"The Ship is Sinking"

By Brooke Adams

California is in crisis and we are going down under the weight of programs that, regardless of how well-intentioned, we just can't afford. It's that simple. And so my top priority will be to cut programs and spending.

Of course I recognize that many illegal immigrants do work that other Americans do not and of course I recognize that immigrants toil long hours and of course I recognize that prices for many goods and services might rise without their cheap labor. But illegal immigrants do much more than pick produce. They use services, very expensive services, which are being provided at little or no charge to them.

Most of us pay health insurance. Our employers pay health insurance. It's very expensive. But various health programs are provided at no charge to illegal immigrants. As much as I would like to help others in society, we simply cannot afford to provide these services to millions and millions of illegal immigrants, many of whom come precisely because they know that being here is the way to obtain these critically necessary human services. It's very noble of us to do that for our fellow human beings, but we are going down the economic financial drain by doing so.

Here's another example: My father is an Orange County Judge. Every single day, he sees dozens upon dozens of illegal immigrants who are in court, and/or in custody, with expensive interpreters, expensive public defenders (or expensive alternate public defenders when their are two co-defendants), expensive deputy district attorney's, court reporters, court clerks and bailiffs. All of these state employees, paid for by you and me, the people who pay state taxes, are providing services to illegal immigrants not entitled to be in California and not here legally.

My father is in but one courtroom in one county on any one day. Did you know that there are almost 1,600 judges in California hearing dozens and dozens of these cases every single day? We are talking about a system that is breaking down.

Health care and court services are just two examples. There are hundreds. We have state agencies that deal with illegal immigrant needs, hospitals that deal with illegal immigrant needs and many other agencies that provide very expensive services for which there is zero income taxes being paid. Yes, I know that illegal immigrants pay sales taxes and gas taxes, but these go for many of the local services that they also use extensively in local cities and on roads.

At some point, we have to say, as a society, enough is enough. When is that point? I submit to you that we have reached that point. If California, the 5th largest economy in the world goes under, what does that bode for you? Me? Or our nation? Our the world? I would say dire consequences, at the very least and a world recession at worst.

I have traveled the world. I have seen poverty and I am disheartened by human suffering. But I believe we can do more good in the world as a vibrant economy rather than a sick society trying vainly to tap legal citizens to continue to provide services to illegal immigrants.

"The road to ruin is paved with good intentions." Truer words were never spoken. I believe we are on the road to ruin in California and while my heart is with the underprivileged, my head says that we have an obligation to future generations, not to mention the national and world economies, not to sink.

Life is about tough choices. While some may see my views as unkind, actually they are very kind. We will do more good as a strong society, building economic ties to foreign countries, so that they can be strong too, and so that their citizens do not stream across our borders for work and services.