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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Since You Asked: New parking-lot stripes coming to Bear Creek Park soon ... GOP has candidate for House District 5 ... Police ask for public's help in finding missing runner ... Since You Asked: New parking-lot stripes coming to Bear Creek Park soon ... GOP has candidate for House District 5 ... Police ask for public's help in finding missing runner ... LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor, Aug. 28 Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 28, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted Aug. 28, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News Modern-day slavery? We say we have an illegal immigration problem, but do we? Our system has created demand for illegal immigrant labor by not enforcing the laws against their employers. I believe there is a public and political consensus about the need for an immigrant labor pool to fill unwanted jobs by U.S. citizens. So why don’t we legalize the immigrants needed, create an electronic verification system for employers to verify legal status of employees and enforce the law against employers that violate it? Is it because legalizing illegal immigrants would give them rights and entitlements to social programs they currently pay for through payroll taxes but are not eligible to receive? In 2010, illegal immigrants paid $13 billion in Social Security taxes and only received $1 billion in benefits — see https://www.ssa.gov./oact/NOTES/n2010s.html and click on note 151. Is money and exploited labor the reason for the status quo on the illegal immigration issue? Illegal immigrants have no rights and no representation. They are criminalized, marginalized and repressed. If this isn’t a form of modern-day slavery what is? It’s time we face reality and stop the creation of another underclass! Laz Ayala Ashland Voting against 7 years These last seven years have seen these changes: Russia, Iran, China, North Korea and Cuba are in better shape. Our military is in worse shape. Our debt is in worse shape. Our growth is in worse shape. Our working age population is in worse shape. The war against terror has expanded. I will be voting against the last seven years. Rosemary Newell Medford Contrast is disgusting The Aug. 6 edition of the The Economist magazine contains an article about the average pay of the CEOs of the top (listed) companies in 10 large economies: Japan, the United States and eight countries in Europe. Forty years ago, the average CEO pay was around 20 times the average worker’s pay, Now, this ratio is bunched around 100 with the lowest, in Japan and Denmark, at about 50 and the highest, with one exception, in Germany, at 150. The exception, the United States, is 350. To me, this contrast is disgusting and demonstrates several things: 1. Pay inequality is a serious problem everywhere, but especially in the United states. 2. Congress has ignored the problem. 3. The promise of Trump and the Republican Party to reduce taxes on the wealthy is counter to our needs and values, and reason to vote against them in November. Roger Warren Ashland Truth is important I read an interesting book lately, it is called "How Do You Kill 11 Million People" by Andy Andrews. It is a short read — like an hour — but contains some wisdom for the ages for all voting eligible Americans. The book looks back at history, particularly Nazi Germany and what persuaded 80 percent of the population to go along with the 20 percent of the National Socialists in playing out Hitler’s atrocities. The bottom line is that voters cannot tolerate what has become the common practice for politicians to justify lying on situational grounds, particularly to "protect the people who wouldn't understand." His premise is that we should look to past performance in who we elect, and if we have been lied to, or misled, that politician is not worthy of office. A pretty simple concept, with a pretty clear application in this coming presidential election. Raymond Smith Central Point MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 28, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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