Illegal Immigrants

Cold and windy in SD, at least around Highmore, but that's weather in SD, so we have to put up with it, but South Dakota is still a great place to live. Let's examine the question of illegal immigrants, mostly Mexicans, and should they be given amnesty.
The answer is no. I think Bush had the right idea when he suggested six month work permits. They could be applied for by applicants that would be registered and allowed to come into the states only when requested by an employer if the employer first gave American citizens a chance to do the job by advertising and listing needs with employment agencies. The workers would have to check in at the port of entry and be identified so they could be tracked at all times. If they did not check out at the end of the six month period and did not request and justify an extension they would be deported and their permit revoked. As to whether we should pay social security to Mexicans that went back to Mexico. If they were in the states legally and paid into social security yes, otherwise no.
Yours truly is a retired rancher, the father of Bar JZ ranches now operated by son Donald his wife Peg and youngest son Seth. They will be showing at the Black Hills Stock Show this week.
I have two bowling teams in the Highmore bowling leagues, and I pulled a muscle in my thigh so can't bowl right now but still play cards, pool, and golf when the weather is fit.
I am glad the Senate body got a chance to review the charges against Dan Sutton. Not because of my interest in the case, but because I feel that a judge should not have the right to overrule the senate body that we elected to make our laws. A judge is supposed to interpret the laws not make them.

One Nation, One Language

I have created this blog to give give me a chance to express my opinion where more people will read it and maybe have more influence on their thinking. I understand that I am going to have a link to Jerry Hinkle's blog, the Holabird Advocate. That is great news because I will get more coverage in combination with the Holabird Advocate. Jerry has a great sense of humor. His blogs are always interesting reading.
Now for the subject of this message. I have for years been pushing our state and national legislators to make English our official language. Anyone that wants to become an American citizen should be required to learn the fundamentals of the English language. Executive order E O 13166 signed into law by president Clinton requires every government agency and organization receiving government funds to provide services and programs in foreign languages. That is costing us billions of dollars a year and should be rescinded. President Bush has the power to do it, saving us billions of dollars and making us one nation with one language. That would go a long way toward eliminating the discord among different ethnic groups and make the U .S. A. a unified country. At the rate we are being invaded by different ethnic cultures. If we are not careful we will have the same situation we have in Iraq right now where different religious sects are killing each other off by the hundreds.

Wages

It looks like our Washington represetatives are going to raise the minimum wages. So what happens next? The cost of producing our food and other commodities goes up. Transportation costs go up. Costs to the retailer and the merchandizer all go up. So in the end the cost of what the worker has to buy will probably increase more then the increase in his wages. So what did he gain? We are already priced out of the world market where we have to compete with workers that work for a dollar an hour or less and that is causing a huge trade deficet to this country. The trouble with this country is some people are making to much money. Some company directors, C.O.'s, and sports personnel make anywhere from one to one twenty five million a year. That is at the expense of their investors and the working public. If we were to raise the personal income tax by one percent for every $100,000 over the first $500,000, up to 80% we would have enough money to pay off the national debt, take care of social security and all other government programs, and have money to send back to the states to fix roads, schools, hospitals, and any other public works that would benefit the public. That would reduce the cost of living for the general public and create a lot of jobs, that in turn would have more people paying taxes and give a big boost to the economy.

Tax Controversy

Some people are pushing a plan that has been introduced in Congress to eliminate the IRS and replace the graduated income tax with a flat tax of 17% or 20% or a national sales tax of 20%. Either plan would raise the taxes for the lower income people and cut the taxes for the high income people by approximately 35-50%, thereby making the rich richer and the average citizen poorer.
I doubt if either plan would produce enough revenue to run the government or pay off the national debt.
If I were smart enough to make a lot of money at the expense of the public I would be glad to pay the income tax.
The income tax is the fairest tax there is. It would be nice if we could simplify the tax forms so a person with average intelligence could understand them, but as to going to a new tax that would put more of a burden on the average citizen and benefit the high income people. That would be very detrimental to the country and create more hardship for a lot of people.