A serious defect

There is a serious defect in the Arizona illegal aliens law. It should be a crime for a law officer NOT to demand evidence to the contrary from the officials of a corporation, if there is any reason to suspect that the corporation has hired an illegal immigrant. Why be any more legalistic about a wage-seeking Latino than about a corporate operator who seeks high profits? Only if this defect is corrected, can the Arizona law be said to be anything other than discriminatory.

We have a war in Iraq. We have a war in Afghanistan. We have Iran threatening the world — especially Israel — with nuclear weapons. We have North Korea possibly on the verge of war and cutting off diplomatic relationships. What are we worried about? Changing "don't ask, don't tell." Somebody needs to get our priorities straight. This is not it.

Regarding the county being short of funds: I hope the commissioners are not going to lay off more deputies and more county employees and then allow people who are drawing full retirements and health care benefits to continue to work as rehires. This is totally wrong. With 12 percent unemployment and 8 million Americans having lost their jobs, it is time to change this. This is not proper.

I grew up in a blue-collar, low-income neighborhood. I can remember, as a small child, seeing strange men in our neighborhood. They were passing out their pictures with "Vote for me" on them. They gave each person a dollar bill — big money in those times — and asked for your vote. That's how it used to be. In today's world, they just tax the poor and give the cuts to the rich. Please don't classify me as a liberal or yourself as a conservative. Just change that to "slaves" and "aristocrats." Things will never change.