Minimum Wage Hike NOT ENOUGH-We Need 12-20 Million ILLEGAL WORKERS Deported

Wetback Nation?

Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats are making a lot of hay out of a $2.00 per hour raise in the minimum wage rate...this is NOT ENOUGH. First, $7.25 per hour after taxes leaves millions of Americans lanquishing in POVERTY. Further, unless this raise in the minimum wage is coupled with a GET TOUGH POLICY on illegal aliens, and the companies who hire them, it is an very empty gesture. Cheap WAGES will remain a reality until we CULL THE HERD of those here illegally.

Wages and benefits raise and fall based on the simple law of supply and demand, and BIG BUSINESS and the National Chamber of Commerce know this...it is why they oppose a wage hike, and support Amnesty for illegals, and a liberal Guest Worker Program. The time has come for Americans to COME FIRST, time for us to TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN, and this means deporting those who illegally and wrongfully steal our jobs, and depress our wages. The battle cry of the business community is let the market drive wages...that would be fine if we DEPORTED 12-20 million illegal workers who are depressing our wage base by over $200 Billion a year. Congress and Pelosi need to make raising of the minimum wage worthwhile, by combining it with enforcement only comprehensive immigration reform that hands down harsh penalities for any one who hires illegals (eliminate the word knowingly), and eliminates access to all social services for illegals and their children including prenatal care, and education.

Dems eyeing $2 raise for minimum earners
POSTED: 6:09 p.m. EST, December 22, 2006
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/12/22/minimum.wage.ap/index.html
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Imagine what it would be like to work without a pay raise for nearly 10 years.

That's been the plight of some workers who for almost the past decade have been earning the federal minimum wage. Their last pay increase -- to $5.15 an hour -- came in 1997.

There could be some relief in sight.

When the Democrat-controlled 110th Congress convenes in early January, a top priority is boosting the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour. The increase is likely to be phased in, perhaps over 26 months. (Watch why some say a minimum wage hike is long overdue )

Alice Laguerre is among the millions of workers now earning less than $7.25 an hour.

She makes $6.55 an hour driving cars headed for the auction blocks in Orlando, Florida, and says a boost in the federal minimum wage would help her build a nest egg for emergencies.

"I would be able to save more," says Laguerre, a part-time worker. "I've always been thrifty with money. When I was young, I'd take a nickel and stretch it five ways."

That can be tough these days, acknowledges Laguerre, 53, after paying the monthly rent and utilities on her two-bedroom apartment and after recently buying a car -- a blue 1994 Buick Century.

Employers could feel squeeze
On the other side of the minimum wage debate is employer Wayne Reaves, president of Manna Enterprises Inc., in Anniston, Alabama, who says he may boost menu prices and cut workers' hours at his fast-food restaurants, which serve up hamburgers, fried chicken, gravy and biscuits and other fare, if the federal wage is lifted.

The average hourly rate for his workers is around $6.39. All of his workers are paid above the current $5.15 minimum, he says. The lowest hourly rate is around $5.50, while a recently hired biscuit maker fetched $8 an hour.

Stop Terrorist, Legalize Pot In America

This in from Almost The News...has the time come to LEGALIZE pot? Some good arguments are made for just that decision, and I'll add another to the list. Taxes...if we are talking a KNOWN crop of over 13 Billion, you can bet it is even larger...at say 20 percent taxation rate, that is additional federal revenue of over $3.3 BILLION DOLLARS...we could pay for a border fence with Mexico in three years, compliments of pot taxes. Further, if we were growing our own, we would see a HUGE decline in the drugs illegally coming in from Mexico. (Drugs into America from Mexico makes the top four list of contributors to the Mexican economy.)

Monday, December 18, 2006
Time To Legalize Pot? It's America's Number One Crop!

Unlike Bill Clinton, this blogger did inhale, and has for years believed that pot should be legalized for personal use, with it's sale and distribution controlled by the government, much in the same fashion as alcohol is, though minus all the sin taxes associated with it. Perhaps the time has come for the government to realize their JUST SAY NO war on drugs is never going to work, just as Prohibition did not work so many decades ago. Despite the attempts to eradicate it's usage, Pot has become America's number one crop, beating out such favorites as Corn, Soy Beans and wheat, with estimated sales TOPPING $13.8 Billion.

