Letters to the Editor 04-17-2006
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Aliens And Taxes - Welcome, Hispanics - Vote For Gunter - Interpretation - Sheriff Race
Aliens And Taxes
Editor, Times-Union:An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number is issued by the IRS to those who are ineligible to obtain a Social Security Number. An ITIN does not provide proof the holder is legally allowed to work in this country. Anyone who has lawfully entered the U.S. with a visa or work permit is eligible for a SSN, illegal aliens are not. In order to pay Social Security taxes, one must have a SSN. If an illegal alien has provided one to an employer, it is a fraudulent one, obtained illegally.
While many illegal aliens have taxes withheld, most of them live below the poverty level, receiving their taxes back as refunds. Additionally, many are receiving extra money from the government in the form of the Earned Income Credit, though by law, illegal aliens are not eligible. Of course, there are a great number who are paid under the table and never report their income.
We often hear the argument illegal aliens are only doing the jobs Americans will not do. The truth is they are willing to be exploited by greedy employers while American workers are not. Americans will work jobs if they are paid a fair wage, which will never happen as long as illegal aliens who are willing to work for substandard wages are flooding the market.
But, the argument goes, if wages were increased, the cost to the consumer would skyrocket. However, taking the agricultural industry for an example, using minimum wage workers instead of illegal aliens would raise the final cost of products only 3 to 4 percent.
Besides that, the American taxpayer is already paying outlandish costs to subsidize illegal aliens. Over 30 percent of the Federal prison population is comprised of non-residents at the cost of $1.6 billion annually. The American Hospital Association reported its member facilities provided $9.66 billion in uncompensated health care for non-citizens; 36 to 42 percent of illegal aliens receive welfare, contributing to the $10 to $15 billion the U.S. government spends annually to provide services for these people.
Add to that the 18 million Americans who cannot find jobs because the market is flooded with illegal aliens. The government picks up the tab for providing assistance to these workers plus loses whatever tax revenue they would have generated. More than 1.9 million American workers are displaced every year from their jobs by illegal aliens at a cost of $133 billion.
Over 300,000 pregnant women illegally enter this country each year. When they give birth to their child on American soil, that child is an American citizen. The government pays $109 billion annually to provide food, housing, medical aid and schooling for those children until they reach 18 years of age.
When you begin to add it all up, you can see why tax paying Americans bristle when we see thousands of illegal aliens marching through the streets demanding rights reserved for American citizens.
Google "Illegal Aliens and Taxes" to see these and more facts for yourself.
Michael C. Mahan, via e-mail
Warsaw
Welcome, Hispanics
Editor, Times-Union:I am amazed at how sheltered this community can be at times. I am proud to be a part of this community - black, white, Hispanic, etc.
Speaking as a caucasian, I enjoy having such diversity in a community. I have had the opportunity to play soccer with a great number of Hispanic men in this community, and I for one must say they are as much a part of this town as I am.
The funny thing is that we can learn a lot from their culture. I honestly feel that the Hispanic population has a greater sense of family and community than the majority of caucasians. Take a Sunday afternoon and go watch a soccer game. I guarantee you will see not only the players, but families lined up spending time together to support their fathers/husbands. I know you would see this as well at a softball game at the CCAC, but there is a different feel - don't believe me? Go check it out. And the players on my team who have a different ethnic background than I have done nothing but encourage and support me/us, even defending us in the conflict of a game. They have been much more accepting of us then we have been of them. What a shame that we are so stubborn that we wouldn't take a few minutes to learn a few key phrases in Spanish to be able to communicate.
I guarantee one day my children will learn to speak Spanish on some level to bridge this sad gap in society. To all the Hispanic people in Kosciusko County, I want to you know that you are appreciated and I look forward to the day we can look at each other with colorblind, eternal eyes!
Jon Hoover, via e-mail
Winona Lake
Vote For Gunter
Editor, Times-Union:Avis Gunter is a dedicated, knowledgeable county government elected official. She serves this community with an unbiased attitude, always seeking what is right and fair in every issue that is brought before the Kosciusko County Commissioners. I ask you to be sure and vote on May 2 and cast your vote to re-elect Avis Gunter.
