Quote:
Originally Posted by notofworks
If the California agriculture industry had to completely legitimize their operations and pay workman's comp (just that would be HUGE), liability insurance, and then raise them all up to minimum wage, the inflation hit we would take from the increase in produce, veggie, milk, cheese, beef, eggs, chicken, etc., prices would be devastating to both the local economy and the national economy. One of the dirty secrets of our economy is that a major part of our industry is being farmed out to cheap-labor countries and the result is, we can sell a pair of sneakers, earrings, or shoes much more cheaply. However, we can't farm out our farming. The only solution? Bring the cheap labor here, and the only way that can happen is illegally.
We put up guards, erect a fence along I-8, arrest a few and deport them, and give the appearance that we're doing something about it, enough to satisfy a certain voter block, but the reality is, we need them.
Of course, you're never going to hear this from Sacramento (government) but the farming industry will tell you there's no way they could ever take this hit. I believe what Arizona is doing is political posturing and they will, in reality, do nothing. They'll look good to their political base by passing a law, but won't really change.
Are there bad apples in the illegal bunch? Sure. There are bad apples in my neighborhood, church, family, schools, the UPC, presidential cabinet, the NFL, and everywhere else. I don't think it's fair to point to the illegals in prison and say, "See there? They're bad."
And again, I would take exception to your suggestion that they are a lazy bunch not willing to work. These people work their tails off and we benefit from it by being able to purchase an avocado for less than $5, and an enchilada at a local restaurant for less than $12.
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So the issue is that businesses don’t want to pay a decent wage and consumers don’t want expensive produce? Therefore, we say it's about cheap labor? Cheap labor is a big fat lie. Some companies may be making a profit off what they call "cheap labor", but the taxpayers are footing the bill.
Free medical, free education, free day care, free lunches (in Title 1 schools), etc. It's developing a third world country that doesn't value education. We've become so weak with political correctness that we don't have the will to do anything about it.
An example would be an illegal that has a wife and 6 kids. He is making $5 to $6 per hour. At that wage he is paying no income tax. He files a return and with 6 kids is getting up to $3,200 child credit. He can qualify for section 8 housing and subsidized rent, food stamps, free health care, relief from high utility bills, SSI if he becomes disabled, aged or possibly blind. All of that at the tax payers expense. He's get the equivalent of around $20 to $30 an hour in benefits.
So, I take issue with it being called "cheap labor". And I didn't say that every single illegal was lazy and dishonest. But, I have met quite a few that were. And, if you haven't been in a position to hire or supervise as my father and husband have been, you don't get a clear picture, IMO. It doesn't matter if dishonesty is in other places in America. We are talking about adding the illegals to the mix. We don't need them.
They hurt our economy by taking jobs away from native workers who only have a high school diploma or less, and from students. More than that, studies have shown that they actually drive down wages of native born workers and squeeze them out of certain industries. I've read that the illegal workers cut the wages for an average native-born high school dropout by 8%. I don't, for one minute, buy that they do work that no American will do. That's been touted so much, that we now believe it.
The migration of workers 100 years ago brought skilled workers that benefited the American economy, i.e. Jewish tailors and seamstresses that helped to create NY's garment factory, Italian stonemasons and bricklayers that built some of our beautiful buildings, and German merchants, shopkeepers and artisans (a lot of that in our Texas history). Their children were likely to grow up and become accountants, lawyers and engineers.
They didn't come here to find social services and a welfare state. They had to rely on their own resources, family, relatives, friends and, sometimes, ethical charities. Now we have the "Great Society" mentality and it's not working out so well for us. That is, also, something that might be contributing to the "they do work that Americans won't do". It's easier to get on welfare than work for minimum wage or less. Star Parker wrote a great book,
Uncle Sam's Plantation, which spoke about how hard it is to get off the government dole and survive. It should be used for emergencies and have a time limit applied, not a way of life.
I am not wholly against immigration, but I think our policies need to be reformed. A fence and deportation is not going to fix it. We need to reshape our policy around what is good for our economy by welcoming workers that we truly need in exchange for those that offer so little, who are likely to cost us more than what they contribute and who will, more than likely, struggle for years to find their place here.
We can say that is not Christian charity, but where has it gotten us? - scared of the drug cartels and other crimes in Arizona, Texas, etc. Christians recognize that we must also do what is right for the good of the person - if they are not going to become good citizens, they need to be deported. Isn't there a scripture that talks about taking two or three witnesses and if that person doesn't listen, they will be shown the door of the church? It's the same thing to me. We are not keeping our country safe soft gloving the issue.
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