85% Support English as Official Language Of U.S.

[SlowwHand]

quote:
Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Vesayen is one of those idiots...




Enough with the personal crap... Discuss the topic and stop insulting other posters!---Ming


Yeah, you Jackass. WATCH IT!





On way back in a couple. Like to keep all informed. I'm considerate like that.

[Datajack Franit]

Hello??? You are living in my country, learn the damn language. Period.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Kontiki
What exactly are the practical implications of this? AFAIK, you already need to speak basic English to get US citizenship, and all federal and, I would assume, state government business is conducted in English, so I'm left to wonder what exactly would change.

It's certainly useful to certain corporate interests, particularly in areas like filed labor law enforcement -
it's already a problem that (legal) immigrant workers who don't understand English well tend to be subject to a disproportionate level of labor law violations and less-than-average effectiveness in enforcement actions.

A lot of states make available a variety of second-language materials, from voter pamphlets to driver's tests. Monolingual honkies like to ***** and whine about that, because we all know that only monolingual honkies pay taxes, and everyone else sits on their ass and collects a check.

Legally, there are a few impediments, but this administration and this Congress won't ever let a niggling detail like the Constitution get in the way (First Amendment and Equal Protection clauses).

Practically, police agencies and various parts of municipal governments with large non-English fluent communities have found it makes their jobs a bit easier if they can at least occasionally communicate with the people in those communities.

Mostly, it's just symbolic dick-pounding.

[Arrian]

Monolingual honkies like to ***** and whine about that, because we all know that only monolingual honkies pay taxes, and everyone else sits on their ass and collects a check.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Arrian

It's true - I'm a multilingual honky, and I get told to sit on my ass, and get a check every two weeks.

[Arrian]

Still a mess, huh? Any end in sight?

-Arrian

[MichaeltheGreat]

Well, I may get cleared to return to work at the beginning of August. (or actually, cut loose to go find work after making up a creative explanation for my sixteen month vacation - eight out injured, and I sure as hell can't use the employer of the prior eight months for a reference )

More likely, they'll assess a permanent partial disability at that time, and then I get to go back to school and learn something useful, or at least get some money thrown my way to do that. Current thinking is law school, since I'm getting a lot of practical experience now, may as well be able to charge for it.

[Arrian]

Another lawyer? Oy.

Best of luck, though.

-Arrian

[Japher]

MtG as a Lawyer?

Makes sense. He can be his own expert!

[Kontiki]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat
Practically, police agencies and various parts of municipal governments with large non-English fluent communities have found it makes their jobs a bit easier if they can at least occasionally communicate with the people in those communities.

This is the part of the practicality I'm not understanding. We have an official language (two actually) in Canada, and we also have large pockets in some of our cities where few people speak English or French fluently. Unless the version of official language the US is considering is "if you aren't fluent within X years of coming to this country, we're kicking your ass out", I'm not seeing how it would actually address the issues that it seems to be borne from.

[Lancer]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat


It's true - I'm a multilingual honky, and I get told to sit on my ass, and get a check every two weeks.

I'm learning Vesayan, where do I apply for my bi-weekly check?

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Arrian
Another lawyer? Oy.

Best of luck, though.

-Arrian

I think part of my atonement will be to make legal malpractice a specialty area.

The problem isn't so much a glut of lawyers, it's a glut of half-assed ones chasing personal injury torts and the like, while other people get screwed silly because they can't afford decent representation.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Lancer


I'm learning Vesayan, where do I apply for my bi-weekly check?

You have to break something first.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Japher
The cost for conducting buisness' in every language is costly.

But the cost for not conducting business in more than one language is even costlier. There's no way I'd want to be a monolingual business in South Florida.

[Drake Tungsten]

Nothing teaches language faster than total immersion.