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Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna
I suppose it can be researched, Bucco. But I don't have a real precise answer other than it's a big number.
For one, I would support the idea of refusing to provide any government-funded healthcare to illegal immigrants or their families, even if by being born here they were "legal". But as far as those that are unemployed, on welfare, etc., I still believe that society has a responsibility to provide them with healthcare.
To reduce the number of illegal immigrants who are enjoying government-funded healthcare would require some pretty tough measures to tighten up our borders. You have often asked what the effect of proposed legislation might be on small businesses. What effect do you think not having ready access to cheap labor which is willing to work hard might have on small businesses? That's exactly the reason why we're not likely to see any significant immigration reform. But we're still stuck with tens of millions with no healthcare.
Kind of a Catch 22, isn't it?
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Millions without health care, millions without jobs, millions without cars, millions without cellphones, millions without cable TV, millions without.....
It's always easy to say that society needs to pay more taxes to provide "millions" with something. Where does it end?
If the goal is to provide health care for millions, why don't we give something else up to pay for that, instead of adding to the burden of the depleting pool of taxpayers?
Let's start by cutting the US Agency for International Development by half, and instead of trying to take care of the world, we spend that money here? How about an import tax all foreign-imported goods at an additional $1 for declared value of $1,000? Let's add to that a fine for every person illegal in the US at $1,000 to cover the cost of detention and deportation (most have assets which can be confiscated).
The government is no different than the average family - you want to buy something new and don't have any discretionary funds, then you must give up something to get the new item. The alternative is borrow the money from someone (like the Chinese) and then steal the money from someone else (like a taxpayer) to pay back the lender.
There are other options than higher taxes. If not, eventually, there will be no taxpayers left from whom to rob. Then what?