The NYT article (insurance companies insist on buying purpose-built devices when general-purpose devices were superior and a tenth the price} has clear analogies for drug and professional services suppliers, too. Their position seems to be that they don’t want you to get any side benefit out of what they are paying for. I wonder if they pay for medical marijuana?

You missed my key point on asking the question:

“Why did you decide to live where you live and not in a neighborhood that has a large illegal immigrant population?”.

Likely missed my point because of the way I phrased my question. The question wasn’t whether you decided to live some place because a certain type of people lived there.

The question roughtly is:

“Would you choose to live in an area heavily populated with illegal immigrants?” Say the area is somewhat close to work.

My guess is that as you drove around the neighborhood, looked at the schools, parks, etc. You’d probably pass (even though housing is likely MUCH cheaper in these areas)

It is likely that the reasons why you would “pass” are the same reasons that people are upset when large numbers of illegal immigrants move into their neighborhood.

Maybe I’m wrong. But go check out one of these neighborhoods (if you haven’t already) and decide if you would or wouldn’t and why not.

If you have any reserves about living there, then imagine you have lived where you live now for years and your neighborhood became neighborhood you just “passed” on.

The only exception was where i chose to live in Mexico. While many of the gringos who live where my house is, chose to live in neighborhoods with other gringos, I purposely did not want that. Why live in Mexico if you are going to live behind fenced in areas with other Americans or Canadaians? Might as well be living in the US!
Accordingly, we chose to live right in the village surrounded primary with Mexican neighbors. It was a great decision and a great experience.

One paragraph you wrote was of particular interest to me:

“Numerous constructing and contracting businesses have had to go out of business. They could not compete (on price) when other businesses were using very cheap illegal labor. So the businesses that obeyed the laws (and didn’t hire illegals) were punished. They either had to break the laws and hire cheap labor or possibly go out of business. This caused a cycle (which is nearing completion) where almost ALL labor intensive jobs are now filled with illegals. ”

I think you are spot on here. And construction is the one industry where illegal immigrants really are taking jobs that Americans would gladly have. What is interesting is how this reveals what happens to small businesses when they do follow the law.

I live in California. What you are describing is, as you might imagine, rampant here. The problem is that were we to remove all the illegal aliens tomorrow from California, a huge number of our small businesses would crash and burn, just like those in your area who followed the law.

Thus, the predicament. If we push our employers to follow the law, we will do further, serious damage to our California economy (as you’ve heard, we’ve got some real problems.) But if we don’t do it, we are allowing the law to be broken and Californians to lose jobs to illegal immigrants.

What is the solution? Maybe it has to be legalizing these people so they are entitled to the same rights as American workers and, therefore, the playing field is leveled? I’m not sure that this is the answer. I do, however, know that it no longer is as simple as just tossing them all out as the damage we would suffer in doing so would be severe.

Why did you decide to live where you live and not in a neighborhood that has a large illegal immigrant population?

List your reasons. Seriously.

That is why many people who are now forced to live in those neighborhoods are upset. It wasn’t that way when they moved there. This was forced upon them and it was against our laws and wishes.

Please list your reasons, why you don’t live in neighborhood heavily populated with illegals.

The biggest problem is the sheer number that have come and continue to come into the U.S. We currently have 10% unemployment and 25% for teenagers. Illegals are still flooding into this country NOW as you read this. The numbers are down, but still huge! The problem is that it’s not even about jobs, it’s just that life here is better so they’ll keep coming and coming and this causes serious problems. More on that later.

In my county of Fairfax Va, here are some examples of the pain caused my illegals.

Numerous constructing and contracting businesses have had to go out of business. They could not compete (on price) when other businesses were using very cheap illegal labor. So the businesses that obeyed the laws (and didn’t hire illegals) were punished. They either had to break the laws and hire cheap labor or possibly go out of business. This caused a cycle (which is nearing completion) where almost ALL labor intensive jobs are now filled with illegals.

But there’s other problems when you have the population low paid illegals soar.

In Fairfax, we had (have) HUGE issues with massive overcrowding. Illegals live 10-20 in a home and literally destroy the home, yard, etc. Fairfax county had to set-up 1, then 2, then 3 special zoning task forces to control the problem. Homes were gutted, with 10+ hotel rooms put in. Cars on the front yards. Yards with trash.

In Falls Church, VA, where I lived. We had dozens of homes in our neighborhood that turned into absolute SLUMS. Talk with Fairfax County Zoning about the problems. The value of MY house fell substantially before the housing meltdown because NO ONE would buy my home surrounded by these illegal slums.

We also had a huge increase in sexual assaults. When caught, most were poor (illegals). Every single bicycle that was not tied up in our neighborhood was stolen. It they stole it and it wasn’t really working they’d just throw it in the street. Took us months to figure out what was going on with this.

Trash, soiled diapers became the NORM on our steets from our great new neighbors. Public urination and corona bottles were also the norm.

The apartments up the street, were also flooded with illegals. So many, they had to park along the access road. We began monitoring it because of a huge increase in trash, gang graffiti, and people just having sex in the car. The illegals would dump car parts (tires, used oil, etc) on to the grass by the road. We had a special watch group that called the cops when something suspicious was going on. Two gang members were arrested as a result – one was illegal. Check Fairfax County Police Records.

Day laborers (mostly illegal) now line Little River Turnpike, Bailey’s cross road, and many 7-11’s for miles. Assaults, robberies, and even prostitution is the NORM from nothing.

Go look at Google Street View for Bailey’s Crossroads in Fairfax near Trader Joes (On RT 7). Even in Google you can see the trash, day laborers and graffiti. Was NOT there before they arrived.

Also the WO&D bike trail is now unsafe to ride at night where it goes thru illegal Latino neighborhoods. Ask the police in Herndon, if it’s safe and then ask if it was safe 5+ years ago (before they arrived).

I have seen sooo much destruction in the quality of life in Fairfax from the illegals, it’s amazing. I just watched over the past years as the place was transformed.

Look at California. Huge Latino and Illegal population. Huge segments live in poverty. Huge. They don’t show it on TV or the news, but go drive around sometime. Mostly created by the huge influx of illegal immigrants.

How can California expect to pay $13,000 a year for each kids’s public schooling, welfare, build roads, food stamps, public services, etc….when a huge part of your population are low wage workers here illegally – paying some, but not enough taxes to support the infrastructure.

The legal residents of California are ALL paying for this. In the decline of their quality of life.

Rick, you HAVE NOT lived in an area where illegals have moved in. There’s NO WAY. Because you would not be so compassionate. You likely live in some nice neighborhood (probably in the top 10% in the US) that somewhat protected from this onslaught. You don’t have to deal with these issues. Because if you did, you would change your mind.