Now, before a lot of you go jumping all over me for suggesting we LEGALIZE pot, and perhaps other drugs, consider this...the LARGEST CASH COW FOR TERRORISTS is the movement and sale of ILLEGAL DRUGS. You are not going to stop them from growing, harvesting and selling these illegal drugs, but if our drugs were HOME GROWN, we could CUT THEM OUT OF THE MARKET, wipe out their major source of funds...a few hundred serious fields of poppies and herb plants, and the Taliban is in deep shit as their sources for cash go dry. You cannot deny this reality, as it has been discussed on the news, commercials have been made suggesting we are supporting terrorists when we get high...well, people are going to get high even if the moral majority hates that reality. However, given a choice, they'd buy their bud locally.

Cash value of pot crops is highlighted in report
By Eric Bailey, Times Staff Writer
6:21 PM PST, December 17, 2006



SACRAMENTO -- For years, activists in the marijuana legalization movement have claimed that cannabis is America's biggest cash crop. Now they're citing government statistics to prove it.

A report to be released Monday by a marijuana public policy analyst contends that the market value of pot produced in the United States exceeds $35 billion -- far more than the crop value of such heartland staples as corn, soybeans and hay.

California is responsible for more than one-third of the cannabis harvest, with an estimated production of $13.8 billion that exceeds the value of the state's grapes, vegetables and hay combined -- and marijuana is the top cash crop in a dozen states, the report states.

Obama About To Slide Out of Favor? Shady Land Deal EMERGES

MY GAWD, what's next? Does Barack Obama have illegal aliens cutting his grass? Illegal Nanny? Illegal maid?

Well, well, well....seems that Barack Obama may not be the HONEST Golden Boy we all thought that he was...seems he is now caught up in a very COZY HOME/LAND deal with an indicted criminal in Chicago that has a history of ADOPTING politicians that can serve his needs. Is the Golden Boy really a BOUGHT MAN? Stay Tuned folks, think next week could get really interesting.

Sunday, December 17, 2006
Golden Boy Barack Obama Really Pig Iron?

Gee, turns out that Barack Obama is A) not exactly the common man, and B) is perhaps a bit on the dishonest side. For starters, how in touch with the common man and woman can someone be when they go out and purchase a $1.65 MILLION dollar home? That is some very SERIOUS chump change, and so out of balance with the public persona he has tried to craft for himself...he is one of the rich and elite, one could even say someone spoiled and pampered. Top that off with his Harvard education, and Barack has NOTHING IN COMMON with 95 percent of America.

Setting that aside though, seems there has been a serious CHINK put in his armor when we look at that VERY PRICEY HOUSE he purchased right next door to a very sleazy and questionable Antoin "Tony" Rezko, Chicago deal maker, and SIGNIFICANT financial contributor (directly and indirectly) of Obama meteoric rise to political stardom...seems that Rezko has a habit of adopting politicians, and that makes Rezko and Obama's purchase of adjoining houses very suspicious...they CLOSED ON THE SAME DAY. Then, in an even cozier arrangement, when Barack wanted a BIGGER YARD, his overly cooperative neighbors sold him just what he desired for a small fee of $104,500. Hmmm...how COZY.

Do we have here a bought and paid for potential Presidential Candidate? In reality, is Obama nothing more than a shooting star who is about to fast plummet back to earth? Come on Barack, we WANT THE REAL DIRT, not a "GOLLY GEE WHIZ, IT WAS A BONE HEAD MISTAKE, SHUCKS DARN" excuses...we are NOT STUPID, and having attended Harvard, neither are you. In short, you do not make STUPID BONE HEAD MISTAKES, but instead are a very careful and shrude person and politician....so, fess up with the truth.


Obama Says He Regrets Land Deal With Fundraiser



Senator Bought a Parcel From His Neighbor, a Now-Indicted Political Operative

By Peter Slevin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, December 17, 2006; Page A06

CHICAGO. Dec. 16 -- Antoin "Tony" Rezko is a political insider, an energetic Chicago deal maker and campaign fundraiser often in the headlines for being on the wrong side of good government. Indicted in October on influence-peddling charges, he also has a habit of befriending prospective political stars.

