How about using Supervisor Antonovich's recent article on the cost of illegal immigration as a starting point?

Well, here's an idea for you. Many studies have been done on the cost to the government(s) for illegal immigrants but I have yet to see any study that shows how much of an individual American's taxpayers dollars are being sucked out of their pockets on a personal basis.

Now, consider this..I have a close and dear friend who is an illegal immigrant. He came to this country several years ago and is a hard worker holding down 3 jobs. However, not only is HE an illegal immigrant but he brought his entire extended family from Mexico. They are ALL illegals. Consider the exponential cost of his mother and father, his 3 sisters (and their husbands and 3 children each) his grandparents and a couple of nieces. And his own wife and 4 children who were all born in Mexico. That totals up to over 20 people if I've counted correctly. I have read that the average illegal may be responsible for as many as 43 other people being attached to his/her extended family. Clearly, this is a major drain on both the American economy as well as our own personal tax paying dollars. Current government statistics show that the average illegal workers pays about 9 thousand dollars in taxes but receives over 30 thousand dollars in benefits. Something is out of whack here and this drain cannot fiscally continue forever.

What say you?

Jim Richards

How did I know that somehow illegal immigration would be the first subject mentioned???  I'm not getting down on anyone but that seems to be the main topic around here. 

How about a study on the working poor of this country that fall through the cracks (holes) in the system?  My daughter is a perfect example; She's 25 years old with no children, she makes roughly $12,000 a year (thank goodness she lives in MO, because she would be living at home if she lived in CA on that salary!!!)  She cannot afford medical insurance and does not qualify for State or Federal assistance, if she were to fall ill or have any sort of accident she would be heavily in debt for years or have to file bankruptcy!  This is true of millions of single people and married couples with or without children.

I'll step down from my soapbox for now.

In Peace,

Annette

Annette, it was YOU who asked for our help. If you don't want to accept the economics of illegal immigration as the number one issue for the entire country, that is your prerogative.

Sure, there are plenty of other problems we face in this country but this is the one that affects every single one of us in one way or another. We have to stop sticking our heads in the sand on this issue and DO something about it. Why else do you suppose this is the main issue here?

Jim Richards

"Illegal Immigration" is not the "main" issue, but one of many...Health care, and/or lack of it is also a BIG topic...Mr. Richards You just kind of "went off "on the subject of Illegal Immigration, which I am sure is all based on facts. But poor Annette was just looking for some ideas and/or suggestions not an argument.

Actually, if you wanna have a real sensitive, BIG Topic, how about the costs or the economics  of war. I have actually heard somewhere back in the day that "war" was actually good for the economy. Hmmm, now I didn't say I believe in this notion or if it is true, it's just something I heard and maybe to consider as a "Topic".

Valerie

Jim, it was actually me who asked for everyones help, I think Annette was just participating in the discussion.  I liked your idea of illegal immigration.  Being in California there are a lot of illegal immigrants and are surrounded by it on a daily basis.  I live in North Carolina and there are not as many immigrants since it is not a border state.  I think that it would be something great to write about seeing as there are not a lot of obvious illegals out here many of my classmates may not understand the these problems really exist and I think that we do need to shine some light on this subject.  Now one more question for you do you happen to know any good articles for me to read on the subject?  Greg gave me one but I need at least 3 sources. Thanks!

Valerie,  Thanks for the idea, health care is such a HUGE issue.  I wrote my midterm essay in political science on the health care system.  It was a great essay but full of horrible statistics.  My neighbor is from Germany and I was discussing the issue with her and she said that one of first thing she noticed about Americans was how so many of them were missing teeth.  In Germany you have health coverage no matter was that is including dental.  Here is a copy of my essay.
   
