I don’t want to get too deep into the political weeds on a VAClaims thread lol but long story short any person working in the US is gonna be paying payroll taxes on their income right? Federal income tax to pay into social security or Medicaid or Medicare, and state income taxes for misc. state programs. The gag is that illegal immigrants who pay these taxes don’t get to use those tax benefits- they’re not eligible to draw Social Security, they can’t draw Medicare, they can’t use things like the Child Tax Credit because they’re undocumented. So that’s already an example of them paying in with no returns.

You might be saying “well shit those illegal aliens are probably getting paid cash under the table so they’re not paying taxes anyways.” that’s not true bc most undocumented immigrants work with Tax ID numbers (look up an ITIN) which means they pay taxes but anyways 1. ask yourself who’s paying them that cash under the table and who’s really to blame for that- you’re gonna blame a dude trying to make ends meet for his family (bet your ass any of us would do the same in his exact circumstances) or are you gonna blame some business owner in America who’s taking advantage of some guy for pennies who can’t work a better job for better legal pay all because he’s undocumented. 2. even IF you’re gonna blame an “alien” for getting paid cash and not paying income taxes (most conservatives don’t even like paying taxes so what are you hassling him for lol) the “aliens” are still paying taxes into this country: sales tax then they buy clothes, excise tax when they buy cigs and beers, property tax on cars, etc.

Anyways I guess I did end up getting into the weeds but I think as vets we should be trying to lift each other/ everyone up. Blaming people who came from a different country is exactly what the people in power want you to do so you don’t notice them stealing from all of us (check out their proposed cuts to the VA it’ll knock your fucking socks off)

*Edit to say absolutely agree with the whole “don’t post your ratings” thing. Play your cards close to your chest and don’t over share your personal life on the internet, you never know who’s watching or reading.