My last article was over the top. Really, while our attention is on Healthcare, the Obama Administration is sneaking a plan to legalize most illegal aliens. It is called “The Blueprint”.
It is very simple. It’s very presence slows the already lethargic enforcement of our immigration law enforcement. Called Bi-Partisan, it is of course lopsided against conservative principles. The blueprint seeks to make a few hoops that illegal’s can jump through to insure permanent resident status.
Pay a small fine, pay a small amount of “token” back taxes (impossible to determine), don’t commit any violent crimes, take an English class (which the state will pay for) and basically you’re in.
What makes little sense, or is ironic, our unemployment figures almost exactly mirror the same number of illegal aliens. I realize enforcement of our immigration laws is just not realistic, but this plan essentially puts the brakes on any enforcement, and in my mind, further encourages more illegal’s to try to get in while the getting is good.
As bad as our economy is, Mexico will always be worse.
I believe the motivation for this “Blueprint” is two fold. First, create a huge voting base which is considered to lean liberal, as that’s who is and will be “buttering their bread”.
Secondly, Mexico teeters on the verge of collapse. Who is waiting in the wings, the communist party. Poor and crime infested economies are always ripe for the picking by the Leftist element. They promise a firm hand against criminals and redistribution of wealth. Sadly, a Chavez of Venezuela is the likely type of replacement. Can you imagine such a force on our southern border?
American dollars sent back by our illegal’s is said to be a large pillar of Mexican stability.
Damned if we do or don’t. The real result is a greater voting bloc for our more liberal political brothers, and a little more taxable income for our government to spend.
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Drew,
The program participants through our organization were not paid a wage rather than a stipend, as they have Federal & State taxes, as well as FICA & Medicare withholding.
I am familiar with Americorps through my work with Experience Works.
Very well said. If the welfare state was as cut and dried as the package you delivered, I would share your stance.
However it is not. Here are a few things you may want to consider.
Those numbers are not inclusive of a HUGE machine create to distribute the trinkle of change you mention. For starters, (and I don’t have time to proof text this, so I’ll endeavor it should you ask) 75% of every dollar distributed goes to “public employees, who are vastly overpaid”, having benefits that a recent poll showed are 30% above private sector equivalents and non-salaried benefits rival the best available, and in g
eneral have a reputation (well deserved) for being heartless bastards.
I only wish I had more time this morning, I’ll do an article soon on this, but I’ll cut and paste the following CDO numbers regarding the “Trillions” spent of the welafare state, and you can think about them and respond to “how could this be”:
….As a group, the 207 million white residents in the U.S. population receive $212 billion in benefits. As a group, then, they receive some $1,022 per person in welfare aid.
There are some 30 million Hispanic residents in the U.S., and Hispanics as a group receive $69 billion in welfare, or roughly $2,210 per person. As a group, the 33 million black residents in the U.S. receive $105 billion in welfare aid, or roughly $3,230 per person….http://www.newcoalition.org/Article.cfm?artId=152)
These numbers are what would be distributed in welfare aid “IF” every single citizen had an even share of the welfare pie. A far cry from the cents you mention.
Ben,
// Yes, it was a social services program – but it had a distinct twist. Those senior citizens were paid $5.15/hr to perform actual duties while in their training positions at other non-profits, government offices and schools.//
Yes, that’s called a stipend. One of the largest organizations providing these sorts of programs is called Americorps, often demonized by the Right, though my own experience with Americorps was with the Foster Grandparent Program on Long Island, which provided a stipend to the ederly who would work in elementary schools providing inter-generational services like reading to the children, historical story-telling, etc.
// All too often, the recipients are under no obligation to do anything other than sit on their fannies and collect that monthly check and benefits while those of us who pay taxes in order to provide for their lazy a$$es //
Well, that’s a pretty stereotypical, stigmatic response.
~
The US economy faces a recession approximately every 8 2/3 years.
The average (mean) benefits individuals received under the food stamp program as of Feb. 27, 2007 was roughly $95.64 per month.
There are 2.2 people in the average welfare household.
You can only receive cash welfare benefits for a maximum of five years in your lifetime.
Illegal immigrants are not eligible for benefits programs and not all legal immigrants are eligible.
1% of the Federal budget goes to Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), and 2 percent of state budgets. Whites are the majority recipients of benefits.
Repeated studies show no correlation between benefit levels and women’s choice to have children.
56 percent of AFDC support ended within 12 months, 70 percent within 24 months
Children, not women, are the largest group of people receiving public assistance. Less than 5 million of the 14 million public assistance recipients are adults, and 90 percent of those adults are women
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF) is funded at $16.5 Billion — 0.6% of the federal budget. The Section 8 housing assistance program is of comparable size.
Welfare Fraud likely accounts for only 2-4 percent of expenditures.
In light of what Erik said, maybe I was too harsh and judgmental. For that I apologize.
