Continuing tonight's conversation

"Illegal immigration into the United States is a highly profitable proposition for both employers and the US government, and it also benefits Mexico, which is the largest source country of undocumented immigrants into the US." Deborah White (http://usliberals.about.com/od/immigration/a/IllegalImmi.htm)

" Our findings show that many of the preconceived notions about the fiscal impact of illegal households turn out to be inaccurate. In terms of welfare use, receipt of cash assistance programs tends to be very low, while Medicaid use, though significant, is still less than for other households. Only use of food assistance programs is significantly higher than that of the rest of the population. Also, contrary to the perceptions that illegal aliens don't pay payroll taxes, we estimate that more than half of illegals work "on the books." On average, illegal households pay more than $4,200 a year in all forms of federal taxes. Unfortunately, they impose costs of $6,950 per household." (http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html)

Just a few quotes I found today after coming home from class. I fear that we get lost in the media hype, the skewed way that we read, see, and hear about undocumentented people living in this country. We lump these people into one catagory because it's hard to see them as part of OUR life. When we see them, we can't picture them sitting with us on our dining room table enjoying a family dinner. It's easier to turn a blind eye to their needs since they don't look like us. Now I offer no solution to this as I am merely a college student with minimal experience with US budgets and politics and what not. But I do hope that us as future educators and future parents and decent human beings can see past this "me first" ideal and teach our children to be open compassionate individuals.
We will survive...the united states is the most affluent country in the Free world. Even the poorest have at least one television in their home...that should tell us exactly how well off we are.
Last comment, if we are donating funds to impoverished countries all around the world, how dare we neglect the ones who do come here and work hard not to take but to contribute. Food for thought.
 By the way, I wish everyone a fun spring break.