Is the United States of America in a state of decline?Newsweek -- a respected U.S. weekly magazine -- recently published the article “The Rise of The Rest” in this issue:
As a follow up to the above article, the May 26, 2008 Newsweek featured an article grimly titled The New Dream Isn’t American. Here are some excerpts... “Many immigrants are leaving the United States -- willingly and unwillingly -- and countless others are deciding not to come. The reasons: tougher enforcement and border control, a slowing U.S. economy and impressive growth in developing countries, where many immigrants hail from. [And] Strength in emerging economies is also exerting a gravitational pull on potential migrants [scientists and engineers, of which there is a shortage of in the U.S.]. Today, about 84 percent of the graduates of the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology decide to pursue careers at home, compared with only 65 percent seven years ago.” Let’s first address the above-noted question, "Is the United States of America in a state of decline?", by looking at the important and popular co-related topics... Immigration and “the War on Terrorism”Myth: The 9/11 terrorists were illegal immigrants. Fact: All 19 of the 9/11 terrorists entered the United States legally. Four (4) of the 19 were out-of-status (visa overstay) as of September 11, 2001, but the rest were in the U.S. legally. [Sources: answers.google.com] Many American’s have inaccurate and/or distorted views on these issues, and much is due to no fault of their own. Americans have busy lives and really don't have time to dig deep into news stories and current affairs. Often, the average U.S. citizen relies upon what is printed in certain newspapers or magazines, certain TV channels, or certain radio stations, and certain Web sites. We use the word "certain" deliberately to distinguish sensational, gossipy, sketchy or hyped-up journalism and news-reporting from that which is factual or truthful. Examples of untrustworthy "news" sources include: "small-town" or many "local" newspapers, FOX-TV News, local TV or radio stations, many AM radio "talk shows", other sensational-media sources. See this section for better news sources. In addition, certain segments of the U.S. Government also cover-up and/or distort or "spin" information to suit their agenda (mostly political and lust-for-power; some due to good old-fashioned xenophobia, prejudice and racism). An example of pure politics and lust-for-power is the Iraq War, which is estimated by many to cost U.S. taxpayers over two trillion dollars (that's $4,681 per household; $1,721 per person; $341.4 million per day):
The Bush Administration originally supported the reason to go to war based on allegations that Iraq had Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs). But this turned out to be a Red Herring, after revelations in the United Nations report from 2004. The United States has a shortage of agricultural field laborers and high-tech workersMyth: Immigrants take jobs away from U.S. citizens. Fact 1: Even "illegal" immigrants (more accurately, economic refugees) in the US help the economy by accepting low-wage jobs no one wants. In fact, 70% of the U.S. agricultural workforce is illegal (migrant workers). Illegal immigrants accept jobs at wages much lower than “minimum wage”. Strict, recently-imposed penalties for employing illegal or undocumented workers, by DHS/US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), have farmers and others in the US agricultural industry justifiably worried...
Answer to (3): Anyone who eats -- this includes: U.S. Citizens; other countries (who import U.S. produce and foodstuff); even livestock. Fact 2: The U.S. has huge shortage of high-tech workers and scientists, an issue that can be addressed via Immigration Reform. Keep the US #1 in science and technology -- or U.S. companies will move or outsource! Unfortunately, U.S. Congress did not pass Immigration Reform in 2007, which even President Bush supported. And -- to make matters worse -- the U.S. has gone the opposite, illogical route: made its immigration laws stricter. As a result, many countries, such as China, Russia, India, Singapore and Member States of the European Union (EU) are offering better wages and opportunities to their citizens. Thus, depriving the U.S. workforce of these skilled and valuable individuals. Unless US citizens take immediate action, it will soon be too late. We must address immigration issues in order to prevent...
