Thanks to the increased income taxes and social security tax that the second wage earner causes to be owed, plus the frequent need for “professional” clothes and a more stylish auto, the net benefit of the second earner to the family is usually pretty close (or below) zero.
So, it’s not a stretch to say that these immigrants are causing a loss to the families they pretend to help.
I’m an emergency physician. I don’t get paid for about 40% of the people I see, and many (not most, but well over 50%) are clearly illegals. They help cost Los Angeles County over $1-billion a year in health care costs that are not reimbursed by the feds, so we taxpayers have to pony up the cash via taxes (mostly property taxes).
And before anyone claims that I’m a cold heartless bastard, let me tell you that you’re right. I’m also the first born of the first generation in my family, born in the United States, from Central America. My grandparents (both sides) came to California after WWII, and had quite a bit of trouble getting visas to stay permanently. I still remember my grandmother telling me how she and her side of the family (my mother and uncles, my grandfather had died before the war) had to leave the US and go to Mexico City to get another tourist visa (several times) before they were able to get first visas, then green cards, and finally naturalization. My grandmother was able to follow the law, and make certain that her children got an education and contributed to the US (all had graduate degrees, the two males also served in the military and earned doctorate degrees), and all the members of my generation have contributed as well.
We may not be typical immigrants, and I resent like hell the apologists for criminals telling me that it’s too hard to be legal. It’s hard, all right – but it’s better than being a criminal, and a thief.
