Friday, April 21, 2006
A thought
When all of the illegals get their desired Citizenship, who will work the fields and homes?
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
The Bushes on Spring Break
Skiing with friends- Marisa (second from left), Megan (far right)
On top of another mountain!
On top of the mountain- Easter Day
Duane and Sandy looking out over the valley.
We've enjoyed Easter dinner with Mom, some organizing at Mom's, some organizing at our house, bike ride up Emigration Canyon, relaxing, catching up, ...and it's only Tuesday! We love breaks!
Kay, Duane, Marisa, Megan
On top of another mountain!On top of the mountain- Easter Day
Duane and Sandy looking out over the valley.
We've enjoyed Easter dinner with Mom, some organizing at Mom's, some organizing at our house, bike ride up Emigration Canyon, relaxing, catching up, ...and it's only Tuesday! We love breaks!
Kay, Duane, Marisa, Megan
Monday, April 17, 2006
education
I don't really know how the illegal immigration affects the economics in my small world. I have had experience with education and how it affects my family.
We have made the difficult financial choice to send our children to private school. The public schools have many more service options for special education and honors programs. Because my blond haired, white son is not enrolled in public school, he receives a small portion of services offered in public schools. The assumption is we can afford to pay for services.
The public schools are not allowed to ask if a child or parent is legal, but will go to extreme lengths to give this child an immense amount of services as part of "No Child Left Behind" legislation and "English as a Second Language." Arizona requires public school students to pass a test to graduate from high school. There is a LOT of money being poured into public schools to achieve this requirement. Teaching to the test, not really education. (another topic) Private schools are not under this obligation.
So, we educate illegal children or American born children of illegal parents. They graduate from high school. Without legal paperwork, they are not able to attend universities or apply for financial aid to universities. So, then what? They continue to work low wage jobs without legal staus and continue the illegal cycle waiting for amnesty. I'm not sure we are doing anyone a favor with this kind of education.
The marches were large and loud, showing lots of patriotism. I don't think the Hispanic vote will really make much of a kick with politicians. The illegals cannot vote. So, legal, voting Americans make the decisions. I vote and I donot support illegal immigration. There are laws regarding legal immigration and border enforcement. Too bad, not much of this happens.
Lots of talk, no action.
Ellie
We have made the difficult financial choice to send our children to private school. The public schools have many more service options for special education and honors programs. Because my blond haired, white son is not enrolled in public school, he receives a small portion of services offered in public schools. The assumption is we can afford to pay for services.
The public schools are not allowed to ask if a child or parent is legal, but will go to extreme lengths to give this child an immense amount of services as part of "No Child Left Behind" legislation and "English as a Second Language." Arizona requires public school students to pass a test to graduate from high school. There is a LOT of money being poured into public schools to achieve this requirement. Teaching to the test, not really education. (another topic) Private schools are not under this obligation.
So, we educate illegal children or American born children of illegal parents. They graduate from high school. Without legal paperwork, they are not able to attend universities or apply for financial aid to universities. So, then what? They continue to work low wage jobs without legal staus and continue the illegal cycle waiting for amnesty. I'm not sure we are doing anyone a favor with this kind of education.
The marches were large and loud, showing lots of patriotism. I don't think the Hispanic vote will really make much of a kick with politicians. The illegals cannot vote. So, legal, voting Americans make the decisions. I vote and I donot support illegal immigration. There are laws regarding legal immigration and border enforcement. Too bad, not much of this happens.
Lots of talk, no action.
Ellie
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Venga - Venga (nudge-nudge, wink-wink)
I watched the DC march as it was passing in front of our building Monday. I was standing on the steps of the 'Secretary's Entrance' (VIP entrance) with the Secretary's security detail (beefy black men in dark suits with guns). The convergence of little ironies hit as I watched the enthusiastic, flag draped crowd moving past. Our 'Secretary' is a hispanic immigrant and I was standing with the segment of Americans who are most sceptical of open immigration (working-class black men) and who's ancestors were the most reluctant of immigrants.
