The United States government did not buy any Gatling guns during the Civil War. Major Gen. Benjamin Butler personally bought a dozen, though, which he used during the Siege of Petersburg.
Month: April 2020
Pre-Paid Debit Cards For Illegals In LA
Pre-Paid Debit Cards For Illegals In LA
By Joe Guzzardi
The handful of journalists who have spent decades on the immigration beat have a saying: “Never say never.” Translated, the maxim means that no matter how outrageous or illegal federal, state or local lawmakers’ outreach is to unlawfully present aliens, a more shocking development will soon supersede it.
As an example of the inherent wisdom of never say never, turn to Eric Garcetti, the legacy mayor of Los Angeles. With Garcetti’s wholehearted endorsement, Los Angeles city officials are accepting applications for pre-paid debit cards, including from illegal aliens. The cards, funded privately, will have values of $700, $1,100 and $1,500, depending on the applicants’ household income, assuming that annual earnings fall below the federal poverty line and that the household’s head has a 50 percent income reduction directly related to COVID-19. As of this writing, 450,000 people have submitted applications for what Garcetti calls Angeleno cards.
No one argues that being down and out in Los Angeles, and with limited prospects for significant lifestyle improvements, is awful. But neither can anyone disagree that Garcetti’s action, and the actions that precipitated the cards’ issuance, involves multiple federal immigration offenses. Employers are guilty of hiring illegal immigrants, the aliens are guilty of falsifying employment documents that may involve identity theft and of working without legal authorization, and Garcetti is guilty of harboring aliens. Specifically, Title 8, U.S. Code 1324 prohibits proving direct cash assistance to illegal aliens that enable them to remain in the United States. Nevertheless, Garcetti said, “Applicants will not be asked anything about their immigration status. We are all Angelenos.”
For more than 20 years, California’s Republican and Democratic governors Gray Davis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom have disregarded immigration laws. During that period, the governors, along with mayors like Garcetti, San Francisco’s Willie Brown and Ed Lee, and Oakland’s Libby Schaaf, have willfully turned their backs on U.S. workers.
The Migration Policy Institute estimates that Los Angeles County has more than 1 million unauthorized residents; 80 percent fall into the prime working-age demographic, 16 to 54. Furthermore, MPI found that 66 percent of Los Angeles’ civilian, over-16 population is employed – a total that includes unlawfully present immigrants. Contrary to the old, discredited saw that illegal immigrants do jobs that Americans won’t do, Los Angeles’ alien population is nearly exclusively employed in manufacturing, food services, construction, professional services and retail. In an increasingly tight employment market, most Americans would eagerly take jobs in those employment sectors.
A University of Southern California Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research study found that more than half of Los Angeles’ residents are unemployed. Within the next three months, the USC study estimates about 33 percent of those unemployed residents will run out of money, and will be unable to meet their financial obligations. Chaos will likely follow.
As Los Angeles slowly reopens its economy – an event that, given Garcetti’s hardline “we will shut you down” stance, may be weeks away – U.S. citizens and lawfully present immigrants are entitled to have the first opportunity to fill jobs as they become available. Since there is literally zero likelihood that California’s state or municipal officials will prioritize American workers, mandatory E-Verify is the best and perhaps only chance U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents will have to get back on the road to economic stability.
President Trump has consistently punted on E-Verify. During the employment crisis, now is the time for the president to step up and put his office’s full weight behind the companion House and Senate bills, the Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act, which Senate Finance Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) introduced. The legislation would permanently reauthorize E-Verify. Within a year, all employers would be required to use the program, and existing employees would have to be E-Verify-checked. Employers that refuse to adopt E-Verify would be subject to fines up to $2,500, and risk further penalties.
Congress should do everything in its power to protect the jobs and wages of hard-working Americans. The Accountability through Electronic Verification Act would be one part of that elusive goal.
Joe Guzzardi is a Progressives for Immigration Reform analyst who has written about immigration for more than 30 years. Contact him at jguzzardi@pfirdc.org.
Pre-Paid Debit Cards For Illegals In LA
Fastest fish William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 4-29-20
The marlin has lost the title of world’s fastest fish to the sail fish. While the marlin can hit 50 mph, the sail fish has been recorded at 68 mph.
