Did Americans Take the Mexicans Jobs?

[coombro]

Amen Geo!

[eddie_m]

I just read an article in the paper today (an Associated Press article picked up by the Courier) about farmers in Alabama hurting because illegals are fleeing left and right, and the Americans willing to work for the wages they pay either quit by lunchtime or aren't worth anything.

Is it the Mexicans fault that they are such better workers at the low end of the pay scale? Are government subsidies to blame? Is it greedy farmers (I can assure you that this is NOT it!)? Why do we buy only items made in China from Wal-Mart then complain about cheap labor helping an American farmer?

[Honestly, I'm not a supporter of opening our borders, but I see both sides. I also see Mexicans holding what has always been considered good jobs, like roofers, that certainly results in lost jobs and depressed wages to Americans. I just don't know, but there's more than one side to the discussion.]

[Tom523]

I just read an article in the paper today (an Associated Press article picked up by the Courier) about farmers in Alabama hurting because illegals are fleeing left and right, and the Americans willing to work for the wages they pay either quit by lunchtime or aren't worth anything.

Is it the Mexicans fault that they are such better workers at the low end of the pay scale? Are government subsidies to blame? Is it greedy farmers (I can assure you that this is NOT it!)? Why do we buy only items made in China from Wal-Mart then complain about cheap labor helping an American farmer?

[Honestly, I'm not a supporter of opening our borders, but I see both sides. I also see Mexicans holding what has always been considered good jobs, like roofers, that certainly results in lost jobs and depressed wages to Americans. I just don't know, but there's more than one side to the discussion.]

It's gonna get worse before it gets better. There's gonna be alot of pain until this economy gets back on its feet. I don't fault a man (Illegal immigrants) for trying to provide for his family. I fault the government for allowing him (promoting) to come to this country. Face it , if you had to feed your family and you knew there were jobs in Canada, knowing that you would have free medical care, the punishment is being sent back home, you would do what you have to do. My wife's 2 nieces are married to illegal immigrants. One has his own moving business in Arizona, he just moved there from Indiana. He's been awaiting a deportation hearing for 3 years now. The other lives in Colorado and his wife works while he stays at home all day because he says he can't work. I say send them back and secure the border. Create a migrant worker program to allow them to work and pay taxes on what they make. This way they can pay for their use of our infrastructure and farmers can take advantage of the inexpensive labor. Felony convictions would disqualify them from the program. I don't like the illegal immigration of millions of people in this country but I still must remember that they are people just like you and me. Just have them do it the legal way.

[Nicholas Goddard]

I feel very sorry for these disadvantaged people. In the modern world, there is a big gap between poor and rich people. It’s harder and harder for poor people to reach a new level and earn a large amount of money. I respect those people who make every effort to find a job and earn money for their bread, instead of stealing. Such topics should be more often raised in society and write interesting articles and essays that will affect all aspects of such people lives. Let's help poor people earn more and tell them how to do it. I will wait for your boom essays review on this subject.

[dragmerc]

stop the free rides in this country.
i know a 30 year old guy on 100% disability supposedly because he has to take medicine to sleep.
he fishes almost every day or night and wins most tournaments.
if he can do that, he's not disabled.
food stamps, welfare, earned income credit, etc. should all be stopped.
if parents would quit giving so much money to their kids, they would do work like i did.
i hauled hay, cut tobacco, spread manure, etc. before i could drive legally.
i was in the tobacco patch when i was 6 years old.
i would have gladly picked tomatoes if they had that kind of work near me when i was young.
as soon as i could drive, i got a job at the hardware store.
train a kid to work when they become of age and they'll always want to work.
i'm an old man and i feel useless if i'm not doing something productive.
our current system trains kids not to work.

[DJD]

stop the free rides in this country.
i know a 30 year old guy on 100% disability supposedly because he has to take medicine to sleep.
he fishes almost every day or night and wins most tournaments.
if he can do that, he's not disabled.
food stamps, welfare, earned income credit, etc. should all be stopped.
if parents would quit giving so much money to their kids, they would do work like i did.
i hauled hay, cut tobacco, spread manure, etc. before i could drive legally.
i was in the tobacco patch when i was 6 years old.
i would have gladly picked tomatoes if they had that kind of work near me when i was young.
as soon as i could drive, i got a job at the hardware store.
train a kid to work when they become of age and they'll always want to work.
i'm an old man and i feel useless if i'm not doing something productive.
our current system trains kids not to work.

Regardless of the original post or Mexicans....I agree that people who scam the system should not be allowed too....regardless of the scam. My buddy worked for an insurance agency (maybe deeper in that he let on) that would investigate scammers if they were reported. Its a dirty job and he quit from the stress and danger but things like this should be reported if possible.
Another example....my old neighbor who was a veteran asked me if I was getting the hearing benefit? He explained to me that he complained about his hearing and the ringing in his ears to the VA....he had no issues but this was his scam. So after the testing and deliberate lies he received an amount each month for hearing loss from the gubment. He laughed when I said I wouldn't do it even though I have some health issues (back issues from a Tank accident) from my time in the Military but things like that piss me off. I'm old school to the bone....earn your keep, **** it up and move on.

[dragmerc]

i wonder if any form of government can survive without some degree of morality???

[DJD]

i wonder if any form of government can survive without some degree of morality???

I think it can and does but percentages of people get hurt from the greed and immoral acts of others. If, and thats an enormous if..... the crooks would be held accountable things would be a little better. Unfortunate thing is when money and power mix some people get the itch to take more than they should. I see it everyday in construction.