RRC Archives

ReachHigh wrote:Millions of Immigrants find jobs becuase buisness don't want to pay minimal wage.

That may be, but that is just the tip of the ice berg. They are also taking
much better jobs, jobs in the construction fields paying a lot more than minimum. KY opened their arms to the migrant worker due to a shortage in the tobacco fields. Well that work sucks and it doesn't pay much either.
They soon found out they could move into higher pay in the booming housing construction market. $10-16 hr. versus $5-7hr. They could do that because there has for years been no enforcement of certain employment laws.


I'm hearing so much ignorant rhetoric regarding this issue. It's insulting to hear your fellow citizens give away your means of making a living.
Mostly what I hear from the Democrats, my party, sucks and the broad accusations of bigotry is a slap in the face to someone who has put more effort than most into fighting bigotry. If youre going to throw that around
make sure you know where you're pointing it.

What I hear from the President is predictably fence straddling that goes nowhere. An issue that has his two bases, his party and industry, at odds.

From the Republicans it's too much lunacy. Build the wall.

Here are some realities I think about now as to how it affects me.
-Nationwide the dropout rate from high school is about 1 out of every 3
-KY's is higher. What kinds of jobs are we willing to concede to cheaper and illegal help?
-As an employer in construction I can hire a man at $13 hr. and with my part of FICA, wrks. comp, unemployment ins., and the other payroll costs
regarding him, he will cost me ~ $19 hr. If I want to disregard the laws, I can hire a man for any amount less than that and it is money in my pocket. There is no one enforcing and there is an endless supply of help.
-Everyone has seen the boom in home prices the last several years. It set a record last year at 13%. While material costs have risen, they aren't anywhere close to offsetting.
-In this same course of time the 'per foot price' a subcontractor in my business has been able to get has remained virtually unchanged. This windfall seems to be going to a sellect few.
-Fuel costs have doubled in these same years. Insurance costs have risen.
-When push comes to shove do you become part of the problem? and 'go illegal?', or do you go under? It's crunch time right now for alot of good people so don't forget them when you consider this issue.
-What kinds of jobs are available to these former workers that are being pushed aside? Would you believe a job at Lowes or Home Depot would be better than most of the factory jobs available? Many of them are split shift,and 6 days to get 35hr., and other enticing things. Would you be pissed to lose your job of $14 hr. and have to take $9 ? Sounds like you'll have to get a second job. Not to worry cause these are the kinds of jobs being created in this "booming" economy. You are now getting severly pissed at this immigration talk.

While my orginal post was overly simplist immigration is a large consern.

what about the unprotected class of people illegal immigration created. How can immigrants handle crime being done to them and with in their communities when they are already recognized as being criminals.

excellent points by both of you, this is an issue that strikes at many segments of US society but one that has quietly allowed to simmer under the radar till now, and just messing with you ReachHigh, my wife has had Hispanic patients in ICU, no insurance, no English, with Aids, Hepatitus and guess who is picking up that bill

Crankmas wrote:excellent points by both of you, this is an issue that strikes at many segments of US society but one that has quietly allowed to simmer under the radar till now, and just messing with you ReachHigh, my wife has had Hispanic patients in ICU, no insurance, no English, with Aids, Hepatitus and guess who is picking up that bill

Good people with new opportunities to practice generosity. 8)

Absolutely ReachHigh, In no way should they be forgotten. They are being used and are in a vulnerable position. I'm all for heavy penalties coming down on the enablers of this abuse.
While I have felt anger building up before when I see the all Hispanic crew, it was always directed at the entities proffiting from it and driving me under. It worked.

Thanks Christian, please post some personal info and we can get you all the folks you can extend your generosity to that you can stand.

Christian wrote:

Crankmas wrote:excellent points by both of you, this is an issue that strikes at many segments of US society but one that has quietly allowed to simmer under the radar till now, and just messing with you ReachHigh, my wife has had Hispanic patients in ICU, no insurance, no English, with Aids, Hepatitus and guess who is picking up that bill

Good people with new opportunities to practice generosity. 8)

Welcome to the land of opportunity ...

Crankmas wrote:excellent points by both of you, this is an issue that strikes at many segments of US society but one that has quietly allowed to simmer under the radar till now, and just messing with you ReachHigh, my wife has had Hispanic patients in ICU, no insurance, no English, with Aids, Hepatitus and guess who is picking up that bill

That hits on just another discouraging dynamic involved in the debate.
With crazy rising health care costs, the average blue collar worker can only afford it through a spouse who typically has a job weighted heavily to the benefit side of hourly wage considerations. Barring this, you are probably flying naked regarding coverage. Your new fellow workers who exsist off the books have medical cards and are getting regular checkups.

with immigration this week's hot topic (war anyone?)...what about the explosion in the Indian population, as well as Asian immigrants? Is it predominately the Mexicans who get here illegally? Where are the other protestors?

I saw on CNN where they said that the immigrants were waving mexican flags at their rallies until they caught wind that it didn't look good on TV, so they started waving American flags...lol..at least they have learned the power of illusion over substance. I bet they voted Repubilcan.

I think it's a bit easier to get into the US illegally from Mexico than from most any other country, Piggie. Have you seen the border with Mexico? Very little of it is actually guarded. I've seen van loads of illegals crossing the border in the sonoran desert.

I have mixed emotions about the (illegal) immigration issue. People are literally dying trying to get here. I hate the idea of closing our borders and I especially hate the idea penalizing hard working people who have already established their lives here. On the other hand, we need to take care of our own at least as well as we take care of illegal immigrants. Thank you, gulliver, for educating me a bit. I think people who hire illegals are definitely the ones who should be paying, and paying through the nose.