There have been some rumblings lately about an official memo from the feds discussing what can be done to give amnesty to illegals utilizing an executive order from the president. Both political parties have dragged their feet on this issue, but the current president seems to be thinking of bypassing Congress completely and using his executive powers to allow millions of folks who entered this country illegally the right to stay indefinitely and possibly become citizens before people who have been waiting in line for years to get here. To reward people for breaking the law is wrong and violates Americans” sense of fair play and to execute an end run around Congress and the voters seems to go against everything this country is supposed to stand for.
Besides the ethics of the situation there are financial ramifications as well. California simply can”t continue to throw out the welcome mat for anyone that takes a shine to our state. The state is broke, the whole country is broke. Lake County is one of the very few counties in California that is still in the black. California will be lucky if it doesn”t have to declare bankruptcy before this is all over. Some even suggest that bankruptcy is the cure because then the state can break union contracts and renegotiate more frugal salary and benefits packages. Additionally, some union pension plans are underwater and begging the federal government for a handout. More money we don”t have.
While I have sympathy for Mexico and all the problems it is having with its many violent drug cartels, we just can”t keep absorbing folks fleeing the chaos down there. We have to secure our borders and we need to do it immediately. If the feds won”t do it I hope the states will continue to try to pass laws that will realistically address the situation and the polls suggest a majority of Americans agree with me. Let”s face it, our financial picture is bleak and will be for some time to come.
Millions of baby boomers are poised to begin collecting Social Security benefits, except for one glaring problem. Social Security is broke. I don”t know about anyone else, but I need a future Social Security check to make ends meet. Yes, I have a few other retirement investments, but they took a big hit in the recession and I am going to need my Social Security to pay the bills. Although Social Security is often called an “entitlement program” it is one I have been paying into since I went to work at 14 years old when my father died. It is my hard- earned money and I want it.
It may seem harsh to say that I would rather the feds fund Social Security than spend money on folks who came here illegally, but there it is. I want elderly American citizens to receive the benefits that they have been paying into for the last 40-plus years. I want what the United States government promised us before they start making any more promises to anymore people, especially ones that are here illegally.
Maybe someday in the future we will be prosperous again, I certainly hope so. If, and when, that happens I think most Americans would consider doing something to assist our southern neighbor financially or in any other way we all deem necessary, but with our ever- increasing debt I”m not sure we can even keep ourselves out of the poorhouse. It is time to help Americans find jobs and some small amount of financial security. Being pro-American doesn”t mean you are anti-anyone else and bussing SEIU members from California to Phoenix isn”t going to change my mind. The well is dry, the money is gone and no amount of denial or yelling in the world is going to change that fact.
Mary Becker is a former San Francisco business owner who now lives in Lake County. Contact her at mbnorthernlights@gmail.com.
