This English teacher has phrased it the best I've seen yet:
CHEAP TOMATOES? This should make everyone think, be you Democrat,
Republican or Independent
From a California school teacher - - -

"As you listen to the news about the student protests over illegal
immigration, there are some things that you should be aware of:

I am in charge of the English-as-a-second-language department at a large
southern California high school which is designated a Title 1 school,
meaning that its students average lower social economic and income
levels.

Most of the schools you are hearing about, South Gate High, Bell
Gardens, Huntington Park, etc., where these students are protesting, are
also Title 1 schools.

Title 1 schools are on the free breakfast and free lunch program. When I
say free breakfast, I'm not talking a glass of milk and roll -- but a
full breakfast and cereal bar with fruits and juices that would make a
Marriott proud. The waste of this food is monumental, with trays and
trays of it being dumped in the trash uneaten. (OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK)

I estimate that well over 50% of these students are obese or at least
moderately overweight. About 75% or more DO have cell phones. The school
also provides day care centers for the unwed teenage pregnant girls
(some as young as 13) so they can attend class without the inconvenience
of having to arrange for babysitters or having family watch their kids.
(OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK)

I was ordered to spend $700,000 on my department or risk losing funding
for the upcoming year even though there was little need for anything; my
budget was already substantial.. I ended up buying new computers for
the computer learning center, half of which, one month later, have been
carved with graffiti by the appreciative students who obviously feel
humbled and grateful to have a free education in America. (OUR TAX
DOLLARS AT WORK)

I have had to intervene several times for young and substitute teachers
whose classes consist of many illegal immigrant students here in the
country less then 3 months who raised so much hell with the female
teachers, calling them "Putas" whores and throwing things that the
teachers were in tears. Free medical, free education, free food, day
care etc., etc, etc. Is it any wonder they feel entitled to not only be
in this country but to demand rights, privileges and entitlements?

To those who want to point out how much these illegal immigrants
contribute to our society because they LIKE their gardener and
housekeeper and they like to pay less for tomatoes: spend some time in
the real world of illegal immigration and see the TRUE costs.

Higher insurance, medical facilities closing, higher medical costs, more
crime, lower standards of education in our schools, overcrowding, new
diseases etc., etc, etc. For me, I'll pay more for tomatoes.

We need to wake up. The guest worker program will be a disaster because
we won't have the guts to enforce it. Does anyone in their right mind
really think they will voluntarily leave and return?
There are many hardworking Hispanic/American citizens that contribute to
our country and many that I consider my true friends. We should
encourage and accept those Hispanics who have done it the right and
legal way.

It does, however, have everything to do with culture: A third-world
culture that does not value education, that accepts children getting
pregnant and dropping out of school by 15 and that refuses to
assimilate, and an American culture that has become so weak and worried
about "politically correctness" that we don't have the will to do
anything about it.

CHEAP LABOR? Isn't that what the whole immigration issue is about?
Business doesn't want to pay a decent wage.
Consumers don't want expensive produce.

Government will tell you Americans don't want the jobs. But the bottom
line is cheap labor. The phrase "cheap labor" is a myth, a farce, and a
lie. There is no such thing as "cheap labor." Take, for example, an
illegal alien with a wife and five children.

He takes a job for $5.00 or $6.00/hour (actually the street workers
charge $10 an hour cash). At that wage, with six dependents,
He pays no income tax, yet at the end of the year, if he files an
Income Tax Return, he gets an "earned income credit" of up to $3,200
free.
He qualifies for Section 8 housing and subsidized rent.
He qualifies for food stamps.
He qualifies for free (no deductible, no co-pay) health care.
His children get free breakfasts and lunches at school.
He requires bilingual teachers and books.
He qualifies for relief from high energy bills. If they are or become,
aged, blind or disabled, they qualify for SSI. Once qualified for SSI
they can qualify for Medicare. All of this is at (our) taxpayer's
expense.
He doesn't worry about car insurance, life insurance, or homeowners
insurance. Taxpayers provide Spanish language signs, bulletins and
printed material.
He and his family receive the equivalent of $20.00 to $30.00/hour in
benefits.
Working Americans are lucky to have $5.00 or $6.00/hour left after
paying their bills and his.

The American taxpayers also pay for increased crime, graffiti and trash
clean-up.

Cheap labor? YEAH RIGHT! Wake up people. THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS WE
SHOULD BE ADDRESSING TO THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR EITHER PARTY.
WHEN THEY LIE TO US AND DON'T DO AS THEY SAY, WE SHOULD REPLACE THEM AT
ONCE!

sluggo-

in an attempt to say damn the political correctness let me be the first
to say thank you for putting this up on the posts.

unappreciative and ungrateful, im afraid its not just an illegal
immagrant problem though.

political correctness, oh how we need to be in touch with our feelings.
thank you bill clinton and the aclu green peace and all the rest of the
pretend carers of the country, who would have nothing to do with you on
the outside world except to tell you how to live your life!!!!! rosie
odonald for president right?

anyway i dont want to go off on a tangent, thanks again, maybe you could
put the link up.

does draw a complete picture doesnt it...

