When I read the comments and see the actions of some of our elected representatives and their inability to run our government and manage its finances – often based on misinformation and lies, I am disgusted and I hope you are too.
We are being pulled apart by extremism while the world laughs and our enemies salivate.
In the world in which we live isolating the US in any way is a formula for disaster. That includes tariffs, not supporting allies and friends against aggression and deporting illegal immigrants en mass. Doing all these things sounds simple and attractive, but they carry serious consequences and there is no net gain.
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
So, just to put a fine point on it, in terms of the burden the 8 – 10 million illegal immigrants (plus the unknown millions of known and unknown gotaways) cause … and these are after only a five minute search::
1. Illinois state government provides hundreds of migrants hotel housing in Chicago, https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/state-placing-hundreds-of-migrants-in-chicago-hotel-rooms/
2. California to offer 700,000 illegal immigrants free healthcare, https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/california-offer-illegal-immigrants-free-healthcare-deficit-soars-population-shrinks
3. Migrants get up to two years free rent in new apartments, https://www.newsweek.com/migrants-get-two-years-free-rent-new-apartments-1859556 and
4. California health insurance to cover sex changes for illegal immigrants. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/california-state-health-insurance-to-cover-sex-changes-for-illegal-immigrants/ar-AA1mEybz
5. NYC moves students out of classrooms to provide shelter for migrants in school building. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nyc-decision-move-migrants-tent-shelter-school-storm-draws-fire-rcna133236
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And, from today’s NY Times,, David Leonhardt said (comments in quotations)
“… In a poll from June 2023, 41 percent of U.S. adults thought that immigration levels should be decreased, while 26 percent thought that levels should be increased. Thirty-one percent thought that immigration should be kept at present levels. Source: Gallup | Latest data is from a June 2023 survey of 1,013 U.S. adults.
That trend has since reversed, … The biggest reason seems to be a surge of illegal immigration during President Biden’s term. One cause of that surge has been the Biden administration’s approach. Many would-be migrants now believe — correctly — that so long as they can reach U.S. soil, they will be able to stay for years. …
A chart shows how serious a problem people think illegal immigration in the U.S. is. As of December 2023, 71 percent of U.S. adults thought that illegal immigration was a very or somewhat serious problem, compared with 28 percent in May/June 2020. Source: YouGov | Latest data is from a December 2023 survey of 1,000 U.S. adults.”
“… Democrats assumed that a more open immigration policy would help increase their support among voters of color. Instead, the opposite has happened. … Even with all their current concerns, Americans are not opposed to immigration. Most say that legal immigrants strengthen the country, and many believe the U.S. should remain a haven for people fleeing repression. But most Americans also think that the country’s immigration laws should mean something and that citizens of other countries should not be able to enter this country simply because they want to. …”
legal immigration has averaged about 1mm a year every year since 1989 – including the Trump years.
According to the Current Population Survey, 14% of the 328MM individuals in America were foreign born – that is one of every seven people you encounter.
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Different day, same question. Apparently there is no law saying a convicted felon cannot serve as President. Even an incarcerated one, logic be damned.
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Dick – It’s encouraging to read your thoughts and the comments posted by your readers. As an individual living in Iowa (who primarily voted Republican in the past), I’m disgusted, embarrassed, and bewildered by how people can continue to cling to Trump and all the dangerous things he represents.
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I never voted for a Democrat in my life. I consider myself a bit right of center, but you are right. These are dangerous times when one person can bring out the worst in people. There are many parallels to Europe in the 1930s No need to listen to what others say about Trump, I urge people to read TruthSocial and read what he writes every day, every few hours in fact, and then honestly decide if that is the type of person they want leading our country and representing us to the world.
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Reading Trump Social provides only one approach to political ideolog. Additionally, you should consider reading Prequel, by Rachel Madow covering US History from the 1930’s through 1946 and The Kingdom, Power and Glory: Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism, by Tim Alberta. Both authors provide insightful information on our current political environment.
Dejavu 67
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You are correct that demonizing illegals does not help. But, it does attract votes from some people who fall for scapegoating. A long time favorite tool of would be dictators.
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You are so right. Why isn’t it obvious to everyone?
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Hi Dick, I don’t understand the allure of Trump. A man with zero interest, in anything that doesn’t serve him. A man who tried a coup , a man who would and will try again. A man who treats women as a trophy. A man who has no religion or beliefs in God. Where did the belief come about that he can do no wrong. I do pray that we return to civility and common sense .I was hopeful Chris Chrissy would have done better. He did speak the truth and paid for it. To me our country is at a very pivotal point.
