One of the reasons I get so aggravated about the illegal alien issue is the flagrant exploitation of human beings that is part and parcel of the whole problem. Employers exploit the aliens by paying them under the table, for substantially less than the free market would normally command for their services. The aliens exploit the system, soaking up untold dollars in social services subsidized by those of us who do pay our taxes. Consumers exploit the advantages of skirting the laws and regulations that would drive up prices. And so on. In the end, nearly everyone loses — but since so few people can draw a direct line between the advantages they gain and the costs they pay, it continues on apace.
There is a prime example of such exploitation in this morning’s Boston Globe.
For as long as I can remember, the Glob has been the illegal alien’s best friend in the newspaper racket. They have done all they can to muddle the issue, to confound attempts to enforce the laws, and to hound and harass those who dare to think differently. They have flagrantly attempted to conflate legal immigrants with illegal aliens, hoping to bring about enough fear and trepidation that even those who did wait in line and follow all the legal steps would feel threatened enough to stand with those who cut in line ahead of them.
But that was when it was a matter of PRINCIPLE to the Glob. Now, though, that principle is conflicting with other elements of their political agenda, so once again the illegal aliens are being exploited, as the Boston Globe throws them under the bus.
There’s a three-way race for the Democratic nomination for Governor in Massachusetts. One candidate is businessman Chris Gabrieli, and he’s being pretty much left alone. Another is Deval Patrick, a former NAACP lawyer and Bill Clinton’s Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, where he gained a reputation as a “quota king.” Patrick pushes all the right buttons at the Globe — he’s a black lawyer with Clinton ties and impeccable liberal credentials.
The third candidate, though, the one with the biggest name recognition in Massachusetts, is Attorney General Tom Reilly. (A good chunk of that name recognition, though, is from people laughing at him.) Reilly is pretty much seen as Patrick’s main rival, so that means that at the Glob (a long-time Reilly supporter), the knives are out. Sorry, Tommy, we know we’ve backed you for years, and it’s nothing personal, but we want Patrick and you’re in the way.
Now, illegal aliens are mainly a federal issue, but occasionally they come acropper of state laws as well. And that means that any story that can link illegal aliens to state government or law enforcement makes Reilly look incompetent. (Not that that’s too hard to do.) Hence, two weeks ago, the Glob did a massive expose’ on state contractors using illegal aliens on state construction projects.
And this morning, the Glob discovered that a cleaning service also used illegal aliens. While this in and of itself should come as no great surprise, the fact that this particular service held the contract for cleaning the Massachusetts State Police Headquarters and 18 other facilities around the state meant that it was another chance to slam Reilly. After all, Reilly is the state’s highest law enforcement officer, and the state police answer to him.
Of course, it didn’t hurt matters that the owner of the cleaning company has been a political donor to Republicans, too.
But what about the poor migrant workers, those just trying to make a better life for themselves by doing the jobs Americans can’t be bothered to do? To the Globe, the answer is simple:
Screw them.
Where does the lie that illegals get paid less come from? At least in the restaurant industry nothing could be farther from the truth. Before I bought my business 2 of the cooks were illegal aliens (both are legal now) and they were paid substantially more than their counterparts. For obviouis reasons, they show up on time, don’t complain, and do anything that’s asked.
Maybe in other industries they are paid less but it’s by no means universal.
Maybe in specific industries they are paid less. I’ve heard reports of abuses in agriculture, etc. But Capitalist Infidel is right. When I’ve encountered illegals on the job, they work hard, expect comparable pay, and with few exceptions don’t complain and goof off. If you are not working on the weekend, they go out and try to find supplemental work for those one or 2 days.
I’ve also heard employers discuss on talk shows that the reason they hire illegals is the work ethic, and they pay them accordingly. The jobs Americans won’t do? Sadly, for many, the definition of “won’t do” is either work hard or hard work.
I work with a lot of illegals in construction and they get paid good. waveman I think you’re wrong. These are jobs Americans CAN’T do because illegals are stealing them. AND not paying tax I might add. I opened up my mail just yesterday and there’s a letter from my State tax office telling me there’s a problem with my 2004 return. I wonder what the chances are I can get amnesty for an honest mistake I might have made on my return. Should I march?