I'm pro-immigration. The economic and social benefits of immigration out weigh the costs. The constant trickle of new members keeps our society dynamic and mitigates against the tendency of a culture to become complacent and stagnant. [Of course I think the country's been going down hill since we let the filthy Germans in.]
But it isn't a trickle any more. In last ten years we have gone over the 10% mark of foreign born residents. Not many societies could absorb that number of outsiders and I'm proud of my country that it still can do that. But that many new members causes tensions and discomforts and the fact that a third of them (10 million, give or take a few million) are illegal, changes the perception and dynamic of the large scale immigration.
So our politicians have to do something. This is a twenty year cycle. When the de facto (in fact) is making a joke of the de jure (in law) they have to take action to not look like total asses. But they don't want to. Immigration is one of those issues where if you ask two americans their views, you get five opinions. So the politicians don't know how to stand and worse, they can't predict what the political outcome will be for any position they take. Their preference would be to split the difference and continue the status quo like the '80's immigration bill (amnesty, fairly open borders, and no internal enforcement).
But the Hispanic political groups thought this would be a great moment to flex their muscle some, insuring that this round of immigration reform won't be going on below the radar. That might be a mistake on thier part. Or it might not. We'll see.
It is easy to have sympathy for the individual illegal immigrant. Jose/Maria travels thousands of miles across mountains and deserts to have the opportunity to work a couple of shitty jobs in the land of milk and honey. But as a political movement, it generates a lot less sympathy, as it looks like a bunch guests demanding rights that no one promised them. They are not "un-invited" guests (see industry's recruitment of them) but they are guests. Add in the reconquista crowd and the discomfort and xenophobia becomes legitimate self-defense of our national soveriegnty.
Whitey's post shows the strange place our immigration policy is at - It is too tough to enter legally and it is too easy to enter illegally. This sets up weird incentives and disincentives where it is easier for a camposino to enter the US at Nogales and work as a day laborer than for a professional to fill out all the forms and get interviewed by consulate officers and take months and months and thousands of dollars and then be are let into the country to find a place to live and work. It also doesn't help that the USCIS is one of the worst and most inefficent federal agencies since none their costomers can vote.
So I think we need to make it easier to immigrate legally but put up a wall/fence to make it as hard as is practible to immigrate illegally. That makes the status of the illegals already here a major sticking point. There really is no practible way to throw them out - come on, are we really ready to fill cattle cars with millions of men, women and children and dump them across the river in Juarez? We have to give them a kind of amnesty but for that to be acceptable to most american voters, it has to be backed up with a serious effort to close the door behind them.
The complaints about the societal burdens caused by illegal immigrants are called externalities. Businesses that hire illegals, mainly food processing, construction and light industry, can pay less and dump the additional costs on the rest of society.
I can't get too worked up about the money being sent back to their families - face it, you legal, over-documented americans will send more money to China in a week than all the strawberry pickers and day laborers will in a lifetime. Anyway, it's their money - they earned it, they can spend it as they wish.
On the arguement that the illegals do work the americans won't - pay me $50 a hour and I'll mow your lawn and clean your toilets and sing while I'm doing it. Give me $50 million and the possiblity of a good market and I'll hire the engineers to build you a robot that will do all that and play the banjo. The various US industries use illegals becuase they can. If they can't, they will find substitutes. No one wants to clean and bone 500 pounds of chicken per shift? Then raise the price 6 cents a pound and pay more per hour - or build a machine - or ship the job somewhere else. The US isn't the only place they grow lettuce and chickens and the reality is that it is silly to subsidize an unprofitable industry by non-enforcement of the law.