From 2000-2004 I was employed by a nation-wide non-profit as a job skills training and employment counselor for low-income senior citizens through the SCSEP (Senior Community Service Employment Program). I thoroughly enjoyed the work (though the money was barely enough to cover expenses) and learned a lot through that experience. Yes, it was a social services program – but it had a distinct twist. Those senior citizens were paid $5.15/hr to perform actual duties while in their training positions at other non-profits, government offices and schools. They didn’t receive something for nothing. If they didn’t work, they didn’t get paid.
That is the problem I have with the vast majority of social service programs (welfare). All too often, the recipients are under no obligation to do anything other than sit on their fannies and collect that monthly check and benefits while those of us who pay taxes in order to provide for their lazy a–es work our tails off only to be told, “Sorry Ben. You’re still not paying enough because we want those lazy slobs to have even more. That’s the only way we can guarantee that they’ll keep voting for us election after election after election.” When does it stop?
OK…I’m off my rant now. I’ll let someone else throw in their 2cents worth…
Drew,
I am duly impressed with your sincerity as spoken by and recognized by others.
However, WE ARE NOT A THEOCRACY! At best we are a Republic Democracy that has at every turn rejected God or His Word at any and all levels of government.
The bureaucracy has no Godly compassion. Sure “a few” who would be fired for it, espouse Gods Word to thier clients, but the machine is Godless and cold.
If you give a cup of water without Gods name, He would say you’ve given less than the water. Go ahead and write “This is because we honor God” on a welfare check and they will become enriched suing you.
You also fail to mention the conditions God put on charities. One easy to understand, “If they do not work, do not feed them” and a widow is to be cared for “only” if she has no living family, whose initial responsibilty is resident, and then “only” if she is to old to work . If they live in sin, cast them out. This would include drunkeness, homosexuality, violence, laziness and so on. I’d like to see the government notice when that info is sent to our government church wayfairers.
Lastly, while you’re ignoring important parts of Gods Word to help the poor, why stop at food and medical and cash, everyone needs a home.
Don’t be a greedy pharisee, God only asks fo 10% (He did not call on goverment to do anything), if you demand more than God, to do even more than God requests, well that makes you a good deal more compassionate than He, or it makes you Sad-u-cee.
Erik,
Thank you for vouching for me, some of the things you said were very nice.
I wasn’t avoiding political talk during the Super Bowl, we just didn’t have time! I’m looking forward to our next get together.
Ben,
I forgot to address your concern for the homeless and alcoholics and drug addicts in my community.
// “If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you, then you shall help him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you.”
Well, then, I suppose that you’re opening up your home to the homeless, as well as the alocholics and drug addicts in your community? //
Between the ages of 26 and 31, I worked for a social service agency at an extremely low pay grade, for the opportunity to serve the community. Think of it like a job with the Army Reserve. The pay was poor, but I had the opportunity to make a difference.
I worked with the homeless, veterans, the mentally ill, and the drug and alcohol dependent for those years providing advocacy, housing, referral, and friendship. This experience has forever influenced my view of the issue of social welfare.
Also, I have been a vocal advocate in my community, perpetuating support for legislature that places a high priority on social programs that provide housing for the homeless and programs for the drug and alcohol addicted.
I have also taken people who needed a place to live into my home to help them;several who were related and several who were not. I volunteer my time to help people with their computer problems because that’s my primary skill, and I occasionally donate to individual and group charities that I feel are worthy. If you know anyone in Suffolk County, NY who is in need of something, let me know.
I hope this makes an impact on how you perceive my motives.
J Byron,
You hit it on the head when you said that “Bi-Partisan” is a word that is often used by liberals when they want something to sound good to everyone. They apparently want to sound fair and just when, in actuality, they are using it as a strategy to ease their cause into a solidified, irreversable state.
Ben,
I don’t know if Andrew houses the poor but, though I am diametrically, politically opposed to almost everything he says, I can vouch that he works hard to put his money where his mouth is. I first met him 20 years ago and even shared a house with him and 2 other guys in 1990/1991. When we last saw each other (before recently), we attended the same church and he was actually a conservative. Obviously, his viewpoints are different now (based on personal experience working with social services, etc, he says) and, though I also tend to disagree with his interpretation of the Word, I also have come to the conclusion that he is intellectually honest and passionately states his disagreements out of legitimate concern for his fellow man. I must admit that I think it is misguided, but I still respect the fact that he goes to bat for his conscience. My family went over to his house for the Super Bowl so, yes, it is possible to cohabitate with someone from the other side of the aisle. Of course, I must mention the fact that we strove to not discuss religion or politics that day.
Andrew,
Ben and I go back even farther than you and I do. Ben and I graduated together in Tulsa.
I perverted scripture by quoting it?
LOL *rolls eyes*
I can see I’m going to get nowhere with you.
Ben,
You are wrong. Many of the scriptures I have posted were directed to the entire nation of Israel or the entire church of believers as a whole. It included them as a group, and spoke to them as a group. There’s nothing at all that indicates he was speaking “only” to individuals. But I’ve heard this argument before, and it doesn’t matter which way you look at it…
The very nature of any taxation in general, and any kind of public works, is a basic societal contract between the governed and the government. The government agrees to serve the people and the people agree to fund it.
