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Y&R Discussion Group
I actually don't know a whole lot about this issue, so I am looking to build my knowledge.
I do know that Washington has been turning a blind eye to illegal aliens coming in from Mexico.. so it is in their interests to have them here.
I also know that many Americans are upset about this issue.. I am not sure exactly why.
One thing though: Illegal aliens, or even ones who are legal, tend to do the lowest paying and worst jobs in this country. Wal-Mart, Hotels, fast food, slaughterhouses, seasonal farmwork, and a whole slew of other jobs no one wants for themselves or their child. These are thousands of businesses that depend on low-wage labour that no American wants. Millions of jobs throughout the restaurant, service and other sectors that would have the economy grind to a halt if these jobs are not filled. Regardless of right or wrong, our economic system depends on these gears turning.
No one here who has a child aspires for their offspring to wind up a restaurant manager at McDonald's, even if it is the highest manager in that store.... think of all those toilets to clean, all those floors to mop, all those livestock to be chopped up. As things stand, someone has to do these jobs.
You know, when you walk through a Wal-Mart, you sumtimes have to marvel at how things are kept going... all those deliveries shipped day in and day out, and all that work to be done so the shelves can be stocked. It is astounding that it's there for us. And just how easy a little crack here, and a little crack there could SO easily change our way of life forever.
Right now many truckers I hear are so frustrated with the gas prices that they are going in the red; just going to be packing it up and not doing that job anymore.
Enlighten me, if possible.
This may be more of an economic class issue than an immigration issue. But tensions are high in the states thats for sure!!!
On the other side of the coin, I recognize that it is usually not my demographic that is getting up in arms about this. My children's schools are not effected, we have great health insurance so I don't tend to have to wait for anything that I need, the stores I shop in cater to me.....etc. etc. I am pretty far removed from the very legitimate complaints of other American citizens.
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I am 100% for the right of anybody to enter this country legally. I know that there is a long wait and lots of red tape to go through to enter through the proper channels, but those who enter illegally are not making the wait any better for them. I also believe that if there truly was going to be a crackdown, there would be more than just a raid or two on some employers. It seems like the only country many people think of when they bring up illegal immigration is Mexico. Closing the Mexican border would do absolutely nothing at all to stop the problem. For example, I know of few Polish or Chinese people who enter here that way.
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I'm right on the fence on this issue. I can clearly see both sides and have a hard time really determining which side to support. They both have very good points.
Regarding how illegals do jobs that American citizens don't want to do. That is true. However, there is a law in this country that most business follow and that is that you cannot hire illegal aliens, first of all. Also there is a federal minimum wage, as well as various state minimum wages. Both laws are followed by the majority of companies.
Those companies who do not follow either one of these laws need to seriously get busted for that. They are abusing these illegals for the work they are willing to do and it's wrong.
It is true, however, that many legal immigrants will happily take jobs that pay a legal wage, but average american citizens deem to be too low/degrading for them to do. In my 10 years in HR, the first two jobs I worked at were in the manufacturing industry, and most of our employees were legal aliens. We had a very hard time finding americans willing to do this work, and when we did, they did not last long. These were jobs that paid $10-11/hr in Boston.
On the pro side of the issue, you have the fact that we are a melting pot - a country made up of immigrants. So why would we want to stop that. I do believe that people who want to have a better life, SHOULD be able to come here, just like out ancestors have.
ON the con side, we have put enough strain on our resources as it is, and especially under Shrub, we just cannot take anymore of that strain with trillions of dollars now being spent on that stupid war of his. We have bridges falling down, hurricanes ravaging areas, so many people on welfare (that seriously needs to be reformed and does not need more people going onto it), housing prices through the roof, overpopulation, pollution, lack of education for a lot of people, crime that is getting higher....all of these things that even without immigration needs the governments 100% attention. Money from our government needs to go here, instead of to Iraq, or wherever Shrub decides to attack next. ON top of that, Illegal immigration is only compounding many of these problems.
Both pro and con have good points - so I just stay directly on the fence, and depending on my mood on a particular day, that's that POV that I give when asked.
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