Immigration

[Annie]

I am with you on that one sweltered. I too live in an "at will" state!

[dgraves]

This may just be the reason that illegals have been allowed to stay over the decades..They are worth billions to the Social Security fund! I was just emailed this article today. I had no clue that they were paying taxes...albeit illegally
Seems the illegals buy a packet with a fake Social Security card, Driver's License etc. when they arrive. This lets employers off of the hook, as they can then take taxes out of the illegal immigrants' wages that are paid into Social Security and Medicare.

BUT...the illegals can NEVER claim the Social Security and Medicare benefits that they would be entitled to were their papers legal. All of those taxes are put in a fund that is used by the Social Security Office.

This is an eye-opener for sure!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/05/busin ... tner=kmarx

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Why are ther no such protests in Canada, Australia and the UK, who all have as rigid or more rigid immigration laws as the US has. I had to do it legally. Illegal is the operative word for these people. I'm sick of the "they are doing agricultural jobs Americans won't" nonsense. There is an estimated 6.5 million illegal in the US, 2.5million of them are working, 2% of those work in agriculture.

What did the UK authorities do with the illegals working in the fish factories in the Broch?

Would there be such a wave of support if all the people who illegally smoke pot protested. Unlikely.

I f the want to come here legally, fine. But learn the language pay taxes and but healthcare. I had to do it (the language thing is a bit of a problem, but I do the other 2) why shouldn't they. I pay taxes but I can't vote. I work in a state where my employer can fire me for no reason, except race. Nobody did me any favors when I came here.

Learn the language??? how hard was that for you? .. and the employer can fire me on the spot too.. i dare say, sweltered, that I am really glad you are here, and if you are in San Antonio, you will be more than welcome and let me know, but don't ever compare your lot to the lot of people who sacrifice their lives to get here.

[Sweltered]

Learn the language??? how hard was that for you? .. and the employer can fire me on the spot too.. i dare say, sweltered, that I am really glad you are here, and if you are in San Antonio, you will be more than welcome and let me know, but don't ever compare your lot to the lot of people who sacrifice their lives to get here.

How dare you assume anything about my lot! That is possibly one of the most arrogant things I have ever heard! You don't know me, you don't know WHAT I sacrificed to come to this country!

As for the language, I had to give up a job because Americans are to lazy to listen to anyone who has an accent!

Never heard of the highland clearances? I think a few highlanders
lost their lives.

I pay taxes but will never qualify for medicare, I PAY for MY healthcare and theirs. What about the US workers fired in New Orleans when the illegals turned up offering to work for less money?

Build the wall!

[Annie]

Actually sweltered, I got my first job in America BECAUSE I had a "lovely accent," and was very articulate and polite. This opened many doors for me in the local legal community! I now have an office, a secretary and am well respected within the legal community (after 20 darn years, I would hope so!). However, I had to start at minimum wage, just like everyone else and worked my way up, whilst attending college, etc. It wasn't easy, but ......

[Sweltered]

Actually sweltered, I got my first job in America BECAUSE I had a "lovely accent," and was very articulate and polite. This opened many doors for me in the local legal community! I now have an office, a secretary and am well respected within the legal community (after 20 darn years, I would hope so!). However, I had to start at minimum wage, just like everyone else and worked my way up, whilst attending college, etc. It wasn't easy, but ......

Exactly, you did it the right way, as am I. I started school about a month ago, no small feat at my age! I have every respect for people who want to better themselves, legally

[Annie]

Thanks sweltered! I know what you mean about going back to school. My brain cells are not all what they used to be either, so I applaud you for going for it. I am not sure I could go back to school!

[Bobbie En Tejas]

How dare you assume anything about my lot! That is possibly one of the most arrogant things I have ever heard! You don't know me, you don't know WHAT I sacrificed to come to this country!

