Why Americans Won't Do Dirty Jobs

[kytwell 179]

Did they have a legal visa to come here?

Depends when they came:

Established by Immigration Acts of 1921 and 1924, the system limited immigration by assigning each nationality a quota based on its representation in past United States census figures. The State Department distributed a limited number of visas each year through United States Embassies abroad, and the Immigration Service only admitted immigrants who arrived with a valid visa.

[Karee 4,191]

The Johnson-Reed Immigration Act of 1924 was the first formal, permanent restrictive immigration law in the US to limit the number of new entrants to the country. A temporary law had been on the books for a number of years preceding that.

During the 19th century millions of Irish, Italians, Chinese, Germans, and other nationalities boarded ships in their home countries and embarked for US ports of entry where no officials stood to admit them or check any documents - none were needed. On the contrary, Irish entering New York harbor were greeted with political pamphlets telling them how to vote in elections for Tammany Hall.

So they had to pay homage to some corrupt Irish officials in NYC. That's cool. I am against illegal immigration, but I find it odd that most people in the U.S. including pretty much every USC on this website came from immigrants. It's the "we were here first" mentality.

I'm not saying open the borders, but that was pretty much the case in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Just seems a little odd to me that people in this country are so anti-immigrant when their ancestors were immigrants.

[Ready to do it 101]

Do you think anyone really cares? I don't care whether your grandparents or you are legal or illegal. The fact of the matter is "You are here." That's all that really matters, right?

You have many times called me a puppet. Now I get it. The truth is "YOU" are the puppet. You drank the koolaid that it's ok to go murder folks. I'm sorry, I have no pity for you. Now it explains why you are so frustrated and all this hatred you have for other folks.

Love your neighbor. It doesn't matter where they came from, how they got here, or what they have done to you. Open your arms to everyone (illegals included) and live happily, and you will live a much more fulfilling life.

My family immigrated to this country legally. They broke no laws of this country when they entered it legally. .

[Karee 4,191]

Depends when they came:

Established by Immigration Acts of 1921 and 1924, the system limited immigration by assigning each nationality a quota based on its representation in past United States census figures. The State Department distributed a limited number of visas each year through United States Embassies abroad, and the Immigration Service only admitted immigrants who arrived with a valid visa.

Really? You think the had visas before they hopped on a boat? I doubt that. My family didn't anyway.

[Karee 4,191]

Do you think anyone really cares? I don't care whether your grandparents or you are legal or illegal. The fact of the matter is "You are here." That's all that really matters, right?

You have many times called me a puppet. Now I get it. The truth is "YOU" are the puppet. You drank the koolaid that it's ok to go murder folks. I'm sorry, I have no pity for you. Now it explains why you are so frustrated and all this hatred you have for other folks.

Love your neighbor. It doesn't matter where they came from, how they got here, or what they have done to you. Open your arms to everyone (illegals included) and live happily, and you will live a much more fulfilling life.

I should love people that broke laws? Maybe I'm a little bitter since it took me 1 year to get my wife here legally, while others swim a river and do it illegally.

Call me crazy. I'm all about people being treated equally.

[kytwell 179]

Really? You think the had visas before they hopped on a boat? I doubt that. My family didn't anyway.

Depends what year they immigrated here.

[Ready to do it 101]

Ok, but we are all human beings. Why is one person considered a law breaker for entering one way and another not considered a law breaker for entering another way? Who decided that "this is the way it is going to be done, and we the people are supposed to accept and agree with it." Do you understand what I am saying? I understand when it comes to visas for spouses and fiances the need to fill out a bunch of paperwork and allow them the opportunity to become permanent residents and then citizens. But regarding everyone else, why have we determined there are different ways to become citizens by filling out a bunch of paperwork and having someone approve it, thus it's a subjective decision? Why have we determined that simply walking across the border is frowned upon?

My argument is that it's apparently wrong to simply walk across the border, and for some people they can fill out a bunch of paperwork and they aren't accepted, yet others can fill out a bunch of paperwork and they are accepted. That's foolish. Survival of the fittest. Let them all in, or let none of them in.

If you disagree with my idea of stating that people can simply walk across the border have as much right to be here as anyone who comes via other methods, i.e. filling out a bunch of paperwork and being approved to come... then you disagree with the way the majority of our ancestors came. Open the doors to everyone or close the doors to everyone. It's the only fair way because you might want someone here that I don't want here and I might want someone here that you don't want here. Why is anyone given the authority to determine who should have the opportunity to live here and who shouldn't? We're all the same. We're all loved the same by our God. Why does a border even matter?

