Faces of immigration: Man can't compete with illegal workers

Oarange County Register ^ | 1/4/10 | CINDY CARCAMO

[magna carta]

That’s why I have a sticker & t-shirt that says DEPORT 30 MILLION. Please visit www.stopthemagnet.com
WE NEED E-VERIFY IN HOUSTON.

[chittlin]

True story: A few years back I hired a Mexican to refurbish and tile my shower on a house I owned in San Diego. He did the job for 600 bucks. Looked great!

Last year I paid an American contractor 1400 bucks to replace leaky shower pan and supporting structural framing that had rotted out from moisture intrusion caused by shoddy workmanship.

You generally get what you pay for.

[Windflier]

And they do crappy work. I’ve seen it and fixed it.

Fixing the screw-ups of semi-skilled, non-caring illegal laborers amounts to about half the work I do today.

I try to educate my potential clients on this all the time. I warn them to beware of the low, low price. There's a sting that comes with it.

[raybbr]

Of course my post was absurd. Look very closely at the bottom.

Yeah, but how many posters have heard Rush say those things and now think that's what's supposed to happen?

[r9etb]

The whole reason that they allow illegal immigration is to drive down the price of low skilled, semi skilled and now skilled labor.

The people who are driving down the price of labor, are the Americans who are hiring the illegals.

The main reason the illegals come here in the first place, is because those same Americans pay them to come here.

So, yes: enforce the laws against hiring them, and also make it possible to easily and accurately verify the legality of the people being hired. That would go a very long way toward addressing the problem of illegal immigration.

It might also be helpful to work out a concensus about exactly what's wrong with illegal immigration (note: "because it's illegal" isn't a helpful answer). Is it because they talk funny? Because they drive down the price of labor? Because of something else? Knowing why we think it's a problem, goes a long way toward figuring out ways to properly deal with it.

And also, it might be nice to amend the laws to require verification of legal residence for entitlement benefits.

[tbw2]

Why do you think a Fair Tax that people working under the table already will not move their sales to the underground economy, too?

[skeeter]

Yeah, ‘there’re always other ways to scrape out an existence’ isn’t exactly inspiring when the powerbrokers have ruined your current means for survival by constantly changing the rules of the game to suit themselves.

[skeeter]

It might also be helpful to work out a concensus about exactly what's wrong with illegal immigration (note: "because it's illegal" isn't a helpful answer).

"Its illegal" might not provide the most race baiting potential but it certainly is an adequate response.

In fact, its THE most adequate.

[r9etb]

"Its illegal" might not provide the most race baiting potential but it certainly is an adequate response. In fact, its THE most adequate.

Unless I miss my guess, you're one of those who opposes "amnesty." If so, then "it's illegal" would not be adequate, as you clearly oppose the presence of certain people despite what Congress has to say on the matter.

So c'mon, skeets. Pony up with a real reason why border-crossers should register first. What is intrinisically wrong with them just crossing the border to work for a guy who's willing to pay them -- like, maybe, your own ancestors did?

[sten]

another extra bonus for being illegal... no taxes. no matching social security. no insurance. etc

yea, just a little less overhead

in the software world, many people overseas have no education debt, as their country paid for it. they are also use to making $2,000 - $10,000 / yr. much lower then the $60-150k/yr for Americans.

good luck competing

[Graybeard58]

Maybe he can become a computer programmer. There're plenty of ads for them in the local newspaper.

One can earn over a thousand dollars a day, addressing envelopes. I've seen the ads!

[Graybeard58]

The people who are driving down the price of labor, are the Americans who are hiring the illegals.

See number 22 for a confession from a criminal.

[skeeter]

I'm not sure I understand your point.

If I disagree with the amnesty of a killer on death row should I have to support abolishing prohibitions against murder if the governor goes ahead & sets him free? Please explain.

[ViLaLuz]

The illegals may offer a lower price but from what I’ve seen the quality of their work isn’t up to USA standards.

[raybbr]

So c'mon, skeets. Pony up with a real reason why border-crossers should register first. What is intrinisically wrong with them just crossing the border to work for a guy who's willing to pay them -- like, maybe, your own ancestors did?

Hey, my ancestors "registered". They learned English. They became Americans. That's the difference.

I'm guessing your ancestors were border jumpers hence the approval for the current crop of invaders.

[Nuc 1.1]

The end point of this is the average world wage for American labor and professional. American citizens will have all that life provides at that wage level.

[WOBBLY BOB]

I need to find out how to become an illegal.

[skeeter]

How do you even respond to a question like that, when every other sovereign body of people in the history of mankind has thought it important to control(read:restrict) the flow of humanity over their borders?

[Nuc 1.1]

With you 100%. A retail national sales tax. Everybody pays no one skates. No exceptions! The 16th Amendment, the Income Tax Amendment, repealed. An amendment to outlaw property taxes must be added to the constitution.

[Chode]

INS/ICE would be getting a call where to find illegals working on the job every time i lost work...