issuesIMMIGRATION
The Problem: False Assumptions about the "Cost" to taxpayers of Illegal Immigration (Guest Commentary)
Editor's Note: We
have chosen to feature this guest article because although immigration
is not an issue of great consensus among Libertarians, a large number
of us favor open borders. True Liberty has no borders. I offer equal
time to any opposing views.
There they go again ... By Jose Cancela.
I guess once was not enough,
so the group of angry, fear-mongering loudmouths mimicking Lou Dobbs,
trying to make names for themselves by whipping up an anti-immigrant
frenzy are at it again. Just read the headline below.
***The
Federation for American Immigration Reform holds its annual “Hold Their
Feet to the Fire” talk radio rally September 10 and 11 in Washington, DC.
FAIR
expected this to be the largest of these events with upwards of 50 to
75 talk radio hosts expected to broadcast from Washington. FAIR says
the goal of the event is to “counteract the special interests
attempting to set an amnesty agenda for the new Congress and the next
president.”
The group wants to repeat a “Radio Row”
rally in Washington, D.C., just like the hate-fest it held last year.
Back then it brought together 37 talk show hosts to broadcast from
Washington, D.C. for three days, with the goal of stopping the
immigration reform legislation moving through congress. ***
The
problem with FAIR is, it isn't fair. The group's acronym is grossly
inappropriate. It uses half-truths and distortions to support
immigration policies that are really just a thin disguise for
anti-Hispanic racism.
Its founder, John Tanton, has compared
immigrants to bacteria. Tanton also runs The Social Contract Press,
which the Southern Poverty Law Center lists as a hate group because of
its anti-Latino and white supremacist writings. Some internal memos
written by Tanton got out to the public a few years back, in which he
questioned Latinos' “educability.”
FAIR contends “illegal immigrants” cost us millions of dollars for health care, education and law enforcement. Just last month I pointed out the findings of a study by the well-known and respected Rand Corporation which said flatly that while Medicaid pays an estimated $1.1 billion a year for the care of undocumented immigrants, those same “illegal immigrants” contribute an estimated $8.5 billion every year for Social Security and Medicare taxes - that they never collect.
Let me explain that for the folks at FAIR, who seem to have weak math skills: that means...
U.S. citizens get to keep and use $7.4 billion the “illegals” pay.
And
while it's true that if you just count state taxes the undocumented
immigrants pay there generally is a net cost compared to the services
they use, that's only true if you don't count all the revenue they
produce. “Illegal immigrants” buy food and gas and other things, too.
In Texas alone, a state study estimated that approximately 1.4 million undocumented immigrants produced $1.58 billion in state revenues, substantially surpassing the $1.16 billion in state services they received.
It
is really sad to see this sort of behavior from individuals who are
supposed to be the truth-keepers of the airwaves. They would all do
themselves a favor by reading Geraldo's Rivera's latest book, His
Panic. In it, Rivera takes on the myths and lies that are used daily,
to turn immigration reform into a wedge issue in our country.
Lastly,
it would be great to see the Spanish language radio broadcasters come
together during the same time period and have their voices heard in DC
as well.
Working together for proper PPM measurement is a good
thing for them to do for the industry, working together for the truth
about the undocumented, is the right thing to do for our country.
By: Jose Cancela copyright HispanicAD.com
Jose Cancela is
Principal of Hispanic USA Inc, a full service Hispanic Market
Communications firm. He has also the author of “The Power of Business
en Español, Seven Fundamental Keys to Unlocking the Potential of the
Spanish Language Hispanic Market” Rayo / HarperCollins
A Libertarian Response: An Answer to Xenophobic Obfuscation
Lets forget for a moment that
in a Libertarian world, there would be no taxation or publicly funded
healthcare to worry about. In the current reality it is popular to cite
all the costs to society imposed by illegals. It is good that our guest
columnist gives a math lesson to the hate-mongers. Even as things stand
today, illegal immigrants contribute substantially more to the state in
social security and Medicare taxes than they receive back (precisely
because they are illegal and therefore can't collect), and
contribute substantially to the economy in ways that could not
be replaced without them.
The
bottom line is that our aging society is desperately in need of an
infusion of new workers and younger workers. Other than the immigrant
population, Americans are not even replacing themselves any more. The
"zero population growth" movement of the last century has succeeded too
well. Each year the United States is in need of more young workers to
take the place of older reitring ones. The infusion is necessary to
keep the current tax burden spread as thinly as possible and to
contribute more consumers.
Having said that, lets remember that when
the Libertarian Party is the majority party in the United States there
will be no taxation and no public services, therefore there will be
much less fodder for xenophobic obfuscation.
Our national economic woes will all be
resolved with enough new consumers entering the country. More
consumers means more cash into the economy and more demand for goods
and services. The greater the demand, the greater the postivie impact
on employment at all levels, on business, and on the overall economy--
regardless of the price of gasoline or the value of housing. In fact, a
large infusion of new residents creates pressure on the housing market
and may restore value to this sector of the economy much more quickly
than could ever be achieved otherwise. Further, immigrants save money
at a much higher rate than natives, and their presence here will
relieve pressure on financial institutions and ease credit restrictions.
That's
the economic argument. What about the moral argument? In my humble
opinion, we cannot be the "Land of the Free" or the party of Liberty if
we don't continue to be the world's one refuge to the "tired,
the poor, the teaming masses yearing to be free." Our newcomers remind
us how fortunate we are, even in a down economy or a bear market. They
remind us it is still possible to be upwardly mobile in this country--
more than any other-- if one is willing to risk everything, work hard,
and be frugal. Without a constant influx of (potential) new
citizens it is too easy for the rest of us to grow complacent, elitist,
even paranoid-- all at our own peril.
Obviously
there are the usual concerns about criminals, deadbeats and terrorists
coming across the border but these people can be intercepted by routine
police action and intelligence. These are the people most likely to
find a way into the country no matter what. This risk should not be
used as a pretext for tighter border controls, or any border controls!
Those
of us who grew up on the Canadian border understand how much can by
gained by contiguous nations with essentially open borders. Every entry point in the United States should be managed like the Canadian border. A quick stop, a friendly greeting: "Where do you live? Where are you going? How long will you be there? Enjoy your stay." -jwh-
Again: Equal time is always available. Submit your counterpoints and your Amens.