Jessy Ventura on illegal immigration, warns against building a wall
By EvanHunter
@EvanHunter (4026)
United States
May 27, 2010 2:39pm CST
The other day when I was watching an interview he did on Larry King they were talking about the illegal immigration issue. He said he is against building a wall to keep illegal immigrants out for the simple fact that any wall that is used to keep people out can also become a wall to keep people in. He also said if the government wants to really bring a end to illegal immigration than all they need to do is crack down on the ones hiring them. If you read my other post than you know I have already said if they want to get serious about it all they need to do is put in some jail time for companies who hire illegal immigrants than the job market would dry up over night. While I have to agree on these two statements the third statement he said was expect a tremendous rise in the cost of food. I think the reality is that it might happen at first but it would probably bring back a lot of the individual farmers that have been hurt by the large corporate farms and can't compete against them. I think prices might rise but small farmers would make a come back because of it. Whats your thought is a wall a bad idea? Could it lead to a new "Berlin wall" on our border? Do you agree with the former governor that going after the companies that employ them would put an end to it?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@sierras236 (2739)
• United States
27 May 10
Sure going after some companies might shut down some of the more obvious incomes of illegal immigration. Still isn't going to completely stop it no matter how many companies you shut down. Some will probably just change their name and start back all over again. After all, where there is the potential for profit, there is a way around the law. Congress doesn't enforce the illegal immigration laws that are in place so what makes you think that such a law would get enforced, especially under this particular administration? Would have to look up the contributions made by agricultural lobbying. Wonder what kind of loopholes that bill would have.
A wall is a physical deterrent. At the very least it would decrease the flow coming into the country simply because not everyone can climb it. It wouldn't stop but it would have the effect of slowing things down.
The most effective means would be a combination of both. It is either that or the extreme option.
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
27 May 10
I don't expect our government to enforce it. Our government seems to be trying to eliminating any boundaries between us and Mexico no matter how the people feel about it. The point is though if states want to get tough on the issue it would be in the right step to seek jail time for those who hire them. The decrease in the number of illegal immigrants in the United States is directly connected to the slow economy so that alone proves that if people wouldn't hire them they wouldn't be here. If people can force their own home state to adopt legislation to put jail time on companies that hire them than it would be a step in the right direction.
@sierras236 (2739)
• United States
28 May 10
While I agree in theory, it is the practicality that throws this option out the window. Just look at all the flax Arizona has taken just for passing a law that is similar to Federal law.
But it isn't just that. Think about it. A lot of these companies that hire illegals are in the construction business. Which usually means they hire by the day only. So by the time that authorities moved in, they could easily be gone. Unless you have officers inspecting papers at every construction site, which is highly impractical, you won't even touch half of these companies. I just use this type of business as an example of the highly mobile nature of some of these companies.
In order for such a law to actually work, you have to look into the type of industries that employee illegal aliens. Thus, the accusations of discrimination would be the same arguments that are now being tossed around.
I am merely pointing out the potential flaws in such a law. I agree that it would be a step in the right direction, if the practicality wasn't so appalling hard to implement.
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
28 May 10
I see your point and it would be difficult to enforce without setting up some kind of sting operation. But on the other hand I know of two companies just minutes from where I live that have been raided multiple times and they get a slap on the hand pay a little fine and than back to business as usual. The money they save more than pays for the fine so it is profitable for them to just keep breaking the law again and again. Something needs to be done.
@laglen (19759)
• United States
28 May 10
I have mixed feelings on the wall idea. Regarding employers, I believe that is a good first step. But then you also have to take away the social programs. Here where I live, it says right on the app that you will not be asked your citizenship status. How about housing? Our very own President's Aunt was here illegally and lived in subsidized housing. So hitting employers is a good START
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
28 May 10
I agree it is a good start also but it will take people who really want to see something done about it for it to ever happen because you know corporations will jump all over it and lobby against it.
@grammasnook (1871)
• United States
28 May 10
When she received the housing she was here legally, it should be up to the housing authority to make sure paperwork is up to date in this circumstance. The thing is helping to fix the illegal immigrant issue is going to take so many different people involved not just the government. We as US citizens should be obligated to report illegals, just like we do child abuse and so on. We all have to be a part of it. Instead like everything else many close their eyes out of sight out of mind.
