Illegal immigrants Part 2

A bit of insight and education about this immigration situation that's getting kids leaving classrooms to demonstrate and Congress being more bipartisan than ever.

Lou Dobbs Tonight (CNN) has been in Cancun covering the Presidential Immigration Summit that had Bush, Vincente Fox and the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper participating. I have been following his coverage as I find him representing the middle class voice that is largely ignored by this vote-pandering government.

Here are some highlights from what I had observed from Lou Dobbs and also from Wolf Blitzer's Situation Room:

1. While the illegal immigrants that have been in the news are largely that of the Mexicans, the group of criminals also include those from Asia, Europe and other countries. The reason Mexicans are prominently the focus is because they make up the largest groups.

2. Vincente Fox adopts a double standard when it comes to the immigration issue. Fox, the Mexican president who BTW will be ending his term in 8 months, has closed HIS COUNTRY'S SOUTHERN BORDER to the illegal immigrants from the Central American countries. However, he is insisting that his countrymen, a la the illegals, have the right to cross MEXICO'S NORTHERN BORDER to the United States of America.Why? Because he has failed to create jobs for his people. No, he did not offer that reason himself. That would be admitting he hasn't delivered on his campaign promise. Rather, that fact was provided by a Univision (the Hispanic TV) representative in The Situation Room, a show hosted by Wolf Blitzer. The show follows Lou Dobbs Tonight.

3. Fox has a major role in dictating U.S. policies AND encouraging illegals heading to U.S.A. And it is obvious in Bush's podium speech at the summit when he told Fox he appreciated his "help." Transcript: Fox's newfound cooperation is not likely to have much impact, especially now that hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens and open borders advocates are now waving Mexican flags in demonstrations on American soil. And Fox is still refusing to do anything to stop the millions of illegal aliens who gather along Mexican border towns that are staging areas for illegal crossings, saying he won't restrict the freedom of movement of Mexican citizens. Despite that, President Bush thanked President Fox for his efforts.

4. L.A. has day centers where illegals gather to seek jobs. It is run by the local government. Daily, employers will select these illegals to perform the day's labor at low cost. They do not have to show any identification and the employers do not ask for them. The greatest shock in this scenario is that the local government sanctions it.

Read Lou Dobbs' transcipt from March 31, Friday: http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0603/31/ldt.01.html

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Christina's response: It is so hypocritical for Fox to have the southern border closed yet scream when we want to close OUR Southern border. And it is also a known fact that Mexicans while frequently yelling about immigration policies being discriminatory are also in turn VERY discriminatory to Hondurans and Guatemalans who enter their country or compete for labor with them here in the U.S. This whole situation is so full of double standards it makes me want to scream. I agree with you that Lou Dobbs has some of the best coverage. If you get a chance also catch the Lehrer news hour on PBS if you can for some very good discussions about this, and The Economist out of London has written some excellent essays!

Illegal immigrants Part 2

A bit of insight and education about this immigration situation that's getting kids leaving classrooms to demonstrate and Congress being more bipartisan than ever.

Lou Dobbs Tonight (CNN) has been in Cancun covering the Presidential Immigration Summit that had Bush, Vincente Fox and the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper participating. I have been following his coverage as I find him representing the middle class voice that is largely ignored by this vote-pandering government.

Here are some highlights from what I had observed from Lou Dobbs and also from Wolf Blitzer's Situation Room:

1. While the illegal immigrants that have been in the news are largely that of the Mexicans, the group of criminals also include those from Asia, Europe and other countries. The reason Mexicans are prominently the focus is because they make up the largest groups.