To many people, that means the government should protect their lives from health problems just as much as you might try to protect them from violent military enemies. Especially, for example, since 3000 people died in the year 2001 from the nations worst act of terrorism but 400,000 people die annually from heart disease.
You might say, “Well, the government doesn’t belong meddling in people’s lives concerning their health!” but we have a prohibition on hard drugs such as cocaine and meth, and a heavy tax on cigarettes, exactly for this reason.
Well, you might argue, “that’s because drug addiction affects the entire community, not just individuals” but, a health care crisis encountered by an individual is transferred to the community directly. Emergency care is more expensive than preventative care, and it is passed straight to the state in the form of Medicaid when those who can’t afford insurance get sick. Then the individual can not work and needs to draw unemployment, later disability. The family no longer has an income, and they may lose their home, which meanwhile becomes dilapidated. Multiply this and other societal problems and you have the very definition of poverty. The community is significantly affected in this scenario.
The very idea of insurance is exactly the same as the idea of taxation. A goal of prevention and mitigation is identified by a group, the group agrees to pay into a central fund. That central fund pays out to those who need it.
And this is the same model seen over and over again in the Bible – the model of social and economic justice, the main theme of the entire Old and New Testaments alike in regard to human relationships – with of course the presiding theme of reconciliation with God.
Please don’t ever accuse me of bastardizing the Word Of God. I’ve been studying the Bible for 20 years and if you don’t agree with me that’s your own prerogative, but don’t blame the messenger.
If you would like further evidence from the Bible to show that God was in fact speaking to Israel as a nation, I’d be glad to provide it and we can debate it. If you want me to demonstrate the fact that the main theme of the Bible outside of reconciliation with God is social and economic justice, I’ll be glad to oblige.
Regarding Mark 14:7, is your stance that the U.S. Government should not be in any way concerned with social and economic justice, that role is reserved for the church? If so, do you think the Church should collect additional donations to care for the community? What if the individual donations are not quite enough and the head minister convinces the congregation to agree to donate a particular amount each week? Would that be a good plan? Because that’s what taxes are.
A representative government is not some disconnected third party, it is a direct extension of the people.
It is my firm belief that the Bible implies that it is the responsibility of the community – that means the government, as elected executor – to care for the needy.
Ben,
You say so much more in a few scant sentences than Drew does in his perverting of scripture by the chapter.
Drew,
All communist regimes have used the scripture just as you have, and as Obama did in his campaign. Now they outlaw God and His Word, and Obama has “declared,..This Is Not a Christian Nation”.
Castro endeared himself to the Catholic Church in Cuba before his ascent, afterwards he had his menions go into school rooms and have the children pray to Jesus for candy. No candy appeared. They then had them ask Fidel, and candy was brought by the bag fulls to each class.
South American Priest who advocate Communism use the scripture as you do. They are blind, as you are.
If you just want a Theocracy, wait for Jesus to return. If you just want the world to be exactly equal, then Gods blessings really don’t matter do they. We could just ask Fidel for our candy.
“If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you, then you shall help him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you.”
Well, then, I suppose that you’re opening up your home to the homeless, as well as the alocholics and drug addicts in your community?
The point that almost every liberal will miss when throwing around the quotes of Jesus is that he WASN’T TALKING TO THE GOVERNMENTS!!!!!!!!!!! He was talking to the Average Joe Citizen. Nowhere can you show me in the Bible that God’s plan was for the gov’t to become the charity-givers. In every passage, he personalizes it and puts it as the responsibility of the individual and the church.
In Mark 14:7, Jesus said, “For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.” He was telling his followers and the Pharisees to take care of the poor.
If you don’t understand the context of the scripture, don’t try to use. In doing so, you bastardize the Word Of God and make it into something it was never intended to be.
// What makes you tick? //
My love of all humanity and belief in human compassion, my ability to put my ideology ahead of my wallet, and my unwillingness to label a foreigner as less deserving or even different than me. I do not pledge my allegiance to America, but to God and fellow man, regardless of what flag he raises or the color of his skin or what side of the border demarcation he has hailed from.
~
You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the LORD your God.
If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you, then you shall help him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you.
For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
You shall not pervert justice due the stranger or the fatherless, nor take a widow’s garment as a pledge.
The LORD watches over the strangers;He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.
Thus says the LORD: “Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.
The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger.
It shall be that you will divide it by lot as an inheritance for yourselves, and for the strangers who dwell among you and who bear children among you. They shall be to you as native-born among the children of Israel; they shall have an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in…
Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church.
Drew U make My Brown Blue,
What makes you tick? Your like a little Anti-American bomb hidden in the suitcase of liberalism (assuming your not the underwear type).
This is like redistributing American wealth to keep another country from harming us. Macro international welfare.
It use to be they did jobs we don’t want, now they are doing jobs “WE NEED”. How does that make shivers go up your leg?
YAY! Nothing will make me happier. This is even better than Health Care Reform!
I judge the importance of various progressive socio-political issues based on the size of the tantrum thrown by the far-right wing. With apologies to the center-right, if the shoe doesn’t fit, don’t wear it.