Politics and Controversy

[stevec]

I'll go ahead and do this stupid bulletin.

What is your stand on...?

Abortion?: As a man, I'm not 100% sure how much my opinion should matter since it's not my life and my body being affected. As a reasonably intelligent person, I am 1000% sure a woman should be able to choose for herself what happens to her body. To say that life begins at

Comments

[kender256]

Illegal Immigrants?: The majority of illegal immigrants ARE paying taxes through paycheck deductions. Not only that, but they're paying IN to a Social Security system that won't pay them back (because they're using ungenuine social security cards).

[stevec]

Why do I think a lot of illegals probably check the option not to have taxes automatically deducted from their checks when they sign up for employment initially? Regardless there's no way to keep track of who is and who isn't doing this, and I think it's a serious enough issue that they should still not get any social benefits with the potential education caveat.

If they're going to pay taxes they should go through the process to become legal citizens, which I'll go ahead and agree right now desperately needs reformed.

While we're on the subject, I historically have always thought that Hispanics coming to live and work in the US should be required to learn English. My Spanish class threw a lot of propaganda at me about how great biculturalism and bilingualism is. While I do agree it's a pretty cool thing to do, after some friends of mine slapped me I started to realize again that it seems strange to force bilingualism on the vast majority of the US rather than force English on the immigrants.

Any thoughts on that?

[kender256]

I did not know that it was possible to NOT have taxes witheld from your check (unless you´re self-emplyed, of course), I was under the impression that it was a legal requirement that employers deduct estimated taxes from the paychecks they issue. I only remember being asked to fill out forms to help estimate HOW MUCH gets deducted

[stevec]

I seem to remember there being an option to withhold federal taxes from being auto-deducted whenever you fill out the tax information for a new job--then you just have to pay it all at tax-time instead of getting a return. I could be mistaken though; it's been a while since I've gotten a new job.

But yes, if they're paying taxes they should have access to tax-funded services. That said I'm still not 100% convinced that all or even most illegal immigrants pay taxes. If they're hired "legally" it's with a fake social security number (which opens up problems with fraud, etc). That also makes it difficult for them to keep the job. For example, some illegals that work with Heather at Red Lobster have been discovered because Red Lobster got a notice from the IRS that their employees don't exist in the system; I'd personally be surprised if INS doesn't show up sometime just because of that. I find it hard to believe that most immigrants are jeopardizing their jobs and their life in the US like this.

Which leads to when they're hired

[stevec]

Haha. For the record I wasn't serious about the premarital sex bit. Most of my other friends have started laughing hysterically when I suggested something similar.

That's kind of amazing that we'd agree on everything. I generally assume most people will think I'm crazy if I tell them all my political/philosophical beliefs.

[best_nightmare]

You're so smart stevie! I love you!

[stevec]

Read my response to Simón.

I'm curious what social services he's allowed access to and what he's denied, as well as if he pays the typical amount of taxes or something else. Like I mentioned in reply to Simón, legal or illegal he's entitled to emergency health care because hospitals can't refuse anyone in need. If you know where I can get any additional information on your stepdad's status I'd like to learn more, because I'm not familiar with this 'tax ID number' bit.

If he's paying taxes then unless there is a good reason not to he should be entitled to tax-funded social programs. Even though it's mildly unfair, I can accept his inability to file a return as essentially an additional tax for not being a legal citizen. Otherwise why bother becoming a citizen?

Also, at no point was I intending to knock immigrants or suggest that they should all go back where they came from. Illegal immigrants are on the large a problem and really should be deported. Perhaps the problem that should be considered more is why are so many illegals here

[kinzokutaka]

Happy birthday, stevec!