The debate over illegal immigration
Re: “March for immigrants; 50,000 back those in country illegally,” March 26 news story.
The recent protests of proposed immigration policy changes seem to prove what many Americans who oppose illegal immigration have been fearing: the attempted hijacking of the American political system by illegal immigrants. How on earth did we get to the point where many thousands of people (many or most of them presumably illegal immigrants) may openly protest against controlling an illegal act and try to thereby intimidate us and our elected representatives into giving them a status they do not deserve?
President Bush is fond of claiming that these illegal immigrants are “doing jobs that Americans will not do.” This is just not true. What most Americans are reluctant to do is work at below minimum wage. Bush apparently wants millions of illegal immigrant workers flooded into the American labor pool in order to dilute wages of all Americans and line the pockets of the rich.
Americans should not have to compete for jobs with illegal immigrants who will work for slave wages.
Willis Walker, Littleton
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Never before in our nation have we had a group of immigrants or illegal aliens who had so little interest in assimilation or respect for the dominant culture of our country. Never before in our history have we seen demonstrations in which flags of a foreign nation were held in higher regard than the American flag. Flags from Mexico on American streets and in American schools and in American institutions are a symptom of the culture of conflict and defiance which is being visited on us from Central America.
America is clearly a nation of immigrants, but the immigrants of the past were much more respectful than the immigrants of today. What is also true is that it is unprecedented in our history to have a wave of immigrants or illegal aliens who have contempt for our language, which has been demonstrated by illegal aliens from Mexico and Central American nations. It is the clear perception of many American citizens that while we love being a diverse nation, we are tired of pressing for English. We are tired of seeing disrespect for our borders and our culture.
John A. Gargano, Denver
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Boy, am I ever confused now. I too have been overwhelmed by the incredibly spontaneous reaction of people that have taken to the streets by the thousands in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Denver, Chicago and other U.S. cities. My natural impulse is to support the protesting of the administration’s domestic policy, as I’m so infuriated by most of what they do both here and abroad. And even in the middle of such a passionate debate we get more Orwellian double- speak from Bush: We must secure our borders and make our security our foremost concern and utmost priority, but those of you with jobs, wink, wink, who are supporting our corporations and suppressing our homegrown labor and labor rates can stick around and even become citizens – called the temporary guest workers. Hoo, boy.
But for once, Bush isn’t the question in my mind. It’s the matter of what’s going to be legal and illegal. When the law is finally made and agreed upon, then it will have to apply to everyone all the time.
Grant D. Cyrus, Boulder
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A pro-immigration bill will not prevent illegal immigration. It neglects to address the immoral system that will perpetuate after the amnesty. What immoral system is this? It is the continued reaping of the poverty crop in Mexico by the U.S. and Mexican governments.
We don’t neglect the poor in Mexico. We use them. We use Mexico’s poor as cheap labor while Mexico uses their poor as sponges for U.S. dollars. They have been made into products by our governments, rather than human beings. This “poverty crop” system that President Bush, Mexican president Vicente Fox and citizens are perpetuating functions off the backs of impoverished people only. Without these poor, Bush would lose massive, cheap labor for American businesses and Fox would lose massive, easy dollars sent home to his country. They do not want this system to collapse. They will always be focused on the “need” for cheap labor and easy dollars. The goal will not be to stop the poverty cycle.
It should be the goal of every government to eliminate poverty, not to encourage its existence. We must prevent illegal immigration, not encourage it with amnesty.
Cameron Steele, Highlands Ranch
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Last weekend’s march for illegal aliens shows just how serious America’s border crisis has become. Make no mistake about it, this was a show of force across the West by people who scoff at our laws and don’t recognize our borders. It is also a slap in the face to vanishing middle America – those who have played by the rules, paid their share of taxes and worked hard only to find a U.S. government more concerned with stabilizing Iraq and securing a healthy bottom line for wealthy corporations than protecting its own borders.