2. Vincente Fox adopts a double standard when it comes to the immigration issue. Fox, the Mexican president who BTW will be ending his term in 8 months, has closed HIS COUNTRY'S SOUTHERN BORDER to the illegal immigrants from the Central American countries. However, he is insisting that his countrymen, a la the illegals, have the right to cross MEXICO'S NORTHERN BORDER to the United States of America.Why? Because he has failed to create jobs for his people. No, he did not offer that reason himself. That would be admitting he hasn't delivered on his campaign promise. Rather, that fact was provided by a Univision (the Hispanic TV) representative in The Situation Room, a show hosted by Wolf Blitzer. The show follows Lou Dobbs Tonight.

3. Fox has a major role in dictating U.S. policies AND encouraging illegals heading to U.S.A. And it is obvious in Bush's podium speech at the summit when he told Fox he appreciated his "help." Transcript: Fox's newfound cooperation is not likely to have much impact, especially now that hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens and open borders advocates are now waving Mexican flags in demonstrations on American soil. And Fox is still refusing to do anything to stop the millions of illegal aliens who gather along Mexican border towns that are staging areas for illegal crossings, saying he won't restrict the freedom of movement of Mexican citizens. Despite that, President Bush thanked President Fox for his efforts.

4. L.A. has day centers where illegals gather to seek jobs. It is run by the local government. Daily, employers will select these illegals to perform the day's labor at low cost. They do not have to show any identification and the employers do not ask for them. The greatest shock in this scenario is that the local government sanctions it.

Read Lou Dobbs' transcipt from March 31, Friday: http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0603/31/ldt.01.html

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Christina's response: It is so hypocritical for Fox to have the southern border closed yet scream when we want to close OUR Southern border. And it is also a known fact that Mexicans while frequently yelling about immigration policies being discriminatory are also in turn VERY discriminatory to Hondurans and Guatemalans who enter their country or compete for labor with them here in the U.S. This whole situation is so full of double standards it makes me want to scream. I agree with you that Lou Dobbs has some of the best coverage. If you get a chance also catch the Lehrer news hour on PBS if you can for some very good discussions about this, and The Economist out of London has written some excellent essays!

Say no to "Amnesty" reform

This blog may anger some of you and may cost me plenty of friendships. But if it shouldn't, I hope to engage many of you to pick up the cause on my behalf, a legal, tax-paying but non-voting resident of the U.S.A.

Some of you may be aware of the political storm brewing around the Immigration Reform Act as of late. The McCain-Kennedy bill wanted to grant amnesty to illegals the guest-worker program. According to The Washington Times: "Sponsors said it is not an amnesty because it would require illegal aliens to pay all regular fees as well as a $1,000 fine to join a guest-worker program and, after six years, another $1,000 fine to obtain a green card signifying legal permanent residence. Green card holders eventually can apply for citizenship." What is $1,000 these days, even for struggling illegal farm workers? They send more than that home.

Many of my friends had witnessed first-hand the angst I went through for my legal H1B working permit. The cost was more than $1,000, and the paperwork was torturous. Each H1B visa lasts 3 years and an applicant can only have up to 6 years of H1B permit total. After that, if one chooses to continue to work in this country, the application for Green Card is next. That also took umpteenth paperwork, time and money, and emotional investment. All said and done, I had endured about a decade's worth of paperwork and anxiety while daily awaiting approval or decline from the government.

Since my college days, I had treaded with care not to break the laws, paid my taxes and medical bills, while these illegals have been given free medical care because they don't meet the income.

Now, this bill is going to grant an easy walk-on to those who had disregarded the law of the land, and reward them this easily? Granted, the greedy, profit-crunching employers are to be blamed for the permissiveness of this culture. So's the government who are obviously playing politics and trying to garner votes for their sweep into Congress this upcoming election.

Do I have a better solution? Not necessarily. But I do have some criteria to crack down on illegals. I understand that workers from Mexico are generally entering the U.S.A. to perform work considered undesirable by the North American population. Since these are seasonal jobs for the most part, why not provide a seasonal pass? In addition, they need to contribute to the taxes. Right now, our taxes are partly channeled to their welfare. That is incredibly unjust.