Who’s to blame?While it’s easy to point the finger at some segments of the U.S. Government and some “Conservative Republicans”, the real culprits are… …those U.S. citizens who did nothing -- and continue to do nothing -- to control U.S. Government action. Yes, the U.S. Government is supposed to be, as Abraham Lincoln famously said in The Gettysburg Address “…of the people, by the people, for the people”. If you’re against the Iraq war or the Govt’s current Immigration policies or even Environment/Energy policies -- but do not speak out or vote accordingly -- you’re as good as those who SUPPORT these policies and actions! Here's how you can help. Bottom Line:If you are a U.S. citizen or resident and care about any of these issues, let the U.S. Government know. You can do this by voting, calling or emailing Congress, The Senate or even the Executive Branch (White House):
If you’re a citizen of any other nation, what the U.S. does -- due to its power, wealth and influence around the globe -- affects you, too. Use the same contacts as above to let the U.S. Government know how you or your nation feel about these issues. If no one speaks out or takes action…The U.S. Government, via its Department of Homeland Security and Immigration service, will cause the following (if it isn’t already too late):
Also, and very importantly...The U.S. Government is slowly creeping toward what may be considered a Totalitarian or Police state, using immigrants as simply a means to an end. Indeed, there are countless and mounting reports of ICE violating Constitutional rights of even U.S. Citizens. Here are a few frightening examples:
Note: The U.S. Constitution -- the Law of the Land in the United States -- extends to all nationals in the U.S.: citizens, and both legal and undocumented immigrants. ICE, despite being a branch of the U.S. Government, is not above the U.S. Constitution! Hollow-Man replies to comments and queries...msmonroe (on Newsweek’s comments page) wrote: "I think the only answer to the problem is to give the immigrant workers ID's but not citizenship. We need to separate citizenship from the people working in this country legally. This would insure that every worker that enters the country is legal, as a legal worker they will be tracked, taxed and tagged. This would also insure that the workers are paid a fair wage which makes it fair for everyone in the US, citizens as well as non citizens making a level playing field. The main problem is that in the US we are addicted to cheap, free labor for menial jobs. I am hearing the same arguments for illegal immigration that I have read for slavery. The illegal immigrants that come over here are pretty much slaves at the wage that business are paying them. What's the difference between keeping slaves on a plantation and paying illegal immigrants far below livable wage while they live ten to a house." Hollow-Man replies: Excellent points. There is no easy answer to this issue. BUT: In most cases, what illegals earn here in the U.S. as undocumented workers (which is way below min. wage) is still far higher than that in their native country. In my opinion, the US Govt. needs to relax immigration policies to where they were in the 1970s and before. Rising fossil-fuel costs are already affecting the price of food. We can keep our food prices somewhat stable by assuring farmers have access to productive, inexpensive labor. Crops rotting the fields and US farmers filing bankruptcy is not a pretty picture. Pyvas (on Newsweek’s comments page) wrote: "America is a joke... What goes around comes around.......When i was deported 4 years ago and was [in] detention for 6 weeks .The INS bought me $2100 one [-way] ticket + it cost 100$ a day in jail. So $6300 from taxpayers money ....Its a joke." Hollow-Man replies: Yes, the figures Pyvas notes are accurate, as also noted here. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is arresting and detaining "illegals" (with no or very minor criminal records) in expensive detention facilities. Often, ICE contracts out jail cells and services from local and State facilities. This is at a time when US jails are already overcrowded, and many hard-core criminals (most of whom are U.S. Citizens) are not imprisoned due to lack of space (not that I'm advocating imprisonment, which is quick n' dirty "solution" that is mostly ineffective). Speaking of ICE, their Nazi-like tactics -- such as tearing a mother from a breast-feeding child, a U.S. citizen -- are not only crimes against humanity, they are an embarrassment to the U.S. from a worldwide perspective (like Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay detention camp, etc.). Here are a few recent examples of ICE brutality:
Besides human-rights issues, the above are also examples of how the current Govt. (led by the Bush Admin.) is wasting taxpayer money and destabilizing America's future. This is why Newsweek runs articles like "The New Dream Isn't American" and the magazine cover story in the May 12, 2008 issue, “The Rise of The Rest”. faminchin (on Newsweek’s comments page) wrote: "I see you [Hollow-Man] have no idea about what a "Free Enterprise" system is or how it works. So the farmers have to pay an actual wage to workers in their fields instead of getting by paying a fraction of what the work is worth, using illegals. The farmer simply needs to raise his prices for his product to compensate for the increase wage. We in turn pay more for their products when we go to the store.........but at least the extra we pay is within the system and not being paid to support people