One of them was Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), who was offered a job by Rezko in the early 1990s while a top student at Harvard Law School. Obama did not take it, but over the years, the two men stayed in touch, and Rezko backed Obama's successful 2004 U.S. Senate campaign, raising money and contributing his own.

In June 2005, in what Obama now describes as a "boneheaded" mistake, Obama and Rezko's wife bought adjacent properties on Chicago's South Side, closing the deals on the same day. Seven months later, wanting a bigger yard for his $1.65 million house, Obama bought a slice of the Rezko property for $104,500.

After news of the deal broke last month in the Chicago Tribune, Obama said he had erred by creating the appearance that Rezko had done him a favor by selling him a portion of the lot. For the first time since he entered the national spotlight, the 45-year-old freshman senator found himself on the defensive, discussing a personal decision he had come to regret.

Tired of Government Secrets and Lies? New Whistleblower Site Gets It Into Public Domain FAST

We know how it works...unidentified sources, someone unknown leaked the document to the New York Times or the Washington Post. However, what about the documents we NEVER SEE, the stories we never know...if it were not for the efforts of a blogger, we never would have known about the Foley Situation, he would still be in Congress. A new site (blog) aims to end that problem.

Thursday, December 14, 2006
World Hot Docs-Stop The Secrecy Launched



Back in my days as an environmentalist in Ohio who dealt with NUKE ISSUES, we knew that hot docs had to be quickly and widely distributed before government or the NUKE Industry (Think Entergy) tried to silence us. We would quickly make copies and mail them on so that it was impossible to stop us from making the documents publicly known...the Midwest Compact was brought down as a result of just such efforts when we found a smoking document they did not want us to have...WHOOPS. Reading an article last night on the ACLU, and the Federal Governments attempts to silence/remove a document they have in their possession, the idea of a World Hot Docs Blog was born. Washington Scandal is pleased to announced that this site has been officially launched and you can link to it here.




The goal is simple...WE WILL PUBLISH ALL SECRETS, from illicit affairs, to illicit and/or treasonous acts, and deploy them fast, in some cases on up to 11 blogs in hours.

Thursday, December 14, 2006
World Hot Docs...Rapid Publication Network

Seems that Bush, and our government are taking secrecy to ever greater extremes, as are the corporations...perfect case in point, the Nuclear Industry (think Entergy), or any company hiring illegal aliens while swearing THEY HAD NO IDEA what they were doing. The time has come for a RAPID DEPLOYMENT Hot Doc Blog. The premise is simple...have a document you want out in the public domain? Email it to roycepenstinger@aol.com and they will be put out on this blog within six hours of their receipt. Corporate scandal, government coverup, political corruption, environmental disaster, or even tawdry photographs...does not matter, we'll put it out to the world wide web here at World Hot Docs-End The Secrecy. Think of this site as the counter punch to Bush's unlawful NSA spying on American Citizens...in this case, it is a blog dedicated to keeping government and big business honest.

Wheel's Falling Off Iraq Study Group Report

My initial reading of the Iraq Study Group Report left a bad taste in my mouth as it was nothing more than "Stay The Course on Steroids" a means by which to give George Bush one last bite at the apple as he tries to shore up his position in the history books. As the week has unraveled, so too has the support for the report as one wheel after another falls off, and Baker's minions find themselves incapable of gaining forward momentum for their recommendations...in short, it seems the ISG Report is nothing more than a lot of wasted effort and trees.

The White House has already rejected much of the report, claiming it's to cumbersome and unworkable, even though said report embraces Bush's basic flawed tenants for fighting the war. Though the Democrats were quick to use the report as PROOF POSITIVE that Bush's policies were/are failing, they have not embrace the course called for in the report. McCain did not like the report from the start, his own time as a prisoner of war clouding his vision as he calls for more not fewer troops.

Though copies of the report have been selling like hot cakes (even though you can get it for free on the web), the ink was barely dry before Israel voiced its own disdain...in short, they made it abundantly clear that the Israel/Palestinian situation had absolutely nothing to do with the problems in Iraq. Further, they had no intentions of letting Washington, or any one else force them into giving up the Golan Heights in efforts for a forced peace.

