Re: There is no point ... the discussion should be about the demise of Sunny
> > No, I NEVER said that "making money was more important
> than
> > anything else."
> >
> > That quote or paraphrase has never appeared in my post.
> > NEVER.
>
> It certainly seemed implied. Yes, that exact phrase cannot
> be found in your posts.
To be clear, I have never implied or said that "making money was more important than anything else" in this post or any other post. NEVER.
You are simply mistaken.
What I do say is that those broadcasting companies, just like a grocery store, a shoe repairman, an airline, etc., are a business.
For example, a grocer does not operate so that you and I may enjoy steak, Twinkies, orange juice, etc. He operates to make money.
How I feel about it is irrevelant.
> > I understand that you do. And I understand your passion.
>
> Cool..Thanks. When a major radio station, such as KEGL,
> flips to a non-English format, I think it's a big deal.
We just disagree. I listened to the Eagle only in the 1980s. Outgrew it.
When it disappeared, it meant nothing to me.
The flipping of Sunny to the new format is also meaningless to me except for the purposes of discussion.
> > Most of the workers that did roofing, bricklaying and
> other
> > manual labor jobs 30, 40 or more years ago, are either
> > retired or dead today.
>
> I don't think you have to look back that far. I have talked
> to people in construction. People who used to build homes
> here in their home state of Texas. They have either had to
> go out of business, or move away from their families to a
> place where illegal immigration has not yet made it's
> impact.
However, most Hispanics living in Texas are not illegal immigrants. Most live here legally, pay their taxes, contribute to the economy, etc.
> > It is not a living wage, but the minimum wage in America
> has
> > been stuck at $5.15 an hour for years. Whom do you blame
> > for that?
>
> It's not about the minimum wage. In the past, as the cost of
> living has rose so have the wages.
Not so, just the opposite. Wages have been stagnant the last few years while the inflation rate has barely moved.
Perhaps, your wages have rose, but overall the figures overall show otherwise. And the Federal Reserve Bank's stated goal has been to control inflation while slowly increaing the prime interest rate.
So far, its goal has been successful.
>In this situation, we
> have an artifical relief valve by which some employers
> choose to hire illegal immigrants at sub-living wages
> thereby making the pay for those jobs way below market
> value. Jobs should pay what the market demands to legal
> contributing members of our society, not some artifical
> price point set by the government.
>
> > You use the term "criminal" rather loosely for people in
> > some cases that are simply trying to better their lives or
>
> > feed their families.
>
> Tell me a country that has open borders and has a thriving
> sucessful economy. You can't name one because countries
> realize you can't just let floods of outsiders decend like
> locust to devour up your natural resources and to come and
> go as they please. It would be devastating to the economy.
> Most countries realize this and have much tougher control of
> the flow of people in and out of their borders. Not to
> mention national security interests. I feel for people less
> fortunate than me, but I'm not going to let them drag me
> into the sewer with them. Just as the law doesn't
> differentiate between someone who steals food out of hunger
> from those who steal out of greed, it still doesn't make it
> right.
The law usually does differentiate from someone who is hungry and steals bread for that reason from a CEO who robs and cheats his employees and his company.
And the courts should.
If you disagree, you and I have a major disagreement over jurisprudence and fairness.
You live in America by chance, or the grace of God, whichever you believe. Not by choice.
Others less fortunate don't. It is not a plea for open borders, but it is a point easily forgotten by those of us lucky enough to live in the United States.
>It's still against the law. If they ask for help and
> I extend it, it's different than if they just take it from
> me. Fix the problem where they live, don't dump your trash
> on my frontdoor step and expect me to be happy about it.
>
> >
> > And, those jobs you are talking about have already gone to
>
> > others by default. You simply don't realize it or
> > understand it. Again, most native-born Americans will not
>
> > do that work.
>
> I believe that you are mis-informed.
Again, ask the business owners if they can find such workers.
Not to be flip, but most Americans are used to working in air-conditioned buildings these days even if it is McDonald's.
> >
> > And what do you propose to do about the borders of our
> > country?
> >
> > What does President Bush proposed?
> >
> > He has never answered that question -- because he has no
> > answers.
>
> The answers are there. Make the penalties for
> hiring/employing illegal immigrants so stiff that no
> employer dare take the chance. Throw them in jail, take away
> their businesses and take all their money and give it back
> to the US taxpayer who is having to foot the bill for their
> greed. And then ENFORCE THE LAW.
Do you honestly believe President Bush and Congress could or would pass such legislation even if that were the answer?
Do you believe such a law is practical? What kind of enforcement agency could handle such a burden?
The IRS? The INS? Impossible. Impractical.
> Citizenship requires responsibilities, not just rights. Not
> least of which is that you be able to speak, read and write
> English. It's required to participate in political debate.
> It's required so that you don't put a huge unfair burden on
> our educational system. It's required so that you can
> participate in society period. If they want to come here and
> enjoy the benefits, they have to expect there will be
> responsibilities.
>
Young children do learn English in our schools. That is the time to learn ... when they are very young. Otherwise, it is often extremely difficult to learn another language ... Spanish or otherwise.
Some of the real burdens on school districts have been imposed by our own federal government -- programs like President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" which, in some cases, was poorly thought out, and is, without a doubt, underfunded, as members of his own party have pointed out.
Many school districts that can afford to do so have simply rejected the federal money that comes with that program rather than be burdened by the regulations.