This guy makes me laugh so hard my sides hurt. Then the laughter gives way to the realization that he actually believes what he says:
“I contend [abortion] affects you in immigration,” DeLay told the Washington-area gathering. “If we had those 40 million children that were killed over the last 30 years, we wouldn’t need the illegal immigrants to fill the jobs that they are doing today. Think about it.”
Okay. I’ll play along. So, those 40 million, were they around, would be perfectly willing to:
Clean peoples houses, stand on a street corner and sell fruit, work in a restaurant, for five dollars an hour or less?
DeLay seems to think that these unborn American’s, if they were born, would have no problem doing the low paying jobs that immigrants have done in established economic societies for centuries. He also seems to think that immigrants are here because there are too few American’s to fill those jobs. It’s essential hyperbole that attempts to establish the idea that immigrants bring down American wages, take jobs from American’s, and cost taxpayers money, etc.
And it simply is not true.
To the extent that the incomes of low-skilled native workers may be reduced because of immigration, a wide range of policy options are available to help them, including tax reductions, subsidies, wage supports, training, job placement, the earned income tax credit, and relocation programs. In addition, the federal government could do more to relieve the states and localities of the financial burdens associated with immigration.From an economic standpoint, the evidence seems clear that draconian measures such as massive deportations or major reductions in legal immigration levels would be counterproductive to the United States and its citizens. However, a great deal more can and should be done to help offset the costs to native workers, especially those with low skills, that the inclusion of foreign-born workers imposes on them.
DeLay is simply making an overt and pretty blatant attempt to provoke the emotional aspects of the issue, and in typical conservative manner, the facts will be dismissed.
But, it sure is fun watching DeLay talk to a bunch of slack jawed Conservative Chickenhawks in training.
