INS and IRS Policies Intertwined? Would much of the public consternation over illegal immigrants be eliminated if we felt they were paying a fair amount of taxes relative to the benefits they receive?
I’m concerned that some of anti-immigration hysteria is fueled by bigotry, or cultivated paranoia of any potential “terrorist”, but since there’s little reasoning with people who hold those attitudes, let me get back to the issue of economic perceptions…
Illegal aliens presumably do not pay income taxes since they have no valid social security numbers (although I imagine they do have some payroll taxes withheld by some of the more principled employers). Much of the disgruntled complaining about illegals comes from people who cite their unfair drain on social services, schools, health systems, etc. If these immigrants were paying their fair tax load would the objections be eliminated?
Is this where the concept of consumption taxes might drive better societal behaviors? If income taxes were abolished in favor of sales taxes, everyone – even illegal immigrants – would be paying into the system. To the critics who cite the regressive nature of this tax structure, proponents like Rep. John Linder have formulated a system of rebates to offset basic needs. Illegal residents would have no access to those rebates, and would therefore have a lessened financial incentive to immigrate or stay illegally. In fact, they would actually be paying a higher tax rate than legal residents.
Illegal immigration must ultimately be addressed by correcting the economic incentives on both sides of the border. Consumption taxes might be one element to ensure that the economic benefits that cheap labor provides to certain industries does not come at the expense of public services and law-abiding tax payers.
Michael
Previous: Global Dimming; It’s Not Just IQs at Risk -- Next: Rumsfeld must go! Comment from : JustaDog: Please don’t label yourself as a Republican, for that would be a lie. I’m concerned that some of anti-immigration hysteria is fueled by bigotry That’s really odd – I have seen no such anti-immigration hysteria. I have only seen 2 sides: Side 1: People wanting socialistic “compassion” for people that have entered the USA illegally; Side 2: People that are in favor of laws and the enforcement of laws. Perhaps the only hysteria is from people like you that wish to make issues that don’t exist – that wish to label efforts of law-abiding people as something else. To think that your mentallity could ever come close to Presidency is a joke. Try representing truth. The first step for you is to admit to your lying liberal ways! I doubt very much if you will post this comment. Liberals have this “thing” against truth! Posted by : JustaDog Apr 12, 10:12 AM # Comment from Michael Smith: I take it I don’t have your vote? I think both our comments speak for themselves. Michael Posted by Michael Smith Apr 12, 11:02 AM # Comment from crallspace: Justadog… You only have seen 2 sides, because that’s all that Fox News has presented you with, and black and white, all or nothing answers are all that make sense to you. Speaking for myself, I think illegals should find a legitimate way of coming here, but I disagree with the provisions of Sensenbrenner’s bill…which is really the issue here. Have you read it? If that passed, the economy would collapse. I can guarantee you have no problem eating low-priced food that some immigrant worker picked, nor do you have a problem enjoying other fruits of their toil, all for the sake of saving a buck. Let’s see the smile on your face if an AMERICAN citiczen were to pick those onions. You wouldn’t be paying 39 cents a pound anymore. I think it’s quite unfair to make it a felony for someone like myself to give someone a ride to the store, give someone a bowl of soup at the soup kitchen, or babysit someone’s kid for 10 minutes—- and if the person I am helping is illegal—- I could be convicted of a felony. That is horse-shit! Michael, braindead folk like Justadog are who have highjacked the Republican party, and who the rhetoric appeals to. Common sense is not what appeals to these people. Never did I think that being ignorant and sour would be fashionable in this day and age. Posted by crallspace Apr 13, 06:20 AM # |
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