debt, health care and social security.  Nothing will change with immigration and no one will notice when it no longer makes the news.  Just smile and ignore those stupid people when they get angry over this non-issue.  We're waaaaay to smart to get suckered into a BS argument about something that's not going to change and doesn't really matter at all anyway.  Besides, you and I are to busy worrying about real issues to be bothered with this crap.
1076064
America has real problems and yes the undocumented WORKERS had become a scapegoat to the real problems which this country is facing :\n\n- the war on iraq : a war which seems to be eternal and meaningless . it is a fact that most iraquies do not like Americans or their precense in their country , they think that the only interest of Americans is their petrolium and just feel as stuck whit Americans like Americans feel whit them .\n\n- global warming : another huge issue which has been ignore by the bush administration and in fact has been atack as a real issue when every nation on the world knows it needs to be fix and that America is the main cause of this problem \n\n- the huge debt : one of the biggest problems and the one which will have the most lasting efects in America a country which bush recieved whit a record in money ( if anyone still wants to deny this i would like to remind u this is the reason why bush started to give money to his rich friends was the record money which he recieved , money which he did not produce ) and has rapidly become just another country where the richers is richer and the poor need to do as much as they can to survive .\n\nso are the immigrants the scape goat ? once again yes they are .
816088
Yes its true. They are very much needed no matter how much those legal citizens deny it. They might find out only if those migrant workers go on mass leave.
571343
What one's political leanings are doesn't really matter here.  Of course the immigration issue is a smokescreen to distract from any number of issues that make the GOP look bad or weak ahead of the all important mid-term elections.  Immigration is a hot button in states that have key elections coming up.  It's brilliant when you think about it, because the democrats can't really come out against it without appearing soft, and if the embrace the issue, they might as well concede right now.  \n\nUlitmately, all politics comes down to this; winning elections.  Only when you win elections can you create policy.  If Bush loses Congress, he becomes a lame duck and puts the GOP at risk of not winning the Presidency in 2008.  This year's midterm election is incredibly important to the GOP and they are going to play to their traditional strengths like tax cuts and security (i.e. immigration).
699531
Well, that is a good question, and it depends on how you look at it, or what your view is on the issue of immigration (That is the correct way to spell immigration, not immagration)\n\nCongress was lost to the Democrats because of the war in Iraq, not immigration issues. The media and the elitists of both parties hardly had the courage to bring up the illegal immigration issue when it came to the election. The only one who had true courage on this very important issue was and still is, Lou Dobbs of CNN. \n\nMore than likely the elitist of both parties in congress, will do nothing on this issue, until one of their sons or daughters have been victimized by an illegal immigrant gang member. Maybe MS-13. Who knows.\n\nHowever, I still refuse to have any contractor at my house who has illegal immigrants working for them. \n\nThe real problem though is the people who come here illegally. While they run over the northern border like scared rats. They leave their brothers and sisters in the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas Mexico to fight for economic justice, and social equality. \n\nBut, you need an answer for your question, and the answer is, we will have to wait and see.