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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 27, 2007

Defying Common Sense

Regarding "Illegal Immigrants Costly To States" (Nation/World, Dec. 19):

It took a costly study from the Congressional Budget Office to find this out? Yes, the employers may get a real deal on what they pay illegals as a wage, but if you add up what the taxpayers are charged for the benefits that the illegal immigrants receive, the actual cost for this "cheap" labor is probably in excess of $50 an hour.

The operative word here is "illegals." The dictionary defines "illegal" as not sanctioned by or according to law. This word is similar to the word "criminal," which is defined as a person guilty of committing a crime. Common sense would ask why are we paying criminals the equivalent of $50 an hour?

S.L. HUTTON

Belleair

Other Workers Available

Thanks to Congress for finally publishing a truthful study about the costs of illegal immigration. Now if only they would act on this information and begin to eliminate services to illegal immigrants.

California will declare a fiscal emergency this week with a $14 billion deficit. Interestingly enough the government estimated the cost of services involving illegals at $10.5 billion in California last year. Eliminate that cost and you solved 75 percent of your deficit crisis.

And if we are so worried about our crops going unharvested, use prison labor and pay these people the same wage so they can have a pool of money to get back on their feet when they're released. Teach them the values of a work ethic instead of advocating the continued exploitation of poor migrants to make the corporate greedy wealthier.

DOUG DAIGLE

Tampa

Build The Fence

The gradual disappearance of the Southern border fence has many more negative consequences than merely national security. It means the pandering blowhards in Congress never intended to actually build one. It means they don't care about us. It means they lied.

This is why the Republicans lost both the House and the Senate in 2006 and why they'll lose again a year from now if they don't get their memories - and spinal columns - back. Because I will vote again next November and remember clearly all the broken promises from a bunch of phony, slick, fast-talking, back-slapping, backroom deal making, flim-flam artist, snake-oil huckster, pandering gang of elite condescending politicians.

Build the fence.

ALLEN PERRIN

Ruskin

Didn't Need A Study

Did we really need a study to tell us that illegal immigrants were costing taxpayers more than they were contributing through taxes? It's only logical that someone crawling under a fence to come illegally into our country is not going to land a high-paying job.

Meanwhile, there is a limit on how many skilled workers we allow legally in our country on work visas. God forbid we should allow educated people in to fill our shortage of engineers and scientists.

KATHRYN PHILLIPS

Tampa

Avoid Such Scenarios

Regarding "Am I A Peacekeeper Or An Idiot?" (Other Views, Dec. 18):

I suppose there's some sensationalist value in publishing a narrative of a barroom brawl, thus appears community columnist Buzz Kelly's column. Since the title asks the question "peacekeeper or idiot," I feel it appropriate to give an opinion: I share his wife's suspicions and cast my vote for "idiot."

What astonishes me is that this man is foolish enough to forego calling 911 and gets into the middle of a fight among six inebriated young men. In addition, our self-proclaimed hero drove the two who incited the argument to the hospital, where they refused treatment. That just about says it all.

There are cases in which it is heroic to put oneself in harm's way to help others. This doesn't sound like one of them. Kelly hopes we raised our sons to intervene in such events. I would hope I raised mine to avoid such scenarios in the first place.

TERESA P. BRANDT

Temple Terrace

Lessons Still Ignored

Community columnist Buzz Kelly referred to the tragic Omaha mall shooting incident. He asked the question, "What might I have done if I had been there?"

The answer for Kelly and, indeed, all Americans is crystal clear. Absolutely nothing except to cower helplessly in some store stockroom or hide under a sales counter and wait your turn to be executed!

Unless, of course, Kelly was one of the millions of law-abiding U.S. citizens who, in exercising his or her right under the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, was lawfully carrying a concealed firearm. He, at least, would have had a chance to save his own life and maybe the lives of others.

Why do we continue to ignore the bitter lessons to be learned from Columbine High School, Virginia Tech and all too many similar horrors?

P.J. CORR

Wesley Chapel

Votes For 'Idiot'

Regarding Buzz Kelly's opinion piece, I have to vote for idiot. Sorry, but he asked.

By interfering as he did, he spared the drunks the natural consequences of their actions. It's not like it was four "bad" guys attacking two "good/innocent guys." It was four drunken idiots fighting with other two drunken idiots who asked for it. Perhaps if he'd just called 911 their injuries and arrests would have taught them a lesson. Instead he rescued them from those consequences, so odds are they didn't learn much.

Kelly foolishly put his life at risk for people who didn't deserve it. The situation at the Omaha mall was totally different. Doing something to help there would have rated my vote for peacekeeper.

JOE MONTELEONE

Seffner

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