What will the politicians do? This is a big test for them. If they go for the status quo of lackluster enforcement and a amnesty they will likely create a backlash and the growth of a nativist political movement that will hurt both parties as has occured previously (see 1840's No Nothing Party and 1920's Second Klan). But if they go for the harsh enforcement and no amnesty both parties will have to give up their fantasies about roping in Latinos into their parties, like they are Blacks - but the reality is that Latinos do not have the unity of identity, both ethnically and politically, that Blacks have (for a long list of reasons), so they will never vote overwelmingly for one or the other party. My concern is that the politicians will pander (as is their way), try to split the difference, and engender a backlash that will see a far more restrictive immigration policy, such as what the US had in the 1920s - 1960s (the last time we went over the 10% mark of foriegn-born residents).
I'm pro-immigration. The economic and social benefits of immigration out weigh the costs. The constant trickle of new members keeps our society dynamic and mitigates against the tendency of a culture to become complacent and stagnant. [Of course I think the country's been going down hill since we let the filthy Germans in.]
But it isn't a trickle any more. In last ten years we have gone over the 10% mark of foreign born residents. Not many societies could absorb that number of outsiders and I'm proud of my country that it still can do that. But that many new members causes tensions and discomforts and the fact that a third of them (10 million, give or take a few million) are illegal, changes the perception and dynamic of the large scale immigration.
So our politicians have to do something. This is a twenty year cycle. When the de facto (in fact) is making a joke of the de jure (in law) they have to take action to not look like total asses. But they don't want to. Immigration is one of those issues where if you ask two americans their views, you get five opinions. So the politicians don't know how to stand and worse, they can't predict what the political outcome will be for any position they take. Their preference would be to split the difference and continue the status quo like the '80's immigration bill (amnesty, fairly open borders, and no internal enforcement).
But the Hispanic political groups thought this would be a great moment to flex their muscle some, insuring that this round of immigration reform won't be going on below the radar. That might be a mistake on thier part. Or it might not. We'll see.
It is easy to have sympathy for the individual illegal immigrant. Jose/Maria travels thousands of miles across mountains and deserts to have the opportunity to work a couple of shitty jobs in the land of milk and honey. But as a political movement, it generates a lot less sympathy, as it looks like a bunch guests demanding rights that no one promised them. They are not "un-invited" guests (see industry's recruitment of them) but they are guests. Add in the reconquista crowd and the discomfort and xenophobia becomes legitimate self-defense of our national soveriegnty.
Whitey's post shows the strange place our immigration policy is at - It is too tough to enter legally and it is too easy to enter illegally. This sets up weird incentives and disincentives where it is easier for a camposino to enter the US at Nogales and work as a day laborer than for a professional to fill out all the forms and get interviewed by consulate officers and take months and months and thousands of dollars and then be are let into the country to find a place to live and work. It also doesn't help that the USCIS is one of the worst and most inefficent federal agencies since none their costomers can vote.
So I think we need to make it easier to immigrate legally but put up a wall/fence to make it as hard as is practible to immigrate illegally. That makes the status of the illegals already here a major sticking point. There really is no practible way to throw them out - come on, are we really ready to fill cattle cars with millions of men, women and children and dump them across the river in Juarez? We have to give them a kind of amnesty but for that to be acceptable to most american voters, it has to be backed up with a serious effort to close the door behind them.
The complaints about the societal burdens caused by illegal immigrants are called externalities. Businesses that hire illegals, mainly food processing, construction and light industry, can pay less and dump the additional costs on the rest of society.
I can't get too worked up about the money being sent back to their families - face it, you legal, over-documented americans will send more money to China in a week than all the strawberry pickers and day laborers will in a lifetime. Anyway, it's their money - they earned it, they can spend it as they wish.
On the arguement that the illegals do work the americans won't - pay me $50 a hour and I'll mow your lawn and clean your toilets and sing while I'm doing it. Give me $50 million and the possiblity of a good market and I'll hire the engineers to build you a robot that will do all that and play the banjo. The various US industries use illegals becuase they can. If they can't, they will find substitutes. No one wants to clean and bone 500 pounds of chicken per shift? Then raise the price 6 cents a pound and pay more per hour - or build a machine - or ship the job somewhere else. The US isn't the only place they grow lettuce and chickens and the reality is that it is silly to subsidize an unprofitable industry by non-enforcement of the law.
