Interesting ways...

[Rita]

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This is a very complex issue and as John R pointed out it is an unwinnable "war." In our state at least there is a big market for the undocumented. They are quite simply part of the economy, and to paint them all with a broad and unflattering brush is unfair.
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That's Texas too.

It would be interesting to see if enough workers could be found for construction crews, landscaping crews, cleaning crews, etc. without relying on the undocumented. My guess is that enough Americans who are unemployed would choose to stay unemployed rather than do the hard work. Those jobs would be hard to fill.

Some sort of documentation needs to be available for those who wish to work and be a productive part of our society so they can do so without living in fear of being caught.

 

[TooFarTampa]

That's Texas too.

It would be interesting to see if enough workers could be found for construction crews, landscaping crews, cleaning crews, etc. without relying on the undocumented. My guess is that enough Americans who are unemployed would choose to stay unemployed rather than do the hard work. Those jobs would be hard to fill.

Some sort of documentation needs to be available for those who wish to work and be a productive part of our society so they can do so without living in fear of being caught.

Exactly. However I imagine that the businesses who are paying those hard workers less than minimum wage live in fear of that happening. Which is a real shame.

 

[ktschris]

There is a phrase in this thread that keeps getting thrown around "the hard work". I fear everyone is making an assumption that the illegals are here doing the work that Americans won't do. This is bothering me. Before I get started, let me say this, yes there is a percentage of people "on the dole" that are working the system -- milking dry, but I think that number is small compared to the people who can't work. When I say can't, I mean they cannot afford to work. The way the current system is set up, people on public assistance can't afford to take jobs at minimum (or below) wage. This is were the illegal worker hurts the system. Employers hire them because they are cheaper -- they don't have to pay taxes, benefits, carry workmen's comp OR follow any safety guidelines. If the illegals were not there filling these jobs, it would force the employer to pay a fair wage for "hard work".


Just my 2?.

 

[Cheering472]

Exactly. However I imagine that the businesses who are paying those hard workers less than minimum wage live in fear of that happening. Which is a real shame.

So true!

 

[peapod1980]

Now THAT sounds like something to complain about!

Isn't it, though?
What is so ridiculous is that the Lumbees seem to be essentially penalized by not getting certain benefits because they were peaceful Indians who didn't need to be "taken over" by the U.S. government...!

 

[dbuck]

dbuck, it's true, but actually, we have the reverse problem from what I've found out. My dad is documented, has his "tribal card," but he belongs to a tribe who has had a weird history with the U.S. government. He's a Lumbee, and the Lumbee Indians are not federally recognized, so this excludes Lumbees from the privileges of things like free education for its tribe members. If you're interested, this link explains it:
http://www.lumbeetribe.com/recognition/faq.htm

Pea, the article was very interesting. It sounds like the Lumbees were peaceful and penalized for it.

 

[Jdarg]

That's Texas too.

Some sort of documentation needs to be available for those who wish to work and be a productive part of our society so they can do so without living in fear of being caught.

I agree- a good system would be a start. The laws we currently have in place are not working. These people are here now, and most of them are working if they can. It is pointless to even consider rounding them up and sending them home. For every one that is caught, a bunch more are coming in. We need a more flexible but efficient system of entry and documentation- and through that new system there could be taxes paid, etc.

Our country's racial and ethnic population has been evolving and changing since this country was founded, and will continue to shift and blend long after we are gone. We have always found ways to embrace and assimilate. Walls and barriers are not the way to go, especially since people are desperate to get to our country because in their minds, their lives will be better. That is always how it has been in the USA - everyone comes here for "a better life". People that are willing to risk their lives to getting here illegally aren't coming here to sit on their butts. It is the walls and barriers that they face once they get here that allows that to happen.

 

[peapod1980]

Pea, the article was very interesting. It sounds like the Lumbees were peaceful and penalized for it.

Well, that's what I came away with, but I didn't know if I was a little biased. My dad used to try to explain the situation to me, but I never understood until I read the info on the tribe's site. I started looking into it as I realized I wasn't all that far away from thinking about college. It's discouraging to think my kids won't get the benefit I hoped they would.

 

[dbuck]

Well said, jdarg. Is it just me, or does everything seem more complicated these days?

 

[peapod1980]

Well said, jdarg. Is it just me, or does everything seem more complicated these days?

dbuck, have you seen my sig line?