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Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim James said if he is elected he will order the state driver's license exams be English only. A campaign ad released in late April shows James saying: "This is Alabama. We speak English. If you want to live here, learn it."

http://www.timesdaily.com/arti...response-to-James-ad
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quote:
Originally posted by tcf531:
personally, i hate travelling somewhere that doesnt have things written out in the countries native language AND in english.

wasnt fob james the governor that made guy hunt look good in comparison?


Fob James made big bucks by inventing some dumbbell weights that were cheap to make. They consisted of formed concrete disks encased in plastic. His inspiration for this device was the anatomy of his own head.
I agree English needs to be the primary language.

The other thing I agree with him on is the Sex Offenders having to check in face to face every 90 days.

I'm not sure who I will vote for yet, but on the sex offender issue alone -- we've got to keep this perps under control -- our kids safety has to be our top priority.
This is a very hard one for me, and I think it is a political stunt, which is the only reason I voted 'disagree'.

I agree with the fact that, if someone wants to live here, they need to learn the english language. And blend in with our society. However, as we welcome businesses such as Mercedes and Honda, we need to remember that they bring with them short term employees and their families that may not be completely fluent in English (know just enough to get by) but still need to know the rules of the road and get their license for the time they are here.

When I lived in Japan, it was short term and I didnt expect anyone over there to go out of their way for me in regards to my inability to speak Japanese. I learned a little, but I also needed the ability to drive, and I learned their rules of the road and took the test in English. There is a reason why road signs are universally understood and easy to identify without knowing English.....

Jeepin'
It is possible to know how to speak English but be weak at reading it. It can take years to master both. And it's not like other countries don't offer similar to expats as well.

It isn't just illegals taking it as well, it's likely is a fair amount of Germans, Japanese and Koreans due to the auto plants in the state. The Korean population should be of note considering that Georgia has the fastest growing Korean population in the US due to Hyundai/Kia and several other companies that have located there. It is possible that the population could expand into Alabama over time



And for what it's worth, it wouldn't save money as the test is electronic. and the foreign language tests only account for 2% of the tests taken. http://blog.al.com/sweethome/2...s_of_tv_ad_from.html
quote:
Originally posted by Carol None:
If giving the drivers test in a foreign language enables more who are going to be on the road anyway to get a drivers license and insurance, then I'm for it. Having been hit by an illegal immigrant, I understand how much easier it would have been if they could have had the opportunity to buy insurance.


Not to get off on a tangent, but I believe the problem is not them not having the ability. The test is now given in Spanish, so why would someone who wanted to get their license and insurance not do it? Because they are not here legally, so they probably cant provide the documentation they need to get their license / insurance. They dont have a reason to get a license / insurance (the illegals you are talking about). Heck, we cant keep them out of our country, why would they think we could keep them off of our roads? How much luck did you have collecting from the guy (if you sued)? Probably not much, and if you did get a judgement, chances are he would say 'Im not a citizen' and run off to Mexico, just to cross back over and go somewhere else in the country. After all, you cant squeeze blood from a turnip.

So, truth be told, if you want to prevent others from going through what you did you have two choices: send them home or grant them citizenship. The way I look at it, if you grant them citizenship, you are just rewarding their illegally coming here. So why on earth would they ever follow any of the other laws we have (like our joke of a mandatory insurance law)? I guess that leaves only one option:

SEND THEM HOME!

Jeepin'
It is as trite as his new one with the odd beginning, "We have three kids, how 'bout you?" then suddenly going off on a tangent minus the wife now about how often sex offenders ought to check in to the state.


Does he have a platform, or is being a "bidnessman" (that is Southern English for Daddy and his friends gave me some money to play with so I would get out of the house) enough?

He's not really pushing my buttons right now, nor do I think he ever will.
quote:
Originally posted by SgtBillCo:
I agree!!
And giving the test only in english will not cause the loss of federal dollars, at least 9 other states only give the test in english and they have not lost any federal money or foreign business. At least James has fresh ideas, instead of our do nothing polititions in office now.