What will the politicians do? This is a big test for them. If they go for the status quo of lackluster enforcement and a amnesty they will likely create a backlash and the growth of a nativist political movement that will hurt both parties as has occured previously (see 1840's No Nothing Party and 1920's Second Klan). But if they go for the harsh enforcement and no amnesty both parties will have to give up their fantasies about roping in Latinos into their parties, like they are Blacks - but the reality is that Latinos do not have the unity of identity, both ethnically and politically, that Blacks have (for a long list of reasons), so they will never vote overwelmingly for one or the other party. My concern is that the politicians will pander (as is their way), try to split the difference, and engender a backlash that will see a far more restrictive immigration policy, such as what the US had in the 1920s - 1960s (the last time we went over the 10% mark of foriegn-born residents).
Monday, April 10, 2006
Pinewood Derby - For Professionals
I remember doing the Pinewood Derby with scouts for several years. It was a lot of fun even though I competed with many kids who had the benefit of having fathers who were aeronautical engineers from Thiokol. Some of these cars were marvels. Slick, fast, aerodynamic. space-age paint, etc. Of course, my parents actually made me carve mine with my pocket knife, sand it by hand and glue pennies on it (for added weight).
I remember never being embarassed because I knew it was my work. On the other hand, I have no "handy" skills. Perhaps it left some permanent psychological scars that I'm just now uncovering. Nah.
I remember never being embarassed because I knew it was my work. On the other hand, I have no "handy" skills. Perhaps it left some permanent psychological scars that I'm just now uncovering. Nah.
La Migra-what a joke!
Great to see some good feedback. In California the 'Gubanator' wants to put a 5% fee on all money sent south through Western Union and other sources. Too much money earned illegally is leaving and not contributing to our economy good start. I stopped hiring illegals six months ago because of the attitude. You cannot get a day laborer for less than $100 per day. Sure, they work hard for the money but there is no loyalty. Right after Katrina they went east. I made a decision after coming back to the good ol' USA that I want to pursue Citizenship. I have been a 'permanent Resident Alien' since 1984. I got as far as page 3 on the application online. "Have you spent more than 6 months out of the country in the last 5 years" Yes I have so I am not eligible to apply yet they are going to give citizenship, not alien status, to millions of illegals who have never payed taxes or anything. I agree with you Duane, let them fill out the paperwork and PAY BACK TAXES. Then wait five years like everyone else who gets a greencard before you can apply for Citizenship. Maybe they should all be drafted into the military and put on standby for Iran. Whitey
Sunday, April 09, 2006
pinewood derby
We have lots of opinions about immigration. But I will touch base on that after the huge march tomorrow in Phoenix that is bringing our downtown to a standstill.
The boys ran in their cub scout pinewood derby yesterday. Davis placed fourth in his bears den (3rd grade) and James place third in his tigers den (1st grade). Both boys will be going to the district race on April 22. They are very excited. We hear the district race is very fast and our cars are not very fast. But I really think it is hit or miss, not really any great design.
I will be in Salt Lake City from Thursday, April 20, to Tuesday, April 25. I will help move the many, many things from the downstairs to the upstairs. Basic labor. George is hoping and praying that I do not see anything. I will get to see Megan make her confirmation with Mom.
I went to a funeral last week of a friend's brother (only 52 years old). It was tough. I couldn't talk, just cry quietly. It was dark, rainy and cold. It took me all morning to get out the door. Grieving is an aching process.
Today was great. It was sunny and 80 degrees. The boys played outside. George and I worked on designs for our house expansion.
I love you all,
Ellie
The boys ran in their cub scout pinewood derby yesterday. Davis placed fourth in his bears den (3rd grade) and James place third in his tigers den (1st grade). Both boys will be going to the district race on April 22. They are very excited. We hear the district race is very fast and our cars are not very fast. But I really think it is hit or miss, not really any great design.