Cap and Tim make good points.
Whether its illegal aliens or US security, the print media has its own agenda and screw the consequences beyond their agenda.
Capitalist Infidel:
Glad someone else is aware of the facts of immigrant labor (legal or illeagal). I have been saying for sometime that you can’t fill 12 million jobs with 6 million people, even if they would and could do the work. Just imagine some fat welfare recipient bent over in a lettuce patch for 8 hours.
Politicians have ignored the problem for so long there is no longer a reasonable solution.
IF YOU KEEP YOUR HEAD BURIED IN THE SAND LONG ENOUGH, SOONER OR LATER SOMETHING IS GOING TO BITE YOU IN THE ASS!
Tim,
You can check my past posts as to whether I am a supporter of illegal immigration. I’m not. While I agree with much of what you said, and don’t take what I said as being an apologist for the illegals, my point is that many Americans are allergic to hard work.
I spent almost 20 years in management. In the early 90s, before we even knew what an illegal alien was in Georgia, I used to say that, if you could hire someone, then mail them a paycheck without them ever having to show up in the building again, they would be happy. Otherwise they would piss and moan about all kinds of stuff. We had flexible schedules. “I can’t work evenings, Saturday mornings, Sundays, all day Tuesday, after 12pm on Wednesday, Monday thru Thursday of next week, but why don’t you give me more hours?” As time went on, it became harder and harder to find folks with work ethics.
Yes, illegals are ‘stealing’ citizens’ jobs. But if people were willing to do those jobs concientiously, and work hard, fewer would have to worry about having those jobs stolen. We’re suffering from an epidemic of laziness. Many employers want to get the job done. And they are chosing a work force that will work. It’s not right, but it’s a fact.
waveman at the risk of repeating myself the 100th time on Wizbang, I’ve been in commercial / industrial construction for 30 years. Here’s the story of how it all began: A general contractor hires a couple of hispanics to clean up the jobsite. They meet the sheetrock contractor and get a job. Next job they hire a few more of their friends. The sheetrock contractor now has to rethink hiring an American as his next employee because of the language barrier. So he asks his employees if they know of any good hispanic help. Of course they do, but they’re illegal. The sheetrock contractor now turns his head and never questions the bogus SS number. On any jobsite all trades have to be able to communicate with each other. Next project comes along and the AC contractor, plumbing contractor, electrical contractor find out they can’t communicate with the sheetrock crew, so they hire some hispanics of their own for translators. This cycle keeps snowballing and snowballing….. Now it’s gotten to the point that the American skilled tradesman is an endangered species. I know plenty of tradesman that can’t find work because illegals have their jobs AND are making the same money.
STim you’re forgetting to explain why he hired a couple of hispanics to clean up the jobsite to begin with. Were THEY illegals or just Hispanic-Americans? I have to agree with everyone, and this entire problem isn’t simple (anymore). Waveman is really correct…I work for the Federal Government as a Merchant Marine Engineer. I’m currently sailing in the Persian gulf right now on the USNS Saturn, a combat support ship that supplies US Navy and NATO allies with foodstuffs and other goods. On ships, one can’t really afford to be lazy, but you’d be surprised who shows up out here. Luckily MSC (the command that I’m employed by) has about 150 people on a ship instead of the usual 30 that a normal vessel would have…people think it is a license to be lazy. I’m a supervisor on WATCH….I’ve seen some watchstanders down in the engine room so freaking lazy they never leave the control room…
Give jobs to Americans…give me a break. Unions only make the problems worse by making the jobs so cushy the person never wants to work.
STim you’re forgetting to explain why he hired a couple of hispanics to clean up the jobsite to begin with. Were THEY illegals or just Hispanic-Americans? I have to agree with everyone, and this entire problem isn’t simple (anymore). Waveman is really correct…I work for the Federal Government as a Merchant Marine Engineer. I’m currently sailing in the Persian gulf right now on the USNS Saturn, a combat support ship that supplies US Navy and NATO allies with foodstuffs and other goods. On ships, one can’t really afford to be lazy, but you’d be surprised who shows up out here. Luckily MSC (the command that I’m employed by) has about 150 people on a ship instead of the usual 30 that a normal vessel would have…people think it is a license to be lazy. I’m a supervisor on WATCH….I’ve seen some watchstanders down in the engine room so freaking lazy they never leave the control room…
Give jobs to Americans…give me a break. Unions only make the problems worse by making the jobs so cushy the person never wants to work.
