This just sickens me - as a believer in the rule of law (one of the wonderful tenets of our society), I see this as rewarding bad behavior.
Debate heats up over Social Security for illegal immigrants
As any reader of this blog knows, I am for LEGAL immigration (as it helped to make this nation strong as the legal immigrants cast off their ties to their former homelands, swore allegiance to this country, and did their best to assimilate into this country). I am against ILLEGAL immigration.
The Totalization being spoken here is a technical term that basically means that countries will work to even out payments by citizens of other countries when paying into the retirement systems of the countries in which they are working. For example, if a German citizen is working here, the payments made to our S.S. system will be credited to the German one for when that citizen returns.
Now, I think that most people understand that our SS system is at risk as the Boomers begin to retire. Now, President Bush (yeah, this is toasting my cookies so bad.....) is about to sign an agreement with Mexico to
Pay SS to illegal immigrants.
Talk about rewarding bad behavior!
First, they come here illegally - never mind our laws, just come.
Second, I'm tired of hearing about the identity fraud that is committed that gets illegals fake SS cards and numbers. What about the harm to the people who are the "real them"?
Third, I'm tired of people advocating for illegals because of some political or monetary compensation - like this person:
"It boggles the imagination that somebody would say, 'Thank you for paying into the system, but sorry, we're going to take that money and never give you credit for it,"' said Charles Kuck, first vice president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association."
A lawyer.....figures. Hey, dude (acerbic, huh!), I'm not thanking them - trust me on this. If they are not supposed to be here, and yet give our government money, well, I'm chalking it up as a gift. Unfortunately, this gift is going to be on me and all other taxpayers if this goes through.....
Simple logic applies here - if they were here legally, I'd have no problem. But if you are here ILLEGALLY, I have no sympathy at all.
What "boggles the mind" is that you, an officer of the Court, are condoning someone who has broken the law.
Many immigrants working here illegally use fake Social Security cards. In 2003, the government collected more than $7 billion in payroll taxes on $58.5 billion in wages that don't match a valid Social Security number. Most of that money was generated by immigrants working illegally, some experts say.
The "totalization" agreement that U.S. and Mexican officials approved in 2004 would eliminate dual Social Security taxes for workers who spend time employed in both countries. And it would let workers who paid into the U.S. and Mexican retirement systems merge their work histories to qualify for benefits, even if they hadn't worked enough years in either country individually to qualify there.
The U.S. has similar agreements with 21 other nations, including Canada and most of Europe.
What the "technical" or legal people aren't making known here is this simple fact: totalization agreements with those 21 other countries are for LEGAL immigrants.
This agreement would allow:
Allow a Mexican worker with 1.5 years (six quarters) of authorized employment qualify for minimal Social Security benefits if that worker also had 8.5 years (34 quarters) of legitimate employment in Mexico.
And a Fourth thing: Hey, US Citizen - do you know how many quarters you have to work in order to receive SS benefits when you retire? Naw, didn't think so.....but consider this - with this bill, how come illegal immigrants get to work less than legal residents and citizens to get SS benefits?
