Legal Immigrants Speak – Promoting Freedom Policies – with Samuel & Ibrahim – [Ep. 220]

Linda J Hansen: Welcome. Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the Prosperity 101® Breakroom Economics Podcast. My name is Linda J. Hansen, your host and the author of Prosperity 101® Job Security Through Business Prosperity: The Essential Guide to Understanding How Policy Affects Your Paycheck, and the creator of the Breakroom Economics online course.

The book, the course, and the entire podcast library can be found on Prosperity101.com. I seek to connect boardroom to break room and policy to paycheck by empowering and encouraging employers to educate employees about the public policy issues that affect their jobs. 

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Thank you so much for joining with me today. This is a very on-the-street interview. I love doing these but before we get into interviewing my guests, I just want to remind everyone that you can go to the website, Prosperity101.com, become a Prosperity Partner. Please help support getting these podcasts on the air each week so we can help educate people all over the country and really all over the world.

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So today I am in a car in Washington, DC, and I have a driver named Samuel. Samuel is originally from Ethiopia. He has been in the US for 17 years and we just got talking about politics. So, I asked him if I could interview him to have him share his views. 

Samuel is very strong in his opinions about what we need to do for America and who needs to be president in 2024 or elected in 2024. So, I will just with that, introduce Samuel and let him say a little bit about where he's from and why he is so concerned about America today. 

Samuel: Hi, my name is Samuel. Actually, nice talking to you actually. So, I live here for so long. So I just needs to try to, you know, to give people, you know, the heads up about the next election.

So, we'll have to focus on our economy plus, you know, the immigration policies. So, I do support President Trump. Hopefully, he's the one who's going to fix those things because we tried with Democrats a lot. They're not that much satisfactory. So I believe President Trump is going to make a big difference. So, I'm going to elect President Trump on 2024 so that whole thing is going to be, I believe, okay. So, I wish him a good luck as well, and that's my take. 

Linda J Hansen: Well, that's great. And Samuel came through the immigration process legally. He went through the entire process to become a citizen and has been working diligently here in the U.S, and for many years.

And he is also upset about the immigration crisis that we have at the border. We are funding illegal immigrants coming in at record rates. We're allowing terrorists, and human traffickers in through the border. And the people who want to come legally for good reasons are suffering and are being taken advantage of and, you know, the American taxpayers are paying for this incredible, incredible crisis.

So, Samuel, tell us a little bit about your family. Are you married? Do you have children? Tell us a little bit. 

Samuel: Well, I am actually married with no kid. Actually, I was married on 2015. So, I have been with my wife. She's from Los Angeles, California. We live together and we are living in Arlington. So, that's my, actually my personal life, and I'm doing those kind of side jobs. So, yeah.

Linda J Hansen: One of the things Samuel told me is that he believes that if President Trump comes back in, the economy will improve so much that he won't have to do two and three jobs to survive. The economy is something that he spoke about, the immigration policies, and then just making sure we bring America back to some common sense. 

We were talking a little bit before recording about my former boss and a mentor in so many ways, Herman Cain. And Herman Cain used to always promote a common sense solutions, and that is what we need for America right now. A lot of Herman Cain's common-sense solutions, but if we all hold our elected officials accountable to common sense solutions. Like don't spend more than you take in. Don't have the taxpayers and the veterans pay for illegal immigrants and everything they want and say they need. This is ridiculous. It is just not even common sense. And it's a way to destroy a nation. 

So, Samuel, what do you think about what's happening in our culture now, too, with so much of the protests and things in turning away from God in our nation, turning away from family values? What do you think about that?

Samuel: Actually about the culture and everything, especially around the world. There is a lot of going on about the wars, a lot of destruction across the world, and so America this time should have to play with the book, you know. 

So I believe President Trump, hopefully he's going to fix those kind of unwanted wars as well. Like for example, in Ukraine, in Gaza, in Israel. So, I think we should have to have some kind of a very good leadership it needs. So, that, like I said two-three days ago, he told us like on the campaign, President Trump, he's going to fix this kind of things in a day of, in five or six days, or probably in a very short period of time. So, we need this kind of leadership. 

So, we don't need those kind of distraction and America have to go like before, you know, like as a world at power. So, we need these kind of things. So, that's the whole thing is going to be okay for everybody, not only for United States citizens, but also around the world that I believe. That's my take. 

Linda J Hansen: Well, I really appreciate that input. And you know, I think Samuel that you mirror what so many people say. You know, it is no longer about Republican or Democrat. It is no longer about Black, White, Hispanic. It's no longer about race. It's no longer about party. It's about, you know, survival as a nation, making sure that we can have our Constitutional Republic and the freedoms that we have.