Hardly a fresh idea. How do you know these states didn't lose foreign business.
Bradley Byrnes says he will do the same thing. He is also going to work on straightening out some of the bad teachers and the AEA.
I don't have kids of my own in school but my sister does and some of those teachers need to be fired.
I don't think they can do away with the drivers exam in other languages. Looks like a discrimination lawsuit would take care of that.
I think I'm gone vote for Byrne.
I think the English language thing is akin to putting a band-aid on a severed limb.

If they wanted to actually do something, they would ENFORCE the current laws we have on the books and punish businesses for hiring illegal aliens.

It's not like we ahve to go looking. Locally, that chicken plant in R'ville is very well known to hire illegals.
quote:
Originally posted by SgtBillCo:
I agree!!
And giving the test only in english will not cause the loss of federal dollars, at least 9 other states only give the test in english and they have not lost any federal money or foreign business. At least James has fresh ideas, instead of our do nothing polititions in office now.


Actually, those 9 are trying to pass it, and it's in various areas of their judicial system, but Alabama is the only one that I can find on record that actually passed a law on the subject in 1990. However, the state was sued over the law twice (one is still pending) and lost every appeal up the the supreme court, which basically ruled that it's the Governor's right, but state's funding can be pulled if it's determined to be a Title VI violation. Fighting for the law in court probably cost more than keeping the program up to date over the years.

Again, other countries offer driving exams in English, or even will give a license without an exam so the belief that it's a 'liberal loophole to get illegals in' is off base. And for that matter, what about Alabama citizens who are illiterate? Will there be considerations made for them, and if so that throws away the idea that English only is a safety issue.
quote:
I support it 100%.



I'm not surprised.

What do you think this will accomplish? Will it stem the tide of illegals coming into the state? No. Will it cause them to learn English faster? No.

Will is further relegate the Hispanic population deeper into the shadows so their only choice is to go into a life of crime? Yes.

Will it do anything except pander to the low intelligence of the general Alabama population in order to get votes? YES.

You are being led by the nose by a politician and seem to be proud of it.

This stupid provision is nothing but a smoke screen. Our focus should be on stopping them from entering in the first place, not trying to make their lives miserable. We have EXISTING laws that will make this problem go away tomorrow if we only start enforcing them.
quote:
Bradley Byrnes says he will do the same thing. He is also going to work on straightening out some of the bad teachers and the AEA.


Byrnes is stupid...we certainly do not need him as governor..he is just like the others who grab a headline and start tap-dancing on it...he can't get rid of bad teachers nor the AEA no more than I can...wwe have bad teachers, but bad teachers are not the problems...take a walk in the mall sometimes and imagine trying to teach English or anything else to this bunch we have growing up now...
I personally don't care what language the test is given in as long as the person can prove they are her legally. Most of us who have our opinions on illegal immigrants are American born, but if were legal immigrants I would think we would dislike the illegals even more. The legal immigrants had to do quite a bit of paper work, prove they could speak and write the English language before coming here, the illegals just cross the border. Not many people know but alot of the Hispanics cannot read any language and quite a few of the Guatemalan people do not speak Spanish. The majority of what we have here are the uneducated poor people
quote:
Originally posted by KISSFREEK2002:
I personally don't care what language the test is given in as long as the person can prove they are her legally. Most of us who have our opinions on illegal immigrants are American born, but if were legal immigrants I would think we would dislike the illegals even more. The legal immigrants had to do quite a bit of paper work, prove they could speak and write the English language before coming here, the illegals just cross the border. Not many people know but alot of the Hispanics cannot read any language and quite a few of the Guatemalan people do not speak Spanish. The majority of what we have here are the uneducated poor people


I understand 85% are Indian or mixed.

http://shoalandaspeaks.blogspo...-chicken-worker.html
I agree that the first priority is to keep them from coming here in the first place. When will we have some real border patrol? Who is ever going to take that problem seriously? How hard can it be? I'm not saying shoot to kill, but at least control would act as some sort of deterrent. If they feel their life is worth risking by going up against a soldier (or militia man) with a gun, then take that risk. Seriously, is it worth it? The ones that are already here need to provide proof that they are legal at every opportunity. When they actually show up for a driver's test, show proof. If they don't have the proof, then taking the test in English is the least of their problems. I fear saying that I agree with Arizona politics, but I do. Show proper identification at every turn, or go home. And the children that were born here as "legals" by an illegal mother -- sorry. As someone else said, two wrongs don't make a right. I feel like a native American being pushed off my own land by these outsiders. Remember, those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.
quote:
Originally posted by Sofa King:
quote:
I support it 100%.