For those who had brought their families over or had offsprings born in this land, hence granting the latter their legal U.S. status, have them sponsor their parents. That's what I have to do if I were to have my family join me. Do I whine and cry about how unfair it is that I'm separated from them? No. I'm sad to be of such great distance but if I want them to join me, I would go about it the lawful, albeit arduous way.

Senator John Cornyn, Texas Republican and chairman of the Judiciary immigration subcommittee, sums up my idea of reform better: ' "I favor a work-and-return bill, not a work-and-stay bill," he said. "We already have laws in place that allow people to apply for legal permanent residence and American citizenship, so I think that's going to be a subject of some debate and perhaps disagreement in the Senate and in the House." Mr. Cornyn is working on his own bill, and he said that to meet his approval, a bill would have to include enhanced border security, enhanced interior enforcement, employer accountability and a temporary worker program.' Furthermore, Mexican President Vincente Fox had the gall to chastise the U.S. a few weeks ago that we'll be begging for their citizens to return to the U.S. in a few year's time. This government, if nothing, is kowtowing to him. The biggest problem I have with this entire bill right now is the reward program they grant those who are illegal, while I, who am legal, is not even granted the right to vote by the government.

If I had struck a sympathetic cord, please join in the fight to stop this by calling your congressman at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/webreturn/?url=/usbc/issues/alert/?alertid=8591911

Thank you for your support.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responses to earlier post:
Karen Ryan: i TOTALLY understand and support what you're saying here. especially the work-and-return bill. why can't the u.s just do what singapore does for foreign workers?! make the employers pay a levy, their health insurance, everything!! and no, the family can't follow suit unless they have employers sponsoring them as well. it's obvious that the mexicans are doing work that the americans don't want and if the employers need them, then they have to pay the government! it's not that complicated is it? we, as LEGAL immigrants, go through hell and back during the green card application process. i am sick and tired of being treated like dirt by the ins - and some ignorant citizens. i have applied to be a permanent resident in this county because my husband is american and we have decided to start our lives here. not 'coz i have nowhere else to go. certainly not 'coz i think my life is better in this country. i am not taking any of your jobs away. in fact, i pay taxes and maintain to help the u.s economy through my weekly manicures and pedicures, retail industry and certainly the sorry, on-again off-again collapsing airline industry.why should the illegal immigrants be rewarded?! i say NO! there are many ways to come into this country legally. if you can't do that, stay in your own.

Bob Oh: I don't know what the new law may be about but maybe they were considering the cost of sending immigration officers finding these illegals (very hard and costly) or just awarding them amnesty so they can come out from wherever they are and apply for it. Thus, cutting cost and earning revenue instead. How many illegals x $1000? That itself will create some new positions for legal migrants or americans!Maybe (cunningly), a big percentage won't get it (citizenship) and maybe alot would get deported?They also would start paying taxes, yes not direct taxes, but I am sure you have lots of indirect taxes over in the US of A right?What about the jobs that can be created for middle management or white collar workers? For every 10 foreign workers, you need maybe 1 local supervisor? Ok, maybe 100 FW and 1 local manager...it is STILL one more job created. Then we have the sales team right? Selling the stuff these workers produce? I am sure the sales team are true blue Americans?Then the accountant, the techie guy, the CEO....**********************************************I fully agree with the concerns displayed, they are real and definitely sucks big time, as it seems honesty don't seems to pay off right?At the larger scheme of things, we are one way or the other also beneficiaries of some other historical figure or some tax loop hole or some law that came about from such incidents.Let us not deprive others their luck (if u can call it).

