Pubdate: Sat, 11 Aug 2001 Source: Greenville News (SC) Copyright: 2001 The Greenville News Contact: http://greenvillenews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/877 Author: T J Roche Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) AMNESTY FOR ALIENS IS LIKE LEGALIZING DRUGS The article entitled "Citizenship plan gains support" in your July 31 edition would have been more appropriately entitled "Business lobbyists pull wool over S.C.'s eyes." I couldn't help thinking the fallacious arguments in the article supporting the proposed amnesty, which Mr. Bush is considering (with encouragement from President Fox of Mexico), that would magically make illegal immigrants into "legal" residents are much like what we hear from drug users who promote drug legalization: ¡ Large numbers of illegal workers are already here in South Carolina. (Many people already smoke pot and abuse drugs.) ¡ State's construction, textiles and manufacturing industries could benefit. (Public sale of pot and other drugs would strengthen businesses throughout South Carolina, including convenience stores recently hit by the removal of video poker machines.) ¡ A lot of businesses prefer Hispanic workers - a racist statement made in the article by Rhett Miller of the S.C. Employers' Association. (Many people would prefer to pay less for illicit drugs.) ¡ Businesses would benefit by not spending time verifying if their employees are in the country legally. (Law enforcement would benefit by not devoting time related to locating drug smugglers and pushers.) ¡ Turnover might drop because illegal workers would no longer fear being discovered. (Businesses would not lose workers who are imprisoned for breaking drug laws.) Calling something "legal" doesn't change anything - a bad idea is a bad idea. T.J. Roche Anderson - --- MAP posted-by: GD