neo cons have begun waging war on California

[donsu]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/08/19/EDP5RJAF9.DTL&feed=rss.opinion


A war on state's economy


NOT SATISFIED with its full-scale attack on Iraq, the Bush administration is now launching an inexplicable, unwarranted and unworkable attack on California's economy and its social fabric.

It is doing so by declaring war against employers who hire illegal immigrants - and against these immigrants themselves.

No state will be hurt more than California, which is home to at least one-quarter of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States. California's $32 billion agricultural industry is dependent on them. They also make up a significant percentage of the construction, restaurant, hotel and other sectors of the California workforce.

Within weeks, the Dept. of Homeland Security, in concert with the Social Security Administration, is planning to send out waves of "no match" letters to employers. If an employee's Social Security information does not match those on file with the federal government, the employer will be required to fire the worker within 90 days, if the discrepancy can't be resolved. If the worker isn't fired, the employer will be subject to a $2,200 fine per worker, and stiffer penalties later on.

-snip-

But the Bush administration has adopted a vindictive approach that ignores the realities of the United States and California economy. The state's 35,000 agricultural employers hire more than 800,000 people to work on farms each year. Half or more are likely to be undocumented.

-snip-

Polls by the Public Policy Institute of California show that 60 percent of Californians believe that illegal immigrants should be allowed to apply for legal work permits. Yet, the Bush administration is plunging ahead with its misguided policies without consulting with California's elected officials, or its business leaders.
-snip-
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there is a lot of money in Calif. neo cons want to and will, suck it up.

good luck Calif. they drained money from you all with that energy business a couple of yrs. ago. and now they want to finish draining your money vaults.

[Captain Hilts]

1. We should support employers who hire illegal workers? Tell the unions that! nt

[donsu]

2. did I say that? no. look at the whole picture to see how they will

drain and wreck Calif's economy.

[Johonny]

6. They already drain California's economy

By Taxing us. California is a net loss on federal taxes. Being under represented in Congress will make sure this doesn't change anytime soon. Arnold promised to change that. He was going to work with George to get more federal tax, how's that working out Arnold?

[poverlay]

12. I love it when people say: "They're doing jobs Americans don't want to do.". Then I add: "Not at

that substandard, slavery wage.".

So are we going to have to lower our effective hourly wage to the 2 cents an hour the Chinese are purportedly making or are the Chinese going to ramp up to a more respectable 10-15 dollars an hour?

With the Republicants in charge you know it's not going to be good for the American worker!

[Parche]

3. Deport Rep Darrell Issa

I despise that SOB.....................:hi:

[Captain Hilts]

4. He's a total creep, isn't he? nt

[DBoon]

15. You cant' deport people for just being a creep

You'd depopulate entire states if you did that!

[NYVet]

5. So we should just ignore the situation?

I for one, am tired of the immigration laws not being enforced and having a drain on the country from people who are here illegally.

These employers are given an opportunity to get the correct info from the employee before the fines go into effect. If they don't rectify the issue or fire the employee for giving them false info during the application process, then boo hoo for them.

[Xenotime]

7. At least immigrants don't make poisoned food

[donsu]

8. kick

nt

[MadHound]

9. I have no problem with the gov't going after employers who hire illegals

Illegals are no longer just taking jobs US citizens don't want, but they are seriously eating into the livelihoods of tens of thousands of US citizens in all areas of employment, from construction to factories to flipping burgers.

Besides, if employers paid a decent wage for the work, then they wouldn't have a problem finding legal help. Instead they've used illegals as a crutch, helping them boost their own profits.

The problem of illegal immigration is a complex one, and frankly I favor some form of amnesty. But for right now, I think that cracking down on the employers is a good thing, and I hope that they continue to do so.

[natrat]

10. please find americans who want to pick strawberries at min wage

forget about cheap california produce

[MadHound]

13. I don't know about California

But I do know that out here in the Midwest lots of college students and others will pick crops if the wages are decent, at or above our min. wage law. It is extra money in the pocket, and the job is a short term one.

Just like there are tens of thousands of American citizens who will work in the construction industry, factories, etc., if employers would pay a decent wage. But since the flood of illegals have come into the US, employers realize that they can pay shit and still get the houses built. I know lots of construction workers who were driven out of the business because they were replaced with cheaper illegal immigrant labor.

[natrat]

11. yea but if you lived in california it sure would look like neocons going after a liberal bastion

[MadHound]

17. Even a blind pig finds an acorn once in awhile

Frankly I don't care who is going after the employers, just so long as they are doing so. Hell, even Nixon was able to open up China, evil man that he was:shrug:

It isn't neo-cons going after liberal California, it is the government upholding the laws concerning illegal immigrants. California seems to have one of the highest concentrations of illegals, so thus you see more activity against them there:shrug:

Oh, and as far as cheap California produce, well thanks, but I already do without since I grow my own and store it for future consumption. I hate to tell you this, but local farming is the direction that this country needs to be going towards. Too much energy being wasted, too much pollution being spewed trucking rubber tomatoes thousands of miles across the country.

[DBoon]

14. Did anyone doubt that they would enforce this law for political ends?

I wouldn't be the least surprised if they went down the political contribution list, circled all the Democratic donors, and told ICE to raid them first.

Following these raids, start working on big employers in Democratic congressional districts.

Expecting fair enforcement of any law from these crooks is like expecting pigs to fly.

[proud patriot]

16. The Ironic thing is

that the republicans are really pissing off Ahhhh Nold .

:D

[donsu]

18. does Arnold have any real power?

nt

[Greyhound]

19. Kicking this conversation n/t

:kick: