I am hearing many politicians as well as those that for the immigration bill (that would essentially give free permanent residency with a renewable Z-Visa) stating that they do the job that American's don't WANT to do.

The irony is that they are correct however I find their notion to be very misleading.

The reality IS that very Americans would want to spend their summer out in the HOT sun picking lettuce, onions, tomatoes, peppers, or whatever else anyone cares to name. Here's the job scenario:

You work long hours 8-10 hrs a day, 6 days a week.
You don't get paid sick days.
You don't get paid or work on rainy days.
You don't get health insurance.
You don't get paid vacations.
You work under the HOT summer sun.
You pick such things like onions where your hands smell like onions for days afterwards or tomatoes where your hands are green for a few days after.
There isn't much future in working up the corporate ladder.
Some on the job training (need to make sure they pick items when they are ripe).
It is a seasonal job.
And you don't make much more than minimum wage.

Is there ANYONE our there that would WANT this job?


This to me is just an excuse rather than a reason to deceive Americans in allowing an Amnesty bill to pass. There are many jobs that I didn't WANT to do but did them in order to pay my bills. How many kids do you hear saying, "when I grow up I wanna be an onion topper" or "when I grow up I wanna be a janitor (sanitation engineer)?"

Everyone wants to be chief but how many want to be indians?


Comments (Page 2)
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on Jun 14, 2007

Side note: How'd we get from being the land of opportunity to being the land of the free lunch?


How is it a free lunch if they are working their butts off to make any money?

You missed his inferrance.  He was not talking about illegal aliens, but Americans who supposedly want Benefits so will not work for hourly wages only.

on Jun 14, 2007
Loca, can you describe the area you live with regards to demographics?


I live 20 miles west of Fort Worth. It is a growing community. New homes, new businesses, new restaurants, new stores etc. There definately isn't a shortage of jobs. These jobs don't pay the big bucks but there are jobs here.
on Jun 14, 2007
I live 20 miles west of Fort Worth. It is a growing community. New homes, new businesses, new restaurants, new stores etc. There definately isn't a shortage of jobs. These jobs don't pay the big bucks but there are jobs here.


There are plenty of jobs here as well, Loca, so I won't dispute your statement. But apparently that isn't universally true across the US.

on Jun 14, 2007
The market itself is the ultimate arbiter of these things, but the playing field is no longer level because due to an overwhelming supply of cheap, illegal labor, the business owner can have his cake and eat it too, keeping huge profits for himself by denying a decent enough wage to attract a citizen worker.


The real fence should be workplace enforcement. Of course, when INS finally would raid the workplaces there would be a huge outcry from the businesses. Money talks. The illegal immigrants don't have that power to shut down INS raids but the businesses do.

The black unemployment figures are incredibly high. I really don't know how much of it can attributed to illegal immigrants. There is still discrimination in hiring. This study showed that employers were as likely to hire a white worker with a criminal record as a black worker without a criminal record. Link

on Jun 14, 2007
Your article overlooks the fact that there are already laws in place to allow for migrant workers to be here during the harvests, and many of them DO come legally, going home at season's end.


I don't think so LW. I understand where you are coming from but I was refutting against Bush, and others who were saying that they do the jobs Americans don't 'WANT.'

As for your point, you are correct. There are already guest worker programs. There are already laws on the books for protecting and securing our borders. There are already laws on the books for employers hiring illegals. There are already laws on the books for bringing in labor from outside of the country by having to show to they are jobs Americans "can't do" (areas of specialization). Most of these were address in 1986. The bottom line is we just need to get an Administration to ENFORCE THEM!!!

You advertise the job at a higher rate of pay, even if that means you take a smaller profit for yourself or raise the rent a little to cover it.


If we have a surplus of labor in the boston area and a deficit of labor in the Ft Worth. The question is, why don't those in the surplus get off their sedentary butts and go where there are jobs are?
on Jun 14, 2007
The question is, why don't those in the surplus get off their sedentary butts and go where there are jobs are?


I can field this one, A-D, because I've been there.

