Most liked posts in thread: Can't get rid of me, I'm legal

Mark!

 

That's the reason why I never became an American citizen. I moved to the states from Canada in '79 and got a permanent resident card.

It took 6 months to be approved and jumped through the hoops. I had to sign up for "selective services" (the politically correct way to say draft), I have to pay taxes, I have a concealed weapon permit, I have to do everything an American citizen has to do but 2 things...

I can't vote, I can't hold a govt job.

So I never became a citizen, what's the point?

Mark

 

Oh, I still like to whine...(especially about obama)

Fortunately for me, I don't want to work for the gov't so I have no need to change, I guess.

Mark

 

Congratulations Mark!!

Like anything government related, I am sure the process is a bit of a pain but think highly of anyone doing the right thing and going through it.

Kevin

 

That should not be a problem as those positions do not (normally) require a security clearence. Even if it does you only have to say that your allegiance is to the U.S. I ask that question often.

Jim

 

Maybe cause you live and work here........:rolleyes5:

You take advantage of all of the benefits of being allowed to live here but you don't want to become a US citizen. This I do not agree with.

 

Scott,

How am I taking advantage??? I pay taxes just like you do. I had to sign up for selective services just like an American, I have to pay medicaid, I have to pay social security taxes, EVERYTHING... I have to do everything you have to do but I'm not allowed to vote.

If that's considered taking advantage, well, then... I guess :shocked:

Now, if I was from Mexico and got welfare, financial aid, free housing, pay no taxes, etc, etc... I could see how you could say that I take advantage but pleaaaaase, it costs me the EXACT same it costs you to live here... there ain't no free ride.

Yeaaaah, and based on who we have in office, I see that soooo many "citizens" got off their ass and voted.

How that work out for you?

You guys can't even get Americans to vote, what difference is it if one Canadian can't vote.

But I'm sure that'll change next election... all the lazy asses that didn't vote allowed "others" to vote and look what we got in office. :rolleyes5:


Mark

EDIT: I had to come back to this because I'm actually kind of pissed and offended that you (and Tim) could even possibly consider me "taking advantage" of living in this country. It took me SIX months to get to come into this country. I had to jump through every hoop, had to establish that we had jobs before we were allowed to move, had to have a minimum of 50K in the bank. I have 2 businesses here, I supply jobs to 13 people, I pay every freakin' tax and crap that you all pay. I'm not allowed to vote. HOW THE HELL AM I TAKING ADVANTAGE??? Because I can't vote??? Is that an advantage? Or because I'm not allowed to work for the gov't... perhaps that is an advantage???

Every freakin' illegal mexican comes into this country and bleeds it dry and I'M TAKING ADVANTAGE???? FCK THAT...

 

Whoa, this opened a can of worms...

I don't think you're taking advantage of anything, but if you're paying taxes and everything else, why not make it official? The argument that what's the difference, one vote won't make a difference, is one of the worst arguments out there. It's an argument of convenience; just because many people use this as justification not to vote doesn't make it right.

As for all the illegal mexican immigrants, the flip side to the coin is that they do much of the work that no one else in this country is willing to do, and for lower wages. I'm not condoning illegal immigration, but not all illegal immigrants are taking advantage of the system, they're simply trying to survive, or find a better way of life. There is a school of thought that the economy would be significantly damaged if illegal immigration was 100% enforced, which I suspect is the reason many Republican's are "soft" on immigration (at least part of the reason). I myself fall into the conservative camp; illegal immigration is not a cut and dry, one sided issue....

 

OrangeCrush Mark,

Upon consideration I would not call your actions 'taking advantage' and I apologize. I threw out a quick 'thumbs up'. Your actions are far from entering a country illegally and using the resources of that country without contributing. Again please accept my apology

I do gotta ask though how it serves you to live in a country for 25+ years and choose to not become a citizen and not vote. I think the phrase goes something along the lines of "if you don't like the results and didn't vote don't complain"

I really don't want to get into a debate on how you are choosing to live your life, none of my business. I would just ask you to consider this.

In reading your posts over the last couple years here and on the sewing site I have allot of respect for you and this string has not changed that.

 

Before all this gets a bit wonky let me point out something here...

OrangeCrush and Lotsie are both exercising their rights as a person that has legally emigrated to the US. They both enjoy the freedom to chose the level of participation comfortable to themselves and isn't that what the US is about?

 

Lot cleaner way than what I was trying to say, well said Nate

 

Well yes, but the U.S. also about by playing by playground rules, kind of like the sewing site....

 

Tim,

Apology accepted.

Guys, I'm sorry if I came off a little strong. I love the US and would be willing to fight for what she stands for. The subject of "illegals" is a bit touchy with me because I live in NC and we have the 3rd highest influx of illegal mexicans in the country. (go figure... NC?)

Point is, I have NO discrimination for anyone coming to this country to work/live.... (afterall, there is no such thing as a true "American" anyways, we're all immigrants at some point)

And CCT is correct, many of those that have crossed the border do work that we're (as a nation) are too lazy to do. I DO, however have a problem if they come here illegally and then receive all the US benefits.

I pay taxes and play by the rules, why shouldn't they?


As far as getting my citizenship, honestly, I just never saw the need to make it "official". Perhaps if I was a US citizen, my view on it would be different but since I work as hard as the next "US citizen" and go about paying taxes and crap, I never really saw any advantage except for voting. (much like living with my wife... I never saw the need to make it official (until I got married) and then realized it was the right thing... perhaps my view on citizenship would change if I were to get it))

I don't have any "cons" to not getting my citizenship except that I can't vote. (which isn't a big deal to me)

Now, on the other hand... my real father lives in Canada still. When I go to visit him, I find it much easier to cross the border being a Canadian citizen. (it does however present problems coming back into the US...lol)

That has been the only "pro" I've had as far as keeping my Canadian citizenship.

Again, my apologies if I came off a little strong about it...

Mark

 

Now that that is settled.

I want to dive into the "the illegal immigrants are doing work that no one else wants to do and for less."
Who used to do that work?? Whites and then blacks..
Then along came "the system" food stamps, welfare, government housing etc etc.. They all got on the system vs doing that work. ( not all but you get the picture )
If we don't some how slow it down they will also get on the system, it's just a matter of time.. If we keep "the man" in office it will be sooner rather then later..

No I'm not a racist, just believe in EVERYBODY paying taxes..

 

If we want to keep going along these lines then we should move this to the political discussion area please.

 

I think your might be mixing this up

Whites and then Blacks who performed these menial jobs, at least post abolition, were US Citizens and paid taxes supporting a portion of their share.

Welfare, foodstamps, affirmative action, etc are a completely different topic. If your illegal your not going to get access to this. You have to show ID/prove citizenship (I'm sure you can buy this ID if you have the bucks).

I do see CCT's observation. Many of these illegals do the menial tasks that many do not want to do.

Now if we formed some sort of jobs corp that put these welfare recipients to work in these roles, now theres a possibility. Regrettably the cost to the US taxpayer would probably be outrageous. $10/hr under the table vs. $50/hr for Joe/josephine jobs corp recipeint or something along those lines

No easy answerers

 

Actually, there are a few left Mark. Our forefathers didn't kill them all off, evven though they tried.

Jim