Wednesday's Letters to the Editor

Hoffman: He and I must have read separate articles. The article I read did have a direct statement to the issue Hoffman has. In fact, Harvard is a private institution and the scholarships the kid received may not have had any public funds in them. The article didn't say, so tax dollars may not have funded an illegal resident, but with private funds and a private school I don't think the Hoffman complaint has any juice.

The kid needs professional help from a knowledgeable immigration lawyer who might be willing to work pro bono up front.

I was shocked at Dana Rohrabacher's attitude. He was a Libertarian before being a Republican (I think he switched at the time because he thought that was the only way he could get elected to anything). Transgressing borders for work and the pursuit of happiness is a "victimless crime". In this case, the mother works, keeps a decent household and raised two good kids. That's better than a lot of citizens.

Free market thinking has always recognized that an economy will tend to full employment, regardless of the resident status of a person. An economist at the Federal Reserve Bank in Dallas wrote a good article a few years ago (too late and too lazy to look it up now) showing illegal immigrant labor is not taking away jobs in a zero sum game and in fact contribute to a more robust economy. In general, I had some issues with the article, but as applied to this boy and his family, the article was more appropriate than the Rohrabacher opinion. In fact, Dana's thinking has become more shallow rather than more sophisticated as he has matured (in years, anyway).

I'm confused, what part of the Harvard educated young man being Illegal didn't you understand. The free ride is over.

Whether or not the Harvard grads funding was private, or public...it still took the opportunity away from a LEGAL resident!

NO FREE EDUCATION FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS!

Come here legally, or don't come here.

It's a huge slap in the face for all those who migrate here LEGALLY!

slug - illegal immigration is NOT a victimless crime. Back in the day, Caesar Chavez spent his life trying to improve the conditions of agriculture workers in the US southwest.

Chavez was OPPOSED to illegal immigration because he realized that its effect is to lower the wages of agriculture workers. Back then, even the Hispanic "lobby" understood the basic principle of supply and demand.

In today's upside-down world, its rare to find someone willing to speak the truth anymore. Illegal immigration STILL depresses wages and opportunity of our legal citizens. There is no way to deny that logically -- its just that anyone stating that truth is immediately tarred and feathered. And the American citizen who could have gone to Harvard instead of this illegal would have been better off for himself and for our nation.

Mexico has all the resources to become a wonderful country. But its saddled with a corrupt, violent govt that exploits its poor. That exploitation is so bad, millions of its citizens are willing to trek across miles of desert just to get a chance to clean toilets or pick cucumbers. If we could stop that flow of illegals and channel our dwindling resources into helping our own poor, I think both Mexico and the US would benefit. So Rohrabacher is exactly right.

And, I hate to say slug, you are exactly wrong -- on this one issue.

Larry Corrao and Tom Hoffman, thank you. Your words are true. I wish the politicians would listen.

Moral of the story; Steal, cheat and lie and you too can get a free education at the expense of honest hard working people.

Admission to schools like Harvard is highly competitive. There is no doubt this young man took the place of someone else, most likely a US citizen. One person's gain, another one's loss.

OTOH, we can't blame the kid. He took what was given to him. Now, its likely he'll leave the country and take his skills elsewhere. And we'll have lost the investment of money and Harvard altogether.

This is the sort of stuff that makes me, well, angry. Laws should help people as well as the nation, as a whole. I know why it happened, enough money has passed thru enough politicians to stop any attempt at controlling illegal immigration. We also have a leftist educational establishment that truly loves to boost kids like this one while denying opportunity to "majority" types.

At the same time, the Mexican eduational system wouldn't have touched this kid with a 10 foot pole, had he stayed there. Illiteracy is rampant in that nation; opportunities for the poor are almost nil. So if you can leave, do it.

