A recent proposal by New York State Assemblyman Sheldon Silver to grant illegal immigrants government aid to attend college has me pondering why those who live by the laws of this country, pay taxes on time, serve communities through volunteer work, and work to support their families don't become criminals so they can share in the "wealth" of benefits with those who come to this country illegally, those who can but choose not to work and reap the benefits of public assistance, and those who sponge off of the working people of this country. Why not, what's the point of working and being a good citizen if the benefits go to the illegal, unmotivated and/or lazy users and abusers of Lady Liberty?
I read numerous publications and see jobs available in many areas of this country (granted many are minimum wage positions), yet all we read about is the high rate of unemployment in this country. Now, I'm not a rocket scientist, so in the words of Denzel Washington in the movie "Philadelphia," "Explain to me like I am a 2-year-old," might it make sense if our government places more harsh restrictions on public assistance, possibly motivating some to go out and pursue some of those advertised job openings, possibly reducing the amount of assistance, lowering some of that unemployment rate, and increasing the amount of taxes paid because people are employed?
I know many jobs listed might not be jobs some might want but A job is better than NO job. Some might not want the advertised jobs maybe because they aren't easy or "prominent" in the eyes of some, but no legitimate job is unimportant in today's world. Some might find it easier to wait until their benefit card is recharged monthly, and still live in their low-income housing, receive their low (or no) income health insurance, and now people who are in this country illegally are possibly going to receive tuition benefits, taking away from children of those who do the working, pay the taxes, follow the laws, and serve their communities?
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J. Paul Lombardo
I'm not sure who slipped what into Mr. Silver's coffee, but this proposal is ridiculous, preposterous, and ludicrous, and one has to ask what his motives are in proposing it.
While my son was attending college, I spent enormous amounts of time on the computer and phone trying to get him the benefits that he qualified for, though they only amounted to a drop in the bucket. Twice in his four collegiate years, there was some kind of snafu wherever the TAP office is located and he was told he would not be receiving his mere pittance from New York state. It was back to the phones numerous times, being put on hold numerous times, then speaking to employees of TAP who had difficulty with language and the knowledge of my son's portfolio. On one of those occasions, we were sent a hard copy of a new application, totaling seven pages, which was sent to our home with an extremely short time limit for which we could return it so he could receive what he was approved to receive (as small an amount as it was). When we received it here, while he was at school, we had to make a trip to his college (fortunately only a trip to Buffalo) to fill it out and have him sign it so it could be postmarked before the deadline. This was in October. He finally received his "benefit" in March.
My point is, why do we keep rewarding those who do virtually nothing to help the economy of this country? We're talking about people who are living illegally in this country. When our ancestors came to this country, they docked at Ellis Island and registered, as was the law. Many of them did what they could to earn citizenship in this country. Many fought for this country in wars and conflicts. Many found menial labor jobs and paid taxes to their new country and didn't complain about it. They raised their families, followed the laws of this nation, had their children educated so they could have a better life, but they didn't just take. They put back into the coffers of this country. They didn't want charity.
With the situation today you can't even call what's being given to illegals, or those who don't want to work, charity. Today, many who live illegally, or are satisfied not working but collecting, expect these things to be given to them, and it appears the more they get, the more they want. They believe they deserve it and are entitled to it. This attitude seems to be fueled by people like Mr. Silver when they keep giving to "Paul" (the illegals and unmotivated) by robbing "Peter" (the working people, taxpayers, community minded citizens).
There have been decisions in some states to prohibit illegals from receiving drivers' licenses unless they're citizens, or banning people from receiving benefits without passing drug tests. Why is it only happening in some states? Why isn't it national policy?
We're the United States of America. Why don't we become united when it comes to restricting the doling out "free" money, housing and life to the "gimmies" of this country? If we were, maybe some of these illegals and unmotivateds wouldn't be able to just move from place to place and live off of others. Maybe more people would be motivated to get off of their couches, get one of those advertised jobs, or become legal, tax-paying citizens of this country.
Regardless of the national picture, Mr. Silver needs to be inundated with letters and phone calls expressing the absurdity of his most recent proposal.