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Illegal immigrants get free pass
(by Dave Lange - June 30, 2010)
COUNTY LINE, BY DAVE LANGE
Illegal immigrants get free pass
Dear County Line: I fully support the governor of Arizona and her state's new law to help stop the invasion of our country by illegal aliens. They are threatening us with violent crime, drug gangs and terrorist activities and even take away good jobs, such as picking strawberries and cleaning toilets.
I understand that a dozen other states are considering similar laws, because our chicken-liver federal government won't do anything about this problem. But I don't understand why Ohio isn't joining in this effort. After all, we are a border state. I happen to live just 35 miles from a foreign country, and I've seen a lot of suspicious people speaking foreign languages around here lately.
-- Gustaf Arrivederci, Chester
Dear Gustaf: Although I've noticed that most of the people illegally employed to clean houses in this area happen to be American born-and-raised Amish citizens, who do speak their own language, I do agree that more must be done about illegal immigration. The best solution would be to file criminal charges against those who employ them -- usually below minimum wage and often under harsh conditions. That would be better than resorting to racial profiling, which often targets law-abiding American citizens.
Fortunately, not that many Canadians are illegally crossing Lake Erie in the summer, because they're not such good swimmers. But we better watch out when the lake freezes in winter, because they are great ice skaters. We'll have to keep our eyes open for peculiar people who say "aye" or "oui."
Dear County Line: I am deeply offended by the attacks against me and other good capitalistic entrepreneurs in Solon who invest in rental real estate. Some of my renters just happen to be hardworking chemical refiners who contribute to this economy without totally wrecking the environment, unlike certain other industries in this country. And the last I heard, home-based businesses were being encouraged by Solon City Hall.
Furthermore, I have the grass cut at the house I rent out at least once a month. I cannot say the same about the consideration from some of the owner-occupied homes in that neighborhood, where dogs bark incessantly, and they leave their droppings on other people's tree lawns.
-- Absun T. Landlord, Solon
Dear Absun: In light of recent events, I suppose it is debatable whether methamphetamine production and addiction is more hazardous to society than oil production and addiction. But the fact is that meth labs are illegal, regardless of whether they are operated by renters or homeowners, while polluting the entire Gulf of Mexico appears to be perfectly legal.
At any rate, I'm confident that the Solon city government can fairly enforce laws applicable to dog doo-doo as well as yard maintenance.
Dear County Line: I'm getting sick and tired of Chagrin Falls officials continually whining that they need a new multimillion-dollar police station. The only crimes you hear about in this little village are shoplifters walking out with fur coats, whom the cops never catch, and teenagers drinking a little beer, and they get caught all the time.
-- Elke Hall, Chagrin Falls
Dear Elke: People never seem to appreciate the police until they need them. When and if you ever do, I hope you can get a good look at the rathole they call a police station in Chagrin Falls.
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