The Arizona Republic is reporting that officials of America and Mexico are discussing a proposal. This proposal would allow millions of illegal Mexicans to return to Mexico while continuing to receive their Social Security checks.
Even if we ignore the fact that the whole Social Security program is a horrible intrusion on personal liberty by using force to transfer the fruits of one person's labor to another individual, this is still outrageous. Our federal government really only has one task to do and that is to protect the interests of its citizens. Everyone knows that the solvency of Social Security is in danger. Moving hundreds of millions of dollars out of a program that is already struggling is like drilling more holes in a sinking ship.
Reasons this is a bad idea
1. Increase in Illegal Immigration
If a check from the US Government is "promised" to all Mexicans who illegally cross the border for the rest of their life, then there is an increased incentive to indulge in this kind of illegal behavior. Now, I'm not an anti-immigration nut. I believe that part of what made this country great is that so many people could come here. I am personally against our immigration policy of limiting the number of immigrants we allow in each year. However, this entry is not the most conducive place for me to layout my immigration ideas. I will try to post another entry that explains those at a later date. Let me just say, though, that we have laws and people who do not follow those laws should not be "entitled" to the same "benefits" that people who do follow the laws are "entitled" to. Increasing the benefits of performing an illegal action without increasing the security measures to prevent that action from happening or increasing the penalties for being performing the illegal action will always invite more people to attempt to perform that illegal action.
2. Sets a dangerous precedent
There is an old Indian saying that says that when making decisions, one must consider the effects that the decision will have down to the seventh generation. (I tried to find the exact quote...but couldn't locate it quickly.) While some people may be able to fallaciously argue that the illegals earned the right to the benefit today, how long until that morphs into giving the benefit to other non-Citizens who did not earn it. Then that might be perceived as unfair, so other benefits (Medicare, disability, and welfare come to mind) will be granted to non-Citizens. This seems ridiculous (of course). I can hear people saying, "We would never give poor Dutch people living in Holland the same welfare benefits that we give our American 'poor.'" If we have learned anything it is that there are no boundaries that confine liberals. They will twist the law and manipulate emotions, while pointing to this benefit, to say that America has an obligation to take care of the children of the world.
3. Creates the Illusion that Social Security is a benefits program, not a tax
A benefit is something that I pay into that sets money aside for me to use later. When I take advantage of the health-insurance benefit package at work, they take money out of my paycheck and pay it into an account in my name that allows me to make claims against it. Sue, down the hall, can not make a claim against my insurance. A benefit is also (usually) voluntary. I do not have to participate in my health-insurance package. A tax, on the other hand, is compulsory and the money is given to "society." Try opt-ing out of paying into Social Security (trust me, I would love to. I could take that money and invest it for a better retirement than I am going to get with Social Security). Also, try getting a letter from the government guaranteeing that Social Security benefits will be there for you in 20-30 years. They won't give you one... Go this Heritage Foundation site to learn how Social Security really works.
Needless to say, this is a bad idea all the way around.
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