X, hope you remembered to wipe your liberal. lmao

Danny: "Claptrap". Very nice! I'll use that as my "word of the day". Thank you.

As for the other comments:
Nobody denies that there is poverty and despair in other countries. Especially Mexico.
But how does that become OUR problem to solve? This is a case study on Bleeding Hearts. The Liberal cause is not an inhumane one. In fact, the goal is something that I hope we all yearn for. But the ends do not justify the means. To OVERTAX Americans in order to sustain the lazy is ridiculous. To support criminals (Illegals) because you feel guilty taking a cruise that you earned is counter-productive.
Our taxes should indeed help those who CAN'T help themselves. Not those who WON'T.
And until we have ZERO poverty within our borders we shouldn't drain our resources to eliminate poverty outside of them.
At the end of the day when I get my paycheck I don't feel guilty. I worked damn hard for it. If you do feel guilt or even shame about how much you make, perhaps you make more than you should, or you feel you don't truly earn it. If that's the case, feel free to support the charity and/or cause of your choice. But don't force me to do the same.

My thoughts exactly tailgater.

I set you up for that one LLT,LOL.
One issue not discussed here are the illegals from our northern border,who take white and blue coller jobs from Americans. Is it perhaps because they speak english and look like"Americans",I wonder. Illegals from the south do the menial distasteful jobs take nobody else will do,such as our stoop labor. Whereas there is an illegal problem and there will always be one,when you have a third world country next to a first world country. Our situation is unique. I wonder what will happen when and if the southern border is ever sealed off and lettice goes from 69 cents a head to $5.00. X

Allow illegal immigrants to infiltrate our country.
Save our salads!
Now there's a grand cause...

Lettuce wouldn't got to $5.00 a head because nobody would pay that much. Lettuce isn't a necessity item.

Plabonte (and the general board)- lol- I didn't mean every individual living here today crossed the border illegally, so I didn't assume anything about you or your family. I meant that this country was founded by a group of "illegal" aliens leaving their homeland to find a better place to live and prosper. These rebels didn't hesitate to leave their homeland and cross borders illegally in pursuit of a better life, and thus, America was born. (BTW, they were vicously determined in this pursuit, resorting to genocide-the murder and annihilation of the native americans- in order to reach their ends). I find it interesting that a couple hundred years later, citizens are quick to condemn others for doing what our founding fathers did as well.

As for sponges, I say again, it's the "legal" immigrants that have ready access to the entitlement-oriented tax system our government provides. Welfare? The single largest recipient is single female with child. Fact.

As for the lawsuits, for criminy sakes, don't be a fool. Who do you think brings the suits, the illegal immigrants?!? lol It's the American lawyers drivin by greed and or liberal ideals. Blame the lawyers or the judicial system. Why blame some poor guy schlepping lettuce boxes trying to make a better life for himself?

Blame game: I meant don't fall pray to quickly blame your problems, the economy's problems, America's problems etc on the Mexican illegal immigrants. Of course it is a piece of a very large puzzle, but only a piece. And the poem doesn't just talk about illegal immigration, it stereotypes Mexicans in a bad light, could easily be construed as hinting as hateful, thus IN MY OPINION is racist. It's designed to get people riled up and say "Those f'ing Mexicans... that's what's wrong with America". Gimmee a break.

History- Believe it or not, I'm a conservative (although some of you may argue with that now!), but I have read a book called People's History of the United States (by Zenn). If you (any) have not read it, I urge you to do so for your own edification. I have a university degree and nowhere from grade school on up was I ever exposed to such things I read in this book, and it has colored my thinking in several areas. It may give you somewhat of a different perspective as well.

Thank God we live in America and have the freedoms, right, and ability to discuss topics like this one. I urge each of you to reach toward your higher ideals- including those of compassion, self sufficiency, and recognition of the drive of human beings to better their conditions for themselves and their families.

You guys should settle this the Middle Eastern way.
With guns, rocks and suicide bombers. OOOPS... would that be considered a racist comment?

Oh, and I forgot one last thing from the thin air of my soapbox! Someone else eluded to the President allowing our border to remain porous. I agree it is a choice by our government, and a form of tacit approval of illegal immigration, but I wouldn't just limit that practice to the current President. Think about, we can put a man on the moon, we have the mightiest of military machines the world has ever known, but we can't stop some people from coming into our land to pick some lettuce? lol
Fact is our government has ALLOWED, YES, ALLOWED this to continue. And it's been going on for decades.

jrredoch- . LOL and hardee har har. Where you been livin?

====> "If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit"

There's your "legal" for you! lol

Some food for thought why are all countries that have english as the primary language developed while most spanish speaking ones are third world. Is it the language? or is it english common law? the magna carta?
is it (not very pc) genetics?
Just wondering why none of the non-english speaking countries on the N&S american continent have prospered.

Before you get down from your soapbox Jeffersonn you addressed a lot of my points but missed an important one.

What about a drug dealer who is trying to make a life better for himself? Should we be allowed to continue to push drugs if he is doing it for a greater good? (i.e. to help feed and cloth his kids or maybe siblings).

Isn't that the same with illegal aliens coming here?

Also, you think my tax money isn't wasted on illegal aliens? How much money was spent in court costs along for that Alien Gonzales kid? He wasn't a citizen of the US was he?

What language is "herf"?

