Ron Paul on immigration: What's the worst that could happen?

re: Ron Paul on immigration: What's the worst that could happen?

libertymaniac — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 15:55:34 GMT

Ron Paul is for abolishing federal welfare in almost all forms as far as I know. But even a politician as principled as Paul (probably the most principled American politician for generations) understands that illegal aliens cannot continue to come into the country and use public services.

The notion that illegal aliens do not use welare is absurd. In my state, illegal aliens are issued welfare credit cards whereby monthly payments are merely dropped into accounts. I see it 1st hand.

Likewise, illegal aliens here, and in many other places use hospitals and medical services for free, as they cannot be denied service. I see this all the time.

In fact, when my father recently went to a hospital in Southern California to deal with a serious issue of blood clots, the entire waiting room was filled with illegal aliens. He watched as one after the other were admitted before him. The hospital clerk merely asked if they had insurance or spoke English, they said no, and were quickly admitted.

My father spent an over an hour attempting to make sure he was covered by his insurance. The hospital was actually prohibited by law from telling him if he was covered. It's insane.

The same thing goes up here in Minnesota. My mother in law is a nurse at the local hospital and says it is no different here.

The welfare state is the problem, there is no doubt. But it is insane to sit by and allow a government-imposed system which literally invites abuse and yet more subsidy.

This isn't an issue of normative purity. It is an issue of fiscal survival and legal equality. We cannot be at war, spending more money than all but 15 nations even produce in terms of GDP on it, lavish the retiring babyboomers with government benefits, AND pay the bill for mexicans who want to live in the United States illegally.

Sure, borders should be open, welfare should be elminated. But that isn't happening any time soon, and I'd prefer not to have to pay for illegal aliens medical bills while it costs me $20,000 to have my last child delivered.

re: Ron Paul on immigration: What's the worst that could happen?

Nick Constant — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 21:56:59 GMT

Why is Ron Paul a Republican? For millions of people like myself this one thing defeats his other-wise mostly sound positions. The Republican Party is the greatest threat to America we have ever faced, and very well may it's main destroyer.

re: Ron Paul on immigration: What's the worst that could happen?

Grant — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 14:26:51 GMT

Erm, Paul isn't anti-immigrant at all. He's stated many times he's anti-illegal-immigrant, and that if we had a free economy without all the giveaways to immigrants, we would probably do fine with open borders.

But he knows there is no political way to stop the welfare state, so the only recourse is to stop illegal immigration. He's very bearish on the economy, social security and Medicare, so he sees this as necissary to keep the feds from bankrupting themselves.

re: Ron Paul on immigration: What's the worst that could happen?

dget — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 01:50:38 GMT

I tend to agree with your assessment on immigration, but I'm curious if you know to which reform bill Dr. Paul is refering in his comment about 60 million potential new immigrants. A general anti-immigration stance would seem out-of-line with his constitutional views, which leads me to wonder if there is something missed...

--dget