Should illegal aliens have the right to vote and receiving Social Security?

[Heather Wallace]

Here in the UK, asylum seekers (legit or not) are given a flat and social security, i think the UK government are to soft.

This basically means that we have a housing problem due to the fact the uk takes everyone and anyone in.

[moosmom]

ABSOLUTELY NOT!! The key word here is ILLEGAL alien.

Why the heck should they? They are in OUR country ILLEGALLY. U.S. citizens should get what they are rightfully entitled to. No one knows whether there's gonna be enough Social Security around when I get old, let alone worry about some stupid people who have entered OUR country ILLEGALLY, paying no taxes or contributing to society!!

Even considering it would be a slap in the face to every single American Citizen who has worked long and hard for the right to vote and collect SS when the time comes.

On another note, I also think that ANYONE who has committed a serious (murder, child molestation, cop killers) should have their right to vote revoked.

[carole]

If this was proposed in my country I would also say a big flat NO, it cannot be a free ride for all, we have to take care of our own first.

Until recently women were coming to NZ to have their babies from overseas, and getting it all on the NZ taxpayer, at last they have finally put a stop to it, not before time either.

[mahayana]

I doubt that this story is credible. Bush was in talks with Pres Fox of Mexico before 911 about amnesty for illegals, which is a chance to register and either become a US citizen or (at the discretion of Immigration), be deported.

You can't get a SS# or vote without a birth certificate showing proof of citizenship. Can't get a DL without a SS# and proof of liability insurance.

Now some folks may have false documents.

My main reaction is to say that most of these people are good, productive citizens who have to look over their shoulders all the time. They do pay sales taxes, but don't pay income taxes. The people who hire them are lawbreakers, too.

It would be great to find a solution that doesn't hurt either us or them!

[babolaypo65]

My vote, which may come as a surprise is NO and NO. Though the driver's license one has me a little mixed.... we keep talking about "them" learning our language and assimilating, but then don't make that possible. Can we actually make "them" leave? no, but we do sorta make it impossible to assimilate.... so I'm a little mixed....

[Soledad]

Actually illegal aliens do pay taxes. Each year the government receives a load of money that cannot be accounted for. This is from illegal aliens.

Here is just one article to back that up....

http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/F...4132003/938187

No one knows whether there's gonna be enough Social Security around when I get old, let alone worry about some stupid people who have entered OUR country ILLEGALLY, paying no taxes or contributing to society!!

[mugsy]

I'm sorry, I haven't posted because I wanted to sit back and watch. Honestly, if they pay taxes, great, but they DO NOT deserve the benefits. They are breaking the law by being here and if they pay taxes....that's the breaks...if you don't like it...go back where you came from and save us all a lot of bother.

Actually, I was listening to an INS person and someone else close to the law makers that are trying to get this passed being interviewed.

I know that my opinion probably won't be very welcome, but, that's the way I feel and always have felt. Oh and Soledad....just so you know I was raised by 2 Democrats. And I am an Independent, with liberal views on many things (most actually) and some conservative views.

[Soledad]

I'm not bothered at all by your post, Mugsy. You always make salient points.

I guess my issue is that a lot of people run their mouths about how "these people" don't pay taxes and are breaking the law. But they ARE paying taxes and our government reeps the benefits of it. That's to say nothing about the boost they give our economy by doing the jobs that the vast majority of Americans refuse to do.

I think, like all things really, the issue is VERY complex and we seem to be told selective information about it.

*Shrug*

[mahayana]

And, once again, the AMERICAN citizens who hire them are breaking the law. Saving a buck by not paying the legal wage, and stigmatizing the majotity of Hispanic citizens.

Figuring out how to get the good people into the citizenship process before our new Patriot Act INS starts jailing them is the pertinent issue. The time is approaching when we all will regularly be asked for our papers by the cops.

[lbaker]

NO NO & NO! and yet... and yet, when I lived and worked on a horse ranch in Marin County CA we could not find any snotty young Marin County boys, or people at all that would come to help clean the stalls and feed the horses. OK, not a glamorous job but it paid (legal wages) and we offered a free place to live, albeit a trailer - but most of us lived in trailers too. We found Mexicans that probably were illegal but worked hard, showed up on time and were willing to do anything they were asked. A conundrum for sure. But I feel we should NOT offer social security rights or voting rights. There is a process to become a citizen if one would care to try.

[Soledad]

Exactly, Mahayana. The illegal immigrants only come here to get work and make a better life for themselves. But why is it that all we hear about is them and not the people who break the law to make an extra buck and hire them? Hmmmmmm.....

[mahayana]

But you can't presently go apply for citizenship, if you entered the country illegally. And, at this time there are not enough police to arrest, or jails to hold, the ones here from Mexico.

[dukedogsmom]

Believe me, there are plenty here that get arrested. I don't know about them being illegal or not, though. We have daily reports about who got arrested and for what crimes.

[babolaypo65]

I don't think we can say that illegal immigrants are law abiding or law breaking (other than sneaking in). Some are good folks some are not. Just as some AMERICANS are law abiding good folks, and some are not.

If I had not had the luck of being born in a wealthy country who's to say I wouldn't have snuck in here. I'd like to think I'd want a better life, and a chance to do better.
Lord knows I didn't do anything to be born here. I just was. Lucky me.

[trayi52]

I agree with you about the lawbreaker.

Did anyone happen to think about the movie Chico starrd in, I think it was called "Born in the USA", at least thats what I think it was called.

This just made me think of that movie. Sorry to get off the subject.