Illegal Immigration: A Rich American's Game

realclearpolitics.com ^ | December 21, 2006 | Froma Harrop

[Dog Gone]

In spite of this, we have record low unemployment. Apparently Americans are finding jobs that are better than what the illegal aliens are doing.

How do you explain this?

[ElkGroveDan]

There's a popular game in America that goes, I'll cut your wages, but you don't cut mine.

The idiot forgot the other rules of the game.

In America opportunities abound, so if you DON'T LIKE the wages I'm paying you and you really are a special employee, then you can LEAVE and go anywhere you want and ask for more. Or you can start your own enterprise and work to become whatever you want. All it takes is hard work.

[mtbopfuyn]

As it turns out, the meat-processing companies that employ so many illegal immigrants have been enjoying a nearly 50-percent discount on what was the going rate. In 1980, the average meat-processing job paid $19 an hour. The companies then moved their plants to rural areas, far from the Midwest cities and their unions. The industry's wages now average about $9 an hour.

Yet, my grocery bill has tripled rather than dropped 50%.

[pnh102]

The day I see one of these pro "free trade" economists, policy wonks, or executives give up their own jobs to someone who will do it for less will be the day I might consider offshore outsourcing to be a good thing.

In the meantime, we should tariff the profits made by companies which offshore American jobs, and use those tariffs to lower the ridiculously high income taxes that we pay here.

[alicewonders]

There's a whole bunch of people that I see on a regular basis at work that don't have to work anymore - but they still get paid! They have all found out about the "Disability Train". Apparently, there's legions of doctors and lawyers that enable these people to collect their "free" paychecks. If you ask them what their disability is, invariably it's a bad back, bi-polar disorder, nerve damage in their feet, etc - stuff you can't see & pretty much have to take the patient's word for the "pain" they are feeling.

These are able-bodied people that go out & about, doing whatever they want - but for some reason - are able to get a monthly check for some "disability" that doesn't keep them from shopping & having a great old time. These people are no longer looking for jobs & are therefore, not in the statistics of the unemployed.

To me - if you can drive a car, walk up & down the street, shop until you drop, read the newspaper & talk on the phone to your friends all day - you certainly should be capable of "working".

[umgud]

All these arguments are moot. There is no reason or excuse that justifies illegal immigration.

[spanalot]

Who needs a butcher? My Daddy taught me how to hunt and fish!

[A. Pole]

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce likes to wail about the "labor shortage." It says there aren't enough chambermaids, dishwashers, etc. to work for its members at lousy wages. Odd, but when there's a shortage of labor -- or anything else -- doesn't the price of it go up? The price of unskilled labor in the United States hasn't gone up. It's gone down.

Cheap labor shortage.

[alicewonders]

Yeah! And what is it with all of these "mystery" cuts of meat? I'm seeing meat all cut up in thin, little pieces that are labeled with names I don't recognize as the cuts of meat I grew up with.

[alicewonders]

Cheap labor shortage.

You hit the nail on the head!

[USNBandit]

The companies then moved their plants to rural areas, far from the Midwest cities and their unions.

That's not true. You can't move away from unions. Who is it that is going to court for these illegal workers? Unions, that's who. What I don't understand is how the unions support these illegal aliens that have driven wages down across a whole industry.

[USNBandit]

And what is it with all of these "mystery" cuts of meat?

I'm waiting for them to come out with a flat iron roast. :)

[alicewonders]

LOL!

[Jazzman1]

None of the 'unintended consequences' of hiring illegals is discussed here. I live in the midwest and the wholesale damage wrought upon once pristine, wholesome & Christian communities wrecked by the illegals is incalculable. Greedy meatpackers knew their actions would devastate these communities but could care less. Now social services, medical, education and police protection are all strained and the taxpayer AND the legal citizen bears the cost. These robber barons are scum and should be shunned & prosecuted!

[BW2221]

I love the attitude so many FReepers have, "What's good for me is good for America."

[Lijahsbubbe]

Reporters thrive on sympathetic stories about illegal immigrants who work hard and go to church.

Ain't that the truth.

[mtbopfuyn]

And what is it with all of these "mystery" cuts of meat? I'm seeing meat all cut up in thin, little pieces that are labeled with names I don't recognize as the cuts of meat I grew up with.

We raised cattle and I totally agree. Better than half the cuts are a total mystery. The kids were in 4-H and on the meat judging team but when I took them on a tour of the grocery meat section hardly any of the cuts from their USDA booklets were on the shelves. And yes, you can nearly read a news paper through such thin cuts. And what ever happened to marbling and flavor? I can't find a decent steak anywhere that's above shoe leather. I ordered a half a calf from a slaughter house last year, but it was so tough the dog had a hard time with it. Ok, I'll step down off my soap box now.