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Letter to the editor

Today's Letters: Cut flow of illegal immigrants now

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published June 10, 2007

Immigration keeps American Dream alive June 5 Andrew Skerritt column

Andrew Skerritt admonishes us that we should not fear the proposed immigration laws now poised for passage in the Senate. He opines that the current system doesn't work and, because we're not sure how to fix it, we should find a way to allow the 12-million illegal aliens to remain here.

Considering that the fiscal demands arising from the influx of such illegal aliens will be borne by the American taxpayers and society as a whole, it would have been helpful if Mr. Skerritt had favored us with an analysis of the social and economic impact of the massive waves of unskilled, poorly educated illegals who have flooded this country. Is he of the opinion that the American taxpayers should continue to underwrite the medical benefits, educational resources, welfare payments and myriad social programs that are enjoyed by these illegal aliens and their families?

The proposed legislation is a paper tiger created by the politicians to obfuscate their dereliction of duty, which has caused this crisis to engulf our country. There are 12-million to 20-million illegal aliens who flouted the law by entering this country without a visa; without a security check; without a medical clearance; and without any method by which to keep track of them. Notwithstanding the inherent dangers posed by this debacle, leading political leaders are positioning Congress to enact legislation that will retrospectively legalize these illegal aliens by granting Z visas to them.

In view of the magnitude of this problem, the argument over whether it is semantically correct to label this legislation as amnesty is irrelevant. The willful violation of the law on this scale is nothing less than anarchy exploited by unscrupulous employers seeking cheap, unskilled labor, and politicians who have condoned the practice for decades.

Instead of focusing on security issues and the adverse fiscal impact, the politicians seek to beguile us with rhetoric to the effect that we simply cannot deport more than 12-million illegals, and that our sympathies for the illegals in that respect should outweigh all other considerations. In truth and fact, the politicians, if they would place the emphasis on the sovereignty and security of the country, could enact legislative measures that would secure our borders and dry up the labor market and taxpayer-subsidized benefits for illegal aliens thereby motivating them to self-deport and thus clear the way for immigrants and temporary guest workers who are willing to comply with the law to gain entry in an orderly manner consistent with the security, welfare and sovereignty of America.

Jack B. McPherson, New Port Richey

Insurance bids lead to best rates

I just viewed the May 22 Pasco Commission meeting during which there was a discussion on insurance bidding. After the commissioners approved a motion to have the Pasco County employees insurance coverage go out for bid for the first time in 10 years, Tax Collector Mike Olson showed up and tried everything except kiss the commissioners' feet to not let this happen.

In Mr. Olson's plea, he stated that he witnessed Aetna Insurance Co. at a previous insurance committee meeting and wondered who was getting kickbacks from Aetna, since the company showed up unannounced. My question to Mr. Olson is, Who is getting the kickbacks from BlueCross BlueShield for them to have been with Pasco County without bid for 10 years?

Mr. Olson stated that a change in insurance will be traumatic to the employees. I've changed insurances companies for my children and myself several times and it was not a traumatic experience, nor did we have to change doctors.

What is traumatic is the rate Pasco County employees must pay to insure their families. The commission and the constitutional officers owe it to the taxpayers and the employees of Pasco County to bid the insurance out at least every two to three years to help keep it competitive and offer the best cost-effective insurance for the employees and their families.

I applaud the commissioners for standing their ground and not rescinding the motion. It was just a motion for the insurance to go for bid, not a motion to accept someone other than the current provider. Not yet, anyway.

Kenneth Urbuteit, San Antonio

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[Last modified June 9, 2007, 20:25:12]