I'm not stating that illegals all deserve citizenship. Just permanent residency or just a way to be able to live their life and be treated equally and with respect. That's an idea. Fiance's, Spouses etc should have a path to citizenship... everyone else should just be considered a resident that has the right to be here, work, and live their life in peace.

Well then, I guess you better start calling them what they are...LAW BREAKERS, by breaking the following LAW:

8 U.S.C. § 1325 : US Code - Section 1325: Improper entry by alien

Edited November 13, 2011 by Ready to do it

[Karee 4,191]

Depends what year they immigrated here.

That's the point. If you got here before any controls, you're good to go. Does that make you illegal? I don't think it does. I'm not a lawyer, but was there a certain point where they said everyone here is legal no matter how they arrived? You pointed out some acts from the early 1900s. I'd just like to know what the cut-off point is.

[Karee 4,191]

Ok, but we are all human beings. Why is one person considered a law breaker for entering one way and another not considered a law breaker for entering another way? Who decided that "this is the way it is going to be done, and we the people are supposed to accept and agree with it." Do you understand what I am saying? I understand when it comes to visas for spouses and fiances the need to fill out a bunch of paperwork and allow them the opportunity to become permanent residents and then citizens. But regarding everyone else, why have we determined there are different ways to become citizens by filling out a bunch of paperwork and having someone approve it, thus it's a subjective decision? Why have we determined that simply walking across the border is frowned upon?

My argument is that it's apparently wrong to simply walk across the border, and for some people they can fill out a bunch of paperwork and they aren't accepted, yet others can fill out a bunch of paperwork and they are accepted. That's foolish. Survival of the fittest. Let them all in, or let none of them in.

If you disagree with my idea of stating that people can simply walk across the border have as much right to be here as anyone who comes via other methods, i.e. filling out a bunch of paperwork and being approved to come... then you disagree with the way the majority of our ancestors came. Open the doors to everyone or close the doors to everyone. It's the only fair way because you might want someone here that I don't want here and I might want someone here that you don't want here. Why is anyone given the authority to determine who should have the opportunity to live here and who shouldn't? We're all the same. We're all loved the same by our God. Why does a border even matter?

You must not be Catholic.

[Ready to do it 101]

How can you possibly be bitter? Your wife has the ability to get her citizenship and be treated with respect etc. Most illegals will never have the freedoms that your wife has. I can't possibly see how you could have any bitterness.

I went through the process with my fiance. She just got approved this week. I still have no problem with any illegal. We're all people. I don't feel like I deserve anything better than another simply because I was born in the US, and my parents were born in the US, and my grandparents were born in the US, and my great-grandparents were born in the US. It's simply ridiculous that the world is all uptight about who is born where. Just let people go wherever they want, whenever they want. If they don't have the means, then obviously they won't get here. But if their will is great enough, then they will get here... and if their will is that great then they will probably be a productive member of our society.

I should love people that broke laws? Maybe I'm a little bitter since it took me 1 year to get my wife here legally, while others swim a river and do it illegally.

Call me crazy. I'm all about people being treated equally.

Nope, though I am considering converting. I called the Catholic church recently to ask what that would entail.

You must not be Catholic.

[Karee 4,191]

How can you possibly be bitter? Your wife has the ability to get her citizenship and be treated with respect etc. Most illegals will never have the freedoms that your wife has. I can't possibly see how you could have any bitterness.

I went through the process with my fiance. She just got approved this week. I still have no problem with any illegal. We're all people. I don't feel like I deserve anything better than another simply because I was born in the US, and my parents were born in the US, and my grandparents were born in the US, and my great-grandparents were born in the US. It's simply ridiculous that the world is all uptight about who is born where. Just let people go wherever they want, whenever they want. If they don't have the means, then obviously they won't get here. But if their will is great enough, then they will get here... and if their will is that great then they will probably be a productive member of our society.

I'm bitter because it took a year and alot of money. That's why I'm bitter. It takes 30 days in the E.U. I got a 1 year marriage visa in Thailand in 2 days, not 1 year. That's why I'm f*cking bitter.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Do you think anyone really cares? I don't care whether your grandparents or you are legal or illegal. The fact of the matter is "You are here." That's all that really matters, right?

You have many times called me a puppet. Now I get it. The truth is "YOU" are the puppet. You drank the koolaid that it's ok to go murder folks. I'm sorry, I have no pity for you. Now it explains why you are so frustrated and all this hatred you have for other folks.

Love your neighbor. It doesn't matter where they came from, how they got here, or what they have done to you. Open your arms to everyone (illegals included) and live happily, and you will live a much more fulfilling life.

Save your bs for someone who's buying. You already spit in the face of every Vet on this board not to mention everyone who's went or going through the immigration process legally. You make me sick.