Going into the weekend, Iran spoke out stating they had NO INTEREST whatsoever in meeting with America until and if they announced their intentions to pull all troops out of Iraq. Seems they are only willing to work with America in the task of expediting the removal of our troops from Iraq, and out of the Middle East. Obviously, if Iran has no intentions of speaking with America, or cooperating with us where Iraq is concerned, we can assume also that Syria as well has not intentions of working with us, as that would require their distancing themselves from Iraq.

Now today, we have the President of Iraq Jalal Talabani rejecting the Baker Report as it is commonly known. Do the math, and it is obvious the report has already gone far beyond three strikes, and is all but DEAD ON ARRIVAL. Should be interesting waiting on the President's pre-Christmas speech on the plan forward for Iraq. Even more so if the death toll for American troops hits 3,000 before he comes before the American people...as they say, the natives are growing restless.


Iraq president rejects Baker-Hamilton report
POSTED: 10:25 a.m. EST, December 10, 2006
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani rejected the Iraq Study Group's report Sunday, calling it "very dangerous" to Iraq's sovereignty and constitution.

"We can smell in it the attitude of James Baker," Talabani said, referring to the report's co-chair who served as secretary of state under President George H. W. Bush during the 1991 Iraq war.

Talabani blamed Baker for leaving then-Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in power after that conflict, which ousted Iraqi troops from Kuwait.

He also criticized the report for recommending a law that would allow thousands of former officials from Hussein's ousted Baath party to serve in Iraqi government posts.

The report, released Wednesday, makes 79 recommendations. Among them: Most U.S. combat troops should be withdrawn by early 2008, Iraq's vast oil wealth should be more centralized and the U.S. should launch a diplomatic offensive that would include seeking help from Iran and Syria.

"As a whole, I reject this report," Talabani said.

"I think that Baker-Hamilton is not fair, is not just, and it contains some very dangerous articles which undermine the sovereignty of Iraq and the constitution," Talabani said.

Lee Hamilton, the report's other co-chair, also served as vice chairman of the 911 Commission, which concluded that the U.S. remains ill-prepared for another terrorist attack.

Citizen Challenges Senator Bayd on Gather!

The FIGHT IS ON! Citizen and netroots activist calls out Senator Bayd

The disccussion site www.gather.com sent out an email to their faithful announcing a series of discussions with KEY Washington insiders. First one on the list was/is Senator Evan Bayd to be followed next week by Newt Gingrich. Senator Bayd has walked into a BUZZ SAW, and is being called out. This blogger is DEMANDING REAL ANSWERS, and giving Senator Bayd some real truth from the middle class perspective, unwrapped and hard hitting.

http://gatherdemocrats.blogspot.com/

http://washingtonscandal.blogspot.com/

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976840488

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976839283

Majority Leader Fight Was a Nice Side Bar, Now Let's Get Down To Business

Many of the pundits, especially Republican ones would have us the voting public believe that this weeks race for Majority Leader was/is in some way a defining moment for the Democrats, that Murtha's loss in some fashion has ruined Nancy Pelosi's reign as Speaker of the House before it ever began. Poppycock! It was the typcial infighting and positioning for political clout and power than makes Politics in Washington such a great spectator sport, but in the big picture of the new Democratically controlled Washington, it was a side show, something to keep us amused with while waiting for January when the Democrats take off.


Within a few days, the news media will be onto other stories that are already unfolding, such as George Bush's bold attempt to push through a large list of radical right wing judges in the Lame Duck session of Congress now in process. My suggestion on those judge's....the Democrats in the Senate need to close ranks and stall on them, on Bolton, on the NSA spying on Americans without a warrant debacle until the new 110th Congress. Concentrate on finishing off budget issues so that valuable time is not wasted in Janaury.


Pelosi won...a BIG CONGRATULATIONS is in order. Hoyer won, and again a big congratulations is in order. Murtha lost...I supported him, I'll get over it and move on, the sky has not fallen. The Democrats have bigger fish to fry, and the Republicans know this...they will do anything they can to paint a picture of discord where none exists. Murtha, Pelosi and Hoyer are all adults and will set aside this contest and begin working together as a TEAM to do what is right for America...something the Republicans were incapable of doing for 12 years.

Hoyer Beats Pelosi’s Pick in Race for No. 2 House Post

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 — House Democrats chose Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland as their majority leader today after a bruising fight that cast a cloud over the party’s post-election celebration.

