What % do you think that it is?

It's near impossible to put a % to it. I'm not saying it's 50% or anything, and maybe as a total precentage it's a small number but definitely not very very few.

I don't think people automatically equate immigrant with Mexican but I believe they do with illegal immigrant.

 

Most people probably don't. (At least I hope so)

 

But I recall a conversation with a lady in my church in which she described one of our newest attendees as "Mexican."

 

When I told her that Jose was from El Salvador she replied, "Whatever."

 

That probably sums it up for more people than I care to count.

It's near impossible to put a % to it. I'm not saying it's 50% or anything, and maybe as a total precentage it's a small number but definitely not very very few.

 

I'd say less than 1%. Ballpark an estimate for me.

I'd say less than 1%. Ballpark an estimate for me.

I'm guessing it's probably a little higher then that but not a huge %. I think we are probably on the same page.

To your bolded point:

 

In contrast to the $69.2 billion, how much is spent here? How can you say they don't contribute unless you offer a contrasting figure of what is spent here? As TB&G noted, those folks who are here still have to eat, still have to have a place to rest their heads, still have to have to drive back and forth from work, etc. It's not like Kentucky to Mexico is a daily commute for them.

 

I would also argue that their $69.2 billion does far less damage to the country than the amounts the uber-wealthy in the US are shipping to the tax havens in the Caymans, Switzerland, etc.

 

While the illegal immigrant problem in the US is a large one, the fact is our economy would totally collapse if we were to "ship 'em all back across the border." Just imagine how much food costs (just to name one sector of many in the economy that would see dramatic consumer price increases) in this country would go up if such a drastic, draconian action were actually taken ....

 

I have no problem with "uber-wealthy" hiding THEIR money from the U.S. Govt. The Gov't does a poor job with all the money they take from us know, give them more and they'll find more dumb ways to waste it.

 

I kind of did the same thing with my lawn service for 14 years, all cash business, paid ZERO taxes and not ashamed of it either. Any way you can keep the Gov't out of your pocket, I say go for it.

I have no problem with "uber-wealthy" hiding THEIR money from the U.S. Govt. The Gov't does a poor job with all the money they take from us know, give them more and they'll find more dumb ways to waste it.

 

I kind of did the same thing with my lawn service for 14 years, all cash business, paid ZERO taxes and not ashamed of it either. Any way you can keep the Gov't out of your pocket, I say go for it.

 

So you're not ashamed of breaking the law? Nice example you set.

I have no problem with "uber-wealthy" hiding THEIR money from the U.S. Govt. The Gov't does a poor job with all the money they take from us know, give them more and they'll find more dumb ways to waste it.

 

I kind of did the same thing with my lawn service for 14 years, all cash business, paid ZERO taxes and not ashamed of it either. Any way you can keep the Gov't out of your pocket, I say go for it.

 

Thumbs down.

So during those 14 years that you were not paying taxes while I was, you are perfectly fine with that? You are just as much the problem as those who milk and play the welfare system. IMO.

Question that arises for me....isn't avoiding paying taxes just as detrimental to this country as an illegal receiving benefits?

Question that arises for me....isn't avoiding paying taxes just as detrimental to this country as an illegal receiving benefits?

 

Agreed, and yet it is funny that folks on both sides defend the illegality of a situation(s) because of their own set of beliefs.

I'm guessing it's probably a little higher then that but not a huge %. I think we are probably on the same page.

 

This is why I find talk of "anchor babies" as disheartening, to put it mildly.

So you're not ashamed of breaking the law? Nice example you set.

 

This was from 1980-1994 (age 14-28) and never really thought about it at the time. For the last 8 of those years I had about 70plus yards to cut, plus other landscaping work. I also worked at DHL & the Post Office during this time and I justified it, that I paid enough to support a bunch of "deadbeats" that weren't willing to work as hard as me.

 

Some might not agree with this, but that was many years ago.

Thumbs down.

So during those 14 years that you were not paying taxes while I was, you are perfectly fine with that? You are just as much the problem as those who milk and play the welfare system. IMO.

 

 

For 10 of those 14 years I had 1 part time job & 1 full time job, for 3 of those years I had both while juggling all the lawns. So yes, I would say I was perfectly fine.

 

The problem with the MAJORITY on welfare.........they DON'T WORK period.

For 10 of those 14 years I had 1 part time job & 1 full time job, for 3 of those years I had both while juggling all the lawns. So yes, I would say I was perfectly fine.

 

The problem with the MAJORITY on welfare.........they DON'T WORK period.

 

Let me tell you what. I have absolutely no sympathy or understanding of your situation and not feeling you should report and pay your share of taxes on your lawn jobs. For 20 years I worked 2 jobs, and over that time, I also worked a 3rd job about a total of 10 of those years. I paid taxes for the income I made at every job. To be clear, this cost me dearly in qualifying for financial aid for my kids at Assumption and Trinity. The more I worked, the worse it got, as ar as qualifying for aid is concerned. But I never once thought of not reporting income. Never.

Agreed, and yet it is funny that folks on both sides defend the illegality of a situation(s) because of their own set of beliefs.

 

I don't agree with either premise. But...I do feel that the issue of illegals is a fuzzy subject, because I can't figure out how sources get solid statistics on people circumventing the laws. On the other hand, there is quite a bit of documentation recently regarding Swiss bank accounts and off shore funds, as well as action against many for avoiding the IRS. And we also know it's not over, that there are still people/corporations doing it.

 

 

So, in the end, I agree with neither illegals recpeiving benefits, nor avoiding the IRS in any manner. However, until there's some solid source with credible documentation regarding illegals receiving benefits, I am skeptical that it's as prevelant as some like to present it.

I have no problem with "uber-wealthy" hiding THEIR money from the U.S. Govt. The Gov't does a poor job with all the money they take from us know, give them more and they'll find more dumb ways to waste it.

 

I kind of did the same thing with my lawn service for 14 years, all cash business, paid ZERO taxes and not ashamed of it either. Any way you can keep the Gov't out of your pocket, I say go for it.

 

Really need to watch who you make this statement to and what some on this site do for a living...I'm just saying.