It is a good start, many people just pull in a paycheck without reenforcing their positions or doing their jobs. Many People in general in the US has become so greedy and manipulative that nobody matters but themselves.
1 person likes this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
28 May 10
Let me also add that the president's aunt's case was on appeal and, as everyone should know, there is no action taken against anyone who's case is on appeal.
1 person likes this
@nzinky (822)
• United States
29 May 10
I'm for keeping people out of the country that don't belong here......And our laws should be inforced but the federal government is to stupid to go to The Boarder States and see what's going on......Nevada is trying to pass the same law tha Arizona passed.....
And any state that don't like it we can boycott like California......We have to do more than we are doing now......Cause now we are doing nothing.....that's why the illegals are taking over......
And if Ice don't want to do their job then fire all of them and get some new ones that will do the job....
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
29 May 10
Funny how the government is telling us we are under the constant threat of terrorist attack but won't do anything about illegal immigration or securing the border, kind of makes you think don't it?
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
27 May 10
No, I don't agree that building the wall has any similarity to the Berlin Wall. I don't believe that we have a problem with Americans illegally entering Mexico or that droves of us will suddenly wish to and will then be stopped. Americans go to Mexico to spend money, not to work.
As far as food prices go, this is a common misconception. The large, corporate farms do not hire undocumented immigrants because they are legal entities who have to account for their employees and their expenses to the federal government. They are unable to pay cash under the table. It's the small farms and the independent contractors who are hired by the large commercial operations who hire illegal immigrants and pay them off the books. Also please keep in mind that the cost of picking the fruit and vegetables and processing the m is a minimal part of the cost to the consumer. There are overhead expenses that the companies incure, such as the cost of maintaining facilities and equipmant, packaging and shipping that will not change. This theory about the cost of food is one of the scare tactics used by those who would like things to remain the same in this country.
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
27 May 10
As far as the little farmers and illegal immigrants as help, I said before we can take some of the money that we are currently paying farmers to grow grass and use that to hire people legally. I know of one person who got over 10k a year to basically not grow anything but grass...
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
27 May 10
You should do some research on farm subsidies and the reason we have them. These subsidies are in place to keep the cost of food relatively level from year to year...globally. They help farmers when they have a bad year and have little to no crops but, more importantly, they make it possible for the small farmers to be able to sell their crops. If the agriculture business was run without an eye on supply and demand, small farmers would find themselves with no market for their crops because there was too much of the same product available on the market.
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
27 May 10
Getting a bit off topic here but..
* Farm subsidies are intended to alleviate farmer poverty, but the majority of subsidies go to commercial farms with average incomes of $200,000 and net worths of nearly $2 million.
* Farm subsidies are intended to raise farmer incomes by remedying low crop prices. Instead, they promote overproduction and therefore lower prices further.
* Farm subsidies are intended to help struggling family farmers. Instead, they harm them by excluding them from most subsidies, financing the consolidation of family farms, and raising land values to levels that prevent young people from entering farming.
* Farm subsidies are intended to be consumer-friendly and taxpayer-friendly. Instead, they cost Americans billions each year in higher taxes and higher food costs.
Let me say I am in no way supporting this website but they do have some valid points:
http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2007/06/how-farm-subsidies-harm-taxpayers-consumers-and-farmers-too
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
28 May 10
I do like the idea of going after the companies that hire illegals, but jailing isn't enough. These businesses are hiring illegals because they don't want to pay minimum wage. If it cost them, in fines, more than it would cost to pay their employees minimum wage, that could be a financial reason not to hire illegals, especially if they got fined on a regular bases.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
27 May 10
I agree. Besides if we build a wall...they will just climb over it. Going after the employers is teh way to go. If they can't find jobs they won't come here. So we need to stop them from getting a job. Make it a felony to hire an illegal. Then enforce the heck out of it. it won't take long for any company to be too scared to hire an illegal. If they can't make a living...they will stop coming.
simple as that.
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
27 May 10
I recall seeing a news show about ten years ago now where one town that had a wall put up and they found multiple houses on both sides that had tunnels running back and forth. So I don't think it would help either.
