Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Emerald editorial

Illegal immigrants pay taxes, benefit state
Out-of-state tuition is three times higher than in-state tuition. For the children of illegal immigrants, who have a difficult time receiving in-state tuition, the idea of paying out-of-state tuition creates an insurmountable burden to receiving a quality education. For the second time in four years, the Oregon House of Representatives has introduced tuition equity legislation, which would loosen restrictions on in-state tuition benefits for the children of illegal immigrants.

The main argument against this legislation is that illegal immigrants are not "playing by the rules." The rules - however our legislators decide to define them - do not factor into the realities of immigration, illegal or otherwise. This is a knee-jerk reaction to a perceived problem - a political construct borne of populist sentiments and xenophobia. Laws should not act as immovable burdens to individual greatness.

Who teaches these people how to write?

10 comments:

BEAR said...

They forgot to say which part of illegal they don't understand, or which part of my income I'm allowed to keep in order to support my family. oops, how selfish of me......sheesh.

Anonymous said...

Maybe they could get tuition loans from Bank of (UN)America.

Anonymous said...

Drug smugglers buy gas and thus pay taxes as well.

What can we do for them?

Anonymous said...

Bear, it's the "il-" part of "illegal" they don't understand, thinking everything is "legal," including drug and human smuggling, rape, murder, theft, and so forth.

Or they think "illegal" is some kind of sick bird.

Bobkatt said...

Here is a "common sense" approach to immigration laws.

BEAR said...

hey, no illegal (aliens), two good lines. thanx.

Anonymous said...

Thanx Bear

Ric said...

for example: Would a Florida resident, not 'legally' an Oregon resident, be entitled to in-state rates too?

Anonymous said...

What we need to do is start the snowball rolling for illegal American immigration to France.

Think about it... if it became chic to sneak into France and work (if you did it in August virtually every job is open) and live, who would go?

Since, obviously, there's a portion of the population that thinks illegal immigration is an outdated concept, surely they'd be willing to do so themselves.

Anonymous said...

Stop being so hard on these young, inexpierenced, college boys. Ignorance and stupidity are part of youth and growing up. We were all there once, and these young boys will mature.......eventually.