Take THAT, illegal aliens!

[Stinky The Clown]

In another thread about Lou Dobbs, there was more discussion about our issues with undocumented workers.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1999910

I've had an idea about this for a while, and it is starting to shape up in my feeble little brain. So I want to lay it out here for some comment. Mind you, this is till a half-formed idea. But feel free to take shots at it. I'm interested in your feedback.

Both Clinton and Gore (and many others, for that matter) held that one good use for taxes was to incentivize (or disincentivize) things. If you want an action, give a tax break to those who do it. If you want to stop something, tax it. Pretty simple.

So how about this?

Pass a law that anyone can hire undocumented workers. But require that they be paid twice the minimum wage. Frame it that we need to pay for the social service they use. Penalties for violating the law will be serious. Jail time and fines tied to some significant multiple of the wage due the worker for the entire time the worker was employed.

Here's the beauty of this: By making it legal to hire them, we open the door to them blowing the whistle on the employer! Guarantee amnesty for any undoc who turns in an employer.

This will also demonstrate the fallacy that they take jobs no American wants.

Anyway, that's it.

Your comments (even to call me a nut) will be appreciated.

[wli]

1. charge any company paying anyone less than min. wage with slavery

That'll slow down illegal immigration a bit.

[DBoon]

2. OT - but I'd tax companies that don't provide health insurance

and use this money to build up the public health system.