I like it that you mentioned that we need to stop funding and participating in these wars around the world. And you talked about how President Trump wants to end that, you know. When he was in office, we had no foreign conflicts. We had no new foreign conflicts. And we had almost no casualties for our military during that time.

It was just amazing in terms of the peace. And we had the amazing Abraham Accords in the Middle East and we had peace in the Middle East. And now we're, there's just conflict all over the world. And so, I love how you brought up that leadership matters because it truly is about leadership. 

And so, if you could say one thing, I do talk a lot to employers helping them to educate their employees about the policy issues that affect their jobs. But if you could, you know, just say one thing to people about what they should consider as they go to vote this fall, what would you say? 

Samuel: So, I think, in my opinion, I think people should consider about their well-beings, their, I mean, policies, like whether it's useful or not for their kids, their future.

So, I think economy, one thing, and peace, I believe. Peace actually includes, like, how this immigration policies and everything is going to be, I mean, common senses. So, I think they have to consider the immigration, you know, the economy and even, you know, those people who serve for their country, like the soldiers, policies.

So, they have to consider those things and then have to go to the poll and then elect the person who actually are representative for those kind of things. So, I think they have to consider like those three or two things, I believe. That's my opinion. 

Linda J Hansen: Well, I really appreciate your opinion. And I'm sure it mirrors that of many. So many people have really changed their perspective on how they vote or you know, many times Democrats or independents who would have never thought about voting Republican in the past are now actually thinking about it because they see it is beyond the party.

Obviously, we have to, you know, pick a party and a person, but if we really have to focus on the people policies, and we pick the person and the party that matches the policies that will be the most beneficial for our nation. 

So, Samuel, I thank you so much for this impromptu interview. And because you did not want to compromise anything for your employer or anything, we're not giving your last name or how people can contact you like I typically do. But I just want to say thank you because I think your voice is very representative of millions of people around the nation and who are hard-working, doing two and three jobs just to make ends meet. And I just appreciate having you so much. 

Samuel: I thank you. I thank you very much. I hope you might get something from the driver probably. So, I really appreciate your questions and I try to answer my opinion, so.

Linda J Hansen: Well, your opinion matters. So, thank you so much. Like I said, your opinion is I'm sure representative of millions and you articulated it well.

So, we're glad you came here from Ethiopia. Thank you so much for coming through the immigration process legally and for contributing to American society and being part of the melting pot of these beautiful nation we have, America. And you know, a strong America makes for a stronger world. So, we thank you for helping to make America strong. So, thank you. 

Samuel: Thank you. 

Linda J Hansen: Now I have another guest, another driver who is an immigrant from Sierra Leone. And you have been in the country how long? 

Ibrahim: Eight years, ma’am. 

Linda J Hansen: Eight years. And this is Ibrahim, and he is a wonderful man. I wanted to interview him because he has such wisdom about what is going on.

He has identified propaganda that the news media is filling people with around the world. He has identified some very basic things that affect American citizens daily because of what is happening in our nation with the lack of leadership we're experiencing and Ibrahim, you have two young children.

What are some of the concerns you have thinking about your children growing up in this nation that you came to provide hope and freedom for them?

Ibrahim: Well, number one is the inflation. It's out of hands. It's getting crazier and crazier every week. The prices, they're gouging prices. Things are getting very expensive for us as immigrants and people that have families and Americans trying to put food on the table, trying to get a house, a shelter over our heads, and it's just been very bad year on year. 

Linda J Hansen: Yes, and I know your wife works full-time and you came through the immigration system legally. You are a U.S. citizen. You look forward to voting in the fall but you mentioned the economy. When we were talking before, you also mentioned the depressed military and the fact that we are no longer a strong nation militarily, and we see these conflicts all over the world. Do you want to say something about that?

Ibrahim: Yes. I mean, if all Americans are paying a huge amount of taxes to the U.S. government, and all they can do is fund wars all over the world. And you have all these immigrants running through the borders and we have to fund them, living here, taking jobs from Americans. It's just mind-boggling to me how people can just sit by and do nothing and say nothing.

Linda J Hansen: True. In fact, you were one of the victims of the immigration policies because you had a full-time job that you appreciated. You worked there for quite a while, and it took care of you and your family. And because of immigration policies and how illegals were allowed to work for so much less. I mean, you ended up losing your job. Could you tell us about that? 