Patrick: I disagree with you, but not so much that I'd consider losing your friendship. Here's the thing:"Amnesty" is a loaded political term invented by demagogues who are trying to cloud the debate here. Bearing in mind that I have the utmost respect for you, I take serious issue with you quoting the Washington Times as a source. It's a rag if there ever was one, run by the Reverend Sun Young Moon as an unapologetic mouth piece for the most conservative wing of the Republican party. Likewise, John Cornyn is not a paragon of responsible rhetoric.If you can't come up with a better alternative than the ones being floated, you're not helping. The House version of the immigration bill, as I understand it, would make it a crime to not only be here illegally, it would make it illegal to even give shelter or food to those people. It's very easy to just say "Well, go home if you're not supposed to be here," but the practical implications are not so simple. Are you really prepared to ask a priest to ask every one at his soup kitchen to have I.D. proving citizenship so he doesn't get arrested? Do you know how much chaos and civil disobedience that will generate? The real political pandering is not going on in the Senate, it's in the House, which is no surprise, since everyone there is up for re-election (the Senate is, coincidentally, not)I can't understand how frustrating thsi must be for you, because I'm not in the same situation. But I do sympathize. What's the point of jumping through hoops if everyone else seems to get a free pass? But we can't pretend that these people aren't here, nor can we pretend we don't need them, espescially in places like New York City. In a perfect world, we would not have allowed them here in the first place, but it's too late for that. And guess passes suck too, for the obvious reason that they're basically indentured servitude. Dubai anyone? Also, why would you bother learning anything about a country or it's culture if you knew you had no chance in hell of becoming a citizen?Interesting little side note. This argument should have taken place back in 2001, because before 9/11, immigration was supposed to be Bush's big issue. I guess it's better late than never.

My response to Patrick: There are going to various sides to this issue and I'm glad that the voices are coming out. I also appreciate your sympathies and my movement comes out exactly from own personal circumstances. However, amnesty is not the loaded word for this immigration proposal set by Bush, McCain and Kennedy. As for the demagogues, aren't all politicians one? The Washington Times may not be the most respectable rag out there but neither are a lot. Even those we had worked at. But that doesn't mean that the people who work at these establishments are avid subscribers of the owners' philosophies. I merely quoted the Times as it clearly explained to the uninitiated bloggees what this whole immigration reform bill is.You know, I am a hardliner when it comes to this issue. If I were to encounter an illegal (and I had and there are various reasons why they are), I wouldn't so much as turn him in but ask him to turn himself in. If I had the guts and the ability to use a firearm, I may even join the minuteman movement.But the feasible thing I could do now is to engage everyone who's able to vote and hopefully, influence their government to do so on my behalf.I don't see guest passes as indentured servitude. The latter is not synonymous to slavery. Guest pass is a choice and a legal one, one where immigrants register and pay taxes. Indentured servitude is employment without the chance of ever leaving it.
Yes, this argument should have taken place decades ago. The government and special interest are to be responsible for letting it come to the mess it is today. Let's hope and pray they fix it. As for me, I'm holding on to my present citizenship for now in case this country becomes not the country I respect.Then I have a place to return to.

Buh-bye, U.S. airlines

I consider myself a savvy traveler. And very much a picky one.

My recent trip home required some preparation, mainly in the case of finding reasonable fares and total traveling and transit time less than 26 hours. I had also made a stipulation that I will avoid Singapore Airlines, my home-based carrier, for the simple reason that I had a relatively unpleasant encounter years ago that I wasn't as warmly received as my richer counterparts (read: business and first classes, and Westerners). I swore to boycott them, so to speak.

For years until a year ago, I also had been the proud cardmember of the Northwest frequent flyer program. The reason why I abandoned it will be listed as a point I'll be making regarding the abovementioned headline. But let me add the sorest point of all is their miserable black-out dates.

Without further ado, here are three simple reasons why I will be seeking friendlier skies with Singapore Airlines and other non-U.S.-owned carriers. Please note that there will be unavoidable circumstances when I will have to travel with U.S. carriers, mostly in transits to smaller cities and within the continental U.S.

