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March 30, 2006
Illegal Illegal Immigrants
I had to laugh this week when Linda Chavez, who was President George W. Bush’s nominee for Secretary of Labor in January 2001, opined that a Mexican illegal would rather work for $16 a day in the United States than for $5 a day in Mexico. I have hired people that I thought were probably illegal but, since they were self-employed and running their own companies or working for other people, I didn't question the fact. The problem is that I was not able to hire them for $2 per hour ($16 per day), but for every bit as much as any American citizen would expect, and certainly more than Bank of America pays new tellers. If Linda Chavez has anyone willing to work for $2 per hour, I would be more than happy to hire them and might even be persuaded to pay them $2.50 an hour.
The fact is that most of the illegal immigrants do not have a social security number and are therefore tax cheats in addition to being in the country illegally. If they need one they use a bogus social security number or 'borrow' someone else's number. which means that virtually all of the illegal immigrants do not pay taxes.
Open border advocates say that, since we cannot deport all the illegals in one fell swoop with a magic wand, we shouldn't enforce our immigration policies. They argue we should be happy to have the illegal immigrants here working, and believe that we should suck up the costs of their children's educations and their health care at the emergency room.
Pundits argue that we can't deport all the illegals and we probably can't. You can't get rid of all the cockroaches either, but does that mean you aren't going to buy a big ol' can of Raid Max next time you see a couple of roaches around the house?
We put people in jail for using and selling drugs, but people continue to smoke, inject, snort and sell drugs. We will never stop it completely. Should we stop trying to enforce our drug laws?? We put Americans in jail for not paying their taxes. So if we all decide to not pay our taxes does that mean that we will all get a pass and not have to go to prison because the problem is just too big to deal with? Nope. The government will come get you and throw your hard working but in jail right after they take all your property.
Just remember while you are working into May of each to pay your taxes to the federal government, the illegal immigrants who pay no taxes and have you pay for their health care and children's education are laughing at you all the way to the bank; your bank!
Posted by Rick | March 30, 2006 09:24 PM | Just A Thought
March 22, 2006
Homeland Security Chief Chokes
I have not written much lately because, for the most part, it has all been the same hate-filled empty rhetoric from the left and no one from the right has been indicted for taking bribes or exposing a desk-jockey at the CIA as an undercover agent.
Yesterday, however, in a news conference, President Bush announced that he had asked Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff why all those trailers (10,700 more or less) were still sitting unused in Hope, Arkansas. Finally, I thought, something might get done.
Well, silly me. Apparently this brilliant man, Secretary Chertoff, has decided to move 5000 trailers down to the hurricane ravaged areas where ten's of thousands of people need housing, but will leave about 5,000 in reserve for the next potential disaster.
Notice to Secretary Chertoff: For months now the federal government has been paying for displaced families to live in hotels, ships, and other temporary housing. Move every one of those trailers where they are needed. Don't wait another day. Use everything that you have at your disposal NOW. If you want more trailers for the next disaster, put in an order more trailers. There are companies that will be more than happy to build them.
Where did President Bush find this guy anyway?
Posted by Rick | March 22, 2006 03:24 AM | Political Science
March 9, 2006
Dubai Deal Dead
After it became apparent that Congress would block Dubai Ports World, owned by the government of Dubai, from managing a number of ports on our east coast, DP World has announced that it would transfer its interests to an American entity.
The fact that the Republicans were instrumental in the about face once again underscores the difference between the intellectually dishonest kool-aid drinking Democrats and the Republicans who are not afraid to let their leaders know when a deal is a bad deal.
The rank-and-file Republicans were the driving force behind the withdrawal of Harriet Miers' nomination for the Supreme Court and were not shy about voicing their displeasure over the President's support for the DP World transaction.
Unfortunately, Jack Kemp called the Republicans' desertion of the administration shameful and embarrassing, and went on to say that because we have other foreign entities managing our ports on the west coast, we should have supported this deal. It seems that two wrongs make a right in Mr. Kemp's eyes. Mr. Kemp is flat wrong. We should take back the management of all our ports. We manage our airports and I am absolutely positive we have American companies that can manage our seaports.
Dubai has been supportive of our efforts in the war on terror and will continue to be. It is in their best interest to make sure we win the war on terror. If we don't, the United Arab Emirates' emirs are smart enough to know they could be the next target for the wacko Muslims. They are not going to suddenly start supporting the Taliban or al-Qaeda. You can take that to the bank.
Posted by Rick | March 9, 2006 07:30 PM | Political Science
March 3, 2006
Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) To Be Sentenced
Former congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA), who pleaded guilty November 28, 2005, to accepting bribes, tax evasion and conspiracy, is going to be sentenced to prison within the hour.
The prosecutors are asking for 10 years in prison. Cunningham's attorneys, citing Cunningham's age and poor health, are asking for 6 years.
A blatant breach of the public's trust such as this deserves no leniency. Let him rot in prison.
Update: Cunningham, 64, was sentenced to 8 years and 4 months in prison and was ordered to pay $1.8 million in back taxes and penalties plus $1.85 million in restitution based on the bribes he received. Ironically, the taxpayers will pay Cunningham approximately $64,400 annually while he cools his heels in the federal penitentiary. He is eligible for a congressional pension of approximately $36,000 a year for his 15 years in the House of Representatives and a Navy pension of approximately $28,800 per year for his 21 years of military service.
Posted by Rick | March 3, 2006 12:22 PM | Political Science
United Arab Emerites Boycott Of Israel
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), once known as the Trucial States, is a federation of seven independent states located in the southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, which is part of, what is commonly known, as the Middle East region. A hereditary chief called an emir rules each emirate. A petroleum-rich desert country about the size of South Carolina, the United Arab Emirates became an independent country in 1971.
The city of Abu Dhabi became the provisional capital of the United Arab Emirates when it was formed in 1971.
Located on the northeastern coast of the United Arab Emirates, the city of Dubai is the capital of the emirate of Dubai and is the largest city in the UAE.
The UAE and a company called Dubai Ports World has recently become the focus of the firestorm over port security in the United States. Dubai Ports World, owned by the government of Dubai, is seeking to take over management of 6 major ports up and down the east coast of the United States from a British based company.
Just as it was announced that DPW was to take over the management of these ports, the Jerusalem Post ran an article disclosing the fact that Dubai is involved in a boycott of goods and services from Israel and, in a separate article, noted that the UAE even refuses to allow Israeli citizens to enter the country.
The parent company of a Dubai-based firm at the center of a political storm in the US over the purchase of American ports participates in the Arab boycott against Israel, The Jerusalem Post has learned.The firm, Dubai Ports World, is seeking control over six major US ports, including those in New York, Miami, Philadelphia and Baltimore. It is entirely owned by the Government of Dubai via a holding company called the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCZC), which consists of the Dubai Port Authority, the Dubai Customs Department and the Jebel Ali Free Zone Area.
Aside from the fact that it is against the law to boycott a country because of religious beliefs, these are despicable people. Regardless of their efforts to help us in the war on terror, Dubai Ports World should not be given the contract to manage our ports.
Note: You can read the complete law here.
Posted by Rick | March 3, 2006 12:17 PM | Political Science
