Earlier in the month, Ogre provided some interesting stats (via Jake Jacobson):
The results of the survey indicate that the gap between the opinions of the American people on immigration and those of their leaders is enormous. The poll found that 60 percent of the public regards the present level of immigration to be a "critical threat to the vital interests of the United States," compared to only 14 percent of the nation’s leadership, a 46 percentage point gap.
Bear with me a few, and the above will make sense.
Now, here in Wake County, the elected officials want massive amounts of money for the schools. I thought that was what the lottery was for? But, I digress.
The bill for massive student increases is coming due in Wake County. Now the question is how taxpayers will pay it.
Numbers released Wednesday show that property tax bills could nearly double over the next decade so that the county can build and renovate billions of dollars worth of schools to house an estimated 72,000 more students.
"It was shocking," said Carol Parker, vice chairwoman of the school board. "I didn’t think the tax impact would be that high."
The challenge for county commissioners and school board members is to persuade voters to accept higher taxes to pay for three record school bond issues, including one in November that could range from $1.1 billion to $1.5 billion.
Thanks, but no thanks. I have no children at this time. Why in the hell should I have to pay so much more in taxes for other people’s kids? Furthermore, the children of people moving here to NC. Sorry, but it is Not. My. Problem. Of course, gov’t (which is suppose to be responsive to the people (might hurt yourself laughing at that one, rupture something)) says it is my problem. Who do you think will win that one?
Perhaps Wake County Gov’t could spend the money they get wisely. Hard to write that without rupturing something myself.
Or, maybe they could stop allowing the children of legal immigrants, who are only here to work, not to become US citizens, to go to school, as well as stopping the children of illegal immigrants from going to school. That is DAMN sure not my responsibility to pay for that.
North Carolina had the nation’s second-fastest growing immigrant student population in elementary school in the 1990s.
Yowza.
The General Assembly’s crossover deadline served to extract what is likely the last breath from a bill that would have allowed the children of some illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition at public universities.
Gheen and those on both sides of the issue said Monday they intend to keep educating the public and legislators about the estimated 300,000 illegal immigrants who live in North Carolina. Many of them came to the state from Mexico.
And their children are attending school, from elementary and up, on YOUR money. Hello, Earth to government.
The results of the survey indicate that the gap between the opinions of the American people on immigration and those of their leaders is enormous. The poll found that 60 percent of the public regards the present level of immigration to be a "critical threat to the vital interests of the United States," compared to only 14 percent of the nation’s leadership, a 46 percentage point gap.
Hmm, the beginning of this post makes a bit more sense now, eh?
Hmmm. Well, I have a number of friends who have moved out your direction because their companies moved there. Cheaper to do business, cheaper employees, and the employees that left Calif. bought two houses for the price of one. Fine by me, property here is outrageous. My kids won’t even be able to buy property in an adjoining state at this rate.
But pay to educate someone else’s kids? Well, those kids are tomorrow’s voters, employees, and military personnel. You’ll be hiring them. Its possible that one way or another you’ll be educating them or the military will, why not help out the ones living next door to you?
Its not just throwing money at it though. I stood in line while a clerk counted his fingers to figure out change. Really. High School graduate. Exit exams will help, but where the schools failed this kid was in 1st grade. So I ran for the local school board and served on it for 5 years. Lotta work. But our elementary schools have progress testing and extra help for the kids that aren’t making it.
Hey thanks for the hat tip!
Another fascinating aspect of that poll was the very next category next to critical which read “do you consider illegal immigration very important?”
31% answered yes across the board. Dem, Repub, Greenset of Greens, didn’t matter. Now add those two numbers together.
60% think it’s critical problem, 31% think it’s very important.
Thank god we have Ken Mehlman to tell us we’re “anti-immigrant” and push for the amnesty, oops! guest worker program.
Great post! Thanks for sharing,
Jake