Growing Frustration

Everyone is talking about the problem with illegal immigration in the United States. From the talking heads of television, to radio, many have voiced their opinions on the subject, in light of the many protests over the last several weeks. It seems everyone's has an opinion on this subject and it should prove to be a hot topic this election year. Last week, Congresswoman Ginny Brown Waite was on a local radio station where she stood firmly behind her position of completing the wall between Mexico and the United States, as a first step measure to get a handle on illegal immigration into this country. A website link is also being passed by email that emphasizes the completion of the wall by sending a brick to your elected representatives and senators in Washington DC which is http://www.send-a-brick.com/index.htm This link is just a sign of the growing frustration we all feel while watching the United States Senate haggle over this topic while they appear to be oblivious to the concerns of the citizens of this country. No one is against immigration into the United States but for goodness sake we just want it to be legal. A suggestion that may solve the problem for a guest worker program would to be get the business community on board. Much has been said about the need for these illegal immigrants to do the work United States citizens will not do, like pick vegetables and clean hotel rooms. With this good economy, and tight labor market, these type of labor needs may very well be required by some business owners. With this being said, these business owners need to step up to the plate by contacting their members of Congress to create a sponsorship program to oversee, and hire these illegal immigrants. Bear in mind though that all costs associated with a sponsorship program/guest worker program of this type should be that of the business owners. Business owners need to be required to pay for all the housing, food, medical assistance, etc. so these workers do not become a burden on our tax dollars and society. These business owners would also need to take on the responsibility for any legal costs associated with this program and guarantee that these workers return to their own countries upon termination of their employment. Along with this stringent set of enforcement rules, these business owners should also be required to the collect, and make payment, for the withholding taxes and workers compensation of these workers. One item that should not be taken into account is Social Security for these workers since this is a program designed to assist the citizens of the United States. Being realistic, the businesses that use illegal immigrants need to start playing by the same rules of all other legitimate businesses and stop the scare tactics of higher prices. These miniscule promises of price increases for produce are slight in comparison to the overburden we all have felt with the cost health care increases, and the overcrowding of schools, being impacted by the approximately 12.5 million in illegal aliens now in our country.