Tone of this forum (Los Angeles, Nice: relocation, smog, insurance)

[Blue Grass Fever]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

My main issues are with the cost of living, and the traffic/congestion and road ragers... I'm an impatient driver, and my blood pressure raises every time I go on the freeway.

Sorry for straying off-topic but wanted to share this with you!

---platewire dot com

It's a neat site!

[Blue Grass Fever]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

We also have a lot of legal, U.S. born, non-Latino citizens who take advantage of the system... but that's besides the point. I fully agree about the need to control illegal immigration, though I also feel that people need to be more sympathetic. Not all immigrants are illegal, and not all illegals are bad people... I've known plenty of "undocumented citizens" through my work and neighborhood, and most are here with only good intentions (and plans to become legal). It isn't as easy as you might think to come here legally, so for some they just don't feel there's any other option... I've been to the bad parts of Mexico, and trust me, it ain't no paradise. Children begging on the streets, teenage prostitutes, shanties, and so on. And as for not paying taxes, well some of them make up for that by working low-wage (under minimum) labor jobs... I don't know about you, but I'd rather pay taxes than work one of those jobs!

Still, two wrongs don't make a "right"!

I am very sympathetic to suffering people in general. It's maddening to see/hear people spew some sort of hate against "illegals. Going down this road will not result in some sort of conclusion/solution!

If its' not easy to become legalized, why can't government stream-line the process more? Politics?! Money?!

I'm certain there is poverty there (as in Mexico)...as in anywhere in the U.S. you'll find the same...lived in Detroit proper and in the Appalachian mountains...seen my fair share of "bad-parts" . There is a saying, though, about impoverished people in the U.S.- The U.S. has the richest-poor people in the world. Which leads me to my next point.

I disagree with the mentality of "i'd rather pay taxes than to do "low-wage minimum job". This in itself is why people don't care about the issue of illegal immigration because as long as those "illegal-immigrants" are doing those jobs nobody else wants to do...what's the big deal! This nation is/should be a progressive nation. Help raise the standard of living with the "illegals" by registering 'em and getting 'em in "the system". I understand the need of wanting to better yourself of having been "poor" myself but don't honestly know why the "illegals" short-change themselves when they come to the U.S.

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by Blue Grass Fever

Sorry for straying off-topic but wanted to share this with you!

---platewire dot com

It's a neat site!

That's too funny... I'm afraid I might be on there, though - LOL!
I totally encountered a "left-lane vigilante" last night, and it ticked off everyone on the freeway. There was this guy driving about 60mph in the fast lane, which is 5mph below the speed limit (and about 15-20mph below the average fast-lane speeds around here)... the guy on the right was pacing me, so I got totally boxed in & had a line of other annoyed cars behind me. Anyway, the driver on the right finally sped up, and we all got to pass the jerk... wish I'd gotten his plate number, so I could post it on that site! I've been trying really hard to calm down behind the wheel, and not get so stressed by the obnoxious drivers here. But geez, they make it awfully hard! I got tailgated when I was going 85mph on a bridge the other day... that's just ridiculous.

[dusesean1986]

Originally Posted by Blue Grass Fever

Help raise the standard of living with the "illegals" by registering 'em and getting 'em in "the system". I understand the need of wanting to better yourself of having been "poor" myself but don't honestly know why the "illegals" short-change themselves when they come to the U.S.

In Mexico you make equivalent to $1 an hour, in California you make $6.75 an hour. This would look like a luxury to anyone. You have a great point, but the fact of the matter is they are getting 6 to 7 times as much money per hour than Mexico or Cent. Amer. etc

[UB50]

Originally Posted by Blue Grass Fever

Is this some kind of oxymoron?!

A "mexican" living legally in the U.S. would be american.

A Mexican would still be a Mexican whether he was here legally or illegally. You don't lose your nationality when you become a citizen of another country.

Secondly, you don't have to become a citizen of this country to be here legally. Lots of immigrants are citizens of other countries yet have legal resident status.

[UB50]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

I got tailgated when I was going 85mph on a bridge the other day... that's just ridiculous.

Did you read that news story last week where the police in Indiana picked up a kid who was going 142 mph in a 55 mph zone?

[newportbeachsmostwanted]

What about the canyon roads through Beverly Hills P.O.! I go to a friends house there and everytime, someone's 6 inches from my rear! And thats going 45mph in a 30mph!

