Opinion
Page IB
Tuesday • April 29, 1997
•ality of immigration
Ides behind shadow
mythology, ignorance
ligrants make
110 percent of
nerica’s popula-
, the largest per-
age in 50 years,
[year, the number
en cards
127 percent
ithe year before,
action, groups
tas the Federa-
Ifor American Im-
Columnist
Travis Chow
Computer science
immigration groups’
claims. However, the
growing number of
foreign freeloaders
and criminals is a le
gitimate concern.
Instead of pointing
fingers at productive
individuals, the na
tion should reform
its immigration laws
to address the spe-
[ration
Reform are graduate student ci ^ ic p ro bl e ms.
ing for a morato-
on immigration. The
immigrant hysteria
Ipped up by some politi-
ishas even helped lead to
creation of hate groups
small militias targeting
ligrants as the sole cause
enation’s problems,
heir claims are just plain
mg, but they stress an im
am point. America should
open its arms to individu-
ho do not believe in per-
lal responsibility. The na-
should tighten its laws
borders to protect Ameri-
s against foreign freeload-
and criminals.
'irstof all, a myth about im-
tion must be dispelled,
idea immigrants drain the
lie coffers simply does not
e facts.
iccording to U.S. Census
a, the United States spends
less money per capita on
igrants than it does on na-
-born people, and immi-
nts contribute more in tax
liars than they receive in
Ifare benefits. A 1992 Busi-
sWeek cover story reported
migrants pay $90 billion in
es and only collect $5 bil-
nin welfare annually.
Many reasons exist for the
economic uncertainties
mg U.S. workers today, but
migrants do not deserve the
Ime. In 1994, The Federal
serve Bank reported small
sinesses started by immi-
mts and their combined
rchasing power created 23
freent of the new jobs avail-
jle that year.
The myth that an immigra-
>n moratorium will have eco-
>mic, environmental and social
mefits for Americans ignores
etrue cause of our problems,
teremedy for the declining liv-
g standards Americans face ex-
sin progressive policies, not
ilitical scapegoating. Politi
cs don’t want to face the
ilding anger concerning de-
ing living standards and gov-
ment aid reform. Their poli-
$, not immigrants, create the
lemmas average working class
npie face.
Opposing immigration on
e whole is faulty and coun
terproductive. Immigration is,
deed, beneficial for America's
onomy, regardless of anti-
To begin with,
we should keep illegal aliens
out. The Population Reference
Bureau reports 90 percent of
immigrant criminals are ille
gal aliens. In other words,
most of the crime is commit
ted by illegal aliens, not legal
alien residents. People should
keep in mind this sharp dis
tinction between lawful and
unlawful immigrants.
In 1993, Operation “Hold
the Line” demonstrated the in
fluence of illegal immigration
on crime rate along the Texas
border. After placing 400
agents along a 20-mile stretch
south of El Paso, theft in down
town dropped 40 percent,
while citywide crime de
creased 29 percent.
Further, illegal aliens should
not get a dime from the gov
ernment. Their mere presence
is a crime to society, not to
mention their freeloading.
Each year about 6,000 aliens
cross into Texas to give birth in
El Paso hospitals, making their
U.S.-born children citizens
which are eligible for a suite of
federal welfare benefits. The
only difference between this
loophole and alien smuggling
is the womb.
Those who are legally
granted residency but choose
a life of petty crimes or wel
fare have no excuse. Immi
grants who do not pull their
own weight should be deport
ed immediately with no ap
peals. They had the chance
and blew it. It is the immi
grants' personal responsibility
to “make it” once they take
the gamble. Even without
marketable skills, earnestness
and hard work are enough to
live comfortably. There's no
room for sympathy here.
Immigration reform must
encourage personal responsi
bility and get alien residents
off the safety net — even if
the consequences seem
heartless at times. This way,
many immigration problems
can be resolved without clos
ing the nation's doors to tal
ent and diversity.
America should concentrate
on cracking down on the spe
cific issues and not condemn
immigration on the whole,
which actually helps boost the
national economy.
Masters of militia
Students hold paranoid beliefs about A&M
w
I n his opening statement last week
at the Oklahoma City Federal
Building bombing trial, Stephen
Jones, defense lawyer for Timothy
McVeigh, addressed the extreme
views found in McVeigh’s writings.