Fastest fish William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 4-29-20
The Day The Town Stood Still
The Day The Town Stood Still
Dr. John W. Gilmore
The streets are almost empty where I live. They call it being sheltered. I walk the streets just for exercise. In the air of uneasy quietness I pass neighbors walking their dogs every so often . We wear masks and spread out just a little farther to keep our distance, unlike the walks in the parks I have gone on where bicyclists come rushing down narrow paths and people without masks stroll rapidly toward you never giving way.
Like everything else, spring seems to be frozen waiting for the corona virus to pass. But the animals are active, as usual on the cool, sunny day. Even they seem to be wondering what is going on as I walk past and they look at me strangely. They move more boldly than usual, probably wondering why things are so quiet and where the humans are. I suppose if I were an animal I would be delighted, and I think they are.
Most of the streets on the main drag here, on Willow Grove Avenue in Wyndmoor are closed. Only a sandwich shop, a gas station and pizza shop and Rita’s Ice Cream are open for pick up, but not going in or sitting down, just grab and go. There’s a small grocery store open where people are standing in the street; only a certain number at a time are allowed in. I ordered a hoagie today. I drove a little way up the street and went to a window with the top slid down to pick it up, which was new. It was like being in a high crime area where you pay for your food through a slot in a thick plexiglass window. I had on my mask and a masked man from inside asked what I would like. It all seemed a bit silly as I paid for my order and waited. A stranger masked like I was approached and waited, making sure to fulfill the six foot mandatory distance. I sat in my car and waited relieving myself of my green, homemade mask while listening to my Nothing Like the Sun Sting CD for just a few moments.
Upon receiving the signal I paid for my sandwich and tossed it in the front seat. I took a quick look again at the Twilight Zone like environment and began to drive home. I passed the neighborhood coffee shop, closed, and looked at several very small stores that looked closed, even if they weren’t. The 711, which is open all the time, looked lonely with very few cars sitting in the parking lot. The whole place is on lockdown. It is strange to live in a place where humans have been removed from the equation.
Even so, the animals seemed just a bit happier. The air seemed just a bit purer and the place quieter. I thought I could get used to it. A teenager popping a wheelie on a bike came shooting by right down the middle of the street in all of his teenage arrogance shattering the magic of the moment. Had I pulled out one second earlier he would have been dead. Thanks to him I could definitely understand why the animals were so happy and could actually see a positive side to being without humans.
Pounds of clay William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 4-28-20
Five billion pounds of clay are mined annually to make kitty litter.
Pounds of clay William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 4-28-20
Shimonoseki Campaign William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 4-27-20
During the Civil War, the United States had an unreleated war with Japan. It is known as the Shimonoseki campaign. The Americans were joined by the British, French and Dutch.
Shimonoseki Campaign William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 4-27-20
Brown hare can run William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 4-25-20
The brown hare can run at 48 mph which is about the same speed as a red fox. It makes for interesting drama for nature watchers.
Brown hare can run William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 4-25-20
Indoor cat William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 4-24-20
An indoor cat has a life expectancy of 17 years which is more than three times longer than those left to roam outside.
Indoor cat William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 4-24-20
10 Million Views For Out Of Shadows
Out of Shadows, the documentary narrated by noted stuntman Mike Smith that claims that Hollywood is controlled by child molesting Satanists, has reached 10 million views on YouTube after two weeks.
OK, 10,142,413 as of this posting.
You’ve heard of it right? Sure, if you are a reader of this site, but where else? You’d think it would be a topic of high brow punditry or pop culture even if just to mock it.
You ever read The Adventure of Silver Blaze?
If you missed Out of Shadows here on April 13, here it is again.
10 Million Views For Out Of Shadows
Quarantine Pizza Stew
Quarantine Pizza Stew — Here is a fast dish for when your cupboard is light and you don’t feel like braving the Covid checkout lines at your local supermarket.
Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a saucepan then put in that can of stewed tomatoes you’ve had since 2018. Add two tablespoons of powdered garlic, a tablespoon of salt, a tablespoon of oregano and two teaspoons of red pepper.
Bring it to a simmer then slowly add three tablespoons of flour. Mix it well then add two tablespoon of shredded sharp cheese. Why not mozzarella? Um, Covid checkout lines.
Wait until the cheese melts then serve with stale Tostitos.
OK, as an entree this is fairly lacking but it’s not a bad dip.