I will be in Salt Lake City from Thursday, April 20, to Tuesday, April 25. I will help move the many, many things from the downstairs to the upstairs. Basic labor. George is hoping and praying that I do not see anything. I will get to see Megan make her confirmation with Mom.
I went to a funeral last week of a friend's brother (only 52 years old). It was tough. I couldn't talk, just cry quietly. It was dark, rainy and cold. It took me all morning to get out the door. Grieving is an aching process.
Today was great. It was sunny and 80 degrees. The boys played outside. George and I worked on designs for our house expansion.
I love you all,
Ellie
illegal immigrants
I agree with you Max. First we need to stop the bleeding, fence, cameras and lots more border agents. Without the border slammed shut right now we have nothing to talk about! Next, all those here should be required to register with immigration, pay back taxes, which will be tough to collect, pay a fine and go directly to the back of the line to start the process to become US citizens. Big penalty and shipped back for those caught after a certain date that have not registered. They will be allowed to stay here during the process but only under those or similar rules. It is unfair to those that went thru the process properly like Whitey. We spent 6 hrs. 7pm-1am wating to get a bad cut on my moms knee treated at the Uof U emergency room a few weeks ago and the reason for the obscene wait was that the emergency room was jammed with non english speaking mexicans who abuse the system for free basic medical treatment. There were 3 white english speaking Utahns there and the remaining 15 people were latino most of which only spoke spanish. The techs were obviously used to it and sick and tired of it. It is estimated that illegal immigrants take over 20billion $$ out of our economy every year and growing. Money shipped back to their families. Our public schools in Utah are totally overcrowded on the west (lower income) part of the valley and so my taxes go to build new schools. A large portion of this due to the huge influx of illegal immigrants. They don't pay taxes but hammer our social services, medical services and school system. We pay more health insurance because of this as well. Come in the legal way and they are more than welcome but if you came here illegally then I have a big problem with it. It has to be stopped yesterday! Our borders are stupidly lax. They can do whatever jobs they get hired to do just come here legally! We love Mexico and the Mexican people but everyone needs to play by the same rules of law or the whole house of cards comes crashing down....... Duane
From Max
So Kay - what you are saying is that there may be many, many, many and more many items that will be available for a garage sale. (Just kidding).
I spoke to Mom today and she mentioned the pillow stuff. I'll be wanting to take some but I'm sure not as much as is there. And a few baskets (but not many, many of them). I have the quilt from Grandma that was royal blue/red so don't think I will take another one. Even though we will have alot of rooms to fill, I am into keeping a minimal amount of stuff.
Another topic - I'm curious to know what everyone things of all this immigration reform. On the one hand, I think there need to be some policies for people to be able to enter the US easier and work here, I think offering out-right citizenship to people who have been here for many years illegally is not right. I look at it from the view point that I have a husband from Australia who had to go through many processes to get his Green Card. And even though he has had his Green Card for many years and is married to a US born citizen, he still has to go through more processes to get citizenship. And we have friends and relatives from Australia and other countries who would love to come here and work (either temporarily or permanently) but do not because they can not get a Green Card. It is not automatic for anyone. Just because so many Hispanic's have come here without the correct papers, and yes many are doing jobs that American's don't want to do, the majority do not pay any taxes on the wages they earn.
I know it is a tough call. I don't think these people should be sent straight back across the border immediately, but if they can not eventually provide the paperwork that is required of them, then they should go. Of course, we need our politicians to get things organized for so steps can be put into place.
Anyway, I'm interested in hearing anyone elses viewpoints.
Take care,
Max
I spoke to Mom today and she mentioned the pillow stuff. I'll be wanting to take some but I'm sure not as much as is there. And a few baskets (but not many, many of them). I have the quilt from Grandma that was royal blue/red so don't think I will take another one. Even though we will have alot of rooms to fill, I am into keeping a minimal amount of stuff.