Illegal immigration is costing far more than it gives back to the average U.S. citizen. The skyrocketing costs of public schools, social services, health care, law enforcement, etc., will leave the next generation in a deeper hole than we can imagine. As the quality of life in America continues to deteriorate, we need to take a stand and protect what was given to us by the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for the security of this country.
Dale Schmidt, Littleton
I have only one thing to say to every person who participated in last weekend’s rally in favor of illegal immigration: Why don’t all of you channel your zeal and energy toward making Mexico a better place to live instead of dragging America down?
José Guerra, Lakewood
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It seems to me that the Mexican government is the biggest reason for illegal immigration to the United States. Mexico does nothing to create jobs for its citizens, instead relying on (and now demanding of) the U.S. to give Mexican citizens jobs. These Mexican citizens then send money back to relatives in Mexico, keeping Mexico’s economy going while destroying ours. How easy it is in the U.S. for hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants to protest against what may become U.S. policy. While I can understand Mexican citizens’ desire for a better life, it is not the United States’ responsibility to see that this happens. If Mexican citizens won’t fight for their rights in their own country, why should they expect any rights (or respect) in the United States?
Kathaleen Kichty, Aurora
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Editor’s note: The following letter was written by the 19 members of Kat Bennett’s English grammar class at Front Range Community College.
We are college students, taking college-level classes, working towards certification in early childhood development. Some of us want to open child care centers. We’re advocates for children and families. We’re parents, we have jobs, and we work very hard. We came to America for a better life.
We’re concerned about the rights of immigrants and very worried about possible changes to the immigration laws. All people should be treated as humans with respect and dignity, but the proposed laws are contradictory to this idea. We believe the new laws are inhumane and will provoke discrimination against people who come here from other countries.
As immigrants, we want our voices to be heard, not just for ourselves, but for all immigrants in the USA. We came to the United States to find a better life and more opportunity. We were very poor in our countries. There were no opportunities for good jobs, especially if you’re older than 35. It was a privilege to go to school.
Give us a chance to live a better life here and to provide a better life for our families. We contribute to the U.S. economy. We work our jobs (often more than one), we pay taxes, and we provide links to our cultures. Many of us work jobs that Americans don’t want.
We’re not terrorists and we have value. People without a criminal background and with a solid work history should be able to become legal residents.
America is the country of freedom and opportunity. We seek its promise and security. We respect and love this country and its laws, and we don’t want to mistreat it. We want to remain a part of America. Please give us a chance to become legal residents and we’ll continue to contribute productively to this society.
Nuclear production, waste
Re: “Nukes of the future,” March 26 Perspective article.
Len Ackland’s article hits the nail on the head. The work product of the nuclear weapons industry should be of far greater concern to us than the waste product of the same industry. And yet that program is still going after more than 60 years, like an endless monster Energizer bunny covered in a shroud of secrecy and public self-denial.
Colorado is home to 49 of the nation’s 500 Minuteman III missiles, which have been recently updated and made good until 2020, when a new version of these city-killer bombs should be out of the pipeline.
The public should know about this issue and it should be a matter of public debate, as Ackland has eloquently expressed.
Bill Sulzman, Citizens for Peace in Space, Colorado Springs
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Thank you for Len Ackland’s article. I particularly liked the quote from Congressman David Hobson, R-Ohio, criticizing the contradiction in the Bush administration’s policies: “We cannot advocate for nuclear nonproliferation around the globe and pursue more usable nuclear options here at home.” I believe, however, that we can and should pursue the positive nuclear options.
No matter how you pronounce it, nuclear technology, improperly used, will lead us to self-destruction. Properly used, nuclear technology can help us in ensuring food safety, heating our homes and lighting our lamps, and in detecting health problems in individual patients. Our focus on nuclear technology should be in these positive realms rather than in the destructive ones.
Donna Jorgenson Farrell, Broomfield
Beetle infestation in forests
Re: “Beetle infestation imperils our forests,” March 26 editorial.
I live in Breckenridge, and I’d have to say that the beetle infestation is getting way out of control. When I first noticed this, I decided to do some research. I found that the beetles usually go after only very old trees and trees that already are diseased, but at least where I live there are so many beetles that they are even going after young, healthy trees. Right now, workers are trying to cut down the beetle-infested trees, but we need some way to prevent the beetles from killing healthy trees instead of getting rid of already dead trees.