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Very pivotal and dangerous IMO. That he can garner such support is very disturbing.
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To paraphrase John Stuart Mill, any free society will have both left-leaning and right-leaning members. In some societies, each side tries to gain dominance over the other in order to impose their will (at least for the next election cycle). The most successful societies are those where the two sides seek common ground, (perhaps because they are forced to by the voters), because neither side has a monopoly on good ideas. (Neither side will ever “convert” the other side to their point of view, but reasonable folks will often see some merit in the opposing viewpoint, if they engage in honest dialogue. But not if they engage in a brawl.)
Any political discussion today quickly becomes an argument over a number of predictable issues, all of which are indeed important, but the arguments are one-sided and angry, no room for finding common ground. And anyone who tries to compromise is labelled “spineless”, “wimp”, “waffler”, etc. Traits like intelligence, honesty, respect and decency are now derided, while “tough, fearless and take-no-prisoners” is lauded. A recent TV political add was sponsored by a PAC “Never give up, Never go back” or some such appellation. To which I infer: “Never consider the other side’s point of view, never rethink your position if new facts emerge” and they are proud of it!
If Mill were alive today and somehow elected to an office, he would be removed in the next primary!
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The UNITED States is only in name only. It is no longer the proverbial”melting pot”. I totally agree that the current financial trajectory for the federal and personal spending is NOT sustainable. Out of control spending currently and into the future leads to ruinous inflation. The current pause in higher inflation is temporary. We are ruining the monetary values of the US dollar. I have no answers other than government and people cut spending….which won’t happen!!
The frog is burning to a crisp in the now boiling water. Complacency rules!
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I wish someone would tell me how to fix the divisions in this Country. The Country is on a very bad path toward destruction.
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I wish that as well, but I can tell you, a good start is Trump going away and shutting up. What I say is not political, I don’t favor any politician, but this man’s actions, and words are dangerous. Just read what he writes every day on his TruthSocial. He is a bully and demagogue and manipulator of the worst kind. We deserve better candidates to consider.
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Mr Quinn, what you say is 100% correct. But, Trump has exposed a large problem between the elites and the rest of it. He didn’t create it, but he exposed it and now it’s here. We have about 330m people in this Country, and Trump and Biden are the best we can do? Shame on us!
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If we continue the open border policy, what will the US look like in 20 years? We don’t know how many people cross each year and the ones who are stopped are handed a card to show up some time in the future to present their case. That appointment is now years in the future. The number of “gotaways” is estimated at 1000 per day by various government officials but that number could be much higher because it is a mere guess.
Now I agree that people who have located work here and have a place to live can’t be uprooted or returned. It’s simply not feasible. But I can’t agree that the open borders crowd can continue to morph this country into God knows what. That is reason enough for me to vote against anyone who will sit on their hands and let it continue.
As for foreign incursions in the guise of “treaty agreements” or holding the line against the “powerful”Russia. I say “balderdash”. We have spent every year since WWII fighting someone or something around the globe. Time to recognize DOD means Defense, not Offense.
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The fact is there is not an open border policy, the border is overwhelmed. There are 200,000 or so apprehensions a month.
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When the border is overwhelmed, you rush reinforcements to make it not so. Reinforcements are not provided, BP lets all through that they interdict except for a handful of notorious bad actors they might apprehend. That is de facto policy. 200k per month doesn’t account for those who go through uncounted hence the gotaway estimates.
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how many are released back into the country?
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It is no surprise that the biggest gap now between parties is the education gap. MAGA drove most of the educated class out of the Republican Party.
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Illegal immigrants broke the law entering the country, thus “illegal”–your words not mine. Didn’t I read here a few weeks ago that illegal immigrants were a net plus for our country. I wonder why NJ, NYC, Chicago, and many other sanctuary locales are now moving them to another venue.
If their presence was a net plus they would be welcomed by Edison, Newark, and NYC. It was all well and fine to call folks bigots and racists until they rolled into the places that promised to help them. What do they say in Texas?; “big hat no cattle.” “All talk no walk.”
As my father would say; “those folks have a plan for you and a plan for themselves. The plan for you does not include them.”
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Yes, illegal is illegal and there needs to be a better way.