Jean Northenor, via e-mail
Warsaw
Interpretation
Editor, Times-Union:In response to Mr. Neil Harris' letter printed April 13:
My initial response to Neil Harris' letter was, "I hope that's a misprint." Quoting from his letter, Mr. Harris stated that the government needs to "help us with this purge of crime and drug use and sales by Latino and confused whites in our area." (I'll take a breath.)
I appreciate the ongoing debate in our country concerning immigration. This is obviously something that, regardless of the "side" you take, needs to be addressed. If his statement is interpreted correctly, Mr. Harris has not only stated his own concern for illegal immigration, but he has determined that the primary contributions of these people are criminal. I myself do not believe this to be the primary contribution of aliens, either legal or illegal, but I'm sure one could make a good argument for this. However, I am not concerned with Mr. Harris' stance on immigration. His statement goes beyond the boundaries of this debate into entirely different areas altogether. The statement doesn't end here. Mr. Harris goes on to define this group in terms of "Latino and confused whites in our area." (Another breath, thank you.)
First, I would like to applaud (quietly) Mr. Harris for at least including whites in his statement. Perhaps he predicted a poor response from the community if he mentioned only Latinos and decided to be "sensitive." He did the noble thing and included "confused whites" as part of this group. Unfortunately, it didn't do the trick, and we are left with the following conclusion: If you are Latino (I'll be fair and assume he only meant illegal Latinos), you are destroying our community with crime and drugs, and you must leave. If you are white and involved in these activities, you are obviously confused. You're still scum, you just weren't born that way, and we expect more of you.
I can think of no other way to interpret Mr. Harris' statements. If the words he wrote meant something entirely different, I suggest another letter be submitted providing correction.
Dan Temple, via e-mail
Milford
Sheriff Race
Editor, Times-Union:This is in response to the letter from Kent Adams. I agree with everything Kent mentioned with one exception, there are four candidates for sheriff, not three.
Jim Bumbaugh, via e-mail
Democratic Candidate for Sheriff
Pierceton
[[In-content Ad]]
- Aliens And Taxes - Welcome, Hispanics - Vote For Gunter - Interpretation - Sheriff Race
Aliens And Taxes
Editor, Times-Union:An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number is issued by the IRS to those who are ineligible to obtain a Social Security Number. An ITIN does not provide proof the holder is legally allowed to work in this country. Anyone who has lawfully entered the U.S. with a visa or work permit is eligible for a SSN, illegal aliens are not. In order to pay Social Security taxes, one must have a SSN. If an illegal alien has provided one to an employer, it is a fraudulent one, obtained illegally.
While many illegal aliens have taxes withheld, most of them live below the poverty level, receiving their taxes back as refunds. Additionally, many are receiving extra money from the government in the form of the Earned Income Credit, though by law, illegal aliens are not eligible. Of course, there are a great number who are paid under the table and never report their income.
We often hear the argument illegal aliens are only doing the jobs Americans will not do. The truth is they are willing to be exploited by greedy employers while American workers are not. Americans will work jobs if they are paid a fair wage, which will never happen as long as illegal aliens who are willing to work for substandard wages are flooding the market.
But, the argument goes, if wages were increased, the cost to the consumer would skyrocket. However, taking the agricultural industry for an example, using minimum wage workers instead of illegal aliens would raise the final cost of products only 3 to 4 percent.
Besides that, the American taxpayer is already paying outlandish costs to subsidize illegal aliens. Over 30 percent of the Federal prison population is comprised of non-residents at the cost of $1.6 billion annually. The American Hospital Association reported its member facilities provided $9.66 billion in uncompensated health care for non-citizens; 36 to 42 percent of illegal aliens receive welfare, contributing to the $10 to $15 billion the U.S. government spends annually to provide services for these people.
Add to that the 18 million Americans who cannot find jobs because the market is flooded with illegal aliens. The government picks up the tab for providing assistance to these workers plus loses whatever tax revenue they would have generated. More than 1.9 million American workers are displaced every year from their jobs by illegal aliens at a cost of $133 billion.
