The Boston Globe gleefully reports on a new study showing that allowing illegal aliens to get discounted college educations at Massachusetts colleges would generate $5.7 million in new revenue by 2009: Tax lobby sees gain in tuition proposal by Raphael Lewis.

The study is from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, which is described a "nonpartisan, nonprofit group" and a "business-backed watchdog group". But, it has two major flaws.

First, in paragraph 16, we're informed that:

The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation study concluded that the legislation here would create virtually no costs for the state because, by 2009, only 530 to 660 such students would take advantage of it.

Would the MTF, the Boston Globe, or the politicians who support this provide a bond to the state that would pay for any number of illegal aliens over that unbelievably low amount? I doubt it.

The second flaw is much more serious. The report did not wade into the social and political questions generated by the legislation. Those are quite substantial, and even in the unlikely event that we believe the financial conclusions of the study, they are much more important than any amount of money.

This legislation will literally put a lower value on some U.S. citizens than on some illegal aliens. Massachusetts will be giving a discount to some illegal aliens, and will be refusing to give such discounts to some U.S. citizens. Citizenship will have a lower value than simple residency.

This is especially alarming coming from a state with such a historical background and importance in American history.

If you live in Massachusetts, please visit appearances by the politicians who support this and try to publicly ask them why they want to take discounts away from U.S. citizens and give them to citizens of other countries. Perhaps you could bring along a history book and suggest they refresh their memory on this whole "United States" thing.