The election of Mr. Hoyer over Representative John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania, by a vote of 149 to 86, was an embarrassing setback for Representative Nancy J. Pelosi of California, who will be Speaker of the House in the new Congress and who had backed Mr. Murtha.

Al Jazeera's American Launch

Political Pundits are falling all over themselves as they race to the airwaves to shout down the English Launch of Al Jazeera's, the English version. First big complaint or outrage to be expressed is the PROPAGANDA that would be spewed forth to the American viewers...now, I am no fan of Al Jazeera, but let's be fair and balanced here. Have we all forgotten about Christian Bailey, the Lincoln Group's metioric rise to the top Pentagon Venders list, and the Iraqi Press Gate? It's fine and dandy for the Pentagon to dish out 3 $100 Million dollar contracts to spread Pentagon Propaganda to the masses in the Middle East, but let's not give Americans access to Al Jazeera? Just a bit hypocritical isn't it?

The next big arguement for throwing every road block in the world up against Al Jazeera getting a audience here in America, is their reporting style...if you listen to the rhetoric, it seems we Americans should not witness an insurgent sniper killing our troops up close and personal. Now, if you remember, Rumsfeld and the Pentagon have also banned the release of flagged draped coffins. Which raises an ugly question...could the REAL PROBLEM with letting Al Jazeera get a foot hold in the American market place have more to do with NOT LETTING US HAVE A REAL IMAGE OF THE HORRORS OF WAR? Just a thought on the subject.

The Washington Agenda...The People's Agenda

Speaking Out, this citizen speaks to the elected officials on BOTH sides of the Isle.

A video response:



A Open Letter To All Members of Congress:

This email is being sent out to members of Congress on BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE. We the American People voted for change on November 7th, spoke loud and clear that we are tired of business as usual, tired of STAY THE COURSE, in Iraq, and in our Federal Government. It is time to return to a government run BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE, not a government run for and by the rich and elite.

One week into the new Washington, and it is already starting to SMELL like the old one did. So, since none of you seem to have a clue about what most Americans (which means the lower and middle class) want, we'll give you a clue. The peoples AGENDA.

1. Iraq War-Stop stalling, bring out Baker's report, and let's change the course. Changing the course does not mean changing the slogan, and letting Bush maintain the Status Quo there. There is a civil war raging, and our troops are caught in the middle. Regardless of what some think, Murtha had it right...it's time for a NEW PLAN.

2. Illegal Aliens...yes, ILLEGAL ALIENS. We do not care how hard working they are, they are stealing our jobs, depressing our wages, and in many cases they are ruining our neighborhoods and lowering our property values...maybe some of you should get out into your districts and SEE what it is like to live next to a house with 30-40 illegal aliens living in it. We want our fence, we want ARMED troops on the border, we want ANYONE hiring illegals severely punished...no exceptions. We do not want Catholic Charities using OUR TAX money to run job centers, and we OPPOSE amnesty by any label including Earned Citizenship or a liberal Guest Worker program. It's TIME WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN. Immigration Reform should not be about winning over the Latino Vote, it should be about what is best FOR MOST AMERICANS.

3. Tax Cuts...we oppose of of them that have benefited the rich and elite, which is almost ALL OF THEM. Trickle down economics did not work under Reagan, and it is not working now. Stop saddling our children and their children with an out of control national debt.

4. Social Security...first, repay ALL THE IOU's! We want it SAVED, not privatized. Do not tell someone who has paid into the system for 34 of their 50 years of life that they ARE OUT OF LUCK.

5. Medical Coverage...it should be available for all LEGAL AMERICAN CITIZENS.

6. Prescription Drugs for our seniors...we want competitive bidding.

7. Minimum Wage...raising it to $7.25 and hour should be just the start. Ireland now has a minimum wage of $9.50 and hour and is thriving! The concept of a living wage has arrived, and Congress needs to make it happen.

8. Estate Tax....KEEP IT. Stop trying to throw millionaires and billionaires a bone.

9. Earmarks...get rid of them COMPLETELY.

10. Term Limits...we want them, and you people need to ENACT THEM.

There is more, but like Letterman, we'll start with the top ten. The Republican Dynasty collapsed in this election, and the Democrats are now on probation. If both sides of the aisle stop their infighting, and learn to work together FOR THE PEOPLE, there is a good chance that most if not all of you will be re-elected in 2008. However, stay the course inside the beltway, and we will toss ALL INCUMBENTS OUT, regardless of the party they claim as theirs.

