July 14, 2005

DUmmies wising up about illegal immigration?

I don't want to disturb their fragile attempts to come to their senses, so don't everyone click on the following link. Maybe, copy and paste it instead of just clicking on it. The DUmmyland thread "Non-Mexicans arrested at U.S. border nearly doubled" has a few of the usual kneejerk comments, but it also includes this:

"Aguilar said that last year the border patrol detained 644 people from "countries of concern" and had stopped some 500 this year. They were subjected to intense interrogation and investigation."

How much damage could 500 people possibly do? After all, there were 19 hijackers on September 11 and they barely did any damage at all.

And, this from another poster:

...we want them here legally, and in controlled numbers, so that a flood of cheap illegal labor doesn't drive Americans out of their jobs. 10 years ago, most roofers in Denver were Americans, and they made damned good money. Then some unscrupulous employer figured out he could save some money and outcompete his competition by hiring illegal laborers for dirt cheap. Pretty soon, his competition either had to stoop to his tactics and hire illegals, or go out of business.

Oh, and since they are here illegally, they can't get a driver's license. And since they don't have a driver's license, they don't get insurance. And since they don't have insurance (not that they could afford it anyway) my insurance has to pay when an uninsured motorist damages my vehicle. And since my insurance has to pay, my rates have to increase. And naturally, their employer certainly isn't going to give them medical insurance, so the same holds true there.

Now, on the other hand, if he is here legally, he can provide ID, get a drivers license, buy insurance, and complain to legal authorities if he is being abused or taken advantage of by an unscrupulous employer. He has rights. Employers can't pay him less than minimum wage. He can apply for a legal social security number. He can testify in court without fear of deportation. He could even join or form a union to strike for higher wages or better work conditions.

Do I blame the immigrants? No. They are just doing what they can to improve their lives. I'd do the same thing in their shoes. I blame the US govt, unscrupulous greedy employers, and pandering politicians. Since employers from packing plants to landscapers to roofers to janitorial services companies to Walmart need and want an endless supply of ever cheaper labor, the US govt makes almost NO effort to control it. Republicans don't stop it because the employers pay them to let it continue. Democrats don't stop it because they like the idea of people being able to improve their lot in life, but they fail to recognize the costs to American workers in terms of wage pressures, higher insurance rates, and higher taxes.

You say "we've got bigger problems than illegal Mexicans working for less than minimum wage". But I say we don't. The biggest concern I have for the future of this entire country (and hemisphere for that matter) is the destruction of America's middle class...

Posted to Bloggage at July 14, 2005 12:44 PM

Comments

What can be said about a person who reads comments at DU? Not much.

Posted by: Ralph at July 15, 2005 05:13 AM