However, there are roughly 11 million undocumented persons residing in the US 22% of whom have lived here 20 years or more. They make up 4.6% of the US workforce. They perform vital jobs in agriculture and construction. They pay all kinds of taxes from local sales to Social Security taxes and can’t claim a benefit. Yes, there is a net economic gain. Instead of working toward a better solution over the last eight years the immigrant issue has been politicized and now gotten out of hand. But in the end, they are people, mostly young people trying to escape something far worse than what they now face here. We could turn this to our advantage as the population needs worker growth, instead we want to build a wall.
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You mean the “working class”–“blue collars” like my parents are no longer Democrats–the rich coastal folks are now Democrats while the working class are Republicans.
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That is where it gets interesting because Democratic policies favor the working class, are more union friendly, etc, while tax cuts for the rich are on of the few coherent policies left in the GOP.
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First Trust (an investment firm) does a Three on Thursday and a few weeks ago they presented a chart showing the estimate for 2023 was that after contributing to the economy the net benefit was a minus $1,000 per person U.S. total population in excess of 300 million thus the cost is staggering–remember if they were a plus nobody would be trying to move them along.
Brother Quinn uses the 10 million illegal figure which we have all heard for 15-years or more–Harvard did a study, maybe 5 years ago, and estimated 20 million–let’s assume many illegals become legal, but let’s be honest here there have been a dramatic increase in illegals–come to this country legally and we are fine. Nobody should be above the law according to Nancy Pelosi.
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It was Yale and MIT and is was six years ago. https://thehill.com/latino/407848-yale-mit-study-22-million-not-11-million-undocumented-immigrants-in-us/ most sources still use 11 million though
If the is correct, then it seems to prove the point they are needed in society. They don’t get welfare or other benefits except emergency health care. The do contribute $7 to $10 billion a year to SS plus Medicare taxes as well.
Nothing says we should not enforce our laws and have a workable immigration system, but demonizing illegals doesn’t help.
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Once more:
Please show the specific economic analysis which confirms, net, net, over time, that all of the illegal immigration (the 8MM to 10MM illegal entrants over the past three years) will in fact result in any economic gain to American citizens, taken as a group (let alone a “significant” gain). That analysis doesn’t exist.
Then, make sure that you adjust the loss in the initial analysis for all of the crime, environmental loss, law enforcement, and other costs. Then, make sure that you adjust the loss for the costs involved when there are Americans receiving welfare and other transfer payments because they won’t do certain jobs. That is, if we didn’t pay them not to work, there would be no work for illegal immigrants.
Make sure you separate out legal and illegal immigration. I am a first generation American-born, my mom came over on the boat through Ellis Island. There was a requirement that she be sponsored by someone here, and there was no government provided food, clothing, shelter, bus tickets, health care, etc.
America has long been a nation of legal immigrants – and with exceptions for certain small countries in Europe, a larger portion of American citizens and legal residents were born somewhere else.
But, it is a fantasy that all those who come here illegally contribute in excess of taking.
11 Million is a dated, government statistic. We don’t know how many illegal immigrants are physically present in America since the federal government does not track them. Remember, they have a hard enough time counting noses in the decennial census.
In terms of my 8+MM number (which does not include known got-aways, let alone the unknown got-aways), the federal government’s Customs & Border Protection is my source: https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/nationwide-encounters
Yes, there is a dramatic difference between legal and illegal immigrants – in terms of employment, taxes, etc.
I have never seen a study that actually separately identifies all of the economic activity of illegal immigrants, and I have read many studies that purport to show they are a positive economic addition. All of those studies remind me of the famous quote often attributed to Mark Twain: There are lies, damned lies and and then there are statistics.
In terms of net contributions, how about this report from Kaiser, which comes to us via National Public Radio – More states extend health coverage to immigrants even as issue inflames GOP, 12/29/23:
“… A growing number of states are opening taxpayer-funded health insurance programs to immigrants, including those living in the U.S. without authorization, even as Republicans assail President Joe Biden over a dramatic increase in illegal crossings of the southern border. …”
Jack note: Remember, health reform access to the public exchanges, Medicaid, etc. was supposed to be limited to those “lawfully present”. Is there any wonder why we are running $2+ Trillion a year annual deficits.
https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/states-health-coverage-medicaid-immigrants-expansion/
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/california-1st-state-offer-health-insurance-undocumented-immigrants/story?id=105986377
Eleven states and Washington, D.C., together provide full health insurance coverage to more than 1 million low-income immigrants regardless of their legal status, according to state data compiled by KFF Health News. Most aren’t authorized to live in the U.S., state officials say. Enrollment in these programs could nearly double by 2025 as at least seven states initiate or expand coverage. In January, Republican-controlled Utah will start covering children regardless of immigration status, while New York and California will widen eligibility to cover more adults.