Edited November 13, 2011 by Why_Me

[Ready to do it 101]

I'm sure it didn't cost you near as much money and heartache that it costs most illegals to get here, and then once they get here, many treat them like absolute sh*t. You have no reason to be bitter against them. I know this K1 process is costly. Heck, the flights and hotels of going back and forth a few times just for the medical, interview, and then to get my fiance is going to cost $7-8k. But, that is probably still not close to what folks in South America pay to get here illegally, only to be treated like scum once they get here. It's wrong, the only way to stop it is open the gates or quit letting anyone in.

It's similar to the fight against drugs. Quit trying to eradicate the drug crops (spending billions), and quit going after the narcotrafficers, gangs, etc. What a complete waste of taxpayer money and lives on both sides. Simply legalize the damn sh*t or make the penalty for using drugs life in prison. Problem solved. I mean, many that do hard core drugs want to die anyways. Why are we trying so hard to stop all the drug traffickers from getting the drugs here? Let them get the drugs here so those that want to take the damn drugs to kill themselves get on with it. I certainly don't want to keep funding their welfare benefits so they can continue to be an unproductive member of society.

The premise is the same. We, as a country, are going about both issues all the wrong way.

I'm bitter because it took a year and alot of money. That's why I'm bitter. It takes 30 days in the E.U. I got a 1 year marriage visa in Thailand in 2 days, not 1 year. That's why I'm f*cking bitter.

[scandal 951]

I went through the process with my fiance. She just got approved this week.

Congratulations!

I'm bitter because it took a year and alot of money. That's why I'm bitter. It takes 30 days in the E.U. I got a 1 year marriage visa in Thailand in 2 days, not 1 year. That's why I'm f*cking bitter.

It took us nearly a year too. Ten months altogether, mainly due to AP@NVC and more bullsh!t at Embassy in Bangkok. But she's here, sleeping on the couch with me right now, and all that is in the past. Why be bitter? Life is short.

For the record, I don't condone lawbreaking. No matter what the law is or who breaks it. One of our Presidents, Nixon, broke the law - that was wrong and he shouldn't have received a pardon from Ford. A presidential candidate, John Edwards, has been indicted and is fighting in court to avoid jail time. If he's found guilty, he should go to jail. From Presidents down to Mexican day workers hanging out near Home Depot - if you break the law on the books, that's wrong and you should be prepared to face the consequences. The only way law and order can work is if people respect the law and don't flaunt it.

Having said that, sometimes there are laws on the books which aren't serving the public interest and should be changed. We had Prohibition and the Volstead Act. That was a really bad law. Everybody broke it. Enforcement was impossible and caused much more harm than good. The law was repealed. We have laws against smoking pot. They're stupid. Millions of Americans are lawbreakers because they smoke weed. Dumb. In my view, reform the narcotics laws in this country - certainly for minor possession of weed - and stop making Americans who smoke a recreational joint into lawbreakers.

As to immigration law, I'm personally of the opinion that restrictive immigration laws are not in the country's interests. I would favor increased legal immigration with larger quotas. I think all the economic arguments against immigration focus only on the supply side -immigrants take away jobs and consume public services. They don't focus on the demand side- immigrants are new consumers who buy cars and durable goods and groceries and cable TV subscriptions and cell phone plans and ...... that's a lot of economic activity they stimulate. I think overall it's probably a wash if not a net plus, and many economists tend to agree.

So --- I'd have more liberalized immigration laws which would reduce the future need for people to enter illegally since more would qualify for legal avenues. But I still come down pretty harsh on those that willfully break (or broke) past or present US laws. The law is the law. Period.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

My Mexican family came over here by crossing the Rio Grande. They did it in 1916, fleeing Pancho Villa's raids on their lands. My father's mother's family lost everything they had there, which included all their lands. My father's father came from almost nothing around the same time. My grandmother worked as a housekeeper; my granddad a truck driver. They were active in the Catholic Church, and my granddad became a prominent Knight of Columbus in El Paso. At some point in the 40s or 50s, they became citizens.

My grandparents worked hard to raise their children -- my dad and my aunts and uncles -- to be high achievers. English was spoken primarily at home because my grandmother saw that the only way her children could get ahead would be to speak immaculate English. And they did. Amongst the five children, there are a pharmacology professor, two schoolteachers with Master's degrees, a social worker heading his department and the chief engineer at one of the country's premier manufacturers of stereo equipment for audiophiles. Their children number only five, and are a archaeology PhD candidate, a lawyer, a physical therapist, a vet and a math teacher.

But since they came over in 1916, their crossing didn't make them illegals, I guess. Lucky us.

Dirty, dirty Mexicans, coming over here and polluting things. Absolutely filthy.