Congress may actually pass an economic stimulus bill this week, which is good news for the short-term needs of the country. There is no question the economy is tottering, and could easily tip over from recession to depression, so a bill that focuses on saving jobs and creating jobs is desperately needed. The good news is that the bill will definitely help achieve some of those aims. The bad news is that it will lay a crushing debt burden on taxpayers for the future, which can only be addressed if government becomes far more efficient in the use of tax dollars than it has in the past. That could very well force, down the road, what many of us have wanted for years, a smaller, more efficient government. But somehow, that doesn't seem likely. Because Congress hasn't figured out that the model for government is, and should be, changing. And the best example is the stimulus package. Despite billions of dollars in cuts, it still contains way too much pork. And some of the cuts (to make way for that pork) seem to make no sense, such as dropping $40 billion to help keep schools from having to fire teachers. That's counter-productive. The bill is supposed to save or create jobs, not leave them threatened. Both sides of the aisle bear the blame. The Democratic leadership rolled over on way too many pet projects among its members, losing sight of the long-term goal of the bill. And Republicans kept insisting on sticking to the same failed policies of the past, and playing the same old games where personal and party political power carried more weight than the needs of the nation. One GOP leader actually admitted his goal for the bill, and the amendments he introduced, were designed to divide the Democrats and make them look bad. So much for caring about the people of this country. Both parties should be ashamed. It is time for Congress to look up from its myopic and petty party power games, and its proclivity for pork, and look at the desperate state of the nation, focusing solely on programs that stand a good chance of meeting the goal of keeping people working. Making things work should be a bipartisan issue. This bill should be about America, not the Republican or Democratic parties. -- Kelly Everitt

Illegals must be priority

Posted Wednesday, February 20, 2008, at 10:06 AM

If the estimates are correct, one in every 25 persons living in the United States is an illegal alien, the vast majority of them from Mexico and Central America.

Each year, they send billions of our Gross National Product back to Mexico to support their impoverished families. And American taxpayers spend billions more in health, welfare and education costs to support them.

The important word here is illegal (we have no problems with those who have followed the law and obtained the necessary paperwork to live and work here). Calling illegals "undocumented" is simply an effort to modify the language in order to make the problem seem less severe.

But it is severe and they are breaking the law -- and the bank.

In some parts of this country, in particular southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Florida, there are so many illegal aliens that English, the language upon which this county was built and operates, is no longer the dominant language. The need for bilingual public officials and paperwork adds hundreds of millions of additional costs to government spending.

We understand why they come to this country. Working for minimum or sub-minimum wages is still rich compared to what they could earn in Mexico or other poor Central American countries, if they could even find a job there. The trashy housing so many of them are forced to live in here is still a world better than what they had at home. Because even the lower economic levels of our country are still much better than the mid-range economic levels of most other countries in the world.

The problem has become so great that American citizens are increasingly inclined to support harsh measures to deal with them. A proposal in the Idaho Legislature, for example, to allow illegals to take advantage of "in state" citizen tuition rates at Idaho colleges is, frankly, doomed. We doubt it will even get out of committee. The vast majority of Idahoans would be justifiably furious if it passed.

We should make it easier for Mexican nationals to obtain documentation to work (and be tracked) in the United States. That would end some of the "illegal" problem (we simply cannot support lawbreaking).

We should work with Mexico to help its economy improve so the need to come here is significantly reduced.

But we also should quit simply sending them home when they are caught, because most of them promptly return by the same routes they used to get into our country the first time. A series of prison work camps could be set up so that those who are caught here wind up being incarcerated here for a few years before they are deported. We believe that, combined with an easier system to obtain documentation, would begin to discourage those who are purely "illegal" (and in the long run save us money despite the cost of the camps).

Added to actual and vigorous enforcement of the current laws, especially those involving the hiring of illegals, we believe some significant inroads can be made.

But the current system of turning a blind eye to the existing laws, and creating a revolving door at our borders, is simply not working.

Americans are tired of being overwhelmed by their numbers. Illegal immigration must be stopped, and must be made a priority of the next president and Congress.

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I so totally agree......if they are here they should read, write, and speak engish......This is America my son should not come home from school with a note, written in english on one side and spanish on the other. Its irritating. Most of them come here live in a trashy place own five really nice vehicles and send all there money back across the border. Something has to change!!!

-- Posted by smiles98 on Wed, Feb 20, 2008, at 12:02 PM
The first thing we have to do is close the border. It just don't make sense to try to clear the flood if the faucet is still running, know what I mean?

