Illegals in Providence (insurance, condo, lawyers)

[marc melchiori]

If most RIers are OK wilth the influx ofundocumented please feel free to shellout more taxes for the wants needs and desires of these folks. But why do that when you have me to pay for your stupidity.

[elston]

We have absorbed the Irish, Italians, Poles, Slavs, Jews from all over Europe, Germans, Scots, Portugese, Asians, French Canadians and I am sure we can absorb some neighbors from Mexico and South America. If there wasnt an incentive they wouldnt come--that incentive is JOBS.

[mikey2]

A fair percentage of my patient population are poor Latinos and Cambodians.
They are typically fleeing a worse situation elsewhere (often NYC).

No way to they feel they are "making it" here. They have no money, and often there is no where else for them to go.

Jobs, when they can find them, pay crap... not enough to pay rent and expenses. They people live in poverty... period.

They will often tell me that they discourage friends or relatives from coming here because they fear they won't make it and will become a financial burden to them and they're already not making ends meet.

More than a few try to lie to get their children out of the Providence school system... some get caught.

It's not a pretty picture and is in no way like immigrants who came to this country years ago and were sponsored by companies who gave them jobs and eventually assimilated and did well.

[RuralCoastalGuy]

Originally Posted by mikey2

A fair percentage of my patient population are poor Latinos and Cambodians.
They are typically fleeing a worse situation elsewhere (often NYC).

No way to they feel they are "making it" here. They have no money, and often there is no where else for them to go.

Jobs, when they can find them, pay crap... not enough to pay rent and expenses. They people live in poverty... period.

They will often tell me that they discourage friends or relatives from coming here because they fear they won't make it and will become a financial burden to them and they're already not making ends meet.

More than a few try to lie to get their children out of the Providence school system... some get caught.

It's not a pretty picture and is in no way like immigrants who came to this country years ago and were sponsored by companies who gave them jobs and eventually assimilated and did well.

Be reminded that the immigrants who came here years ago came here LEGALLY!

[RuralCoastalGuy]

Originally Posted by elston

We have absorbed the Irish, Italians, Poles, Slavs, Jews from all over Europe, Germans, Scots, Portugese, Asians, French Canadians and I am sure we can absorb some neighbors from Mexico and South America. If there wasnt an incentive they wouldnt come--that incentive is JOBS.

I am fine with that but let them come here legally!!!!!

[RuralCoastalGuy]

Originally Posted by marc melchiori

If most RIers are OK wilth the influx ofundocumented please feel free to shellout more taxes for the wants needs and desires of these folks. But why do that when you have me to pay for your stupidity.

Those who come here legally generally have more to offer us...they want to become Americans...whereas the illegals want the shortcut to having what we have...without toiling for it as we have had to.

[elston]

That is the Catch 22; many say they have "nothing against them but let Them come legally like my people...." But refuse to look at the administrative roadblocks that block the legal avenues and seperate families for years and years...and force people to come without documentation. When immigrants were coming to America generations ago...the biggest obstacle was getting out of their home country and getting over to America....once here the lady with the lamp welcomed them and guided them safely into our harbor. The Italians and Irish and the Jews from Russia etc, might have been discriminated against and considered to be diseased and depraved and sub-human...but they were allowed in and in a couple of generations they assimalated and became part of the mainstream...often with the help and support of government. finding jobs as policemen and public service workers etc and with labor laws to control their exploitation by industry.

[elston]

Originally Posted by Mikey_NC

Those who come here legally generally have more to offer us...they want to become Americans...whereas the illegals want the shortcut to having what we have...without toiling for it as we have had to.

I have to admit, that I didn't have to toil for anything; I got my citizenship by accident of birth place, I got a free education that prepared me for a wonderful career doing meaningful work, and along the way I have had many wonderful oppurtunities and benefits funded by my country.

There is no way I could compare my labor to that of someone spending 8 hours stooped over picking produce or hoeing the fields in the blazing sun when the tempature exceeds 90 degrees.

The illegal problem can be seen in many legitimate ways but as a short cut to wealth and easy living.....I don't think so.

[RuralCoastalGuy]

Originally Posted by elston

I have to admit, that I didn't have to toil for anything; I got my citizenship by accident of birth place, I got a free education that prepared me for a wonderful career doing meaningful work, and along the way I have had many wonderful opportunities and benefits funded by my country.

There is no way I could compare my labor to that of someone spending 8 hours stooped over picking produce or hoeing the fields in the blazing sun when the temperature exceeds 90 degrees.

The illegal problem can be seen in many legitimate ways but as a short cut to wealth and easy living.....I don't think so.

You are certainly entitled to voicing your opinion as that is one of the rights we have as Americans. That being said, I hope you are not justifying these illegals breaking our laws because you think they need a better life?

[elston]

Originally Posted by Mikey_NC

You are certainly entitled to voicing your opinion as that is one of the rights we have as Americans. That being said, I hope you are not justifying these illegals breaking our laws because you think they need a better life?

I am advocating a comprehensive immigration reform to address the many problems. I think the primary problem is our laws not the motivation of the immigrants to work in America and suffer the consequences of their undocumented status.

I am sure there is a way to allow the undocumented workers access to the jobs that they are already doing, and to do so in a manner in which they are protected from the exploitation of corporations and businesses who see them as a cheap source of labor, subsidized by government to ensure their profit margin.

I am not "justifying" the undocumented workers; I am advocating for a comprehensive reform of immigration, in a way that acknowledges reality and serves this nation. That demands that we legalize a work force and the full participation of many contributing members of our communities.