Respectfully,

Porgie Tirebiter

Clamp Down on Illegals Continues

In breaking news, communities in both Texas and Maryland have passed local ordinances cracking down on the Illegal Alien problem. The new ordinances will crack down on landlords and employers that CATER to the illegal population by hiring them, or providing them housing. Further, the new laws make English the official language, and allow police officers to question apprehended suspects about thier LEGAL STATUS. This should be a SERIOUS WARNING to Democrats even considering Amnesty, Earned Citizenship or a Guest Worker program leading to citizenship. WAKE UP WASHINGTON, we want deportations, and criminal prosecutions of all those who hire illegals, provide housing to illegals, or aide and abet them in remaining in America illegally...can we say CATHOLIC CHARITIES?

Unions and Others Demanding Large Piece of Pie

In the now banished Republican Reich, special interest lobbyist and the K-Street gang seemed to be running the nation, doling out dollars to own votes, Congressman and, I am sure, a few Senators not yet named in various ongoing investigations. On November 7th voters spoke up very loud and clear...we are tired of special interest, lobbyist and BIG MONEY owning the electorial process, and we want meaningful change in Washington politics. No more shrinking middleclass, no Amnesty, no foreigners stealing our jobs and lowering our wages. We want an increase in minimum wage, we want our troops home from Iraq, and a way to clear off the federal deficit. So, have they listened to us, are the individual Americans who cast their votes going to have the voice they deserve?

Probably not...if you go visit "The Hill" blog, you'll find that the AFL/CIO is claiming to have WON the election for the Democrats, and in short demanding they be granted a LARGE VOICE in the 110th Congress. Now, I'd be the first to admit that the AFL/CIO helped in delivering the Democratic majority in both the House and the Senate, but was their help any more important than mine, or yours? I can count over 30,000 views of my blogs and video's railing against Sue Kelly here in New York's 19th district...a small number till you realize that John Hall won the election by well under 5,000 votes!

Sure, I'd love to have a voice, want the grassroots to have a seat at the negotiation table in Washington, but do not see this happening...there is already movement afoot to downplay the importance played by grassroots, bloggers and You Tuber folks. It's business as usual, and the big players are pushing and shoving us out of the way, pushing us back into the shadows. Sure, we'll see some sway given to Move On.Org and be told they are our voice, but they are not. Perhaps it is time to change the game, eliminate the majority party by creating a third, and even a fourth party, so there has to be negotiation and compromise to find consensus. Let the Independent Party grow and prosper, maybe give space to the Green's Party as well. Could a four party system, even a five party system be any worse than what we have right now? Would such a scenerio eliminate a lot of the lobbying and special interest money owning Washington? It's a thought worth thinking on as we look to the 2008 Presidential Election.


Union Voters Deliver on Election Day
November 12th, 2006

You know the “thumping” President Bush acknowledged Wednesday? Union voters delivered it.

A close look at exit polling shows the rest of the country split evenly, 49-49 percent, between votes for Democrats and Republicans. But Democrats won the union vote by huge margins–by 30 percentage points among union household voters and by 50 percentage points among AFL-CIO union members.

Our election-night survey by Peter D. Hart Research Associates shows members of AFL-CIO unions supported Democratic candidates by a 74-percent to 26-percent margin in House races and by 73 percent to 27 percent in battleground Senate races.

Unions are not an arm of the Democratic Party, and we base our endorsements not on party affiliation but on individual candidates’ records on working family issues. This year’s election, however, pitted Democratic candidates against a congressional majority that has a record of downright hostility to regular working people, rubber-stamping the anti-worker policies of the Bush administration.

We Want Our Fence...Calderon Mind Your Own Business

The elections are over, Rumsfeld is gone, and it seems Washington (with pressure from Mexico's incoming president Calderon) is trying to renege on it's promise to the American people to build a 700 mile fence, and crack down on illegal aliens. Well, here's a WAKE UP CALL TO THE DEMS who are about to take office...I voted for you, because I am tired of the lies and corruption in Washington, BUT I WANT THE FENCE, and will vote against every one of you at a local, state and federal level in 2008 if you do not follow through on the building of this much needed deterent to illegal immigration.