“Much of his (McVeigh’s) writ
ing and literature was extreme,
but millions of other Americans
fear and mistrust the govern
ment,” he said.
Jones’ statement identifies the
peculiar legacy of the ’90s — a
growing mistrust of a government
which guarantees personal liberty.
While many will casually attribute this para
noia to militia groups, X-Files fanatics, con
spiracy theorists and assorted wackos, its
origins are much closer to home.
Widely held student beliefs at Texas A&M
mirror the fears of militia groups. Fear and
mistrust of the government begins with mis
trust of the administration here at A&M.
These beliefs make Aggies the militia mem
bers of the future.
No, most students do not believe special
government forces lurk in black helicopters
waiting for the command to seize the nation
and place it under martial law. However,
many students do hold similar irra
tional and paranoid beliefs about
administration on campus.
Consider commonly held beliefs
about Parking Traffic and Trans
portation Services. PTTS, often
called “the parking Nazis,” is the
most reviled department on cam
pus. Students actually say PTTS
targets them as easy sources of in
come. Students attribute all kinds
of evil to this department and its
employees.
Tom Williams, Director of PTTS,
said PTTS concentrates on doing its
job well to benefit A&M.
“The nature of our job is such
that I doubt there are very few
people who thank us for writing a
parking violation,” Williams said.
The word “service” is included
in the department’s title with
good reason. PTTS does a diffi
cult and unpopular job. There is
only a finite amount of area on
campus available for parking.
This area must be well regu
lated. Without PTTS, parking
lots would degrade into
parking anarchy, inconve
niencing everyone who
drives on campus.
PTTS officers have
not sold their souls
to the devil. The de
partment does not
hoard student park
ing spots to force stu
dents to park illegally
to generate ticket rev
enue. Likewise, PTTS of
ficers do not hide in
bushes waiting for stu
dents to fall into their
parking traps.
Residence halls on cam
pus are another area where
students say they are tar
geted by the University.
Resident advisers
working within
these halls often
fair poorly in pub
lic opinion. Many
students assume
RAs exist to make
their lives miser-
Columnist
John Lemons
Electrical engineering
graduate student
able. The misconception is that
RAs are merely plain-clothed po
lice officers who wander the halls
looking for policy violations. This
“us against them” mentality is un
fortunate and unnecessary.
RAs within residence halls are a
valuable source of information and
guidance. They exist as a service —
not a hindrance to residents.
One last organization which
students are paranoid about is the
Board of Regents. Students com
plain this group is out of touch
with campus, and that it milks them them
for all the money they have.
However, of all the campus conspiracy
theories, the beliefs surrounding the
Board of Regents hold most truth. Ironi
cally, the truth in these stories is rooted in
student behavior.
If the Board is out of touch with stu
dents, it is because students do not voice
their concerns to the Board. Before meet
ings, regents hold an open house for stu
dents. These open house events are poorly
attended. Most students cannot even name
one member of the Board. Indeed, A&M is
run by a star chamber, one which has been
appointed and endorsed by the students
themselves.
But A&M is not out to get students,
and neither is the U.S. government.
This type of poorly-thought-out para
noia reflects badly on the intellect of
students. The University’s administra
tion occasionally may be bureaucratic,
slow or even inept, but it works in the
best interests of students.
A&M’s students should be proud of
themselves. They can no longer be
accused of being redneck, back-
wood, ignorant hicks. No, the Ag
gies of the ’90s are future, radical
conspiracy-minded extremists.
It’s time to start stockpiling
weapons. Congratulations
students, you’re members of
the largest organized mili
tia in America — the Re
public of Texas A&M.
O
T M
S P I II
7/$
7/
ew government proposal overlooks definition of volunteering
nr
R oss Perot isn’t the only one
rambling on about “volun
teers” these days.
Most everyone with some
ontact to the outside world has
iard about Bill Clinton and A1
lore’s “Service Summit” in
adelphia, which wraps up to-
iy. Joined by well-meaning, but
sguided, individuals such as
a Colin Powell and Barbara
sh, Clinton donned a ridicu-
jus-looking cap and painted
'ersome inner-city graffiti (no
rd as to whether he used Sher-
Dan-Williams’ new “WhiteWater.”) Dedicat
ed to the premise that Americans are selfish
nd lazy, with no intentions of helping their
fellow man, the “Service Summit” promotes
the oxymoronic ideas of “mandatory volun-
ering" and “paid volunteers.”
