In recent weeks I have read several letters in the Tribune concerning illegal aliens. With rare exception, the authors express indignation and even rage at the idea of illegal aliens receiving even basic public support - basic education for children, housing, a license to drive or even medical attention.
I alternate between being ashamed for the callous attitudes of my fellow citizens and being amused.
This morning I amused myself for a few minutes picturing our world if all of these good citizens got their wish, waking to a new dawn with all of the undocumented workers gone. All across the country, garment factories closed, thousands of restaurants unable to open for lack of staff, crops rotting in the fields and packing plants with no one to stoop, harvest or load. Construction
work slowed as masons, dry-wallers, plumbers, carpenters and other trades become short-handed overnight. Your gardener or landscaper faced with a client list that can't be served because there are no crews. No rooms available in Salt Lake hotels because there are no staff to clean the rooms or launder the linen. And my favorite, fast food chains becoming slow food chains with no one to cook, clean or run the cash register.
If you all think there are enough capable and unemployed citizens to fill the vacancies, think again. Especially in Utah, where the governor has signed a law prohibiting payment of a living wage to workers.
Garth Portillo
Guest Commentator
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5 comments:
This article is re-published here with the express permission of its author, Bob Montanez
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American employers are robbing illegals
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
It was good to hear there are high school grads willing to take jobs that are being robbed by illegals (May 14 letter: "Illegals are robbing youth of entry-level jobs"). Bring them on, because I need pick-and-shovel work done immediately. I can also refer these grads to other jobs in California working in the fields and other stoop labor.
Of course, they will be expected to work under the same conditions as illegals. Illegals demand $8 to $10 an hour in the construction industry, not minimal pay as the misinformed writer states. Expect piece-work pay for farm workers. They will also be working with no benefits and under harsh conditions in over 100-degree temperatures.
Crop dusters may spray insecticides overhead. Sanitary conditions are nonexistent, and housing may be provided with a deduction in pay. I suggest they take their own tents, because housing is not like home.
There are also openings in foundries, but not many white boys can take the extreme heat and heavy lifting.
It's absurd to believe illegals do not spend money here, unless you believe they can exist without food, clothing, housing, transportation, etc.
Be aware that employers of illegals are breaking the law, and are subject to a $10,000 fine. But don't worry, since these laws are not enforced.
Please call me as soon as possible; I am not hard to find.
In case this letter went over your head, American employers are the robbers, not the illegals.
-Bob Montanez
America is the great melting pot. It is free and economicaly powerful because each succeeding generation of imigrants have come to it's shores to seek freedom and opportunity to live the dream. They have all in turn taken on the lowest jobs that the established citizens are to successful to do themselves. Think of the Italians, Irish, Germans, Poles, Chinese, Japanese, greeks, slavs, etc. The huddled masses yearning to breath free like the lady in the harbor says. Each group was despised, feared, and abused, but they persevered and all contribute to America's greatness. Now comes our latin brothers and sisters to live the dream. They are here and they are making life better for us and them. Reach out and welcome them and thank them and encourage them to make a better life for their families here in the golden land of opportunity, just like our ancestors did for you and me. Either that or go pick your own damn lettuce you selfish ungrateful racist bastards...
They are here and they are making life better for us and them. Reach out and welcome them and thank them and encourage them to make a better life for their families here in the golden land of opportunity, just like our ancestors did for you and me
Bravo, well said
The "real deal" here, as per the illegal aliens, is terrorism. The liberals bitch and moan about illegals taking jobs that Americans won't, human rights and all of that ridiculous crap....let em come and work because we need them to work, picking vegetables, making dog food, et al. It doesn't matter if a freaking terroist slips through carrying a dirty bomb, just as long as we don't violate the poor, misunderstood suckers rights, just like the detainees at Gitmo....treat em good, don't be harsh, shit dude, they're only trying to kill us because we are who we are. Deal with them after the fact; let em in, let em perpetrate some nasty shit on us, then deal with them, with the rights of the Geneva Convention, Mirandize them, feed them, water them, they are after all just people. The fact that they broke the law has nothing to do with anything....hell, arrest them when they do and treat them with dignity and comfort. Let em come and work.
For my money they, and those phoney chumps who support them, can, in the wise words of Merele Haggard, "take their jobs and shove it!"
Hey Socrates, our ancestors landed here when the land was here for the taking, although the American Indian probably didn't "encourage" that little bit of real estate piracy, or the disease and violence that they brought with them. After the colonialization dust settled, our Founding Fathers made up something called "Law," which in a civilized society, should be adhered to. My ancestors came via Ellis Island, entered this great country LEGALLY, and we went from there. Now, in the age of left wing and right wing disrespect, and the era of 2 wrongs do make a right ("They are here-reach out and welcome them and thank them and encourage them"), clowns like you seem intent to wear blinders when it comes to respect for the law and the safegaurding of the citizenry. It's guys like you, Socrates, who will make it easy for some whacked out terrorist to set off a dirty bomb or fill your drinking water supply with Zyclon-D
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