re: "Rick Perry Isn't Entirely Wrong on Illegal Tuition"

Christian Schneider at The Corner ("The one and only.") considered Texas' illegal alien tuition dilemma.


Money quote(s):


"(O)pposing tuition for illegals is about as popular as opposing the guys at the mall who squirt lotion on you when you walk by."


Oh, don't even get me started on all those "Zohan" wannabees violating their tourist visas (by working) at Tysons Corner.


"(C)hildren of illegal aliens born in America are American citizens, and therefore entitled to whatever tuition their state of residence permits for in-staters. Perry’s law dealt with the children of illegal immigrants who were brought here after their birth, making them just as illegal as their parents.


In most cases (and pursuant to the Plyler case cited by Kevin), these kids are already going to the same high schools as our kids (in the case of Texas, for at least three years of school). They have the same teachers. They play on the same sports teams. They take the same tests, and get the same high-school degree. They are indistinct from any other high-school students. By the time an undocumented child makes it from first grade to graduating high school, taxpayers have already sunk over $100,000 into that child’s education. To pull the plug on those children because of the actions of their parents would be unfair, and would nullify the investment taxpayers have already made in the kid."


Interesting argument. But in business school they teach the concept of "sunken costs." It means, in essence, don't "throw good money after bad."


9/23