Are Illegal Mexicans Really Bad For America?

I've been thinking again. I know some of myto be anti-illegals only. That is suspect with a
readers regard that as a dangerous thing. Forcapital "S". However, for the sake of argument,
instance, the guy who ended his last letter to melet's give them the benefit of the doubt. Their
with a "your hypocrisy knows no bounds". I getideology is that illegals are "bad" for America-but is
these sorts of letters all the time.that really true?
But, I have been thinking and, of course, I have· The untested assumption that illegals are
been thinking about America's obsession withbad economically for America is based on the
shutting down the Mexican-American border. Youfalse notion that there is only a certain amount of
would wonder why I don't tire of this rhetoric andjobs available in America for anyone to perform.
the reason is simple. America needs the likes ofIt is false because it assumes that what people
your humble and gracious columnist remindingwant to consume is limited. When you understand
them to get out of that box of uncritical thinkingthat what America wants to consume in terms of
and untested assumptions.goods and service is actually UNLIMITED then you
So here goes:will understand that the amount of jobs needed
1. When last I wrote on this issue, I dealt withto provide America's ever increasing UNLIMITED
just one of thedesire for more goods and services will always be
-country group's axes to grind-The Americanscarce. If surplus labor EVER occurs, look to the
health care system. I made the point that at lastreal cause-the government-not to the false notion
some studies are coming out which show thatthat Mexicans are taking away all the jobs.
Mexican immigrants, legal or otherwise, are NOT· What about the idea that illegals are sucking
sucking dry the American health care system.[1]American health care dry? See footnote number
More studies are needed. This one needs1 and read my article. But let's assume for the
replicating (see this footnote2). More will besake of argument that this is true. If illegals are
forthcoming I am sure.sucking dry American taxpayer-funded social
2. Another issue that all the Minuteman Projectservices then cut off the dole to illegals and
groups and their ilk espouse is whether MexicanAmerican citizens as well. Stop the handouts to
immigrants, legal or illegal, are destroying thepeople who won't work. I am not saying to apply
American economy. The Chris Simcoxs3 of thisthis to people who cannot work-the truly disabled
world would have you believe that immigrants ofdeserve support. What I am saying is to stop the
any kind are a bad thing all around. They gofreebies and put an end, once and for all, to the
beyond the pale to try to make the point thatwelfare state! If the Minuteman yahoos really
Mexicans do NOT come to America to try towant to be patriots, then they should devote
better their lives but to take back the portion oftheir time to getting rid of a system that caters
America that America stole from Mexico-they callto malingerers and nonproducers-illegals and
them invaders.American alike. Destroy the system that caters
Think about these few points:to the "good-for-nothings" and they will no longer
· Most Mexican immigrants, both legal andcome. There will nothing for them to take
illegal, come to America to seek an opportunity toadvantage of!
better their economic circumstances. If you hold aWHY ON EARTH IS THIS NOT SELF-EVIDENT?
different view then show me the proof. Show"If immigration overloads government services -
me the evidence in the form of properlyhospitals, schools, et cetera - it's just another
conducted studies with replicated results inreason to privatize them. Do Wal-Mart, Kroger,
additional studies and then we will talk.and Blockbuster Video complain about a flood of
· Did you know that less than 20 millionnew customers?"[4]
Americans will visit Mexico this year as tourists?[1] Are Mexican's Really Sucking Dry American
That is a mere drop in the bucket of those whoHealth Care; Doug Bower;
could come and drop some money into the[2] Read my series on Phone-Baloney Detection
Mexican economy that would provide more jobsLessons at
for those illegals who come to America to find[3] Co-leader and founder of the Minuteman
work instead.Project
· Legals or illegals come to America to offer[4] Sheldon Richman is senior fellow at The Future
their ability to work. They understand that inof Freedom Foundation, author of Tethered
order to "get" they have to "give".Citizens: Time to Repeal the Welfare State, and
· The Minuteman Project and their kind claimeditor of The Freeman magazine.