Hey Doc, actually I got this in an email: I'll see if I can find this in
a link somewhere....brb

It IS the Left coast. Doesn't shock me at all. You are right doc, the
entitlement mentality runs deep, supported by welfare dollars from an
agency that needs poverty to keep its allocated dollars coming in. If
you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach him how to
fish, you feed him for a lifetime. If you are able to work but simply
choose not to, you should be free to go hungry.The welfare system is
supposed to help those who can't help themselves. Sounds simple? Why
shouldn't it be?

It says it all.
It just doesnt do anything about it!!
Talking to the choir,,,,

How many times have you e-mailed your Representatives today???

Here are some links I just found it on:

http://community.gadsdentimes.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/7441061365/m/4061070916

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1839220/posts
(this one has some good Posts attached including a FREE direct line to
the Senators)

http://teachers.net/mentors/politics/topic6219/4.22.07.19.02.58.html
(This is a Teachers message board)

To me this seems obvious that it should be the biggest issue concerning
the next election: Bar None!!!!

Sluggo, I e-mail Dole, Edwards, Shuler, and Burr, almost everyday.

Edwards doesnt have a vote right now, and Im beginning to think he too
chicken to actually make a public statement about illegal immigration.

Shuler's office sends back letters saying he's receiving my e-mails, but
never really says one way or the other how he feels about it.

Burr never acknowledges ****! Im beginning to wonder if anyone works
there, although I never have any e-mails returned.

Dole refuses to bend an inch. She wont vote for any bill that grants
amnesty of any kind. (she assures me), but will not give me a reason why
they wont enforce current laws except to say that INS is doing the best
they can! HA HA HA!!!

But Im hardheaded and stubborn so I continue to send them e-mails,
regularly, and I will not vote for a politician that votes against the
majority of the people, if I have to vote for the least known candidate
on the ballot. I do vote regularly in all elections and it is on record.
(Im sure)

NO school teacher working for any county or city school district is
allowed SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS for a BUDGET. This woman is
LYING. Thats as far as i had to read. Trust me. My entire family devoted
their lives to this profession. IN HER DREAMS $700,000!!!!!

Sluggo, glad you escaped I couldn't raise the ransom. They were asking
a dollar ninety-eight. I passed the hat and ame up with thirty-seven
cents the first time, so I passed the hat again and someone took the
thirty-seven cents good to see ya back!

The sad fact is that our collective group of senators and
representatives, president, and presidential hopefulls all are willing
to squander the future of this country and bankrupt the system for the
sake of a few votes to keep their lame asses in office. I really hate
to say this, but I agree with Fanta
, throw the whole damn bunch out on the street and start over.

My tomatoes cost about $2.00 to $2.50 per pound and more. Where can I
get these cheap tomatoes you are talking about, because I really like
tomatoes. I can buy beef for the same price. What's up with those tomato
prices?

On the immigration note. I'm with you here. I don't particularly object
to having some foreign workers, and I am sympathetic to their plight,
but I oppose the benefit structure that is now in place which encourages
them to cross the border illegally.

I particularly oppose improving the benefit structure as I believe the
proposed law does.

I grow my own tomatoes.

I grow my own too, and support the local farmer clubs and get my veggies
cheap, cheap, cheap.

the best ones I grew were in the plastic tubes they sell at Kmart.

you can even grow them inside, as long as they have some sun, or take
them outside once in a while


God is a very smart person.

i go to the local farmers market ...but i actually hate tomatoes

Please, I hope nobody actually believes this to be truly factual
accurately... but the many problems it highlights exist, nonetheless.
The attitude of entitlement exists, regardless of whether $700,000 was
the true figure.

Please, go to any inner city school or project and the same ****
happens.Nobody has any appreciation or gratitude for anything anymore.It
sucks.

Cute, yes! The 'problem' of the entitlement attitude is not unique to
any particular group.

But there is some things unique about the issue of mexican immigrants,
one of which is -how fast- they are changing the political and economic
landscape here.

Uh, as a matter of fact I did call and email both the reps from this
state to shred for voting in favor of anything that includes anything
even remotely resembling amnesty, and told them they were discriminating
against legal citizens by giving the illegal ones better in just about
every way. Pretty much proves to me that they are catering to the
immigrants, as the real citizens here have been trying to bounce them
out for generations.
I would rather just do WITHOUT stupid tomatoes!