Clear Thinker wrote:

Admission to schools like Harvard is highly competitive. There is no doubt this young man took the place of someone else, most likely a US citizen. One person's gain, another one's loss.
OTOH, we can't blame the kid. He took what was given to him. Now, its likely he'll leave the country and take his skills elsewhere. And we'll have lost the investment of money and Harvard altogether.
This is the sort of stuff that makes me, well, angry. Laws should help people as well as the nation, as a whole. I know why it happened, enough money has passed thru enough politicians to stop any attempt at controlling illegal immigration. We also have a leftist educational establishment that truly loves to boost kids like this one while denying opportunity to "majority" types.
At the same time, the Mexican eduational system wouldn't have touched this kid with a 10 foot pole, had he stayed there. Illiteracy is rampant in that nation; opportunities for the poor are almost nil. So if you can leave, do it.

In total agreement...but like to elaborate on the last sentence if I may.

"so, if you can leave, do it...but do it legally"

Why is it that illegal aliens can go to college in the US and get the "in-state" tuition rate. If an illegal alien goes to high school in CA, they qualify for the in-state tuition rate. My brother is an American citizen married to European citizen. Their children were educated in Europe. They hold dual citizenships. When he checked into them attending college in the US he found out he'd be paying the "out of state" tuition rate...even though they were American citizens. So how is that fair?????

Torrance Resident wrote:

Why is it that illegal aliens can go to college in the US and get the "in-state" tuition rate. If an illegal alien goes to high school in CA, they qualify for the in-state tuition rate. My brother is an American citizen married to European citizen. Their children were educated in Europe. They hold dual citizenships. When he checked into them attending college in the US he found out he'd be paying the "out of state" tuition rate...even though they were American citizens. So how is that fair?????

Does everyone in your example meet the same "in state" tuition residency requirement? Do you know what is required to merit "in state" tuition?

It seems to me that citizens should always rate higher than illegal immigrants, no matter what government service is considered.

This is fair, even to those immigrants who don't break the law and patiently wait their turn in their native countries.

Illegal immigrants have gotten away with gaming the system for too long. Its time to reward those who follow the law.

TomFromPV wrote:

It seems to me that citizens should always rate higher than illegal immigrants, no matter what government service is considered.
This is fair, even to those immigrants who don't break the law and patiently wait their turn in their native countries.
Illegal immigrants have gotten away with gaming the system for too long. Its time to reward those who follow the law.

Aboslutely!

I keep forgetting that there are millions of people waiting for their legal papers to immigrate here. We seem to focus mostly on the illegals who just bull their way across the border and settle in.

I have to say that if I were trying to immigrate to the US and the legal wait was soooo long, why shouldn't I just bust in too? What bonus do I get for following the law? I mean, will my kids be denied an education? Will healthcare be unavailable to me? Do I pay a fine? Will I be hunted down and deported?

The answer seems to be no.

Bobko is next, his views on upper pier are all wrong, the new remodel doesn't even match low pier? There will be a lost of parking and PCH needs the work twice as much. We have stamp concrete now on Up Pier that was changed and he didn't even know it, in fact he didn't even make the meeting! All he tells are jokes and never says anything at CC meeting.
"After that being said "let start another committee and boy I 'm having a fun up here." This is what Bobko the Boob is all about. He and Keegan were a ticket and he should have gone with him. Bobko is only in Hermosa Beach because he is a buddy and past partners with our City attorney, who also should be next the list of "next to go", the way his firm handles everything. Just look at Mac Oil law suit good job Boobko and Jenkins!!!!!! Under direction of Steve Burrell one might add.

TomFromPV wrote:

It seems to me that citizens should always rate higher than illegal immigrants, no matter what government service is considered.
This is fair, even to those immigrants who don't break the law and patiently wait their turn in their native countries.
Illegal immigrants have gotten away with gaming the system for too long. Its time to reward those who follow the law.

The illegal immigrant broke the law in entering the country. Does that same immigrant break the law when she pays all her taxes (sales, income, SDI, FICA, etc.) and fees? Does the immigrant working in the state illegally contribute to the state economy? What contribution does an "out-of-state" status American directly contribute to the state economy that merits "in state" tuition status?

slug wrote:

<quoted text>The illegal immigrant broke the law in entering the country. Does that same immigrant break the law when she pays all her taxes (sales, income, SDI, FICA, etc.) and fees? Does the immigrant working in the state illegally contribute to the state economy? What contribution does an "out-of-state" status American directly contribute to the state economy that merits "in state" tuition status?