Tell you what. go to Germany, France, Italy, Greece, Israel, Russia. Establish a business or a business relationship, or at least try. You won't get far. You won't garner respect. You won't establish and maintain relationships (friends, business or others), unless you learn the language of the country you are in.

They don't screw around. You live there and don't try and be fluent in the hosts country's language within a year. You will be one lonely, broke immigrant.

I live where there are a lot of illegal aliens. I respect them for coming here. Doing jobs that NOBODY ELSE wants. Accepting whatever they get paid and dutifully sending as much as they can afford back home. This is so they can provide a lifestyle and education for their children unattainable back in their homeland.

This is not because of anything they did. It is just because when G-d handed out birth passes, mine said Redding California and some other guy ended up with Jalisco. I respect the desire to work hard for one's family.

What I don't respect and I don't tolerate well is the disrespect shown to me and my fellow citizens by them not striving to learn american english.

I took Spanish classes my whole school career, from 6th grade on. It helps me communicate at work and other places. We have to live with the fact that people are going to sneak across the Mexican border to work.

But dammit...learn to language of your host country. I did my part as a Spanish speaking gringo. I expect the immigrants do their part and at least try to learn English.

Just wanna relate a personal experience regarding immigrants. And no, I am not advocating shutting the borders.

Fall of 1994
Thousands of Cuban refugees inundated the coast of Florida looking for better opportunity. Camps are set up in Florida, Guantanmo Bay, and Panama for them to be processed and either sent back or given entry into the USA. Tired of waiting, refugees in Panama riot for several hours, injuring Air Force personnel assigned to help/guard them. My battalion is alerted and within 24 hours we are in Panama to prevent any further disruptions. After several weeks we notice that while we are eating MRE's for lunch and basically the same menu everyday; the Cubans have catered meals with a choice of beef, chicken, or veggie for each meal. Not only that, but they are getting FREE cartons of cigarettes (no cigars though, maybe they brought their own RyJs). Now this pampering (to us grunts eyes) did not start after the riots to quell any further outbreaks, they were receiving these luxuries before the riot occurred, curtsey of American Taxpayers!

I will cut the rest of the story short; but in the end, when the camps were shut down and we stood shoulder to shoulder as they were transferred out of there;(no idea if they were coming here or back to Cuba) several groups of older women took the time to get in our faces and curse us in Spanish, while others just shook the fists at us and spit. Now, the great majority went quietly; I can only wonder what they were thinking.

Free food, cigarettes, health care, and a roof over their heads, for even a few months of processing and possible legal entry into this great nation of ours, now that is a pretty big enticement to those living in poverty.

The moral of the story: When you are bankrupt and without employment, pretend you are a refugee seeking asylum. All of your needs will be cared for compliments of the USA 🙂

Those no good f**king aliens! I'll bet that's what the Indians called us. LMAO JonR

Who says that the illegals don't want or try to learn english? They try to learn,but understand that english is the hardest language to learn,with all its inconsistencies. It would be like an American going to Japan and then be expected to learn the the language in a short time.
I wonder if an American that moved to some non-English speaking country and then was surrounded by an enclave of English speaking people in the neigborhood and in the business community,would be so motivated to learn the language as rapidly. That is the situation here in the USA. They don't need to learn as fast. The business community recognizes their buying potential and thus caters to them by providing bilingual prompts and signs. In any case they are here and have been for a hundred years and in all probability will continue to be here. Learn to live with it. X

Rayder-You make a good point and have given me food for thought. I am thinking now more about WHY it is we provide so many bi/tri/quad-lingual materials when English is our (almost) common language. I don't know so much that it is disrespect on their part... especially if we provide an environment in which it is not necessary to learn the language. Thanks for your thoughts.

Arbn2- Do you think the barbed wire fence and the automatic rifles had anything to do with their attitudes? Also, it sounds as if you are angry at the fact the Cubans got better food, etc than you were eating at the time. Why get mad at the Cubans? Is that misdirected animosity? They never asked for those things. That was a decision made by one of your superiors, so shouldn't the anger be directed at them? Just questions for thought. And thank you (I mean this sincerely, not being a wise ass) for serving our country and protecting our precious freedoms. I do not take your service to your country for granted and am indebted to you.

Plabonte- no it's not the same. it's very much different. think about it. Also, wasted tax dollars? Why do you think funding your judicial system is a waste of tax dollars?

X. My point exactly. That is the way it works here. They get into communities of people who speak their language and there is no motivation to speak english. Here in Fresno County, there are a lot of Hmong, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Hispanic people. Many of them form tight little communities and fail to pick up english. They immediately run into trouble when the need law enforcement, medical, financial or other emergency assistance.

We should not be required to provide interpreters for those who have lived here long enough to know better.

Your point of being in Japan. Frankly, if you do not attempt to have a rudimentary grasp of their language over a period of time doing business or visiting Japan. You will find it difficult to get cooperation. Assimilation is required in most countries outside the US. Even we required assimilation up until liberal, crybabies said we need to have multilingual everything.

I don't have a problem with immigration. I have a problem with failing to learn the language in a reasonable amount of time. Sure English is hard. So is Spanish. Do you know how many different ways you say the word "Go" in Spanish. How mane words there are for "Me" in Spanish?

Anyone who can conjugate 300 verbs into 4 tenses in their own language can learn rudimentary English.

Rayder,You will find that the majority of the illegals do speak english to a certain degree but are embarrassed to speak it around english speaking Americans. Reading it is another story. I do agree that more of an attempt should be made to learn it more competently. X