Letters

Dec. 19, 2010

Illegal immigrant problem
In response to Don Strzynski’s letter to the editor regarding “Gestapo
tactics“ (12/6), I would like to respond with actual facts.
First, in reference to Nazi Germany, the Jews weren’t in Germany
illegally. They were citizens that were stripped of their rights,
property and lives by a totalitarian regime. Comparing this country to
that time is a personal affront to me.
Second, until Mr. Strzynski actually lives with the over 12 million
illegal aliens in this country, he will not be able to clearly
recognize the problem for what it is.
I have recently retired to the great state of Michigan from southern
Nevada. I spent most of my life out West, with the southwestern culture
and the problems associated with illegal aliens inundating this country
affecting my daily life at every turn.
The act of being here illegally is in itself a crime. How could one
reasonably expect me to welcome a criminal to my country? It IS a crime
to enter just about any country illegally.
They overwhelm social services, including hospital ERs (In Nevada,
American citizens were waiting behind illegals for life saving
treatments, such as dialysis.), the school systems, which the illegals
insist accommodate them by requiring everyone speak Spanish, the
welfare and housing systems, and other government services. They drive
without drivers’ licenses, insurance, registration, or knowledge of
U.S. traffic laws, and when involved in an accident, run from the
scene. They don’t pay taxes or file taxes, but are quick to suck up
taxpayer dollars while they’re making money. And most of their money is
sent back South.
Perhaps I might agree the solution is not profiling, but in reality
this country must take this issue in hand, and soon. The last thing
this issue needs to become is a political one, but that is exactly
what is happening because of the potential of over 12 million votes.
Incentive should be given to illegals (and those that employ them) to
return to their own country and use the system to emigrate legally.
Perhaps the process can be streamlined or refined to speed things up.
In conclusion, why would this country even let anyone in to work when
we are in such a deep recession with rampant unemployment? We need to
get Americans back to work, and if that means harsh laws regarding
illegal criminals, then so be it.
Mr. Strzynski, after you’ve lived 40+ years out there with them, and
all of the aforementioned problems, get back to me.

George Barnette • Sault Ste. Marie

Illegals and school costs
With states straining under gaping budget shortfalls, public schools
are facing some of the most significant decreases in state education
funding in decades..
While these massive budget deficits cannot be attributed to any single
source, the enormous impact of large-scale illegal immigration cannot
be ignored. The total K-12 school expenditure for illegal immigrants
costs the states nearly $12 billion annually.
Efforts are underway in several states and in Congress to allow illegal
aliens to pay steeply discounted in-state tuition at public colleges
and universities —rates not available to American citizens from other
states.
Do the math again and you will most likely find the costs much higher
then the other area due to their heavy use of programs like ESL, free
breakfast, free lunch, etc.
Michigan alone spends $135.4 million on illegal immigrants enrolled in
public schools. This does NOT include U.S. born children of illegal
immigrants.
I personally do not feel that I have the obligation or the desire to pay
for someone’s education that should not be here in the first place. Liz
Larios (featured in the 11/29 issue of the Express) should be allowed to
come back after paying her equivalent public school K-12 education
costs.
What is one of the biggest problems you hear teachers, parents, city
councils, etc. talk about constantly here in Traverse City? it is
overcrowded classrooms. Can we as citizens find out the numbers that we
have here in TCAPS due to illegal immigration? So how do you cut
classroom size? Build more schools. Where do you get the money?
Taxpayers.

Julie Howe • TC

A path to citizenship
This letter is in response to the Liz Larios cover story of the illegal
immigrant tragedy/love story.
My comment to the public schools and government: if there are children
who become illegal when they turn 18 and graduate, then why couldn‘t
there be a citizenship path that is completed with their high school
diploma?
If a child completes high school in the U.S., given them U.S. citizenship.
Why do the enforcements have to be so mean and inhumanitarian to our
fellow citizens of the world?
How much did we spend on this one incident and how much destruction was
caused within a family that had been doing their best? Why is U.S.
citizenship so difficult to attain for certain groups?
The government should make it possible for children of these situations
to become citizens instead of making them criminals.

Lois Bedtelyon • Suttons Bay

Damaging Social Security
Let me say “no thanks!” to the recently proposed “payroll tax holiday.”
This proposal would cut employee contributions to Social Security for
the next year.
Despite reports to the contrary, Social Security will be able to pay
100% of all benefits until 2037. That is unless we start decreasing our
contributions!
The working class has been hit by stagnant wages, loss of home equity,
and miniscule interest earnings on savings. The only retirement that
many have left is their Social Security. This retirement has been
earned through a lifetime of contributions.
If Congress wants to help the working class, don’t take steps to make
Social Security less viable! If Congress wants to help the working
class and our country, let the Bush era tax cuts for the rich expire.
Extending tax breaks for the rich while striking a blow at Social
Security is a lose/lose proposition for the working class. One
definition of holiday is “of or pertaining to a festival; festive;
joyous.” I can tell you I am not feeling joyous about this proposal!

Barb Smith • Beulah

Frontiers in farming
CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations) do not represent a viable
future, evolution or solution for “feeding the world.” Anne Stanton
was on the right track comparing commodity farmers to farmers who
direct market value-added products; however, a fair price comparison,
would have factored in the medical, environmental and subsidy costs of
CAFOs. (Re: “The Future of Farming,“ 12/13.)
Missing from the article was the growing trend and health advantages of
purely grass-fed beef or dairy cows with Omega 3 and CLA that make
heart-healthy by-products. Anyone who thinks this can’t be done in
Michigan should ask Santa for a subscription to Acres USA or find out
about the work that MSU is doing at their test site.
A little more research might have uncovered the exciting achievements
of Holistic Management International, Horizon Milk, and independent
farmers like Joel Salatin and Cody Holmes. These closed loop systems
are beyond sustainable - they’re regenerative. The future, evolution
and feeding the world lies in regenerative vs extractive farming
practices.
Raising corn for ethanol or for feeding cows is bad math. Let’s do the
math and comparisons of all the systems out there based on how much
beef is produced per barrel of oil.

Sharron May • The May Farm