Aware that taxpayers are growing cynical
of the traditional liberal method of solving
problems, which is throwing taxpayer mon-
0)’ at it, Clinton and Gore have stumbled
Ipon the more modern, liberal cure-all for
he 21st century—throwing taxpayer-
[inded, compulsory “volunteers” at it.
Bill and A1 can hire all the mandatory vol
unteers they want, but in the end it does
Columnist
Donny Ferguson
Sophomore
political science major
nothing to address the real issues
facing America. Our problems
exist, not because there are not
enough volunteers, but because
there is too much government.
The Green Berets of Clinton’s
“volunteer army” are his much-
glorified reading coaches. Ignor
ing that teachers are paid to
teach children to read, he has
promised a force of a million vol
unteers to go into schools and
teach America’s children to read
(presumably leaving teachers
free to resume their NEA-man-
dated duties of condom distribution and
diversity awareness training).
Rather than draw the ire of leftist teachers’
unions, such as the National Education Asso
ciation by proposing the real solution to illit
eracy, he licks his finger, sticks it into the wind
and passes the buck to the “paid volunteers.”
The real solution doesn’t lie in another
government program, more spending and
more bureaucracy. After all, these govern
ment volunteers must be regulated some
how. It is no coincidence that the quality of
American education rapidly deteriorated
after so-called teachers’ unions seized con
trol of schools through a federal Depart
ment of Education. Volunteers won’t con
quer illiteracy, but abolishing the depart
ment and adopting national school choice
and school voucher programs will.
Children aren’t reading, not because
they are sitting in their classrooms des
perately waiting for the volunteers, but
because Clinton and Gore’s philosophy on
education is a
complete failure.
Children are illit
erate because the
three Rs have been
replaced by the
three Hs — hand
out condoms,
hammer Western
culture and hustle
government de
pendency.
For example,
instead of teaching children about our
heritage, textbooks now teach kids about
left-wing pop stars. In one history text,
colonial patriot Ethan Allan is ignored
while lesbian singer Joan Baez is featured.
Another states “some people feel China’s
economic progress is worth its sacrifice of
individual freedom.” Some schools even
teach “creative spelling,” in which teach-
Bill and Al can hire all the
mandatory volunteers
they want, but in the end
it does nothing to
address the real issues
facing America.
ers are warned not to correct a child’s poor
spelling, because doing so would damage
his self-esteem. Teachers are told to ap
preciate the child’s creativity (or more ac
curately, bad education).
These atrocities are imposed on inno
cent children by the spaced-out NEA crowd.
Abolishing their DOE, and not recruiting a
volunteer army is the
only way to bring sanity
and literacy back to
American education.
Getting government
out of education will do
more per tax dollar than
paying volunteers. One
year of public education
costs over twice per stu
dent as much as per
student as a year of pri
vate education ($5,000-
$6,000 for public schools compared to an
average of $2,000 for private schools). Not
only is the privatization of education more
cost effective, private schools give a more
superior education than public schools.
School choice and school voucher pro
grams prove, time after time, that children
score higher in a school freed from the left-
handed grip of the DOE than in a liberal
school system. The overwhelming success of
these programs in places like Milwaukee and
inner-city Harlem prove school choice and
school vouchers for the poor, not volunteers,
will guarantee America’s children a quality
education. Instead, the Clinton/Gore White
House vetoed school vouchers for poor
African-American children in inner-city
Washington. They also have publicly stated
their opposition to this program designed to
give the poor a top-notch education.
The passage of school vouchers and
choice legislation would spell doom for the
ultra-liberal teachers’ unions which poured
millions into Democratic campaign coffers.
Rather than listen to the pleas of poor chil
dren and the overwhelming majority of
Americans who want choice in schools and
vouchers, Clinton and Gore listen to their
wallets. Their volunteer army to supposedly
combat illiteracy is nothing more than a
shameless attempt to cover up a shoddy ed
ucation record.
Clinton and Gore’s Service Summit is
only a celebration of demagoguery. Ameri
cans should volunteer their time and ef
forts to make their communities a better
place to live, but it shouldn’t take a govern
ment mandate and a taxpayer-subsidized
paycheck to do it.