Arizona Governor Signs Tough Bill on Hiring Illegal Immigrants

Yes, let's blame business for engaging in the free market, and above all let's not blame the congress and the state govts as well who have woefully failed at securing our nation's borders. Typical claptrap from people who want to argue that business is to blame for society's ills.

Yes, let's add state law that is toothless and pointless: there's already a federal law that makes hiring illegals a crime. Enforce the laws on the books, people.

This is just meaningless legislation not worth the cost the poor people of Arizona paid to have it printed.

 

Amen! edited: too brief.

 

I don't disagree. However, in one very real sense they are engaging in the marketplace. If there were no illegals, or if illegals demanded higher wages than citizens, would illegals be employed? Supply and demand.

Think of it this way: what would be the better deterrant for prostitution? A law criminalizing prostitution, or the elimination of the demand and/or supply?

 

Slave labor used would be really cheap. Are businesses justified today in the U.S. for using slave labor since it's so much cheaper? supply and demand.

Break the law; pay for it. That's my motto.

 

Ken: Agreed about sovreignty, but you're misunderstanding my point. The govt has failed us. I just don't buy the liberal "let's blame businesses" or "let's pass more laws" junk. Enforce the laws on the books. Meanwhile, no one should be surprised that the free market works.

James: I'm not disagreeing with any of you about the law. However, this slave labor bit is a bromide. Illegals are making quite a nice living, as many own their own homes, etc. Some of you may have the concept that illegals are all out there making 3 bucks an hour. I can show you dozens that live near me that make hundreds a week. I can show you many in other areas I've lived that do the same thing. So argue with the free market if you want. The illegals are going to be part of it until the govt takes its responsibility seriously. The answer is to enforce the laws, not pass meaningless, headline grabbing, taxpayer wasting window-dressing.

 

I think I found something on this at the Arizona Republic website: http://www.azcentral.com/specials/special12/articles/0524sanctions0524.html

If this is the bill, two things immediately bother me. One, AZ is to use the Federal software to create a database to check the status of immigrants and their SS numbers (if they have one). This system is notoriously unreliable and one of the boondoggles that weighs down the federal enforcement. Second, the article claims this is all based on the models in CO and GA. I know that GA folks are frustrated to no end with their enforcement, and I believe I've read the same about CO.

If this is the final legislation, then this may not help the people of AZ one whit.

 

I'm tempted to have some Constitutional fun with you on this and ask if this isn't a state's rights issue, but I won't