Does it escape your attention that it takes MONEY to relocate? Even in an are with a low cost of living, it almost takes a MINIMUM of $1500, which is almost two monthsl salary for a minimum wage worker (this estimate was calculated figuring $500/month rent with an equal amount for deposit, $200 in utility deposits, $300 for truck rental/gas, additional expenses. This number is probably LOW).
on Jun 14, 2007
Does it escape your attention that it takes MONEY to relocate? Even in an are with a low cost of living, it almost takes a MINIMUM of $1500, which is almost two monthsl salary for a minimum wage worker (this estimate was calculated figuring $500/month rent with an equal amount for deposit, $200 in utility deposits, $300 for truck rental/gas, additional expenses. This number is probably LOW).


But Gid as LW indirectly mentioned. If you need work to produce (ie construction, etc) as an employer you may have to add moving incentives if you can't find local labor.
on Jun 14, 2007
The real fence should be workplace enforcement. Of course, when INS finally would raid the workplaces there would be a huge outcry from the businesses. Money talks. The illegal immigrants don't have that power to shut down INS raids but the businesses do.


Loca, such laws exist but aren't being enforced. This is why many of us were so very much opposed to this Immigration bill. We don't need immigration reform just ENFORCING the EXISTING LAWS. Both Ike and Reagan addressed this issues we just have slacked.
on Jun 14, 2007
Well coming from a teenager in need of employment, I am having a very hard time finding a summer job. Everywhere I've applied doesn't take just summer employment. Now I already have a job and I'm looking for evenings and weekends, so a farming job wouldn't really work for my particular case, unless it was only on weekends. But it is really hard to find any just summer jobs, or at least it is for me.
on Jun 14, 2007
Well coming from a teenager in need of employment, I am having a very hard time finding a summer job. Everywhere I've applied doesn't take just summer employment. Now I already have a job and I'm looking for evenings and weekends, so a farming job wouldn't really work for my particular case, unless it was only on weekends. But it is really hard to find any just summer jobs, or at least it is for me.


Amanda thanks for your insight. Can you give us more regarding to your perspective of what you see? Do you find/feel that you are competing against the retired age? Do you find/feel that you are competing against the illegals? Let us know.
on Jun 14, 2007
But Gid as LW indirectly mentioned. If you need work to produce (ie construction, etc) as an employer you may have to add moving incentives if you can't find local labor.


A-D,

I know firsthand of no employers that offer that as a rule.

Ironically, though, in the meat packing plant in Cactus, TX (a job Americans allegedly don't want), the illegals were offered free housing until their first paycheck came in. Coupled with $11.90/hour salary. I know of few honest out of work Americans who wouldn't take that if the same incentives were offered. Sure, the welfare bums will pass, but they'll pass on anything.
on Jun 14, 2007
I don't feel sorry for speeders when they get a ticket, and I certainly don't feel sorry for illegals when they get deported. We all make choices in life, and many choose to take calculated risks. If you play the odds and lose, however, you should have the grace to accept your fate without complaint. That goes for the businesses AND the illegal labor they employ.


I fully agree.

Ironically, though, in the meat packing plant in Cactus, TX (a job Americans allegedly don't want), the illegals were offered free housing until their first paycheck came in. Coupled with $11.90/hour salary. I know of few honest out of work Americans who wouldn't take that if the same incentives were offered.


Gid, that is the point I am getting at. No one is really offering that to the Americans but they will for the illegals?

You are right bums will be bums.
on Jun 14, 2007
Amanda thanks for your insight. Can you give us more regarding to your perspective of what you see? Do you find/feel that you are competing against the retired age? Do you find/feel that you are competing against the illegals? Let us know.


I don't really feel like I'm competing against one certain group like elderly, illegal immigrants, blacks, men, or anything like that. I feel like I'm competing against people who aren't going to college. Every employer I've talked to has told me they won't hire someone for just the summer, even though I've told them I can work anytime on weekends including Sundays and I'm willing to work holidays. Granted, I don't live anywhere near Mexico nor am I looking at farming jobs, so it may be different for people living in the south.
on Jun 14, 2007
Maybe I should say I'm looking for part time and then just quit at the end of the summer....that just seems kinda underhanded.
on Jun 14, 2007
that just seems kinda underhanded.


I agree. Keep searching!
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