I'm not surprised. I could care less.

What do you think this will accomplish? Will it stem the tide of illegals coming into the state? No. Will it cause them to learn English faster? No. So, you're an expert in these areas? Where is your research and proof that it will have no effect?

Will is further relegate the Hispanic population deeper into the shadows so their only choice is to go into a life of crime? Yes. More wisdom? Where's your proof that this will happen?

Will it do anything except pander to the low intelligence of the general Alabama population in order to get votes? YES. Don't forget to include yourself in this cross-section of southern humanity.

You are being led by the nose by a politician and seem to be proud of it. No. I am FED UP with catering to ANY foreigners that wish to live in America. If you want to live here, learn the **** language.

Our focus should be on stopping them from entering in the first place..... We have EXISTING laws that will make this problem go away tomorrow if we only start enforcing them. Now THIS I agree with you on.
quote:
Originally posted by Javier:
Bradley Byrnes says he will do the same thing. He is also going to work on straightening out some of the bad teachers and the AEA.
I don't have kids of my own in school but my sister does and some of those teachers need to be fired.
I don't think they can do away with the drivers exam in other languages. Looks like a discrimination lawsuit would take care of that.
I think I'm gone vote for Byrne.


While I would love to see the AEA not have as much control and for some of the bad teachers to not be teaching anymore -- just because Byrnes wants to "eliminate bad teachers" doesn't mean he will be able to. Under the current contracts, I don't think it is legal for them to eliminate teachers. It would take a major law and still would have to stand up from lawsuits in court. While I agree that tenure needs to be eliminated, I'm not sure that it will eliminate any teachers --- it would only stop the new ones from parking for the rest of their lives. It will not be a 'quick fix'.
I just think James should have spent his advertising money discussing issues that should really matter to Alabamians. I can't see where the cost of driver's license test being printed in a few languages compares to some of the other major fiscal bloopers in this state. I would much rather have a test in someone's native language and them be a safe driver than not allowing them to have take a proper test and be dangerous on the highway. Concerning the sex offenders: Good idea, but that WOULD cost extra money to have somebody try to make sure they report every 90 days. We have kids being neglected now because there isn't enough funding for enough social workers to monitor reports of abuse and neglect. Where is he going to get the money to pay for all counties to enforce the registration process?
quote:
Originally posted by dogsoldier0513:

What do you think this will accomplish? Will it stem the tide of illegals coming into the state? No. Will it cause them to learn English faster? No. So, you're an expert in these areas? Where is your research and proof that it will have no effect?


YOU are the one who is making the assertion that this stupid tactic will accomplish so, no, you tell me: How will requiring an English drivers test stop the flow of illegal aliens into our state? I imagine the vast majority of them won't even know the new law exists. Like a drunkard with a suspended drivers license, they will simply skip the test and continue to drive. At our own peril.

English is the most difficult languages in the world to learn. How, exactly, will requiring English on a drivers test make them learn English faster?

YOU are agreeing with the stance that these things will happen if such a stupid law passes you SO have to justify it. How will this work?


quote:

Will is further relegate the Hispanic population deeper into the shadows so their only choice is to go into a life of crime? Yes. More wisdom? Where's your proof that this will happen?


What do you think will happen when hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens suddenly have no job and must somehow feed their families? Crime is an easy way out. You keep claiming your were an LEO. You KNOW this, sir. Don't play stupid with me.

quote:
Will it do anything except pander to the low intelligence of the general Alabama population in order to get votes? YES. Don't forget to include yourself in this cross-section of southern humanity.


That hurts. It really does.
I've never 'claimed' anything that I'm not or was. However, I wish I had your 'crystal ball'. We are having the problem with illegals because we have catered to their every need, above and beyond our own citizens. QUIT making it 'easy' for them.

I had a 5th-grader from Mexico, once. I made all of my notes and tests available to him in Spanish. A former bilingual student tutored him. He still couldn't pass. Guess what? He couldn't read SPANISH! I was wasting my time, and his, by presenting the material to him in his native tongue. In order to SURVIVE in America he needed to learn ENGLISH...not remedial Spanish.

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