"Gulf rebuilders concede hiring illegals"

From 11/12:

Contractors working in the Gulf Coast region say they are actively looking for local workers, but some acknowledge they are turning to day-laborer programs, which often include illegal aliens.
"We are primarily working through a large number of subcontractors and being proactive in achieving local hiring. And, yes, they do access day-laborer type of forces whenever possible," said Chris Sammons, spokesman for the Shaw Group Inc.
The Baton Rouge, La., engineering and construction firm, a prime contractor for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has worked with 150 subcontractors to provide a range of services, including roof repairs, temporary housing and rebuilding assessments in hurricane-ravaged parts of Louisiana.
"I think you'll see more of that," Mr. Sammons said of the day laborers. He did not give any details about the employment practices used by Shaw's subcontractors...

Comments

The situation regarding illegal workers is somewhat different even as a marketplace. Those who hire illegal workers to cut their costs are passing those costs on to the community at large in a situation similar to Garrett Hardin's "Tragedy of the Commons".

If a common pasture will feed 100 sheep adequately and without harm to itself and there are 5 farmers using it, each farmer can keep 20 sheep on it indefinitely without over-using it. However, if one farmer slips 30 sheep onto the commons, there will be 110 sheep grazing. Not only will the pasture deteriorate but also each sheep will get less grass. The farmer with 30 sheep gains immediate short-term benefit but all 5 ultimately lose as the common pasture becomes able to serve fewer than even the original 100 sheep.

It is critical to the community at large to crack down on businesses that privatize profits while passing costs onto the public. The 4 farmers who played by the rules must see to it that the farmer who slipped the extra sheep onto the commons removes them and is made to pay for the damage caused to the common pasture. A nice fine or jail term to discourage future violations would also be in order. The same is true of those who hire illegal aliens.

There is rational discrimination (against those with out the required skills, low IQ's, poor work habits, etc.) and irrational discrimation. What free-market theorists always state is that those businesses which discriminate irrationally will be punished by the marketplace. Discrimination against illegal aliens by employers falls under the irrational category, but citizens of a nation generally see it as something more than a marketplace. In addition there are externalities resulting from employment of illegals: medical care costs, education for children of illegals, environmental impacts, etc.

Actually, discrimination limits the workforce and the flexibility thereof. Slavery also imposes limits on the workforce. Neither is beneficial.

" Then you must favor repeal of the Civil Rights act of 1964 which was undeniably(whether one favors it or not) a major attack on freedom of association and the right to hire whom one pleases."

Why stop there? If you really believe that "less government intervention with respect to who I can hire and who I can associate with is indeed progress," (Ralph) why not bring back slavery?

Actually, it's not "less government intervention". The feds are providing rebuilding money, which big contractors get and some of that money is used to hire illegal aliens who then send some of their money back to Mexico. It's a corporatist's dream.

It's also a case of the GOP taking jobs away from U.S. hurricane victims. If the Dems would just talk about that they could reduce Bush's popularity to below 20%. But, they won't because they're corrupt too.

"And less government intervention with respect to who I can hire and who I can associate with is indeed progress."
Then you must favor repeal of the Civil Rights act of 1964 which was undeniably(whether one favors it or not) a major attack on freedom of association and the right to hire whom one pleases. All anti-discrimation laws involve "...government intervention with respect to who I can hire and who I can associate with..." As night follows day you must also favor repeal of all "affirmative action" laws and executive orders. Based on your blanket statement you also favor repeal of laws against child labor.

Those housed in substandard conditions were free to get up and leave at any time. Evidently it was the best option available to them at the time. And less government intervention with respect to who I can hire and who I can associate with is indeed progress.

Indeed he did, Ralph, but that doesn't make it right. Some companies were actually firing US workers and replacing them with cheap labor illegal immigrants, which will be common all over the US if McCain-Kennedy passes. In addition to this slap in the face to US workers - some of whom had survived Katrina - there have been reports that the illegals who were hired were housed in substandard conditions, no electricity or running water, and treated like dirt. Is this your idea of progress, Ralph?

The President suspended the requirement to check documents months ago.