Ragtag Giggagon

“In one estimate, immigrants earn about $240 billion a year, pay about $90 billion a year in taxes, and use about $5 billion in public benefits.” A 2010 report by the American Immigration Council Legal and illegal, let’s say about 15% of the US population is foreign-born, and 26% of the US population is immigrant if you include the children (now US citizens) born to the immigrant population in America. That’s historically a very high number of people – in the 80s it was about half that, maybe even less.  (Check these stats yourself.) Immigrant households earn on average just over $30,000 as against natives’ $50,000+. Immigrants have lower incomes than US citizens, but even the illegals pay more tax - when these taxes are paid. T hey pay as much tax as a high-earning native, and they often derive no discernible benefit from the system into which their taxes are going. They’re not entitled to many benefits until after they are in the US five years, legally. The illegals won’t qualify...

Trump has barred Muslims entering the US from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, Iraq, Iran and Syria. But his policy towards those coming in through Mexico is an escalation from his attitude, pre-election. Trump’s immigration plans are unconstitutional because (a)     The children of some illegal immigrants are US citizens. Many would be expected to leave the US with their parents to return to the motherland. As of 2012, around five percent of all school-going US citizens up to 12th grade had at least one undocumented immigrant parent (b)    Infringing on the rights of others to determine someone’s residency status. There are privacy issues involved in determining whether a resident in the United States is there legally or not. The numbers are so high that administrative errors are a possibility. These aren’t human chattal going into internment camps, streamlined and processed and gassed. They will continue to live their lives, with access to...

Marneen Lynne Fields does a superb version of Everybody Hurts by REM , available on iTunes. Her vocals have a real heart-wrenching aspect to them Some of her other ballads - such as I've Never Ever Stopped Loving You - have touches of a Bond theme, or have echoes of something Tarantino might put on a soundtrack. She has an ability to soar. There is both a quirky and a very independent sound vocally - an indie vibe rather than conventional pop. She has been involved in musical theater. But Marneen confounds expectations. Much of her music merits further attention - some of the songs are the growers that would be seen as album tracks, which is another reflection of her indie rather than pop feel. But the talent becomes very obvious after more than one listen. She brings something to the REM song that isn't in the original, an emotional richness and depth, and an impressive and solipsistic sadness that isn't in the original. So impressive. And the best way to cover a song is...