LETTER: ICE center has many perks

Patrick Ballinger, Evanston Resident
Posted 6/5/17

Letter to the editor from Patrick Ballinger

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LETTER: ICE center has many perks

Posted

Editor:

So being the first letter of the month I feel the need to talk to people about the MTC facility that may be coming in and also the philosophy behind both sides of the argument. Like I have stated before, I am a libertarian, but I understand the conservative side of the argument as well as the “progressive” side of the argument. 

All right now, conservative and progressive Evanstonians, we have to realize this for what it is: a processing center. You will not see ICE vehicles roaming the streets of Evanston with nets like they are hunting for wild game. This is the Democrat fear at the moment, and I think that the people of Evanston would not put up with that. 

And a note to the conservative side: it is entirely too hard to become a citizen of our nation. Let’s face it; close to 90 percent, if not more, of high school seniors cannot pass the test to become a citizen. So either the schools suck, which they do because they are government-owned, or it is truly hard for someone who has no idea of our history to become a citizen of our country.

What I would propose as a solution to the illegal immigrant problem is, number one, quit incentivizing it. Every welfare program, including student aid, needs to be dissolved. It is not the government’s job to provide for anyone. And when you look at all the hidden taxes in the U.S.A. it is obviously apparent that the average American making $48,000 a year pays close to 65 percent of their income in taxes. The person making minimum wage can’t afford this, but the government turns around and gives them 15 percent back in welfare programs. How about we don’t tax at all? 

Secondly, we need to make it easier to obtain either work visas or citizenship. I believe in free trade — no tariffs or taxes on foreign imports or exports as long as the other country is following the same guidelines; if not, follow their tax code on our imports/exports. Does anyone know what a basic Ford Focus costs in China? It is the equivalent of 50,000 U.S. dollars while here it is only $20,000. That is so China can prop up their failing economy while enjoying America’s leniency.

While we can all agree that something needs to be done about illegal immigration, most conservatives and libertarians can side on eliminating welfare as a whole. But what this is for Evanston is close to 100 well-paying jobs. Corrections officers at the processing plants are starting off at more than most of local police officers and sheriff’s deputies make. 

While “progressives” are touting that only government should have this kind of power, we need to look at the larger picture when it comes to privatization and the fact is that it is cheaper. Just for those who don’t know why I have been putting the term “progressives” in quotations, it’s actually because most of their policies are regressive. More government has been tried all over the world, Venezuela, North Korea, Soviet Union, and many more have tried socialism/communism and it always fails.

Patrick Ballinger

Evanston