I spoke to a family friend who is over 50 just yesterday. She said she was told to dye her hair to hide the gray so when she went for a job she wouldn’t be turned down. Her companion had talked to someone about a job over the phone. When he went for the interview he had set up during that call, the interviewer said he had thought he was speaking to a younger man. No, he didn’t get the job. Age discrimination? Yes, but you would have to prove it and it’s your word against theirs.

People are taking jobs that they would have felt beneath them years ago when the economy was good. Minimal paying jobs are being snapped up by older citizens who need to have money coming into their households. Food stamps and food banks have been used more than ever. People are desperate to keep their homes and feed their families. If Congress balks again, I am sure many of them who are set to be re-elected in November will be watching their opponents win their seats in Congress.

The latest news on unemployment is that 13 out of 100 people are able to find at least a part time job. That’s not good. Where are the jobs? We have been told the economy is getting better, but judging from what I have heard on tv and read in the newspapers it’s not the truth. We need to have a future here in the U.S. We need to have Congress do the right thing and pass the bill before them. Word has it this will happen tomorrow. I am not holding my breath.

Illegal immigrants have long been entering the U.S. through its borders, mostly being trucked in or sneaking in during the dead of night. There are not enough border patrols to keep illegals out of the U.S. These immigrants will work for pennies cleaning, picking produce, and doing all sorts of manual jobs that some U.S. citizens feel are below them. This has been going on for centuries and now there is a big debate about the Mexicans coming into the country.

It has been claimed that there are between 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. right now. Where are they going? Where are they living? Working? Sending their children to school? Getting medical care when necessary? Who is paying for all this? They can’t just squeeze under the radar and disappear when necessary. Are farmers and others who hire these illegals also guilty of contributing to the problem?

Colin Hanna, president of Let Freedom Ring, a conservative grassroots organization, suggested recently that the U.S. first classify illegal presence in the U.S. as a felony. Secondly, “offer a specific period of time in which people here illegally who have not committed other serious crimes may plead guilty to the felony and receive a suspended sentence and permission to remain in the U.S. as a permanent legal resident.” These people would never be able to become citizens, could not run for any political offices or vote.

America was built by immigrants. Most have been welcomed through our borders without any problems. Why then the fact that illegal immigrants who have not registered as coming into the country are being targeted? Many have been lead to believe the U.S. is a country of fabulous wealth and prosperity. I am sure many find this was a lie once they have been here for a while.

Do you feel we should allow people to come across the borders, live and work here in the U.S. if they sign an agreement when they cross? Or do all the illegal immigrants need to be sent back to where they came from? I value your opinion on this subject. Too many are taking jobs that Americans could do now since unemployment is so high. Why have illegal immigrants do the work? Why should we feed, clothe, and help maintain a lifestyle for them when Americans who have been born here are in need? Think about it.