The most contentious political question for April may be whether or not illegals should be counted by the 2020 Census. Both sides have valid bi-partisans arguments. We already know this: 12 million in California, Texas, New York and Florida; 1.7 in Los Angeles County, 750,000 in Houston area, 622,000 in Miami-Dade County, 568,000 in Cook County, and 484,000 in Queens County, N.Y.; 107 Congressional Districts have over 10% non-citizens of which 86 Districts are Democratic.

The NO side says illegals should not be getting public support of any kind or representation in local, state, or federal government. This is a real issue in Illinois with each current U.S. Representative District being approximately 700,000. Politically, it means the loss of one Illinois District and financially, the loss of millions we spend on medical, food subsidies and other expenditures. The loss would also affect other federal reimbursements done on a per person basis.

The YES side says illegals should be counted because they live, work and spend here. Most state laws require medical attention be given, food subsidies, and children educated. All this is expensive. It would affect the DCCA kids (administration says one million) not being counted because the plan being floated holds off citizenship for five years. Until Congress passes a realistic and much needed visa law, we greatly need those millions to do the very low paid, dangerous, and low skilled work. They break their backs picking vegetables, losing fingers and souls in meat packing plants, busing tables, cleaning houses, and raising rich kids.

Our way of life would be much more expensive if labor could be found to do the work, and with fewer conveniences without them. On this issue I am straddling a very high political fence. Since we treat them like slaves, maybe we should count them as three-fifths citizens.