-- Posted by mattnielsen on Wed, Feb 20, 2008, at 5:43 PM
Thats what we need a Mass Round-up of Millions of people (Mexicans), its like we really need high taxes too, this is Left Wing thinking, whats the United States going be like when "after" we do all this deporting, I don't think we'll be a free Nation anymore, this could be worst than what the Nazi's did to the Jews. Papers Please

-- Posted by Freedom on Fri, Feb 22, 2008, at 12:52 PM
All of them Mexicans, No they are not all Mexicans, but Most of them are and Most of the Attention of the American people and the U.S. Government seems to be focus at Mexicans. So when the American People and Government talks about illegals they are In Fact talking about Mexicans, they are not talking about any other Group, but Mexicans. don't hear the Government talking about; Canada, Phippines,korea,japan, Germany or even Cuba, its all Mexicans this that and the other thing. The Sad thing about it is, its not the Mexicans that are the problem, Mexicans fight in Our Wars "Proudly", They Build Southern California and Own most of it, Need I say "Mexican food Restaurants" yum. they work not only the "fields" but construction jobs, they Pay their taxes and bills, and they buy American products and in most cases pay "cash".the problems we see with Mexicans you can find in Any "Group" just not Mexicans, HERE"S MY VOTE

I Freedom Vote to let the Undocumented Mexican Stay in the United States, if thats all they are guilty of is being a hard worker/tax payer/veteran/family person Heck Yeah thats the type of Citzen we Need.

-- Posted by Freedom on Sat, Feb 23, 2008, at 9:03 AM
IF the Government is so concerned about my health and welfare, why not make medical Marijuana legal that way I don't have too take so many pain pills or even pills in general. the Government is NOT concerned about my health or welfare, nope been down that Road before.

Bazookaman what you write about has "already" happen, you're a "day late and dollar short" the Mexicans taking my life, they did that a long time ago, courtesy of the U.S and Idaho Governments, what your writing about is "catch-up" Ive been telling the Government this stuff since I was 10 years old Im 55 now, nothing has change.

Ive been telling the Govenment since I was 10, change the Pot laws do something about the Mexicans,I said don't go down that Road, did they heed my words, NO, look what we have today. I grew up in Los Angeles I know about Mexicans and that border and Drugs, I know all about that believe me brother. thats why what you write Bazzokaman is wrong, it won't fix nothing but make things "far" worst.

Bazzokaman you really want to make things better really, Here's what will Work. 1. understand what the problem truely is. its not Mexicans, nope , its DRUGS, or I should say "the lack of Control" you, not me YOU,"because the government don't listen too me, never have ,

tell Gov Otter and the Idaho Legislature change the Marijuana Laws, make it legal for Adults, WHY, because its in OUR intrest to do so, its that simple.

lets Review:

since 1970 35 plus Million American young people have been arrested for Pot (how many kids went too higher education)few, Question How many Mexicans have been arrested. Pot prohibition has cost the American people 40 billions "A YEAR" while at the same time allowing millions of children/veterans too sleep on the steet. your view Bazzokaman believe me its the wrong one,before anything can be done about so-called "Illegals" the Idaho legistature must do something about Marijuana, if the Idaho legislature refuses do fix that Marijuana law any thing the Government says about fixing the border and illegals people is NOTHING but a waste of money and the Government blowing smoke in our face. nothing new here we've all been down this Road before.

-- Posted by Freedom on Sat, Feb 23, 2008, at 12:02 PM
Here's an example

Mr Kelly Everitt writes "Illegals Must be Priority.

The Mountain Home News "NEVER" "EVER" prints anything about Marijuana Prohibition/Hemp/ Prisons, must not be a big news issue Right, even the IDaho legislature, not a word.

lets Review, the Drug War cost the Tax payer "168 BILLION dollars a year" thats not news worthy?,,70 percent of people in Prison (3 million plus) are for low level drug use, not news worthly, 35 MILLION people Arrested since 1970, at a tax payer expense of 40 Billion a year, must not be news worthly. folks we are at WAR with ourselfs, with our own people we are willing too kill people just for smoking pot and the Idaho legislature "THINKS" this is just going go on to my "Grandkids" sure, right, folks don't you think that idea is Stupit.

Our Government is telling the people "oh we'll build a fence" we're doing something, 9 famous words from our Government (we're from the Government and we're here too help) SURE, there's only one problem Idaho legislature, its called the truth which is in short supply now .

there's a clear picture unfolding In Idaho today and the whole world watching to see which state too pluck first.

what Gov Otter and the Idaho Legislature practice is called "Prohibition" when they stop doing that the "MONEY will bottom out. its funny "ONLY IN AMERICA" does Rope (marijuana) turn to Gold when it comes to the UNITED STATES

Idaho Legislature what the HECK are you people thinking. will you please wake up

-- Posted by Freedom on Sat, Feb 23, 2008, at 1:44 PM
Freedom, I can't understand most of what you write. Guess I'm smoking too much of that "hemp"...LOL.

-- Posted by mrfresh28 on Mon, Feb 25, 2008, at 9:56 AM
And what ever happened to "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Last I checked, that was still written on Lady Liberty.

-- Posted by mrfresh28 on Mon, Feb 25, 2008, at 10:01 AM
I still think Lady Liberty should stand for something, despite what Archie Bunker says. Immigration needs reform, but it does not need to be gotten rid of all together. If we do that, we cease to be American.

-- Posted by mrfresh28 on Mon, Feb 25, 2008, at 4:15 PM
got me there, you're right, gotta do something, but we never had this problem before whats happening is something new, the growth of that is, if we fine out the real Link to why mexicans are coming to the United States rather than staying home we could fix the problem, they are here for a reason, somebody , group, corp, government brings them here somehow. even in Boise they have an Embassy, which I think is strange, but then again Gov Otter goes too Cuba, thats strange too.

-- Posted by Freedom on Tue, Feb 26, 2008, at 11:47 AM

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