Comments on: The wrong driver for Michigan's economy http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/the-wrong-driver-for-michigans-economy/ Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:45:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: rcarter42 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/the-wrong-driver-for-michigans-economy/#comment-9878 rcarter42 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 02:38:48 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/the-wrong-driver-for-michigans-economy/#comment-9878 I disagree with Jenks premise that we need immigrants for Michigan's economic growth. Our problem isn't immigration, but Illegal immigration. Detroit is a sanctuary city, which is a city that allows illegals to receive government services. No excuses can be made bemoaning difficulty receiving a drivers license or other i.d. when it is a Federal law violation to give an official U.S. or state identification to a citizen of a foreign country, which is what an illegal immigrant is. Additionally, Michigan has the highest unemployment rate in the U.S. Phil Powers final paragraph says Michigan is desperate for skilled immigrant workers. With an unemployment rate approaching 7.5%, this statement makes no sense. I disagree with Jenks premise that we need immigrants for Michigan's economic growth. Our problem isn't immigration, but Illegal immigration. Detroit is a sanctuary city, which is a city that allows illegals to receive government services. No excuses can be made bemoaning difficulty receiving a drivers license or other i.d. when it is a Federal law violation to give an official U.S. or state identification to a citizen of a foreign country, which is what an illegal immigrant is. Additionally, Michigan has the highest unemployment rate in the U.S.
Phil Powers final paragraph says Michigan is desperate for skilled immigrant workers. With an unemployment rate approaching 7.5%, this statement makes no sense.

]]> By: Jeff Jenks http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/the-wrong-driver-for-michigans-economy/#comment-9229 Jeff Jenks Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:37:16 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/the-wrong-driver-for-michigans-economy/#comment-9229 Attorney General Cox may be running for Governor but he just fired the first anti-Michigan growth cannon. And Secretary of State Land helped him light the fuse. Many states are gaining population from the immigrants moving there. They help agriculture and in the Detroit metro area we see Asian Indians, Koreans, people of Chaldean and Arabic descent and many other groups bringing money and skills with them, and creating jobs. It's generally agreed that our future lies in the knowledge-based and innovative areas and services to assist those areas. We can see expansions in finance, health, education, and bioengineering. Michigan is an ideas magnet but Cox's stupid legal opinion sends a message worldwide -- immigrants not welcome in Michigan. What further compounds the reality is that the Federal immigration processing system, which produces the documents that Cox and Land require, is seriously backlogged so that when a legally present non-citizen is in Michigan he or she may be waiting 6 months to 1 year or longer for the immigration system to process an extension or change. That immigrant may be physically without the documents that Cox and Land want them to present. An immigrant fiancee, who marries as required by law, normally waits months to get her official working papers, although she's legally present here - but her documents are with Immigration. Others submit their documents to Immigration, just for permission to travel outside of the country while they wait for their documents to be processed. This too takes about 6 months. What Secretary of State Land and Attorney General Cox have created is an unfriendly "Catch 22" situation which is definitely BAD for Michigan, reflects poorly on our welcoming nature, and will present major barriers to our expanding that innovative and knowledge area, since if someone comes to Michigan they may legally be unable to obtain a driver's license, which often is an essential necessity in performing a job. Cox and Land should have talked to a number of immigration lawyers before they set up this stupid system. The Eternal General Frank Kelley's opinion worked for years. Why was it changed? Attorney General Cox's legal opinion and Secretary of State Land's interpretation have managed to move Michigan backwards by about 40 years. And,the Legislative correction only dealt with a part of the problem. Attorney General Cox may be running for Governor but he just fired the first anti-Michigan growth cannon. And Secretary of State Land helped him light the fuse.

Many states are gaining population from the immigrants moving there. They help agriculture and in the Detroit metro area we see Asian Indians, Koreans, people of Chaldean and Arabic descent and many other groups bringing money and skills with them, and creating jobs.

It's generally agreed that our future lies in the knowledge-based and innovative areas and services to assist those areas. We can see expansions in finance, health, education, and bioengineering.

Michigan is an ideas magnet but Cox's stupid legal opinion sends a message worldwide -- immigrants not welcome in Michigan.