You are right, I did assume that you did not risk your life coming into this country. I assumed you didn't swim, walk through the blazing hot desert, was locked into the back of a semi-truck or rail car without much air and no water. I assumed you made enough money because you had the benefit of living in a country that educated you well enough that you could get a decent paying job that allowed you to be able to pay for the tests and other immigration paperwork, written in your native tongue. I may be arrogant, sweltered, but not so arrogant that I would fault anyone for trying to make a better life for themselves and their family.

If legality is the issue, would you have faulted people from East Germany escaping over the wall because they didn't try to leave by legal means?

The US was built on immigrants.. people like my family, you, Annie, Mary... I don't feel that opening up the door to another is going to take anything away from me or you. Welcome to America.

Unfortunately, I suppose my original question about immigration to SCOTLAND is one that won't get much discussion

[Annie]

I think you opened up a can of worms at the wrong end. The whole topic started off as Immigration TO Scotland, not Scottish Immigration to other countries and the trials and tribulations that go with that. Also, it is a very hot topic here in the States these days, ergo, the debate.

It seems that your original topic is doomed!

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Btw, Sweltered,

"Permanent resident aliens may also qualify for Medicare assistance once they have lived inside the United States continuously for at least five years or more prior to their eligibility for benefits date."

http://www.insurelane.com/medicare.html

[Annie]

The Medicare program is the United States government's take on the employer-sponsored health insurance plan. It is by and large available to older Americans as well as to many with disabilities. Generally, an individual typically becomes eligible for Medicare assistance when they turn sixty-five.

This is what we get told when we apply, unless you have a disability, of course!

[Sweltered]

How dare you assume anything about my lot! That is possibly one of the most arrogant things I have ever heard! You don't know me, you don't know WHAT I sacrificed to come to this country!

You are right, I did assume that you did not risk your life coming into this country. I assumed you didn't swim, walk through the blazing hot desert, was locked into the back of a semi-truck or rail car without much air and no water. I assumed you made enough money because you had the benefit of living in a country that educated you well enough that you could get a decent paying job that allowed you to be able to pay for the tests and other immigration paperwork, written in your native tongue. I may be arrogant, sweltered, but not so arrogant that I would fault anyone for trying to make a better life for themselves and their family.

If legality is the issue, would you have faulted people from East Germany escaping over the wall because they didn't try to leave by legal means?

The US was built on immigrants.. people like my family, you, Annie, Mary... I don't feel that opening up the door to another is going to take anything away from me or you. Welcome to America.

Unfortunately, I suppose my original question about immigration to SCOTLAND is one that won't get much discussion

Illegal is illegal. And the spanish language is catered for in the immigration process.
If they are so desperate to be here why are they waving Mexican flags. This country cannot support an open door policy for immigrants. And it shouldn't !

Aren't all East Germans now legally, well, just German? Without having to scale a wall.

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Illegal is illegal. And the spanish language is catered for in the immigration process.
If they are so desperate to be here why are they waving Mexican flags. This country cannot support an open door policy for immigrants. And it shouldn't !

Aren't all East Germans now legally, well, just German? Without having to scale a wall.

I asked "would you have faulted people," not "do you fault them." Yes, they are now all Germans, and you missed the point.

Loads of them were waving the American flag at the marches also. This country can support people who come here to work and contribute.

Anyway... so, will you be settling back in Kintyre when you have finished your schooling?

[Annie]

[quote] Hugh reckoned that there is a wanderlust amongst the Celtic peoples, but that at specific junctures in life an unstoppable longing to returned home takes over the will. This driving desire can only be quenched by a long period of stay, as it is only exacerbated by a short homecoming. [/quote]

The above I have unashamedly cut and pasted from the Hugh Trowsers' own website! (Is that an infringement?? I hope not!)

But, to make my point, the above stands true for us all. Whether we be in the States (including Hawaii, he he!), Germany, Australia or otherwise, we always find our way home!

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Annie, I wasn't making a point against him by asking if he was going to go back home, I was changing the subject. Personally, I hope he enjoys his stay while he's here, and I wouldn't blame him for going back if thats what he chose.