1. Poor customer service. This is a rant on strictly personnel matters.
(a) Observe carefully the next time you board the plane, the only times you will see a smile is when you board it and when you unboard it. Seldom in between, unless you are a well-behaved baby or toddler, will you be flashed those pearly whites by your attendants.
(b) On my recent flight back from Japan onboard American Airlines, an attendant came down the aisle with various custom forms. When I asked if I needed an I-94 form in addition to my custom form since I'm a Permanent Resident, she icily cut me off by saying that I only needed the latter.
(c) I was unlucky (again) to be seated with a dysfunctional monitor. The channels were switching rapidly and there was no way I could stop it. The only functions I could access from it were music and flight path. Fortunately, I had the brains to utilize the monitor on the empty seat to my left. However, the picture wasn't clear as I was receiving screen glares. I had to incline my chair to get a better look. Since it wasn't a full flight, you'd think a conscientious attendant will notice that and offer to find me a seat with a working monitor. This wasn't the first time it happened to me. A year ago, on my way back, again from Japan and again on another American Airlines plane, I had to request for a new seat due to the similar circumstance. I was greeted with disbelief when I showed them the problem. But they offered to check the computer to make sure it was really not working right. Geniuses! Which leads me to point number ...

2. Skimping on products/services.
(a) I had traveled on various international airlines -- Japan Airlines, Thai Airways, Garuda, Singapore Airlines (SQ), and Qantas. The products and comfort level of the U.S. airlines pale in comparison to these international carriers. I had the good fortune of returning from Singapore to Japan on Singapore Airlines. I know I said I would boycott them but I had no idea that my scheduled carrier, the Japanese ANA (All-Nippon Airways) is on the same alliance as SQ. This time round, SQ amazed me by their attentive service to the cattle class (economy). They offered REAL warm hand towels that stayed warm even after you touched it. This is in comparison to the cheap wet-ones I was constantly offered in U.S. carriers. Have you realized the minute those warm wet-ones were dispensed, they immediately turned colder than cabin temperature? What is the frecking point of that!
(b) SQ has foot rests on their economy class. This is especially important for those of us who had to endure more than 8 hours of flight. Believe me, every bit of comfort counts.
(c) SQ's lavatories have a complete range of wash products, with caps intact. American ones only provide soap and lotion, the latter of which is grimey with lotion smeared over the bottle. SQ even made sure that the trash is emptied regularly and the wash area dry. How often have I ventured into U.S. planes to find the tiny washroom's trash brimming over with towels. Gross.
(d) Often, in international flights, you find international travelers. Some of these travelers could either only communicate in their own language or have as basic grasp of a foreign language. I have often seen soft-spoken foreigners attempting to speak in English to these American attendants, who in turn raised their voices as though they would be understood better. Furthermore, I find it extremely belittling when these attendants speak really s-l-o-w-l-y, as if it made a difference. (Tip: good attitude makes a world of difference. Try that next time.) There were times when I had to step in and translate. Now, you know why I hesitate to have my mom travel solo? It's humiliating, to say the least. Why can't these U.S. carriers staff more bilingual attendants? Even if they had one onboard, they should tell these poor foreigners to wait and bring that solo bilingual attendant over later. Common sense, afterall, right?
(e) I was on Thai Airways a year ago, from Singapore to Bangkok. At that time, the economy was quite bad in many countries. Imagine my surprise when on my return flight home, I was handed a beautiful LIVE orchid-and-fern corsage (see picture below). It may be nothing to some of you. The point is, they made the traveling experience just a little more pleasant. It's like getting a present from the colleague/neighbor you never knew.

3. Poor food. I am not expecting gourmet fare on economy class. But does it hurt to have proper silverware, and not plastic ones? Most Asian carriers carry relatively superior fare. And we get a choice. Imagine my shock on my flight from Japan to Singapore, I was onboard United. Since it was only a 6-hour flight, we were given a snack. Now, bear in mind that we have international travelers. Oftentimes, the Pacific-route passengers are Asian and may include Buddhists. There wasn't a choice. Instead, we were handed a box (which they later recycled, a gross idea since it contained crumbs that fell from my mouth) of roast beef sandwich. Since I eat anything, I didn't check it. Also, I was ravenous. Imagine if I were a non-red-meat eater, that would have devastating impact on my psyche!

