Opinion Talk

By Andrew Taylor

January 8, 2006 11:59 PM | Link to this

There is nothing wrong with providing healthcare for whoever desperately needs it. the problem is that we the citizens and taxpayers of Georgia are essentially underwriting the responsibilities of a foreign government by paying for this healthcare for foreign nationals who illegally entered this country. There is nothing wrong with providing the care, but some mechanism must be put in place to assure that we tha taxpayers are fairly and equitably reimbursed for the costs incurred. Vincente Fox and his cronies should recieve an annual bill for all such services of healthcare, eductation and other mandated government services provided to his citizenry. If that government is umwilling to cough up the money to support at least half of the costs, it should be taken out in other actions, be they tariff, loss of economic aid, etc.

By Van

January 9, 2006 09:15 AM | Link to this

I don’t mind providing emergency life saving type of care, but beyond that and first aid they are not entitled to the free ride on my dime.

The whole concept the illegal alien being endowed with the same privileges and rights as a citizen without the responsibilities is beyond my way of thinking.

Ask the Mexicans how they treat their illegal alien problem on their southern border and we can respond the same way.

How can they expect better treatment than they give to the central americans coming across their border?

By Dan

January 9, 2006 10:03 AM | Link to this

Hmm politicians running around bemoaning the lack of health care by 40 million americans yet here we are discussing illegal aliens getting free treatment. sounds like someone is crying wolf

By E. Lewis

January 9, 2006 10:18 AM | Link to this

From a strictly legal standpoint possibly not, although we do provide “basic” healthcare even to indigents.

Following Christian principles, I believe we are all obligated to do so. Remember whatsoever you do to the least among us?

By rob

January 9, 2006 03:06 PM | Link to this

BTW- Hospitals are forwarding the cost onto taxpayers due to the political correctness. Laws were passed and are on the books which allow US hospitals to be reimbursed by the country of origin of illegal aliens who recieve medical treatemnt and do not pay. All that has to be done is the patient receiving treatment must be asked where they came from. The federal government has followed up with laws which allow the US to hold other monies due to these countries or deduct these funds from their amounts they are due to receive. This has been fought by the PC movement because asking someone their citizenship status is “racist”. Hospitals who refuse to do this are asking the taxpayer to cover costs or going under.

By Bill

January 9, 2006 03:39 PM | Link to this

Readers of the forum should recognize the potential impact of illegals on our health care system. Readers supporting this need only to look at the 100,000 residents of Cochise County Arizona who now must travel over 90 miles to receive trauma care as the result of illegals coming across the border and being dropped off at one of the two community hospitals. Unable to obtain sufficient reimbursement they were forced to close their trauma centers. The same situation is developing in North Fulton as the result of the influx of illegals. We are seeing it in higher costs for our own health care in the cost of our insurance premiums.

By Nick

January 9, 2006 06:40 PM | Link to this

I say make sure that our own tax-paying citizens are the ones who are taken care of FIRST!!! Should people feel the need to resort to EXTREME measures, like the gentleman in Gwinnett County, who shot a postal employee, so that he could receive medical treatment while incarcerated in a federal prison???

By E. Lewis

January 10, 2006 09:31 AM | Link to this

Of course I am absolutely sure that none of these hospitals/clinic were built by or ever hired bottom wage cleaning crews staffed by illegals.

Please make note of my sarcasm.

By J & J Ranch

January 10, 2006 10:38 AM | Link to this

I find it most amusing that AJC is still asking really dumb questions about illegals.

The polls conducted, even the one by AJC, shows that Georgians are not pleased with illegal immigrants. We don’t want them here. NO they should not get healthcare; no they should not be driving illegally.

Yes, they should be deported, if not then jailed; Yes, they take jobs that Americans need; Yes, they contribute to crime; Yes the schools in GA are already overpopulated; YES they need to learn English.

By rob

January 10, 2006 01:30 PM | Link to this

Perfect example to limit and track legal immigration and stop illegal. Over 70 percent of the immigrant population of Gwinnett County has tuberculosis. Wonder of they are legal? See attached link.http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/index.php?s=&urlchannelid=43&urlarticleid=10558&urlsubchannelid=&changewellid=2

By Van

January 10, 2006 02:24 PM | Link to this

E. Lewis, what is your point? Most businesses work through a third party for janitorial staff. It would fall upon that company to validate the I-9 form, not the Hospitals. Same would go for the Contractor that built the building. Each is responsible to the citizens to obey the applicatable laws. Now the hospital should also be checking the status of its doctors and nurses and other staff members.

Those that do not validate ids should face criminal charges.

By Pammy

January 10, 2006 03:26 PM | Link to this

Does anyone know why so many immigrants do not have insurance???

By E. Lewis

January 11, 2006 09:45 AM | Link to this

What I am saying is that a lot of people oppose illegal immigration while at the same time benefiting from it. It’s hypocritical to put on blinders when you are shopping at a superstore that hire illegals to clean at night, eat at a restaurant that has them doing most of the “dirtyâ€? jobs or when you are buying or renovating your home. Sure there are third party “contractorsâ€? doing this work, but to blame them is to take the easy way out.

By J & J Ranch

January 11, 2006 11:04 AM | Link to this

E. Lewis…

Are you employed? Either you are, or you are independently wealthy.

