Showing posts with label unintended consequences. Show all posts
Showing posts with label unintended consequences. Show all posts

Monday, May 31, 2010


Alan Korwin, an all around good guy I know, recently posted a article on illegal immigration which I have a few complaints about.

He starts by throwing out two statements that to a greater or lesser degree are false. "Arizona welcomes immigrants. Always has." The first statement is certainly not true if you happen to have been born in Canada or Mexico. The second may have been true at some point before 1967 but in my entire adult life I have never known that peaceful and hard working immigrants have been welcomed to Arizona without overcoming years of government hurdles.

Mr. Korwin then goes on to complain that illegal immigrants educate their children here at taxpayer expense. That much is true but is also true for each and every child of legal immigrants and Americans. He further complains about being ripped off by government social services. I agree but the problem is the people that vote for government and the government programs that provide "free" services. I have taken advantage of a few government programs (unemployment from time to time among others). I don't see how the recipient is responsible for benefits given out by the government.

He does mention at a few points in his post about the laws enforced by Mexico on illegal immigrants in that country. This makes about as much sense as referring to European laws on gun control being a reason that Americans should be thankful that we have the US BATFE regulations because they aren't as restrictive as those in Europe.

As always I encourage Americans to read Let Them In by Jason L. Riley or this Washington Post article if they want to learn more about the incorrect arguments offered by the apologists of government immigration prohibition.

Photo credit: JohnSeilerBlogs.com

Wednesday, March 26, 2008


I took time Monday evening to go to a forum of Republican Party candidates for congressional district 5. Among those present were Mark Anderson, Laura Knaperek, Jim Ogsbury and David Schweikert. Alongside those in the audience was Andy Swann a very clean-cut retired employee of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. I solicited a piece of his campaign literature and took the time today to review his web site: www.AndySwann08.com. I visited his issues page and was less than impressed with several of his apparent positions. He is under the belief that "Educating our children is of course a critical role of state government." While that may well be a task assumed by government, monopoly government education has produced some sadly uneducated students and a billion dollar Arizona state deficit. The current educational system in Arizona isn't going to provide education that today's youth needs to compete.

In any case I am happy to see that Mr. Swann has put in the effort to offer the voters in LD20 (West Chandler and South Tempe) a choice in the upcoming November elections.