        I believe that the US Health Care System is the one of the most significant problem in America.  The health care system affects everyone in the US, whether they feel it is working for them or not, they are still affected when changes are made.  In my opinion some of the US health care system shortcomings are:  is that it is expensive, second is that people are often not pleased with the health care they receive, and lastly policy makers are falling short when coming up with solutions for the health care system.
           The US health care system is the most expensive health care system in the world.  Currently there are 42.6 million people in the US without health insurance because they cannot afford it and do not qualify for public assistance.  Universal health care coverage is ideal but many Americans do not want to pay higher taxes to support it, yet other industrialized nations are able to cover everybody at a lower cost.  Many Americans have reported that rising health care cost have hurt their financial wellbeing and that they believe policy makers should do something to lower the cost.
        Americans’ dissatisfaction with the health care system stems mainly from the cost but does not end there.  Of the ten most industrialized countries, the US ranked last in health care satisfaction.  Many American feel that the US looks at treating illnesses rather than preventing them.  Poverty and disease go hand in hand, people in lower classes are more likely to suffer from illnesses.  If the US was to reduce poverty I believe we would see a decline in illness and early mortality rates.  
        Lastly, what should policy makers be doing to fix the US health care system?  I believe that the US should follow other nations such as France, Germany, and Japan.  They use a “shared responsibility” system. Employees, employers and the government all contribute a pre-determined amount. Both workers and their employers are subject to mandatory payroll deductions, and government chips in any shortfalls for poorer individuals, depending on income level or employment status. The contributions from individuals, employers and government are deposited into private insurance funds that are non-profit and government-regulated additional private insurance can be purchased for premium services, such as a private room in the hospital.  I believe that this would be a better solution than anything President Bush has recently proposed. 
        The US health care system has its many set backs and has a lot to fix to ensure that everyone can have affordable health coverage. I feel that if we focus on preventing disease and reducing poverty it will help our current state.  I do not feel that it will be a long-term fix though and that policy makers should be looking into universal coverage as being a long-term fix.  We would never argue that police and fire protection should be distributed based on income, so why should health care?

Sources:

dll.umaine.edu/ble/U.S.%20HCweb.pdf


www.heritage.org/Research/HealthCare/hl997.cfm


www.huppi.com/kangaroo/L-healthcare.htm

www.newamerica.net/publications/articles/2006/uni versal_health_coverage_as_used_in_france_belgium_ can_work_here_4597

This all ties together...  Reduce the illegal immigration burden on our aid systems and we will have a reduction in poverty and better access to our health care systems.  As long as our systems have to pay for the birth, care, housing, and feeding of illegal families, our systems will fail. 

Jim,  I just suggested a study on the working poor and you attacked me as if I had said something wrong....what's up with that?  I did not ask anyone for help, I merely made a suggestion for rstott's research paper.  Health Care or the lack of it for millions of Americans affects us all as much or more than Illegal Immigration.

The cost of illegal immigrants is like a tiny ink spot on a globe of our large earth compared to what we are paying for the Iraq war...  perhaps if we want to save the big bucks so that we can feed and give medical care to all Americans and it's visitors with ease we should focus on the largest and most incompetent way American is spending money right now... no, it's NOT for immigration benefits OR Welfare... these amounts are so extremely small compared to the Iraq War it's hard to find these small amounts on the Americas budget layout at whitehouse.gov.  I find it odd that the people who seem to be concerned about us wasting money on other people and other countries are also pro the Iraq war.  Doesn't make sense does it?????   For what the Iraq War costs us so far we could have had free medical care and reduced taxes and better homeland security for all Americans for over a dozen years.  

Sparks, thanks for the idea.  I am going to research the info on the war.  I will visit the website you mentioned.  Thanks!

Rachelle,

I was listening to NPR today & they were talking about the economic costs all of the returning war veterans will incur. Tens of thousands of vets will need years of medical care, putting a strain on the already over-burdened VA hospitals. There's also the lost productivity of these men & women. They mentioned a Harvard study that's trying to tackle this dilemma.

Maybe you could include some of this information in you paper. I don't think many Americans are considering this problem, and I'm sure that Dubya hasn't.