Undocumented Workers

In response to “The Divisiveness of Half-Truths,” by Sergio Munoz, Commentary, Nov. 12:

There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics. The author claims that undocumented workers pay more in taxes than the benefits they receive. That is irrelevant unless the question is asked: “Compared to whom?” Compared to the population at large, they consume a far larger proportion of social services. The ratio of benefits received to taxes generated is significantly higher.

Better questions to answer than this, however, are: What is the total impact on the economy? What effect does a large influx of undocumented workers into an area have on wages? How much of an increase in local goods and services are generated? How does the second generation do compared to their parents? Does crime increase in an area when undocumented workers move in? (In my own community of Canoga Park, the answer is a definite yes.)

We need an unbiased (is this possible in today’s environment of political correctness?) and scholarly long-term study of the impact that undocumented works have on society in general. What better place to conduct one than in Los Angeles?

PETER HAAS

Canoga Park