Washington needs to get a SERIOUS CLUE. If they are here illegally, WE WANT THEM TO BE DEPORTED. If they are hiring illegals, we want them imprisoned and harshly fined. If they are helping them (Catholic Charities) in remaining in America illegally, we want them imprisoned. The law is the law, and it is time we as lower and middle class citizens stop paying the price for Corporations love affair with CHEAP SLAVE LABOR. It's time Mexico deal with it's own problems, and stop lowering our citizens standard of living by sending their citizens here to steal our jobs. In short, if you cannot come here LEGALLY, we DO NOT WANT YOU HERE.

WASHINGTON — Divided over a border fence, President Bush and Mexico's
president-elect pledged on Thursday to work together on stopping illegal
immigration.
Felipe Calderon, who takes office on Dec. 1, has called the U.S. plan to build a 700-mile fence along the border "deplorable" and compared it to the construction of the Berlin Wall. After a meeting in the Oval Office, the leaders struck a tone of cooperation.

"I expressed to President Bush my concern regarding the issue of migration," Calderon said through an interpreter. "President Bush was very open to all the arguments that I presented to him. We both stressed the need to have a comprehensive vision with which we can move forward."

Bush signed the law authorizing the fence on Oct. 26. He wants more — temporary
worker permits for foreigners willing to take low-wage jobs and a path for illegal immigrants working in the United States for some time to become citizens. But Congress has not agreed. Bush said Thursday that Mexico is a priority for his administration. He said he stands by his push for a comprehensive immigration overhaul.

Immigration Debate Back On Front Burner

Illegal Immigration is a hot button issue in America, and two days after decisive wins that saw Democrats taking back both the House and the Senate, it is rapidly moving back onto the front burner of HOT political issues after Mexican President Elect Calderon met with President Bush at the White House. Again, the White House is hinting at comprehensive immigration reform, which, in its current format, means AMNESTY under the guise of such labels as Guest Worker programs, and earned citizenship. It's Amnesty, and it's UNFAIR to every American Worker in the lower 30 percent of our economy.

First, lets be honest...the Democrats can very easily fall into a trap which will see them lose the 2008 elections if they approach immigration reform from the perspective of granting Amnesty for 12-20 million illegal aliens, and enacting into law licensed depression of American Wages through a liberal guest worker program. Almost every poll showed the House Bill was what most working Americans favored, while the Senate Amnesty Bill was opposed. In short, it is time to deport illegals, and severely punish anyone hiring or aiding and abetting illegals in being here in America.

Simply put, illegal aliens are criminals who are guilty of no less than FOUR CRIMES, and in most cases more. We need laws and rules enacted and enforced that will see MOST illegal aliens self deport themselves. We need the laws and funding to fence in our Southern Border with Mexico, and put armed military personnel on said border to provide us with adequate National Security, and to protect the wage base of America's hard working lower and middle class LEGAL CITIZENS.

Compromise...sadly, it does not exist, as Big Business and those supporting illegal aliens have a all or nothing mentality. Chose any segment of the argument, and you'll find illegal aliens and their supporters (such as La Raza) have shown a steadfast refusal to settle for anything less than everything they are asking for. Amnesty itself. There were efforts afoot to discuss some limited Amnesty, such as allowing those here longer than five years a pathway to citizenship. This proposal would have provided a pathway to citizenship for some seven million illegal aliens now living here in America illegally, while those here less than five years would have been deported. That middle ground was instantly rejected as racist and unfair by La Raza and other groups supporting illegal aliens.

The Guest Worker Program...illegal aliens rejected it, found it inadequate to their desires. For example, a Guest Worker Program for Agricultural Workers was labeled as unfair, as it kept illegals from freely moving into other sectors of our job market. Further, any number put on the board as far as the number of workers allowed to enter America Legally as Guest Workers was also deemed inadequate...we were told there could be NO LIMITS on the number of Mexican Workers, that if they wanted to work and/or live here, they should be allowed, end of the discussion. It's been a perfect example of giving someone an inch and them trying to take a mile, and cannot be tolerated any longer.