Given that trend, it won’t be long before those who pay taxes in America will not only pay more for other legal residents’ health coverage (Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans, etc.) that they do for their own coverage, they will also pay more for illegals’ health coverage (directly through taxes, or indirectly through ever greater deficit spending) when compared to what they pay for their own coverage.
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Non of the costs you cite apply to legal immigrants and U.S. born citizens? If a state decides to expand Medicaid, so be it. What have Americans on welfare to do with it? Are you saying illegals take jobs they would do? Do you deny illegals pay billions each year in taxes?
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You ask: None of the costs you cite apply to legal immigrants and U.S. born citizens?
Sure they do. And, because I am a US Citizen, I pay my taxes and I expect legal immigrants, naturalized citizens and US born citizens to also pay their taxes. While I may not agree with how the federal and state government spend my tax dollars, I reserve the right as a taxpayer and a citizen to criticize, at the top of my voice, shouting my objection to spending my tax dollars AND YOURS, on illegal aliens.
If legal sponsorship was good enough for my mom, it should be good enough for every alien. If my grandmother had to come to America after satisfying all the requirements, and documentation, what reason is there for others to simply swim across the Rio Grande to gain entrance?
You state: If a state decides to expand Medicaid, so be it.
No! Both Medicaid and health reform are supposed to limit access to taxpayer-funded coverage to those lawfully present. It is in the legislation. So said President Obama. It became one of the many of his Health Reform lies – keep your own doctor, keep your own plan, save $2,000 a year, not add one thin dime to the deficit, illegals are not eligible.
OK by me if another state decided to spend their taxpayer money. However, ~70+% of Medicaid is funded by federal taxes (or, today, federal deficit spending).
You ask: What have Americans on welfare to do with it?
It would be nothing if American enforced immigration laws. But, when folks justify illegal immigration by stating that we need labor, coupled with paying able bodied people to stay home and collect on the dole, that brings welfare recipients into the discussion. Our willingness to pay able bodied people to stay home is not a reasonable justification for allowing illegal immigration. Obviously, able bodied individuals on welfare can do general labor the same as or better than any of the unskilled illegal immigrants – probably better since English may be the welfare recipients’ first language.
You ask: Are you saying illegals take jobs they would do? Yes. If we stopped paying able bodied people welfare, they would either have to turn to crime or employment, or get mom and dad to provide financial support.
Hey, my bet is that you accepted that minimum wage job, just like I did. For me, I had a succession of jobs, first working with a plasterer, oftentimes hauling 80 – 100 lb bags, mixing mud, carrying it up flights of steps in the hod. Next, with a house painter – outdoors, scraping and sanding. Then, general labor at a catholic high school (painting the football bleachers, running the dishwasher, bussing tables, etc.) Later, I was flipping hamburgers at my second job, since my day job, wearing the green, didn’t provide enough income to exceed the poverty line.
Is that kind of work not good enough for folks on welfare? It was good enough for you, and it was good enough for me.
You ask: Do you deny illegals pay billions each year in taxes?
I don’t know if they do. But if they do, it is mostly in employment taxes (which, for wage workers, are mostly impossible to avoid), but they likely owe much more in income taxes. So, if they are paying billions each year in employment taxes, it is because they stole someone’s identify – and, they probably aren’t filing federal and state income tax returns, so they may owe tens of billions that remain unpaid.
More importantly, even if they were paying taxes the same as you or me, that doesn’t offset the costs of the 8 – 10 million illegals who came here over the past three years who are receiving various forms of support from the federal government. Most of them are not working, or they are working in the underground economy.
How do I know that? The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the labor force each month. In January 2021, the civilian labor force was 160,161,000 (depressed due to COVID, compared to 164,455,000 in January 2020). Post-COVID, unemployment is down to 3% – 4% and the labor force has rebounded as folks returned to the workforce. The civilian labor force in December 2023 was 164,224,000 – pretty much the same as in January 2020, despite the significant increase in adults in the population – which increased from 259,500,000 in January 2020 to 264,844,000 in December 2023.
Where are those 8 to 10 million working, taxpaying illegal aliens who came to America in the last three years?
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