Anybody Catch 60 Minutes

[IntenseOperator]

They had a story on the illegals dying in the desert.

One thing I NEVER understand. It always brought home that this country would dissolve into the mist without this source of labor, or at least our massive economy couldn't exist without being propped up by this work force.

Don't we have a ton unemployed from many places around this country? From all those Louisiana beauties that can't find work to the millions on reservations to the millions on the welfare roles. Any of these quite capable people could work in the garment industry, the meatpacking industry, or any of that farming employment that is field by these illegal immigrants.

In the story, it was brought up (came along with the story) that many work here to send the money back across the border.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Missed it I.O but saw interview with guy in CA that owns huge lettuce fields--Said he pays $8.50 an hour and preceding week he only had 1 person come from employment office and they worked 1/2 day and left.
I think prob is they pay people too much not to work.Makes little sense to wail about unemployment on one hand and needing illegals to fill vacant jobs on the other.

 

[ImFeklhr]

Unemployment is pretty low, and the jobs that illegal workers are typically minimum wage or lower.

There is very little motivation for americans who are unemployed to take those very intense hard labor jobs, when the money is so low. Government services and checks to the unemployed or impovershed must lower the incentive to work thankless jobs. I would think.

I don't know, it's one of those complex economic situations, that actually probably has a lot to do with the sociology and psychology of those that don't want to work for pennies. Sucks though.

Reminds me of those comments made by the Mexican president that says illegals will do work even Black Americans don't want/are too lazy to do. Now that's a can of worms!

 

[djv]

If your hungry enough you will work for a Dollar. And thats part of the problem. If anyone does not think there is always someone waiting to take advantage of someone. Check some of Wal Marts law suites. It's not just the lttle rancher or apple grower.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Yep Wal Mart is largest retailer in U.S. Why most affordable prices+most shoppers+largest retailer.

Now if you start all employees out @ $30,000 a year what happens to this equation. Lawsuits--whose making the money on them--sure isn't the little guy.Your conned again by the Eddie Haskels DJV.
Pesonally would much rather have benefits below than welfare--but of course I am a neocon conservative.

Walmart Employee Benefit

With such wonderful associates working for our team, Walmart is pleased to provide our associates with the best Walmart employee benefit package available. Walmart feels that our associates are our most prized resource and we are grateful for their excellent service twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Providing a generous Walmart employee benefit package to our associates is just one of the ways we say, ?Thank you,? to every associate who works for Walmart.

The Walmart employee benefit package includes superb, affordable health coverage for our associates which provides individual health coverage beginning under twenty dollars per pay period and family coverage under seventy-five dollars. Additionally, unlike many other available medical plans, after the first year, the Walmart employee benefit package has no lifetime maximum for most expenses.

With the Walmart employee benefit package, associates have access to internationally acclaimed health care facilities such as the Mayo Clinic, Stanford University Hospital, and Johns Hopkins University Hospital. Our associates can be admitted to these excellent health care facilities and many others without prior insurance approval. It is just one of the additional benefits of our superb Walmart employee benefit package.

Furthermore, the Walmart employee benefit package includes a traditional four percent contribution to the combined Profit Sharing and 401(k) plan. Bonuses and other incentives are granted year-round to our hourly associates and management alike for helping Walmart achieve its goals.

 

[steve2881]

Its Like.....

Its Like.....

I love how one of the messages in that peice was basically that we are responsible for the deaths of the border jumpers. I guess what we should do then concerning cuba is build a bridge from there to florida so the drownings of the cubans trying to come here is not on our hands. I love how our society is getting further and further away from INDIVIDUAL responsibility.

 

[IntenseOperator]

I'm as Spanish friendly as the next cat, almost made an honorary citizen by the King of Puerto Rico :mj14: KING CHOP

I'm really tired of the FEAR driven statements being used on this and many other issues. This economy is a bull that can take on almost all hits. There is no bigger example of this than the last few years of natural disasters, energy prices, and a war not being able to stop GROWTH.

The point that illegals and there available labor is holding up this economy at it's base is the biggest pile of dung I've seen being thrown around over the last couple years. The proponents of illegal immigration are showing their fear IMO. Mexico/Poland/or any other 3rd world country isn't going to wag this dog. We have enough unskilled labor here to cover the work, or we''ll pay more and move on.

 

[ImFeklhr]

We have enough unskilled labor, but it's not likely those unskilled and unemployed are willing to do hard labor for low pay.

Again, I think it is a sociological situation, not so much economic.

Why would someone who is raised thinking the government will take care of them, take a really really hard job, for low low money?

The only reason illegal immigrants take those jobs, is because to them it raises of their standard of living.

It basically boils down to an attittude problem in this country.

 

[steve2881]

you are exactly right...

you are exactly right...

It is precisely an attitude problem. Every person in this country beleives they are owed something for simply being born here. This is one of the only places in the world that is the sentiment. Government entittlements have become a mainstay since the great depression. I don't want to be misunderstood, alot of times the government need to step in ie. natural disasters, vet disablities etc.

Along time ago I asked my dad the difference between a republican and a democrat concerning domestic issues and he said it was very simple:

"A poor man is hungry with no food, the democratic reponse is to give him food, the republican response will be to teach him to grow a garden."

 

[djv]

Many wal mart folks can't take the bennies. If they do there take home pay is so little they cant pay the rent. It's true there are 10 to 15 folks in each store that are not to bad off. But thats about it. Sams slogan made in America, is now changed to made in China.

 

[gardenweasel]

my guess is that if they put a fence up....from pillar to post....that these companies would figure out a way to exist....

this isn`t just crop-pickers and such....had the local gas and electric company come around with what looked like 20 crews cutting tree branches away from the wires....

i saw ,personally,around 7 or 8 crews...and they were all hispanic....and from what i observed,not many spoke english...the crew that worked my house had one guy that spoke stilted english....

maybe they were all legal...somehow,i doubt it...and i was surprised that they were to a man,hispanic....and as i said,most spoke no english...

this is where fellow conservatives get on my bowels...this is where they become hypocritical...

you either enforce the immigration laws...or just open the damned border...

the crap about people not taking jobs is a straw man...a slap in the face of every person that tries to enter our country legally...

take a stand...either you are against immigration laws...or you aren`t...


and if you aren`t,work to pass new laws...

we have laws on the books...enforce them...

bush blows on this.......but,i understand the politics involved...