Over 300,000 pregnant women illegally enter this country each year. When they give birth to their child on American soil, that child is an American citizen. The government pays $109 billion annually to provide food, housing, medical aid and schooling for those children until they reach 18 years of age.
When you begin to add it all up, you can see why tax paying Americans bristle when we see thousands of illegal aliens marching through the streets demanding rights reserved for American citizens.
Google "Illegal Aliens and Taxes" to see these and more facts for yourself.
Michael C. Mahan, via e-mail
Warsaw
Welcome, Hispanics
Editor, Times-Union:I am amazed at how sheltered this community can be at times. I am proud to be a part of this community - black, white, Hispanic, etc.
Speaking as a caucasian, I enjoy having such diversity in a community. I have had the opportunity to play soccer with a great number of Hispanic men in this community, and I for one must say they are as much a part of this town as I am.
The funny thing is that we can learn a lot from their culture. I honestly feel that the Hispanic population has a greater sense of family and community than the majority of caucasians. Take a Sunday afternoon and go watch a soccer game. I guarantee you will see not only the players, but families lined up spending time together to support their fathers/husbands. I know you would see this as well at a softball game at the CCAC, but there is a different feel - don't believe me? Go check it out. And the players on my team who have a different ethnic background than I have done nothing but encourage and support me/us, even defending us in the conflict of a game. They have been much more accepting of us then we have been of them. What a shame that we are so stubborn that we wouldn't take a few minutes to learn a few key phrases in Spanish to be able to communicate.
I guarantee one day my children will learn to speak Spanish on some level to bridge this sad gap in society. To all the Hispanic people in Kosciusko County, I want to you know that you are appreciated and I look forward to the day we can look at each other with colorblind, eternal eyes!
Jon Hoover, via e-mail
Winona Lake
Vote For Gunter
Editor, Times-Union:Avis Gunter is a dedicated, knowledgeable county government elected official. She serves this community with an unbiased attitude, always seeking what is right and fair in every issue that is brought before the Kosciusko County Commissioners. I ask you to be sure and vote on May 2 and cast your vote to re-elect Avis Gunter.
Jean Northenor, via e-mail
Warsaw
Interpretation
Editor, Times-Union:In response to Mr. Neil Harris' letter printed April 13:
My initial response to Neil Harris' letter was, "I hope that's a misprint." Quoting from his letter, Mr. Harris stated that the government needs to "help us with this purge of crime and drug use and sales by Latino and confused whites in our area." (I'll take a breath.)
I appreciate the ongoing debate in our country concerning immigration. This is obviously something that, regardless of the "side" you take, needs to be addressed. If his statement is interpreted correctly, Mr. Harris has not only stated his own concern for illegal immigration, but he has determined that the primary contributions of these people are criminal. I myself do not believe this to be the primary contribution of aliens, either legal or illegal, but I'm sure one could make a good argument for this. However, I am not concerned with Mr. Harris' stance on immigration. His statement goes beyond the boundaries of this debate into entirely different areas altogether. The statement doesn't end here. Mr. Harris goes on to define this group in terms of "Latino and confused whites in our area." (Another breath, thank you.)
First, I would like to applaud (quietly) Mr. Harris for at least including whites in his statement. Perhaps he predicted a poor response from the community if he mentioned only Latinos and decided to be "sensitive." He did the noble thing and included "confused whites" as part of this group. Unfortunately, it didn't do the trick, and we are left with the following conclusion: If you are Latino (I'll be fair and assume he only meant illegal Latinos), you are destroying our community with crime and drugs, and you must leave. If you are white and involved in these activities, you are obviously confused. You're still scum, you just weren't born that way, and we expect more of you.
I can think of no other way to interpret Mr. Harris' statements. If the words he wrote meant something entirely different, I suggest another letter be submitted providing correction.
Dan Temple, via e-mail
Milford
Sheriff Race
Editor, Times-Union:This is in response to the letter from Kent Adams. I agree with everything Kent mentioned with one exception, there are four candidates for sheriff, not three.
Jim Bumbaugh, via e-mail
Democratic Candidate for Sheriff
Pierceton
[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092