What further compounds the reality is that the Federal immigration processing system, which produces the documents that Cox and Land require, is seriously backlogged so that when a legally present non-citizen is in Michigan he or she may be waiting 6 months to 1 year or longer for the immigration system to process an extension or change. That immigrant may be physically without the documents that Cox and Land want them to present. An immigrant fiancee, who marries as required by law, normally waits months to get her official working papers, although she's legally present here - but her documents are with Immigration. Others submit their documents to Immigration, just for permission to travel outside of the country while they wait for their documents to be processed. This too takes about 6 months.

What Secretary of State Land and Attorney General Cox have created is an unfriendly "Catch 22" situation which is definitely BAD for Michigan, reflects poorly on our welcoming nature, and will present major barriers to our expanding that innovative and knowledge area, since if someone comes to Michigan they may legally be unable to obtain a driver's license, which often is an essential necessity in performing a job. Cox and Land should have talked to a number of immigration lawyers before they set up this stupid system. The Eternal General Frank Kelley's opinion worked for years. Why was it changed?

Attorney General Cox's legal opinion and Secretary of State Land's interpretation have managed to move Michigan backwards by about 40 years. And,the Legislative correction only dealt with a part of the problem.

]]> By: Joe http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/the-wrong-driver-for-michigans-economy/#comment-8550 Joe Fri, 22 Feb 2008 23:20:32 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/the-wrong-driver-for-michigans-economy/#comment-8550 I agree with Geoff and Bill that political comments, positive or negative, have no place in the Center for Michigan. I'd like to think that the word "Center" indicates that you are working for all without political prejudice. We may (or may not) agree with these comments, but please stay away from them and be THE organization representing all Michigan citizens and those who are here legally. I agree with Geoff and Bill that political comments, positive or negative, have no place in the Center for Michigan. I'd like to think that the word "Center" indicates that you are working for all without political prejudice. We may (or may not) agree with these comments, but please stay away from them and be THE organization representing all Michigan citizens and those who are here legally.

]]> By: Bill Sanders http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/the-wrong-driver-for-michigans-economy/#comment-8539 Bill Sanders Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:55:27 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/the-wrong-driver-for-michigans-economy/#comment-8539 Drawing attention and attempting to explain a error in judgement is a worthy cause. Bringing a political comment regarding a political party into your writing is not acceptable. Mike Cox made a grave mistake in including others in his writeup. The idea of issuing drivers licenses to illegal immigrants is reprehensible to the majority of Michigan citizens (of any political leaning), and that was the issue Mike Cox was attempting to correct. Including a snide remark cast a shadow on your entire writing, and makes one wonder if you are representing a political party rather than The Center for Michigan Drawing attention and attempting to explain a error in judgement is a worthy cause. Bringing a political comment regarding a political party into your writing is not acceptable.
Mike Cox made a grave mistake in including others in his writeup. The idea of issuing drivers licenses to illegal immigrants is reprehensible to the majority of Michigan citizens (of any political leaning), and that was the issue Mike Cox was attempting to correct. Including a snide remark cast a shadow on your entire writing, and makes one wonder if you are representing a political party rather than The Center for Michigan

]]> By: Geoff Perkins http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/the-wrong-driver-for-michigans-economy/#comment-8516 Geoff Perkins Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:02:43 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/the-wrong-driver-for-michigans-economy/#comment-8516 Dear Mr. Bebow, I enjoy your column every week, but please leave partisanship aside. With all due respect, The Center for Michigan won't benefit from it. This was offensive: "The subject of illegal aliens has been one of consuming interest during the presidential campaign, especially to many Republicans who want the border with Mexico closed and all illegals chucked out. (That is, unless they employ any on the sly.)" I agree that A.G. Cox did a very stupid thing. I just hope that in the rush to correct his mistake our legislators are not offering licenses to illegals. That is what got Mrs. Clinton in hot water. Dear Mr. Bebow,

I enjoy your column every week, but please leave partisanship aside. With all due respect, The Center for Michigan won't benefit from it.

This was offensive:

"The subject of illegal aliens has been one of consuming interest during the presidential campaign, especially to many Republicans who want the border with Mexico closed and all illegals chucked out. (That is, unless they employ any on the sly.)"

I agree that A.G. Cox did a very stupid thing. I just hope that in the rush to correct his mistake our legislators are not offering licenses to illegals. That is what got Mrs. Clinton in hot water.

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