I don’t agree. I know many kids who try working on mowing lawns and they can’t compete with illegals who can work for much less cost and have the racial reputation of being better at yard work. Also, you are looking at a current problem with 25 year old memories and logic. What might have been true 25 years ago isn’t the case in this age. Kids today are having to compete with adults who are out of work and illegals who are cheaper. Americans are being cut out of the work place by illegals who will work cheaper and longer and still make more money than us. I read this and it shows how they can do it.
You have two families: “Joe Legal” and “Jose Illegal”. Both families have two parents, two children, and live in California …
Joe Legal works in construction, has a Social Security Number and makes $25.00 per hour with taxes deducted.
Jose Illegal also works in construction, has NO Social Security Number, And gets paid $15.00 cash “under the table”.
Ready? Now pay attention…
Joe Legal: $25.00 per hour x 40 hours = $1000.00 per week, or $52,000.00 Per year.
Now take 30% away for state and federal tax; Joe Legal now has $31,231.00.
Jose Illegal: $15.00 per hour x 40 hours = $600.00 per week, or $31,200.00 per year.
Jose Illegal pays no taxes. Jose Illegal now has $31,200.00.
Joe Legal pays medical and dental insurance with limited coverage for His family at $600.00 per month, or $7,200.00 per year. Joe Legal now Has $24,031.00.
Jose Illegal has full medical and dental coverage through the state and Local clinics at a cost of $0.00 per year. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00.
Joe Legal makes too much money and is not eligible for food stamps or Welfare. Joe Legal pays $500.00 per month for food, or $6,000.00 per Year. Joe Legal now has $18,031.00.
Jose Illegal has no documented income and is eligible for food stamps and welfare. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00.
Joe Legal pays rent of $1,200.00 per month, or $14,400.00 per year. Joe Legal now has $9,631.00.
Jose Illegal receives a $500.00 per month federal rent subsidy. Jose Illegal pays $500.00 per month, or $6,000.00 per year. Jose Illegal Still has $ 31,200.00.
Joe Legal pays $200.00 per month, or $2,400.00 for insurance. Joe Legal Now has $7,231.00.
Jose Illegal says, “We don’t need no stinking insurance!” and still has $31,200.00.
Joe Legal has to make his $7,231.00 stretch to pay utilities, gasoline, etc.
Jose Illegal has to make his $31,200.00 stretch to pay utilities, gasoline, and what he sends out of the country every month.
Joe Legal now works overtime on Saturdays or gets a part time job after work.
Jose Illegal has nights and weekends off to enjoy with his family.
Joe Legal’s and Jose Illegal’s children both attend the same school. Joe Legal pays for his children’s lunches while Jose Illegal’s children get a government sponsored lunch. Jose Illegal’s children have an after School ESL program. Joe Legal’s children go home.
Joe Legal and Jose Illegal both enjoy the same police and fire services, but Joe paid for them and Jose did not pay.
Do you get it, now?
It blows my mind how many people excuse the illegals by saying that they do jobs Americans won’t do or that Americans are lazy. When the truth is that the illegals will do it cheaper and not bitch. In other words you are calling people lazy for not being competitive to others who are working for slave labor wages.
I wish you would have actually read my post before spending an hour responding to it.
I know what the market for yard services is RIGHT NOW. 2 years ago, I upgraded all my yard equipment (mower, edger, trimmer) to pro equipment. Already had a blower. Spring and summer is my “off-season” from my extra-curricular activities, so I decided to pick up a few yards on my street to care for. I put flyers and got my asking price ($50) on all but one. One guy insisted on $45. I spent about 1K on the equipment and made about $2200 or so. Blower went out in late summer so I decided not to do that again, but if I lost my job (virtually impossible), I could crank that back up EASILY.
So could a teen around here. It would be easier for him, since he 1) wouldn’t have the overhead; 2) has more time; and 3) probably has more energy. A teen around here (a HOTBED of illegals) could get 40 yards in 2 weeks.
Thank you for an unsettling math lesson.
It explains what I saw about 3 years ago. A local family had got burned out of their house, and had been setup in an apartment. The school mentioned they lost everything, needed help, etc. We had a bed in the garage waiting to get taken to the thrift store. We brought it to them instead.
We brought it over - Hispanic family. The two older women were very grateful and so proud to be part of a community that helps them as they showed off lots of nice furniture that was like ours - sitting in storage or somewhere. (As translated by a young girl).
The adult male came in later with a bag from Target full of video games, etc. for the kids. I guess the kids need some entertainment, but it was weird seeing him come in with one bag with more of that crap than my kids have! None. (But, we did clear out space in the garage!).
Anyway - I have always been more aware at the stuff that these folks have, even after they send half of it back home to Mexico. I new a bit how they accumulated the money - just not in the detail that you provided.