AMNESTY FOR ALIENS IS LIKE LEGALIZING DRUGS

The article entitled "Citizenship plan gains support" in your July 31
edition would have been more appropriately entitled "Business lobbyists
pull wool over S.C.'s eyes." I couldn't help thinking the fallacious
arguments in the article supporting the proposed amnesty, which Mr. Bush is
considering (with encouragement from President Fox of Mexico), that would
magically make illegal immigrants into "legal" residents are much like what
we hear from drug users who promote drug legalization:

¡ Large numbers of illegal workers are already here in South Carolina.
(Many people already smoke pot and abuse drugs.)

¡ State's construction, textiles and manufacturing industries could
benefit. (Public sale of pot and other drugs would strengthen businesses
throughout South Carolina, including convenience stores recently hit by the
removal of video poker machines.)

¡ A lot of businesses prefer Hispanic workers - a racist statement made in
the article by Rhett Miller of the S.C. Employers' Association. (Many
people would prefer to pay less for illicit drugs.)

¡ Businesses would benefit by not spending time verifying if their
employees are in the country legally. (Law enforcement would benefit by not
devoting time related to locating drug smugglers and pushers.)

¡ Turnover might drop because illegal workers would no longer fear being
discovered. (Businesses would not lose workers who are imprisoned for
breaking drug laws.)

Calling something "legal" doesn't change anything - a bad idea is a bad idea.

T.J. Roche Anderson