As a matter of fact many illegals DO break the law when they pay their taxes, because they are using someone else's SS number, it is called identity theft and the Mexicans in this country do it routinely. Why do we shed so many tears for these criminals and shortchange our own citizens? I just do not get it. Somewhere in this country there is a kid that worked very hard, played by the rules, struggled to get the grades and dreamed of Harvard. His place was stolen by a Mexican that has no business in this country in the first place and no one give a damn for what happened to the kid. The Mexican gets a front page article in DB beacause now, having screwed the U.S. citizen, having gotten a free Harvard education, he cannot get a job! How about we shed a tear or to for one of OUR OWN PEOPLE? Is that so much to ask?

Slug - I am somewhat surprised by your stance here!

Illegal immigrants are undocumented - so they pay no payroll taxes. Cash and carry. They pay Point of Sale taxes like sales tax, but that's it.

Its pointless to ask if illegal immigrants are a net add or subtract to the economy. Its illegal to ask immigration status when getting healthcare at a public hospital. Its illegal to track money sent back to the native country using immigration status as well.

For all we know, illegals are huge drain on the economy. Taking money under the table, sending it back to places like Mexico, getting free healthcare, not paying for car insurance but having accidents, committing crime, being housed in our jails, going to public school, etc.

Vic wrote:

<quoted text> As a matter of fact many illegals DO break the law when they pay their taxes, because they are using someone else's SS number, it is called identity theft and the Mexicans in this country do it routinely. Why do we shed so many tears for these criminals and shortchange our own citizens? I just do not get it. Somewhere in this country there is a kid that worked very hard, played by the rules, struggled to get the grades and dreamed of Harvard. His place was stolen by a Mexican that has no business in this country in the first place and no one give a damn for what happened to the kid. The Mexican gets a front page article in DB beacause now, having screwed the U.S. citizen, having gotten a free Harvard education, he cannot get a job! How about we shed a tear or to for one of OUR OWN PEOPLE? Is that so much to ask?

You wrote: "Why do we shed so many tears for these criminals and shortchange our own citizens?" Remember when the IRS started requiring SS#s for child dependents? Instantly, thousands of previously declared dependents disappeared and millions of dollars increased in revenue. Those were "our citizens" doing the shortchanging. I agree, illegal is illegal. But, if there is no enforcement why does the jaywalker keep doing it over and over.

Did the boy enter Harvard illegally? Are they pulling his diploma in the same way that if I misrepresented myself on my job application and it were discovered, I would lose my job?

My distinction in questioning the "in state" tuition issue was a consequence of a previous post - and I still can't get an answer.

Clear Thinker wrote:

I keep forgetting that there are millions of people waiting for their legal papers to immigrate here. We seem to focus mostly on the illegals who just bull their way across the border and settle in.
I have to say that if I were trying to immigrate to the US and the legal wait was soooo long, why shouldn't I just bust in too? What bonus do I get for following the law? I mean, will my kids be denied an education? Will healthcare be unavailable to me? Do I pay a fine? Will I be hunted down and deported?
The answer seems to be no.

And that, in my opinion, is the worst of the illegal problem.

Too many who are taking the LEGAL route get a slap in the face by those taking the ILLEGAL route.

slug wrote:

<quoted text>You wrote: "Why do we shed so many tears for these criminals and shortchange our own citizens?" Remember when the IRS started requiring SS#s for child dependents? Instantly, thousands of previously declared dependents disappeared and millions of dollars increased in revenue. Those were "our citizens" doing the shortchanging. I agree, illegal is illegal. But, if there is no enforcement why does the jaywalker keep doing it over and over.
Did the boy enter Harvard illegally? Are they pulling his diploma in the same way that if I misrepresented myself on my job application and it were discovered, I would lose my job?
My distinction in questioning the "in state" tuition issue was a consequence of a previous post - and I still can't get an answer.

How about the illegal worker using a stolen SS# and declaring enough "dependants" (also using stolen SS#'s, or using valid SS#'s of their US born anchor babies) so that they literally pay no income tax?

Common, very common.