[jeweloflight]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

Ummmm... everybody is a foreigner to this country, except the indigenous people. We are just having an influx, where currently the majority of immigrants happen to be Mexican (and from other Latin American countries)... just how at one time, immigrants from Ireland were coming over in droves. And similar things were said about them at the time - they're going to ruin this country, they aren't real Americans, they're lazy, they don't respect our culture, and so forth. Anyway, the fact of the matter is, they're here and we aren't about to ship everyone back... so as I said on another post, people just need to learn to deal with it. I do think the government needs to come up with better ways to control the borders, but immigration (legal or not) has always been a part of this country - and it will probably always be this way.

Here are some quotes from articles on Irish immigration... the words sound eerily familiar, huh?

"Many Americans were pushed out of jobs by large groups of needy Irish immigrants. Americans resented the Irish, and were not glad they came. This caused many barriers. The Irish were put under strict medical exams, and were sent back if they had poor health, which many had because of the bad health care in Ireland. A good majority of Catholic Irish were sent back, too. America was a predominately Protestant nation. Catholics were feared and detested, and Americans thought that their culture, religions, and backgrounds could not be retained if thousands of Irish immigrants moved in. To get around these barriers many lied about religion, and came back to America a repeated number of times after they had received some medical attention to past the exams." (http://www2.ops.org/NORTH/curriculum...past/Irish.htm)

" One honest immigrant wrote home at the height of the potato famine exodus, "My master is a great tyrant, he treats me as badly as if I was a common Irishman." The writer further added, "Our position in America is one of shame and poverty." No group was considered lower than an Irishman in America during the 1850s.
Free land did not lure them. They rejected the land for the land had rejected them; yet even so they always spoke reverently of the old sod in Ireland. All major cities had their "Irish Town" or "Shanty Town" where the Irish clung together. Our immigrant ancestors were not wanted in America. Ads for employment often were followed by "NO IRISH NEED APPLY." They were forced to live in cellars and shanties, partly because of poverty but also because they were considered bad for the neighborhood... These living conditions bred sickness and early death. It was estimated that 80% of all infants born to Irish immigrants in New York City died. Their brogue and dress provoked ridicule; their poverty and illiteracy provoked scorn.
The Chicago Post wrote, "The Irish fill our prisons, our poor houses...Scratch a convict or a pauper, and the chances are that you tickle the skin of an Irish Catholic. Putting them on a boat and sending them home would end crime in this country." " (http://www.kinsella.org/history/histira.htm)

I could go on and on, but I think my point is clear...

Clearly I'm speaking of those who in 2006, are not "citizens" of the United States. We don't need to explore the whole "who really settled America" topic, I'm already fully aware of my American History.

[Angel Bear]

I tend to lurk here more nowadays versus posting...mainly due to the tone of the forum.

What I've realized in hanging out in the City-Data forums is that regardless of where you live, there's always going to be a downside. California's issues seem to be magnified because of the illegal immigration problem and other socioeconomic issues.

I also do not have any dreamy ideas about how moving to California will solve all of my problems. I simply just have known for most of my life that it is where I belong But, when I say that, I'm not referring to Los Angeles proper.

After extensive research and visiting Southern California two times, my hubby and I have concluded that it would be better professionally if we moved there. We don't plan on having kids, so our priorities are different. We also have been smart with our money. We have friends that live there already and we are well aware of all the negative aspects. But, here's the thing...We live in Metro Detroit now and the economy is falling out, etc. We see the writing on the wall. We'd like to get out before it gets worse.

I could go over to the Michigan forum and dissuade others from moving to Metro Detroit/Detroit right now. I could go over there and complain and complain about Detroit sucking so bad. I try to help others and give them information so they can make an informed choice about relocating.

I've had a post or two of mine deleted here for being too positive LOL (in the L.A. forum here). It just cracked me up.

Maybe they can start a new forum here on the California boards and call it "The Complaints Forum." I was thinking that way when the newbies like me come over here they can more easily sort things out. Not that it's that hard really LOL. It can be a support group for those who want to leave California. It could do a lot of good. Everyone could really help each other I think. I don't mean any of this in a condescending way or anything...honestly!

[SandyCo]

Angel Bear, it surprises me that you've had posts removed for being too positive. By all means, move here and be happy!

On this forum, most of us are providing a service to people who want to move here from other areas who think that they can survive on a $50,000/year salary with a family. It's not possible to have a quality lifestyle in L.A. on so little.

Your situation is different; I can certainly respect your choice to not have kids. L.A. definitely has many good things to offer those who can afford it.