I've worked as a cab driver and for a while in a warehouse. In both cases the money was bad. Minimum wage in the case of the warehouse. But I only had a highschool education. The money wasn't good but it was money. The hours were long but it was part of the job when I got hired. And I was glad to have some money in my pocket. If I had to I would do it again. But I'll admit that with a college education I expect a good salary if I'm doing the job I've been trained to do. But even with a college diploma I wouldn't expect to get better wages for any job. My point is this. There are jobs out there. Are they great jobs? No. Do they have good pay and benefts? Probably not. Do they have to get done? Yes. Every business out there is effected by at least one (if not many more) other business. If the farmers lose thier crops because there's no one to pick the fruit then crops will be lost and prices will increase because there's less out there for people to buy. If prices increase then there's less money in your pocket for daycare, gas, etc. This then effects the bottom line of other companies and thier employees. If North Americans (US&Canada) aren't willing to do those jobs then someone must be brought in to fill the void. The other part that you mentioned about no sick leave policy is more of an employer attitude issue. The good empoyers understand that good workers are gained through offering not just better wages but benefits such as sick leave, child care, health care and flex time to mention a few. Lastly I'll just say that there is NO simple solution. If there was one then it would already have been put in place. Complex problems need even more complex solutions.
Well said......I agree about farmers, crop picking and like I referenced-slaughter houses, its work that has to be done and I dont want to pay extra for a package of hamburger, like you dont want to pay extra for a head of lettuce and I dont want to pay double for a pair of tennis shoes either but until someone can figure it out, we might be at the immigrants mercy and jeez do we even wanna touch the overseas issue.... BUT, fence....will it help, it'd better or else we have a very expensive yard decoration down south
*L*.. true.. it's a murky subject........ personally I think it just needs better control. Closing the boarder wouldn't work and having a fully open boarder would flood the job market. The government has to get on board with changing laws and controling the boarder ... and the employers have to get together to self regulate to make sure that those who abuse the system are caught. And individuals need to understand thier rights as an employee.
We lock our doors at night because a few apples spoil it for the rest of society. That doesn't mean that a whole nation of people will enter your home. Also you are thinking short-term instead of long-term the need for services will allways increase as the population increases. The system is already overloaded. I still do believe the solution lies in the diversity of ideas from all nations to solve the existing problems we have now. The non-exceptance of people from any creed or religion restricts diversity. Also you cannot group your apartment to a country. To begin with even though you own your apartment, you don't own your country. Technically you don't own your apartment either because the goverment can take that away from you on a whim as well (but that's another topic). Last time I checked the U.S. was the only country on the planet to except every person from every country (in mass quantities). Your argument would be sound if you expect the hospitals and every other system we have to help the people in our nation to keep functioning properly. They obviously don't. New solutions from the minds of every person on the planet are what is needed. This means excepting them into this imperfect society and government that we built so we can change it for the betterment of us all, especially our future. I live in a 3rd world country that cannot help it's own citizens from within. You cannot hold any position in government, policeman, or even a fireman if you are a relocated foreigner here in Mexico. Last time I checked the only job that you cannot have as a foreigner in the U.S is the Presidency and the Vice-Presidnecy. See what I mean? Imagine if Mexico would diversify and let the ideas and brilliance of thought from all nations mix with their own to better their government and way of life by simply letting people from all walks of life hold certain jobs. It is our fear of anyone else who are unlike ourselves that is the cause of all Major conflicts on this planet. I reiterate Diversity is the Issue and the Solution.
