Robbing Peter to Pay Pablo

Robbing Peter to Pay Pablo  
Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
March 7, 2012

From the sublime to the absurd, it’s no wonder this country is such dire straits. When it comes to prioritizing its expenditures, the United States has it ass-backwards and it is more than just embarrassing.

When taxpaying citizens in uniform have their medical benefits sliced and diced beyond recognition and are required to pay more for them, that is simply unconscionable if not downright criminal.

Hearing the father’s impassioned plea to GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on the Huckabee show about the required care his brain-damaged son needs since returning from combat in Afghanistan is merely one heartbreaking story out of myriad others that should not have to be told. It is an absolute disgrace that any member of the military or their family should have to beg or appear on national television hat in hand for services that should be a given simply because they have worn the uniform of their country  and put their lives on the line every day.

The flip side of this warped album is while the veterans are being treated shabbily and with utter disdain and disrespect by the Obama administration, illegal aliens are being treated to medical coverage not afforded American citizens as well as giving them tax credits they neither earned nor are entitled to receive.

Can anyone with a modicum of intelligence argue that people sneaking across the southern or northern borders into the United States without proper documentation or permission has broken the law. This should be a rhetorical question. Yet, with so many people – liberals who want to pad the voter rolls for the Democrats and even some conservatives who seek cheap labor, turning blind eyes to this pandemic, having millions of illegals in the United States has become a permanent problem with few in Washington, DC having guts enough to tackle it head on for risk of being called a racist or the bigger risk of their cushy-tushy job on Capitol Hill.

However, for the majority of folks outside of Washington, DC who understand what the word illegal means, we are beyond apoplectic over both the irresponsibility toward our men and women in uniform as well as the willingness to turn over billions of dollars in benefits to people who have no legal standing in the United States.

ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) confirmed, via Newsmax, that they are required to provide at taxpayer expense, abortions as well as hormone therapy for transgendered illegals – “services” not afforded at taxpayer expense to American citizens. Huh? Yes, you read that correctly.

“The government will pay for an abortion in cases of rape or incest, or if the mother’s life is in danger,” according to the 2011 Operations Manual ICE Performance-Based National Detention Standards. Without meaning to sound insensitive, upon who is the onus of proof, to determine illegal alien was raped or the victim of incest? Just on their word? The word of a criminal who broke the law simply by setting foot on US soil?

The regulations also say that “transgender detainees who were already receiving hormone therapy when taken into ICE custody shall have continued access,” including “access to mental health care, and other transgender-related health care and medication based on medical need.”

This is sheer insanity! Upon capture and detention, all illegals should be photographed, fingerprinted, identified and returned to their country of origin never to be allowed legal entry into the United States. This is a no-brainer.

Another issue involving illegals stealing from American taxpayers upon who light must be shed is that of those paying zero dollars in taxes for jobs they have illegally, and yet are qualified to receive the Child Tax Credit - $1,800 per child, costing taxpayers $4.2 billion. This is beyond outrageous.

If a person is here in the United States illegally, how does this person garner employment? It is illegal for an illegal alien to have a job in the United States. Then, since the illegal alien has a job, there is a fiduciary responsibility called taxes, which are not paid. How does an illegal alien paying no taxes and having no Social Security number, qualify for a tax credit? The illegal alien can’t file an income tax form without a Social Security number.

What is also disturbing is that there are supporters who believe paying this tax credit to the illegals is not just acceptable, but appropriate in an effort to prevent them from living in poverty. They should not be living in the United States at all in the first place, let alone sucking off the government teat!

When and where will this all end? This is beyond the theater of the absurd. We are robbing Peter to pay Pablo when Pablo is here illegally and not entitled to anything. Meanwhile, Peter is risking his life wearing the uniform of his country, the United States, and being shunned upon his return stateside.

This nation has a moral responsibility to its soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. They, Mr. Obama, have done more than their fair share. Do what’s right by them and stop encouraging more miscreant behavior by those with no right to be here in the United States.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.