I know that might reduce the beetle numbers, but we need a way to stop them. Right now I’m even up for controlled burns of areas to get the beetles away. I just want them to go away.
Alex Billman, Breckenridge
Denver’s new poet laureate
Re: “A poet for the people,” March 26 news story.
The Colorado Poets Association congratulates Chris Ransick and commends his choice as Denver’s new poet laureate. We are confident he will represent poetry, and Denver, well. The Post’s article mentioned poetry on the Internet. We would like to point out that we maintain a calendar of poetry events on our website (at www.coloradopoets.org), where people can find out about poetry events not only in Denver but around the state. During National Poetry Month, we will also feature a “Colorado Poetry Calendar,” in which we will showcase 30 of Colorado’s best poets. We also have links to every publication in Colorado that publishes poetry – about 60 of them, including a dozen e-zines (electronic magazines).
Bryan Roth, Executive Director, Colorado Poets Association, Boulder
Throwing away electronics
Re: “Computer-age leftovers; U.S., Europe export e-waste,” March 26 Perspective article.
Thank you for the very informative article by Giles Slade regarding the hazards that discarded TVs and computers present to migrant workers on China’s coast. To quote from the article, “every TV contains between 8 and 11 pounds of lead” which causes “skin, neurological and respiratory problems” to salvage workers.
Individuals needing to dispose of a computer or TV should think about protecting our children and others. Denver residents can call Denver’s Large Item Pickup program at 720-865-6900 and find out when they can pick up your TV. Do not just place this hazardous waste in the dumpster or by your trash cans.
Doña T. Dodson, Denver
Privacy and tax preparation
Re: “Keep tax information private,” March 26 editorial.
As has been reported lately, the Internal Revenue Service is proposing that tax-return preparers be allowed to sell tax-return information.
To date, this information has been confidential, with certain exceptions. These exceptions are statutorily provided and generally pertain to the sharing of information among federal and state agencies.
The penalties for the unauthorized disclosure of tax-return information by government employees and tax-return preparers are harsh and include fines and imprisonment. Additional sanctions may be imposed by professional organizations and licensing authorities.
Confidentiality can only contribute to efficient tax administration. The relationship between preparer and client must remain as it has been. Aggregate tax-return information already exists. I would direct you to the government publication “Statistics of Income” (available on the IRS website). There you will be able to glean certain tax-return information by income and deduction categories, among others, and classified according to ZIP code. The information already exists in the aggregate. To provide additional, albeit authorized, information is counterproductive, unnecessary and could result in the inadvertent disclosure of otherwise confidential information.
Allan S. Rosenbaum, Greenwood Village
The writer is a certified public accountant.
TO THE POINT: Short takes from readers
So there’s a new chief of staff, and The Post quotes GOP political consultant Scott Reed, who said it’s time the White House “get(s) back on the offensive.” This White House has offended me from Day One. I’d like to see someone in there who is on the responsive.
Linda Bevard, Denver
If 12 million Americans decided that, this year, we were not going to pay our taxes, do you think the U.S. government would give us amnesty? Or would they give us a six-year cooling-off period before we had to comply with the law? Why not?
George Hope, Morrison
I don’t understand why the students of Manual High can’t put the same effort they are putting forth now to keep Manual open into being responsible for their academics and graduating. If they did, we wouldn’t be seeing Manual close.
Tracey L. Fanning, Thornton
With the way Iraqis are killing each other now, the problem of how to end the war there will soon be solved – there won’t be any Iraqis left, so they will stop fighting and our troops can come home. This is a tactic never before tried, to my knowledge. President Bush should be congratulated.
John Ruckman, Lakewood
It appears a majority of Americans are inept, incapable and unwilling to discuss the merits of an idea or issue and do not know how to respond unless “Democrat,” “Republican,” “conservative” or “liberal” is inserted into the discussion.
Joe Edson, Brush
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