As much as I'm all for diversity, I'm with Jamie on this one. Divirsity isn't the issue.......ILLEGAL immigrants is the issue. I could care less what color the person is, if they are here illegally, I have a problem with that. Jamie made an excellent point about them coming here and demanding stuff, like the women here in chicago demanding to stay. She has no RIGHT to be here at all. Just because her son wants to stay doesn't mean she gets to & if she doesn't wanna split up the family, she can take her son with her. With respect to Americans not wanting to work for minimum wage, clearly you have people who don't wanna work no matter what the salery is. Every country has a certain percent of the population that falls into that catagory. But there ARE people who wanna work and ARE willing to start at the bottom, but when you have companies not hiring them & hiring illegal immigrants and paying the illegal immigrant LESS than minimum wage, under the table, in cash....who can compete with that. The solution to the problem isn't to turn the other cheek and say "let em have the job even tho they aren't here legally. That's just enabling them and causing more and more to come illegally. The main reason they come is for jobs.....I say stop enabling them and don't allow employers to hire them and pay them slave wages. I have a HUGE problem with slave labor! Michelle
Jamie when was the last time a Mexican broke into a house and complained about the food. Blaming crime on Mexicans is both unfair and incorrect. Most Mexicans involved in violent crimes there are killing each other. When it comes to demands and lawsuits that would be the beloved ACLU and NAACP. Both get gov´t money and are backed big American Money. You can´t blame a Mexican (or anybody else for that matter) when a Lawyer from ACLU put´s a number on the table and uses you to "Better their cause" (Translation; Make them more money) These guys are promising millions to these people who don´t understand the language or the culture, and paying them 10% of the Settlement. By the way if you go to a Mexican hospital and can´t pay they will treat you not the best treatment but a few stiches here a broken bone there. There is another issue here that hasn´t been approached. When was the last time a Mexican blew up a goverment building, airplane or caused another9/11. They are not the type of people we should be focusing on keeping out. The money for the wall should be spent on our National Security (Oh I meen YOUR National Security, we don´t have it here, we don´t have to worry aobut terrorists, who would want to blow up Mexico?) and better protection in the air. The Mexicans are a threat to the job market but if you´re paying union wages to an American that head of lettuce will cost you $5bucks. So now the damage becomes an Economic problem. Ihave heard this too. In my neck of the woods (Virginia) they did jobs NOBODY and I meen NOBODY would do. A friend of mine was a contractor, he always hired Americans first but when it came time to lay an Aluminum roof in the Southern August Sun ALL of them dissapeared and the Mexicans did the job, without bitchin´or whining about money (They were paid $15/hr as were most of the Americans). How about taking some of that money spent on the wall and the war in Irac and help build Oil rigs in Mexico, help educate the people to create better jobs and technology. Before you say "That´s none of our business, that´s their goverments problem" Well So Damn Insane was the Iraqi´s problem not the US´s.
I could be wrong but I don't think he meant that food sentence literally. I took it to be an analogy......breaking into house=sneekiing into the country & then bitching about what you don't like & what we should change. I use to work for the NAACP & I think you have your facts wrong. (how that is even relevant tho, I dunno, I totally missed your point) I'm confused by most of what you posted. Nobody here is slamming "Mexicans" in general,we have been talking about illegal immigrants. They are commiting a crime by being in this country. And I would venture to guess that those Mexican's who you said were making $15 an hour are here legally.....nobody has issues with them. Michelle
God this is weird being on the same side of an issue as Michelle. But I kinda like for a change. Yes the food thing was an analogy. Guess that went over some people's head. And yes you don't own your apartment or your country, but you own the food in the frig (analogy alert!) and would like to protect it. I think it's interesting how the vast majority of people that don't want the US to protect it's borders are people that live outside the US, either by choice or birth. Not making a judgment, just an observation. BNCancun, here in the US if your show up at an Emergency room they cannot turn you away if your injury is life treating. They have to stabilize you before they can send you on your way. And NO, I am NOT slamming all Mexicans. I don't judge countries because of the actions of a few (thanks for the backup Michelle). I have a problem with those that choose to break the law that cases problems for those that want to follow the law. Yes, as stated, the US allows people in from every country. But those that cross the border illegally cause massive problems for those that want to come here legally, and that I have a problem with. As on candidate for Governor here says in his ads, "What part of illegal don't you understand? What is wrong with enforcing laws that are on the books?" Jamie
I guess I did take that literally. I have heard of some pretty crazy court cases. Maybe not here but I do feel there is a lot of blame put on Mexicans and I do get a little defensive since I am married to one. As far as the NAACP and ACLU I feel there agenda is to use people to further their own cause, grant it moreso the ACLU. There are many here illigally too, a great deal as a matter of fact. Don´t most criminals escape and run to Mexico. Most of his people were illegal, he was a good employer. But a Mexican experienced in construction, legal or illegal, can get a job in the Washington DC area paying anywhere from $10 to $20/hr depending on their esperience and their particular trade. The point was that we should control our borders from those who REALLY harm us, Terrorists