Ibrahim: Yes. I've been with this company for like five and a half, six years, working very hard as a contractor. And we just had these immigrants come in there lowball the price, that we can't, it's not profitable for us anymore, have to leave for the time being until I can find something else. It's really, really bad. 

Linda J Hansen: Yes, it is bad. And, you know, so he was victimized by these immigration policies, and his family was hurt. But I also want to point out that, while we know that these illegals took these jobs, some of them may be victimized. 

They may be trafficked into these very low-paying positions. They may be trapped to have to work for that company and not have any choice to because not everyone that comes is good. Obviously, we all know that. But there are so many victims on all sides of that immigration issue. 

And when you think about not only the immigration, but we talked a little bit about crime in the city. I really don't even want to say where you are because you kind of wanted to be anonymous. But you've talked about crime in the area and how it has changed. And what are your thoughts about that? 

Ibrahim: I mean, if you have all these people coming in and you can't track, keep track of them, most of them don't have numbers that you, like, social numbers, they don't have fingerprints in the system. You can't track anything. 

They can do anything and go free, except if you have a camera and whatever, but it's the chances of them getting caught after committing a crime is very small. So, most of them do crimes and most of the cities that they are is getting crime all over the place. It's not a good thing.

And I would like to say if there is a way that they can minimize or at least a portion, I don't have any problem with immigration, but people just have, I'm an immigrant myself, but you just have to be here and come here the right way. America is a great country, and we want you to remain that way.

Linda J Hansen: Oh, that's so true. What a beautiful statement. America is a great country, and we want it to remain that way. And you are a great citizen, and you are trying to, you know, add to the economy, raise your family well, be part of America, the melting pot of America, which is what made this country so amazing. 

And so, you know I just want to say thank you to you. I know you have expressed to me that you are definitely voting for a change this fall.

Ibrahim: Yeah. Definitely. Most definitely. 

Linda J Hansen: Most definitely. 

Ibrahim: The policies that we have now is just going to sink this country. 

Linda J Hansen: Yes, I agree. The policies that we have now are just going to sink this country. Were you telling me that you used to vote Democrat?

Ibrahim: I've never voted, but I used to lean on the Democratic side. 

Linda J Hansen: But you are voting this year, correct? 

Ibrahim: Yes, I will be voting Republican. 

Linda J Hansen: It's just wonderful because, you know, here's the thing, as I often say on the podcast, it's not about the party. It's not about the personality, no matter how large the personality is, right? It's about the policies. 

And we were talking before about how the economy was so much better under the Trump years. you know, the safety and security around the nation, we didn't have all these wars all over. You mentioned that and things. 

So, listeners, it is about policy. So regardless of what you think about a party, this is so far beyond Republican or Democrat. This is about freedom versus tyranny, freedom versus chaos. It is so far beyond who is who, who is on the ticket. This is about what is on the ticket. 

So, if you want to be ruled by, you know, those that go to the Global Economic Forum and the World Health Organization and all the people that want to tell you what to eat and what you can drive, and where you can live, and what jobs you can have, and how many kids you can have and all that, well, you know, you can vote for what's in there now. 

But if you would like your freedom and you would like the opportunity to rise, make sure your children can grow to be their fullest potential, then you need to vote for the policies that will protect the freedoms that made America great. 

Do you have any closing comments for the listeners that, you know, might be wondering how does this all affect business? Well, we heard how it affected your business. It puts you out of a job, but also just some closing comments to think for the listeners. 

Ibrahim: Yeah, I'll just advise fellow Americans to keep saying, talking, to talk about these things and try to make a change and put pressure on the politicians to make a change. 

Linda J Hansen: That is perfect. You know, it is still a government of we, the people. And so, we the people have to do our jobs. So, thank you. Thank you so much 

Ibrahim: Thank you for having me. Appreciate it.

Linda J Hansen: My pleasure. Well, listeners you heard it both from Samuel and Ibrahim. They are legal immigrants, actively engaged American citizens, making a good life for themselves and their family, or shall I say, trying to make a good life for themselves and their families in the United States.

And they see what is happening to America and they see what is happening around the world. They see a need for change to policies that will create a strong country, a strong America that will allow citizens to flourish. 

So, remember, it's not about the party. It's not about the personality. It's about the policies. It matters who is elected. Elections matter, and ideas have consequences, and we are seeing negative consequences of so many ideas in our nation right now. 

So please pay attention to policy. Pay attention to what really matters for your life. The economy, security, peace, safety, opportunity. Vote that and you will be able to thrive in freedom and the freedom will be protected for your children and grandchildren. Thank you.

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