Sandy Priest – 4/9/06

This page was last updated on April 9, 2006.

Secure our borders; Sandy Priest; Beaver County Times; April 9, 2006.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“Two recent articles touched on a major security issue in the US - our borders.

“One article listed the ideas our government is considering regarding illegal immigrants. One is allowing foreigners to stay in the country legally as custodians, dishwashers, construction workers and other low-paid employees.’

“Later in the article we were reminded ‘the president, working hand in hand with the business community that relies on cheap labor, is pressuring Congress to allow immigrants to stay in the country legally if they take a job Americans are unwilling to do.’”

[RWC] I guess Priest didn’t notice Democrats in Congress also want amnesty and a so-called guest worker program.

“With so many people jobless, are there jobs Americans are unwilling to do? Have we gotten so proud or lazy that there are jobs we feel are beneath us?”

[RWC] “With so many people jobless?” I know the mainstream media does its best to hide this information, but the unemployment rate is currently 4.7%. Historically, 5% has been considered “full” employment.

There are jobs Americans are unwilling to do at the wage being offered. Two government activities contribute to the low wages.

First, we have a welfare state in which people who choose not to work don’t have to because the government will support them.

Second, we have a government that doesn’t control the border and this allows a flood of illegal aliens who are willing to work for less than many Americans because it’s still more than they could earn at home, predominantly Mexico. These people are also overwhelmingly undereducated and unskilled. In effect, we’re allowing Mexico to export its economic and social problems to the U.S.

“If so, perhaps this is part of the problem, along with businesses unwillingness (or inability) to pay living wages.

“Maybe some of us should lower our standards, go to work, band together and force these businesses to pay a living wage. The rest of us need to be willing to pay a bit more for products and services to allow our fellow citizens to earn that living wage.”

[RWC] I’m sure Priest means well, but you can’t force businesses to pay employees more than their work is worth without negative side effects. When you do this, you raise prices, lose jobs, et cetera.

Here’s a question for Priest. If a business charges more for an item than you believe it is worth, do you still buy it or do you find a way to work around it or do without it?

“If we do not take action, then in essence, we are allowing other human beings to be treated in a way that we will not tolerate for ourselves.

“The second article was about random acts of violence. Relative to this letter is the fact that the victim was unable to obtain a visa to travel into the United States from his native country so in the mid 1980s traveled instead to Mexico where he was able to pay to be smuggled into the United States. This victim returned to his country, obtained a work visa and is now living here legally.”

[RWC] Priest’s definition of a victim differs from mine. Priest’s “victim” chooses to commit a criminal act by illegally entering the U.S. and he’s a victim?

“My point is this: our borders are not secure. Anyone with enough money and time can make their way into our country illegally.”

[RWC] So true.