Welfare Reform and Immigrants

* With welfare reform a certainty, much has been written about its effect here in California. Some are concerned about its impact on legal aliens, including Sen. Barbara Boxer (letter, Aug. 8). I have often wondered how and why we have acquired so many elderly and, therefore, welfare-dependent, legal aliens. I do not remember ever voting for the admission of these multitudes of people who spent their productive years elsewhere. It was probably politicians like Boxer who decided for us.

Did it not ever occur to these lobby-influenced, politically correct lawmakers that to flood the country with aliens, legal though they are, compromises the resources left to assist those retirees who worked and paid taxes here in America? Now there is not enough left to ensure that these worthy older Americans will spend their last years in dignity and lack of poverty.

STUART LUBIN

Los Angeles

* When my wife and I emigrated to this country some years ago, we underwent quite an examination with the intent to make it clear to us that in no way could we become a public charge as immigrants. We, or somebody, were to be responsible for that. Not Uncle Sam. We did not see anything wrong with that.

It seems with all the fuss over the welfare legislation we are only going back to what most of us accepted, and what used to be the rule of the land. We never should have gotten away from it. In our society you must work and be responsible for yourself and your kin, and live at the level of your income. Let us save our welfare for those who are physically or mentally afflicted and cannot support themselves.

FRANK W. BUNKELL

Glendale

* In order to receive benefits under the new welfare plan, all that a legal immigrant has to do is become a citizen of this country. What’s wrong with that?

LUCILLE L. DEASY

San Luis Obispo

* My response to President Clinton’s backing the Republican Congress’ welfare reform bill is utter disgust. We obviously live in ominous times here in America, wherein rich and famous people get away with murder and heads of state take the food out of poor hungry children’s mouths in order to get reelected.

I fear for the future of this country. If we cannot even share the wealth with the less fortunate among us, then how can we expect to live in peace? To those who would agree with the heartless agenda of the Republican “contract with America,” I say this: If you would rather save tax dollars than feed the hungry, then you deserve to be a victim of the rise in crime that will undoubtedly result.

If we want to continue to live in a free country, then we must realize that saving ourselves is more important than saving money. Have we learned nothing from history? In short, if we don’t pay the tab for the poor now, then we will unfortunately have to pay for it later. And dearly.

ENRICO FESTA

Los Angeles

* Now that the president and Congress have slashed welfare for needy women and children, do you suppose they will begin making similar cuts in the corporate welfare subsidies and tax breaks of their well-heeled contributors?

ARLEN GROSSMAN

Culver City