Another topic - I'm curious to know what everyone things of all this immigration reform. On the one hand, I think there need to be some policies for people to be able to enter the US easier and work here, I think offering out-right citizenship to people who have been here for many years illegally is not right. I look at it from the view point that I have a husband from Australia who had to go through many processes to get his Green Card. And even though he has had his Green Card for many years and is married to a US born citizen, he still has to go through more processes to get citizenship. And we have friends and relatives from Australia and other countries who would love to come here and work (either temporarily or permanently) but do not because they can not get a Green Card. It is not automatic for anyone. Just because so many Hispanic's have come here without the correct papers, and yes many are doing jobs that American's don't want to do, the majority do not pay any taxes on the wages they earn.
I know it is a tough call. I don't think these people should be sent straight back across the border immediately, but if they can not eventually provide the paperwork that is required of them, then they should go. Of course, we need our politicians to get things organized for so steps can be put into place.
Anyway, I'm interested in hearing anyone elses viewpoints.
Take care,
Max
Saturday, April 08, 2006
from Kay
Hi everyone
I found your house online, Max and Whitey! It actually was the house I had been looking at- just wasn't sure if it was it. What a great price! It looks nice. Hope it goes fast for you.
Just an update on a few things-
I've been helping Mom in her basement- seeing what's there and sorting. Duane and I told Mom that we would do a yard sale at some point so that the many, many items that will likely be passed up by family could potentially be sold and be money for her rather than just donating the many, many items. There still may be many, many items to throw out or donate- but might be of value first. So, we have started a corner of the basement that family can look through first and take anything or be left for yard sale.
Just a few things that come to mind- if you know now you would like:
Grandma Blue's old quilts (3)- worn out but maybe important to someone?
Lots and Lots of new pillow forms and batting.
Dollhouse furniture (in boxes, craft type kits).
Of course, lots and lots of fabric.
Lots and lots of baskets.
Just things to be thinking about before you get here.
We are going to a funeral this afternoon- our friend Joni (you might have met her at Dad's mass, son, Connor was altar server)- her Dad died Thursday.
Hope everyone is well-
Love, Kay
I found your house online, Max and Whitey! It actually was the house I had been looking at- just wasn't sure if it was it. What a great price! It looks nice. Hope it goes fast for you.
Just an update on a few things-
I've been helping Mom in her basement- seeing what's there and sorting. Duane and I told Mom that we would do a yard sale at some point so that the many, many items that will likely be passed up by family could potentially be sold and be money for her rather than just donating the many, many items. There still may be many, many items to throw out or donate- but might be of value first. So, we have started a corner of the basement that family can look through first and take anything or be left for yard sale.
Just a few things that come to mind- if you know now you would like:
Grandma Blue's old quilts (3)- worn out but maybe important to someone?
Lots and Lots of new pillow forms and batting.
Dollhouse furniture (in boxes, craft type kits).
Of course, lots and lots of fabric.
Lots and lots of baskets.
Just things to be thinking about before you get here.
We are going to a funeral this afternoon- our friend Joni (you might have met her at Dad's mass, son, Connor was altar server)- her Dad died Thursday.
Hope everyone is well-
Love, Kay
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Perth House
Go to web site: www.century21.com.au/classique
It is on the front page under HOT PROPERTY. The house that is $725,000
Reference number is WA14010392
Cheers,
Max
It is on the front page under HOT PROPERTY. The house that is $725,000
Reference number is WA14010392
Cheers,
Max
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
house online
Hi Max, Whitey,
I looked up your house - but not sure which property- is there a property #- #103088286?
Kay
I looked up your house - but not sure which property- is there a property #- #103088286?
Kay
Saturday, April 01, 2006
more on the link
Hi Kay, when you access the web site for www.realestate.com.au click on WA then select "Mount Lawley " and "House" and price range "$7oo,000"
Ausie house
Hi Kay, you can see the house online at www.cetury21.com.au/classique and also www.realestate.com.au. We just heard from the realtor that the first prospective buyers have just look it over. We just had the wettest month in history here in the San Francisco area. I'm so sick of it. Bring on the heatwave. Whitey.