Have I convinced you to be more wary, savvy travelers? I hope so. If there's anything blogs can achieve, it's to share and input that little bit of awareness in all of us. Please, my American counterparts, I'm not writing this as an effort to slam the country. It's my years of collective travel and comparison traveling that finally prompted me to make these theories.

So, here are my final words to the U.S.-run carriers, shape up and quit cost-cutting all the nitty-gritty if you are going to retain loyal fliers or else BUH-BYE from this one.

The quest for cheap tuna

This story, my friend, is a glimpse of what's to come when you are watching every penny, and very possibly when we all hit that senior citizen stage.

Explainer: To my non-newspaper bloggees, an insert is that piece of advertisement that comes with the daily newspaper, most notably, the supermarket ones that show up either on Mondays and/or Wednesdays, primo placement days for food ads.

Anyway, I didn't know what possessed me to STUDY the Albertson's insert Monday. And boy, am I glad I did. There is an 8-hour sale from 3 to 11 today on tuna fish, mayo, Miracle Whip, diapers, toilet papers, water etc. What caught my interest was the StarKist tuna in water going for 29 cents (if you have your preferred card, dear customer). Wow, can you beat that! This is no generic brand. But each customer is limited to six cans per visit.

Before you deem me pathetic, let me explain the importance of canned tuna fish a la chicken of the sea to this family of 4 (2 adults and 2 pets). Two cans of tuna go a long way for us. Drain the juice (we get the ones in water. Oil is too messy) and Bubba gets a condiment bowl-ful of pure bliss. Scrape the drained tuna into a bowl, Mark and I get fixin's for a tuna salad. The scraps that cling to the inner rim and lid? That's Bentley's little taste of heaven. I have to add that our usually sedate cat gets extremely excitable when he has a whiff of that tuna. Makes you feel like you've done your job as a parent, y'know.

So, what would you do for 29-cent tuna? Well, if you were me, you rushed to the store in the morning, loaded up the basket and be informed that the sale begins at 3 p.m., oh, a mere 6 hours away. Drats.

Luckily, the day passed by quite quickly, and before I know it, I was hitting the first Albertson's. This is where I thought I ended up in a retirement home. All around me, a mass of energetic silver-haired seniors were loading up their carts, inserts in hand, making sure they didn't miss out on any deals. That explains why all the carts were gone. No matter, I only wanted one Miracle Whip and 6 cans of tuna.

The popularity of this sale was phenomenal. Rules were pushed to the wayside as the self-checkout counters and minimum-items counters were jam packed with shoppers, some of whom had never used the new technology in their lives. But never mind that, even the self-checkout lanes were staffed. That's service and great foresight, my friends.

Finally, I managed to leave with my goods. I would go back and get more tuna but the thought of waiting in line for another 6 cans is quite daunting. I decided to hit the second Albertson's.

Yes, I was desperate for a good deal. But I'm living on one income and I have an obligation to seize a deal when there's one. And this is too good to pass up. The second location is just as packed. Thankfully, I was directed to the customer service counter as I had only my limited 6 cans of tuna. That, again, was great customer service. There were only three of us in line. I wondered if I dared ask the cashier if I could return with another 6 after my purchase. I would have to see if she's pleasant. She was wonderful and told me I could return as often as I wanted.

Now, there comes a point when even desperation can seem well, desperate. I returned just once more, making out with a total of 12 cans (i.e. 2 trips) in the end, and happily loaded up my car and drove home.

I will be back later tonight for a few more. Afterall, I have till 11 p.m. One can never have too many tuna.