Immigration reform is really amnesty
To the editor:
The "crazy aunt in the attic" secret of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act is that almost all of the illegal aliens who step forward will receive immediate legalized status with all its benefits. They can live in this country and be total beneficiaries of the rights of legal citizens, living the good life, while native immigrants all over the world, trying to come to United States legally, wait in their own countries for as long as 15 years or more to come here legally.
And this is not stepping ahead of the line? With this proposed system, why should any illegal alien ever care if he actually gets citizenship?
Remember, any form of amnesty is a slap in the face to immigrants all over the world waiting to come to this great country legally.
A final point to ponder: Rewarding lawbreakers is a self-defeating policy that has bleak consequences for the future of this country. In this case, it may well lead to the Balkanization of the United States -- in other words, the fragmentation of our once cohesive country
John J. Erlanger
LAS VEGAS
Amnesty explained
To the editor:
If an illegal alien pays a fine, is he on the road to becoming an American citizen after committing a felony?
Let's say a man has struggled all of his adult life to feed and clothe his family. Things have been tough for him because he just has not been able to make a living wage where he lives. There is a jewelry store just across the river in the next state. Now if he could just cross the state line and illegally enter the store late at night, he could have a better life for his family. He is successful with breaking and entering.
The state government for the town across the river, though, has stated that if the person who committed this crime will come forward and admit it, he will only have to pay a fine and will be given a pardon (amnesty). He must return to the state he came from, but in time he can relocate to the state where he committed the crime.
Once he returns to that generous state, he becomes a resident and receives his pardon. The state also assured him that he will get medical coverage, his children will be educated in any language he would like, he gets to be a member of the state retirement system, and if he cannot find a job, he will be given an unemployment check each week.
Not a bad deal for him. It also turns out to be a good deal for the politicians who agreed not to impose jail time or forbid him from returning to the state. He is beholden to the politicians, so he makes sure he votes to support them in future elections.
Have I got this amnesty thing correct?
LARRY L. BRUNSON
PAHRUMP
High-priced
To the editor:
I got a chuckle out of Daniel Maxime's Saturday letter supporting pay raises for Las Vegas City Council members. He seems to be a fan of big government. I'd suggest if he likes the large, corrupt city government of Chicago, he should return there.
I crunched a few numbers. The city of Chicago has a population of about 2.9 million represented by 50 aldermen. That's one alderman for every 58,000 residents. The city of Las Vegas has six City Council members (excluding the mayor) representing a population of about 580,000. That's one representative for every 97,000 residents. Each Las Vegas council member represents approximately 70 percent more residents than a typical Chicago alderman. Efficient, I think.
In 2005, Chicago raised its sales tax to 9 percent (and you thought ours was high). I guess it takes some pretty hefty taxes to pay those handsome alderman salaries. Imagine the politicking that must go on to get 26 aldermen (a simple majority) to agree on anything.
I prefer candidates who are running for office to serve the people, not make a nice salary at the expense of taxpayers.
Chicago can keep its high-priced politicians, and Las Vegas (and North Las Vegas, where I reside) should avoid them.
William W. Moreland
NORTH LAS VEGAS
Public support
To the editor:
In her Monday article on Gov. Jim Gibbons going nearly alone in supporting a plan to use part of the future increase in hotel room tax revenues for roads, Review-Journal reporter Molly Ball failed to mention that a significant majority of the public support Gov. Gibbons' plan.
Ken Reim
LAS VEGAS
Ticket writers
To the editor:
On my way to church recently, I traveled the southern Las Vegas Beltway from Rainbow Boulevard to Pecos Road. I set my cruise control to the posted speed limit of 65 mph.
How many cars did I pass? One. How many cars passed me? Everyone else.
Obviously, if I was going the speed limit, everyone else was speeding.
Want money for road construction? Here's a novel idea: Why not start ticketing speeders, red-light runners and stop-sign violators? We'd have more money for new roads and repairing old roads than we'd need -- plus, we'd help stop the carnage on our roadways.
Diane Arcuri
LAS VEGAS