We need to shut off the magnets that draw illegal aliens to America. First and foremost, we need strong work place enforcement laws, and the funding and staff to enforce them at all levels of government. You begin convicting employers of crimes and sending them to prison, and illegal employees will be terminated, and it is that simple. Landlords who are renting to illegal aliens need to be held to the same standards. Once beautiful neighborhoods are being ruined. Single family homes have become flop houses for 20,30 even 40 illegals and with that over crowding, come problems and crimes for communities. Meanwhile, most local police departments have a hands off policy where illegals are concerned, and local governmental agencies such as city building departments find hundreds of reasons NOT to enforce building codes meant to protect homeowners and our property values.

For those of us living under these unfortunate situations, we find ourselves caught in the middle of tense situations...our complaints to city governments and local law enforcement fall on deaf ears, yet when our tempers and anger begin to escalate, we are warned to SETTLE DOWN, told we cannot take the law into our own hands. So, illegal aliens, landlords, employers and even the Catholic Church can break laws, but we cannot? What happened to our constitutional right to take whatever steps are necessary to protect our private property? If 30 people are living in a house, and that action is destroying the equity of our home, should be not be allowed to use force if necessary to correct the problem, especially if the police are unwilling to get involved? If illegal aliens, churches, employers and landlords can pick and choose which laws they wish to abide by, then why shouldn't we have the same rights of selection?

Radical thoughts I know, but hopefully posed in such a way as to make people think. Equal rights UNDER THE LAW has to apply to everyone, and further means all people must be held to the exact same standards when it comes to enforcement of our laws if we are to remain a civilized law abiding society. It's a crime to be in America illegally. It's a crime to remain in American illegally. It's a crime to purchase or attain an illegal ID, and it is a crime to work in America as an illegal. It's a crime to avoid paying your taxes in America. It's a crime to drive without a license, or without adequate insurance. All fo the above examples are crimes now being committed by illegals, yet nothing is being done and we have a government actually considering an Amnesty that would absolve them of their crimes. What kind of signal is that sending to the rest of America? Should we grant Amnesty to every drug dealer now sitting in prison? How about murderers or rapist? If someone is selling drugs to feed their family, are they any different than an illegal sneaking into our country unlawfully?

I am an American citizen, born and raised here. I have suffered in numerous ways because of our governments refusal to deal adequately with these criminals. Don't tell me illegals are not hurting us, as I know from first hand experience it is not true. There are two houses on my own block that I know for sure house illegal aliens. One of these houses (a duplex) has 14 cars associated with it. We have parking problems where none existed before. We've witnessed things that we should not have to witness here in America, such as people thinking nothing of urinating in the front yard of these houses because the bathrooms are occupied, or not working. We have experienced and uptick in crime, and a depreciation of our property value as a result of this situation. I've lost landscaping work, because I cannot compete as a tax paying American with the wage scales being brought to the industry by workers being paid under the table at a cheaper rate...commonsense tells you, that someone working under the table can afford to work for a lower daily wage rate than someone who is having taxes taken out of their pay....does the Federal Government suggest I and millions of Americans stop paying our taxes so that we can financially compete with Illegal Aliens?

The other sides will tell you that illegal aliens are not bad people, that they are not criminals, that they just want a better life for themselves and their families. Some of that might be true, but is is fair for them to STEAL that better life from a legalized American Citizen? Should they be allowed to break certain of our laws because they are inconvenient? Should companies be allowed to hire illegals because they can get away with it? Should a landlord be allowed to rent to illegals because he can put more of them into a house than is legal, simply because he can get away with it, and in doing so make a large profit at the expense of surrounding property owners?

The issue of immigration reform is a hot button issue...the problem is, both the Congress and the Senate have not given most Stakeholders in this a voice. The Chamber of Commerce claims they need these workers, that these workers keep wage costs down, thus improving bottom line profits. The Ag industry makes the same basic claim, and tells us that illegal aliens keep our grocery prices down. Mexico tells us they need those remittances, and that it would be criminal for America to secure its border. Yet, where is the voice of people such as myself in the mix? Do we not count? Is it fair to ask those of us who can afford it the least to absorb the costs of absorbing a never ending flood of illegal aliens into our work force, and into our middle class communities?