that reap the benefits without contributing to the system. " Hollow-Man replies: Dude(ess)...know your FACTS: "More than 70 percent of farm-workers in the fields of the United States are illegal immigrants, according to estimates by growers’ associations." (Source: NY Times Aug. 8, 2007) That's a lot of people to pay "actual [=minimum] wage[s]" -- the sum cost of which will cause food prices to skyrocket. And when cost-of-living goes up, companies downsize (= lay off workers). faminchin wrote: "This country survived for a couple of centuries without using illegal labor. The problems arise when illegal labor deducts from the system without paying into it." Hollow-Man replies: This isn't a "couple of centuries" ago! This is the 21st century. Many Americans, at least here in the US Southwest, refuse to even run a lawnmower or weed-whacker, relying instead on migrant workers. How many U.S. Citizens -- even those who are poor or unemployed -- will actually go in to the fields to harvest vegetables as opposed to living on welfare or food stamps? If you/anyone really wants to save the American economy -- and curb "terrorism" and help the environment -- do at least the following:
* Craig Cumming, a UK citizen, recently noted: "The US government has now become synonymous with injustice, criminal activity, war mongering, illegally detaining people against their human rights, breaking international human rights laws, pollution and the list goes on...basically a disgrace to the Human Race and fast becoming like a cancer on this beautiful planet we all call Home."(Source: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/stand-against-unjust-detention) g_tse (on Newsweek’s comments page) wrote: "Its funny how worked up people get over this issue when there are more pressing issues to think about. Focusing on illegal immigrants is the government's little hat trick." Hollow-Man replies: You hit the mark with the above comments. The government engages in the “little hat trick” because going after and deporting illegals is a quick + easy “solution”. By this I mean, the government can quickly and easily generate favorable statistics such as “we deported 16% more illegals in 2007 than 2006.” Or, “ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) arrested and detained 25% more illegals in 2007 than 2004.” And those numbers may very well be accurate. BUT:
Also, of course, many US politicians use immigration and the “big US illegal immigrants problem” purely as political strategy because it gets certain supporters “worked up”. If you’re an unskilled or unemployed US Citizen and a “convincing-sounding” political candidate states “illegals are taking our jobs and using our health-care and committing horrible crimes, etc.”, you may, out of frustration alone, vote for that politician. Alas, as the economy weakens, more and more frustrated citizens will vent their frustrations on immigrants. The politicians can talk the talk, but can't walk the walk...Being “tough on illegal immigration” is easy -- and easier said than done, for sure -- but mostly ineffective. The root of the problems (i.e. the real, underlying issues) are not so easy, but certainly solvable:
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is making our streets less safe...U.S. Immigration/DHS and ICE have huge piggy banks, thanks to the Patriot Act. But ICE is actually making our streets LESS safe. Here's why: As we noted earlier, ICE detains and jails those with no or very minor criminal records. All that at the expense of crowding already-overburdened prison systems. This is because ICE rents cells, beds, even sections of whole facilities from your LOCAL State or City prisons and jails. I’m not sure the State and City have a choice here -- it’s a bit like eminent domain: what the Feds want, the Feds get! And all at the taxpayer’s expense! Why not use these facilities for hard-core criminals, be they illegal or US Citizens?! Detentionwatch.org notes that it costs $100/day for each incarcerated detainee. An electronic tracking system (ankle bracelet) only costs $12/day. But let’s be fair and not blame the ICE Police thugs or Immigration officers too much. They are just cogs in the dysfunctional/political machine like the poor detainees. Who is to blame, then?
Resources:Compete America -- a coalition of corporations, educators, research institutions and trade associations committed to advancing public policies that enable U.S. employers to hire and retain the world’s best talent. This organization believes it is in the United States’ economic interest to provide world-class education and job training, and to maintain a secure and efficient immigration system that welcomes talented foreign students into U.S. higher education institutions and talented foreign professionals into the U.S. economy. National Immigration Law Center (NILC) -- a non-profit that protects and promotes the rights of low income immigrants and their family members. http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2005-05/2005-05-11-voa78.cfm Crime, Corrections, and California: What Does Immigration Have to Do with It? [From Public Policy Institute of California, 02-Feb-2008] -- "Immigrants [legal or illegal] are far less likely than the average U.S. native to commit crime in California. Even among noncitizen [illegal] men from Mexico ages 18-40 -- a group disproportionately likely to have entered the United States illegally -- the authors find very low rates of institutionalization." Who is "Hollow-Man"?Hollow-Man...
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