| With a challenging economy comes a wicked rise | | | | the United States, Anchor Babies cost the various |
| in racism, the sad reality of citizens unable to find | | | | states and the federal government hundreds of |
| work that pays a living wage, desperately needing | | | | millions of dollars each year. To illustrate the drain |
| to find someone to blame for their misfortune. | | | | this places on the local resources, one only has to |
| Everyone is a target, and the more different you | | | | look at statistics for Parkland Memorial Hospital in |
| look, the more apt you are to be a victim of | | | | Dallas. Yes, the same place JFK was rushed to on |
| overt outrage and racism. The reverse is also | | | | November 22, 1963. Parkland Memorial Hospital |
| true. In good economic times, we happily co-exist | | | | has the second busiest maternity ward in the |
| with all and incidents of racism dwindle to barely a | | | | United States, with 11,200 live births to illegal aliens |
| trickle. | | | | in 2006, costing taxpayers something in the |
| While it is difficult to necessarily connect the dots | | | | neighborhood of 75 million dollars. That's one |
| between the recent economic downturn and the | | | | hospital in one city in one year. |
| rise in opposition to immigration policies (chiefly | | | | Clearly, the constitutional amendment permitting |
| because immigration issues have recently become | | | | automatic citizenship at birth in the United States |
| a dominant concern in the political arena), it is | | | | is being abused. United Kingdom and Australia |
| nonetheless interesting that the tide of | | | | abandoned this policy many years ago because of |
| antagonism against Anchor Babies (or Jackpot | | | | its abuse. Canada still employs the birthright policy, |
| Babies as they have been referred) has become | | | | but Canada borders only one country and does |
| one of the magma political concerns of the | | | | not have easy access from other countries. |
| century. When it will completely erupt is anyone's | | | | United States does not enjoy this luxury, and |
| guess. But it won't be too far off. | | | | hence, has a formidable challenge to overcome. |
| Anchor Babies is a term for children born in a | | | | And that brings us full circle, as the United States |
| country to illegal alien mothers. It is not a term of | | | | is under considerable pressure to change its |
| endearment and is applied principally to illegal | | | | birthright policy and step up deportation of illegal |
| Mexican aliens who give birth in America so the | | | | aliens, fueled by unemployed or underemployed |
| offspring gains immediate American citizenship. | | | | citizens who believe strongly that their country is |
| This also grants permission to the parents to | | | | going to hell in a hand basket. The timing of this |
| remain in the country. The phrase Anchor Baby | | | | surge is suspect. It smells like the rotten fish of |
| has taken on a broader stroke and now refers to | | | | racism. Yet, one cannot help but empathize with |
| any illegal alien in any country giving birth for the | | | | the heavy financial toll Anchor Babies and their |
| purposes of attaining citizenship and social benefits | | | | families have on taxpayers and the fragile social |
| offered by their new host. | | | | net already stretched to its breaking point. |
| The cost to the host country can be immense. In | | | | And that's my take... |