Money sent home by illegals

Another early morning musing    5/18/10

I don't fully understand why these crazy ideas wake me up at such awful hours, like 4:15 this morning, and eliminate the possibility of any further badly needed sleep.  I supposedly should get a good 7 or so hours of sleep at night for good health at my age.

It must be my sub-conscience or something like that, with which I was wrestling, while sleeping, over a discussion I heard on a TV or radio program a day or so ago.  It was part of some arguments about the "illegal immigration problem" that is rising to center stage with the recent Arizona law -- that will surely "cause all sorts of racial discrimination" -- according to many of the supposedly well-meaning people in our country, in Mexico, and even in the UN (!) and the rest of the world.  To top it all off we are led to believe that many of these well-meaning people have never even read the law.  So emotions and prejudices run wild.

So here is just one more log to throw on the fire.  I believe some part of the illegal alien controversy is responsible for the most efficient and effective from of international relief that we can give.  Consider $100 that goes directly from the working illegal to his family.

Every time we pay some of these illegals, part of that money goes quickily and directly to a needy family in Mexico as an example.  If we were to help those same needy families through typical government largesse, that $100 would be collected in taxes, moved to Washington, subjected to applicable government overhead, sent  to some agency or bureaucracy in Mexico, subjected to their overhead and finally trickled down to the family.  How much would they get?  -- $10 perhaps?

I wouldn't deny that I am postulating a favorable, legitimate use of the directly sent $100.  Maybe some would go toward drugs, etc., but I believe most of the illegals send it for better use.

So in one sense we who pay the illegals are making contributions that may be even more effective and efficient than if we had given $100 to our church, synagog,  or some non-profit relief organization for their distribution.

Perhaps we should consider giving  the "Payor" a tax deduction.