The hardest working people on these ships are almost always the filipinos, all of them are either first or second generation migrants and have the work ethic to prove it. I’m not racist…but damn near 50% of all african-americans on board these ships are lazy as hell..it’s just something I’ve noticed.
Tim at July 2, 2006 04:20 PM
I’ve worked in Mexico and Central America. With a language barrier. I only had 3 years of High School spanish- 30 years ago. But, if you want to communicate, you can. How does the english speaking contractor communicate, anyway? Using that argument, all the english speaking contractors should be extinct, too. You can either adapt, work harder, or stand around like the locals did on the Goobacks episode on South Park, and shout, “They tuk oer jobs!”
My dad learned to work with South Americans that migrated- legally- 30 years ago to South Carolina in the textile industry. He was a weave room supervisor. He had more and more working for him in the 35 years he was a supervisor. Why? He didn’t tolerate laziness. Don’t do your job? His response was, “See that door?” “Yes.” “Well, get on the other side of it.” He didn’t put up with it, and his employees knew it. Do your job, you had his respect. And they respected him for it. At least those who worked and didn’t lose their jobs.
Reason I mention him, I don’t think to this day he speaks a word of spanish. They adapted. He adapted. We can either adapt, or stand around and whine.
No actually waveman I don’t have to adapt, but they may have to. They might have to adapt to the heat and humidity of their hometown in Guatemala. It’s just that simple. I’m sorry you and Henry have lost faith in the American worker. You may not believe it but we built almost everything you see around you today. I also feel sorry for your children. They’ll give up their freshman class seats to illegals who get in-state college tuition, then turn around and take all the white collar jobs “Americans don’t want to do.”
No, I haven’t lost faith in the American worker. And illegals won’t gain the status as long as we enforce existing laws and oppose enactment of the horrible Senate Immigration Reform Act. My point is that if we continue to sit around and whine rather than adapt, improve our performance, and commit to excellence. Too many are, as Lt. Dan said, “(L)iving on the government tit!.”
Massachusetts used to be the textile capitol. Then those jobs moved south in the late 1800s. I’m sure there were whiners saying “They took our jobs!,” but they adapted. Better jobs took their place. Now the textile jobs have moved offshore, and better industries, with better pay, are moving in to the south to take their place. Witness BMW in SC, with all the support industries.
Buggy manufacturers faced the same problems when the auto industry came on the scene. The domestic auto industry faced the same problem when the imports arrived. Two choices. Whine or adapt.
Americans have always been able to compete and adapt. We have had the greatest workforce in the world. Now we have a choice. Enforce the laws, compete, improve, or face the scenario that you tell me my kids face. I, and I hope my kids, choose the former.
Should be:
My point is that if we continue to sit around and whine rather than adapt, improve our performance, and commit to excellence, that is our fate.
waveman I’m a little confused. At the beginning of this thread you posted this: “The jobs Americans won’t do? Sadly, for many, the definition of “won’t do” is either work hard or hard work.”
On your last response you posted this: “Americans have always been able to compete and adapt. We have had the greatest workforce in the world.”
Could you please make up your mind.
Tim, I’m not trying to argue. I still say that there are too many that are alergic to hard work. I stand by that. NOT ALL, but too many. These are often the ones whining that their jobs have been taken.
Conditions change, and we sometimes have to make hard choices and change with them. Always has been that way. I’ve had to make hard choices when conditions changed. I could have just moaned ‘woe is me!’ The point of one of my later posts.
And you only partially quote my last post. Now we have a choice. That follows what you quote. If we are willing to sit on our asses and whine, we’ll get what we deserve.
Before you accuse me of being for illegal immigration, I’ll say what I have said before on WizBang. Close the border. Now.
We have a situation here now that we need to adapt to. Or we can just choose to whine. That’s all.