We asked for a labor force but human beings came...
I'm sure everyone has a view on immigration but most likely the majority of Americans aren't aware of the legal, social, economic, and political aspects of US immigration. There's lots of misinformation out there, some of it quite intentional. Emotions are fine as long as they don't interfere with the facts. I don't have a problem with people putting a stake down on an issue, but I do have a problem when this stake is put down on false pretences and false impressions.
A learned person, with a critical mind, who really wants to know the facts, is able to amend his/her views when better information or reasonable argument is presented. Unfortunately, too many people will not reveal their true prejudice and instead choose to fight against a notion on different grounds. For example, health care reform will cost a lot more because all the "illegals" will get medical (and free) care...
I'm looking forward to having a discussion here. I'll be back soon.
While people are against having to pay more money in taxes because of illegal immigrants, they are still using them by employing them to work for less than minimal wage often in unsafe conditions. Illegals sometimes tend to be the hardest working people we can find. The issue of spending more money on taxes probably evens out in the end considering the money we are barely paying them to work. -Stephanie
ReplyDeleteStephanie,
ReplyDeleteIf undocumented immigrants are such a drain on the system then there is an easy remedy. Legalize them and charge them taxes . BTW, some argue that the undocumented pay more in taxes than what they recieve in social programs.
I believe this cartoon to have amazing truth to it. It is sad that not only do we force illegal immigrants to do work for way below min. wage, but we force them to compete with each other and see one another as an enemy. I also agree with you Professor, I believe we could easily solve the problem by cutting the process for people to become citizens. Then there would be no more complaints about how they do not pay taxes, why should people who are not considered citizens pay taxes especially when they are working for such ridiculously low rates. These ideas are unfair and unrealistic. - Adriana Scutari.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this cartoon portrays a good point. Illegal immigrants face challenging obstacles, such as working below minimum wage which if they were not illegal immigrants this type of labor would be seen as illegal under the labor laws. However, some people do not realize that they are accomplishing work that no one else would choose to do. Those people who do not realize this complain about the fact that they have to pay more for taxes while illegals immigrants do not. In addition, as the professor said some believe that illegal immigrants consumes the system. I definetely with the Professor that we should legalize them and as a result they will pay for taxes due to the fact that they are citizens or residents of the United States.
ReplyDelete-Francis Cruz
This cartoon really made me think about how many Americans perceive immigrants (especially illegals) and what the realities of immigrants in the United States actually are. A popular opinion is that illegal immigrants are here not paying taxes, and are scamming the system. This cartoon illustrates the irony behind the attitudes Americans have on Mexican immigrants; They want to keep them out, yet they depend on their labor to keep the economy and society balanced. I think that the cartoon accurately shows Americans' unfair attitude towards illegal immigrants. -Colby Hochmuth
ReplyDeleteThis cartoon is ironic yet the truth. Many people do have an unfair attitude against immigration. They complain about them being a drain on the economy and how they dont pay taxes, yet they make it hard for them to become citizens. Also they dont believe they should be here benifiting off of social programs, yet they need them for back breaking employment at a wage way below minimum. A lot of people contridict themselves on this topic. People fail to see immigrants as people and instead as things they can manipulate to their beneifit.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what the process is to legalize immigrants and how people vision the process to be be more efficient and easier, especially if people think that they should pay taxes. Also, isn't the point of social programs to help those most in need? Isn't it somewhat racist (for lack of a better word) to believe that they don't deserve social programs because they come from a different country and don't have access to an easy immigration status. For example with health care. I do have to be honest and say that I don't know 100% about its details, but if the argument is that health is a commodity and not a right, then how do we draw the line between who stays healthy and who doesn't "deserve to"?
ReplyDeleteThis cartoon was interesting in that it shows that the "blame" is not solely on the shoulders of illegal immigrants. Where there is demand, the supply will come - especially with immigration. I don't think that employing immigrants is a problem - everyone needs to make a living.
Professor Picoulas said it well - "Unfortunately, too many people will not reveal their true prejudice and instead choose to fight against a notion on different grounds." I think it would be great if we could formally discredit politicians/law makers who dance around the issues and actually have facts to analyze.
Ok that's all for now... see you in class!