I am a legal, law-abiding, tax paying citizen who has been out of work for a very LONG time. We unemployed are part of: “WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES”

Some of us would take a job, especially one like renovating a home.
The man I am with USED to specialize in this work. He is extremely skilled, he worked on the Candler Building many years ago, for example.
There used to be quality work done in this country. For the last time I will say it. The codes for building in Mexico are different than here.
When Illegals do work here, I see them cutting corners, the “shabby” work hidden, and who pays in the end? Not the ILLEGAL immigrant, not the contractor, not even the “third party” as you put it. It is WE THE PEOPLE who end up paying in the end.

For the last time…There are American citizens needing jobs that are taken by low-paid Illegal Immigrants. Can people not understand that? Who is truning the blind eye here? People keep on claiming the “dirty jobs” “renovating homes”, “building homes”, “cleaning at night” are the jobs that Illegal immigrants take. There are many of “WE THE PEOPLE” out here that would welcome a job.

By Carlton Wyatt

January 11, 2006 11:18 AM | Link to this

It is exceedingly humorous to step back and see how so many who would utter “this is a Christian country!” mantra are so quick to deny any semblance of Christian ideals when it affects THEIR way of life or pocketbook. I guess it is a “Christian country” only when there is a positive benefit from it. All those inconvenient Christian principles will just have to be explained away.

By Scott

January 11, 2006 11:40 AM | Link to this

Sure, let’s give someone who is not supposed to be in this country anything they want! Now, what is the purpose of Border Patrol? What are the duties asssociated with Homeland Security? As long as the illegal aliens keep finding a way into America, we will have to pay the bills for them under the Bush Regime. I personally know 3 people who can find no construction work, due to illegal aliens. These guys made excellent money, are excellent carpenters, but cannot compete with the builders who insist on using illegal workers for a higher profit. Do these builders pay for the illegals healthcare? Do they offer them healthcare? The short answer is no. WE, as Americans, need to take a stand and rid our country of these illegals, who are putting a huge strain on our own healthcare, and our job market.

By Fisher

January 12, 2006 05:32 AM | Link to this

Americans for Legal Immigration, perhaps the best known group promoting the stealth need for gov. action controls, has a website where you can read in depth about ALL The problems created by the invasion of ILLEGALS. www.alipac.us Log on, read, and/or become a member/receive their action emails to keep abreast of this problem - coverage you may not find in other ‘news’papers…

www.alipac.us Based in Raleigh NC, a state even more affected by ILLEGALS than Ga!

By E. Lewis

January 12, 2006 10:05 AM | Link to this

I agree that some of these illegals do inferior work, but on the other hand, if it saves you a buck….

A former colleague of mine who is a staunch conservative was looking to buy a house several years ago. When he was driving though a neighborhood that was under development, the INS was right behind him. You could see the undocumented roofers and other construction workers scatter so they would not get arrested. He still bought the house.

Wal-Mart pays a hefty fine for illegals doing after-hours work.

There are lots of stories about companies and industries where illegals flock. There are also a lot of Americans who complain about the problems of illegal immigration, but I don’t see them protesting or boycotting any of these other companies. I guess when you can save a buck your values fly out the window.

By M Mullinax

January 12, 2006 08:51 PM | Link to this

It’s not only the immigrants that are suffering from lack of health care. My brother is in need of a hip replacement, unable to walk now, but no one will accept his care because he is poor and on medicaid. We have a messed up system in American, where an individual is discriminated against because he/she is poor. Does my brother have to break the law and go to prison to get the care he his entitled to??

By Bill D.

January 13, 2006 05:16 PM | Link to this

Make healthcare free to American citizens, then we’ll talk about illegals getting the same benefits.

By J & J Ranch

January 14, 2006 12:24 PM | Link to this

I’m confused. Carlton Wyatt brings up Christianity in a discussion about ILLEGAL immigrants. Perhaps I am the only one here that wonders the relevance of one on the other.

Welcoming legal immigrants is the American way, most Americans have immigration in their background. The only Americans lacking relatives that migrated here are 100 percent Native Americans. Science and History show that the very first human originated in Africa therefore even the Native American migrated to America.

How does opposing illegal immigrants bring Christianity into a conversation?

Christianity observes the Laws of God, good of the heart, etc. Being American is observing the Laws of America (or not — then you are supposedly punished by law), welcoming those from other countries that arrive here and become American citizens legally.

I do not see what Christianity has to do with illegal immigrants or the co-relation of Christianity and the rejection of illegal immigrants.

By Beverly Wittler

January 14, 2006 10:28 PM | Link to this

Helpless children should receive health care, but surely the parents with their low-cost style of life could afford to pay the children’s doctor bills and medical needs. As a divorced Mom of three in the 60’s, I had no health insurance, PeachCare was unheard of, I paid out of my pocket. (very little child support came our way.) If I could do it on $60 a week, I would hope the immigrants could manage with their income and small-housing costs.

By Julie

January 22, 2006 11:11 AM | Link to this

I think it is time to STOP being the caretaker of people from other countries who come to the US — but do not intend to become US citizens. As a social worker, I see more welfare abuse than the average person can imagine. (i.e. multiple ID cards, SSN’s, drivers licenses, etc.) and we ARE NOT ALLOWED TO REPORT THIS TO ANYONE!!!! Do you know that a retired American citizen who has worked their whole life receives less than an illegal immigrant in benefits? It is true.

If we stopped being the land of the “free lunch,” I bet many of our current and future immigrants would think twice about coming here.

The very idea of catering to illegal immigrants — like requiring our signs, telephone books, recorded messages, etc. to be in Spanish is totally abborent to me.

Is this America or what??