Immigrants to America

Before I begin I have to point out that my mother is a post W.W.II German immigrant and my great-great grandparents on my father’s side immigrated to the United States from Italy in the 1870’s. Despite the fact that I was a fourth generation Italian American and a first generation German American, and despite the fact that I spoke German but I did not speak Italian, it was my Italian background that provoked anti-Italian remarks from my classmates at school and from stupid adults in my community. “What sound does sh*t make when it hits the wall?”Guinea, wop, dago, gumba, greaseball, and spic have always been part of my life in America. On the other hand, I have never-ever heard an immigrant make a disparaging remark about my heritage. The people who use words like wop and dago look exactly like the people I saw in the canyon this past weekend. So, as far as I am concerned, you anti-immigrant types are, at your core, and contrary to your self deceptions, bigots and racists.

The following are the myths then the facts about immigrants. Myth: immigrants don’t pay taxes. Fact: Every time an immigrants buys from a store, buys gasoline, and pays rent they pay taxes. Immigrants pay between $90 and $140 billion per year in taxes to the Feds, State, and local governments. According to the Social Security Administration immigrants paid $20 billion into Social Security between 1990 and 1998. Myth: immigrants come here to take welfare. Fact: immigrants paid at least $90 billion in taxes every year and take back $5 billion in public benefits. Myth: immigrants are a drain on the economy. Fact: According to the Federal Reserve immigrants net contribution (profits to business) to the US economy is at least $10 billions per year, they come here in prime working age, no public money has been spent on their education and according to a study conducted by the National Academy of Sciences, they will contribute $500 billion to Social Security over the next 30 years.

I could say something else to all you people bashers but I will refrain and simply point out: put that in your collective pipes and smoke it!