I was kicked off League of Women Voters immigration study list

 

My opposing views apparently irritated the LWV and I was unsubscribed from their immigration study list. 

They say they are neutral, but they actively "educate" the community about the contributions of illegal immigrants by hosting panels and other forums.  I was referred to a webcast panel discussion described as "balanced," to find out that each of the speakers, incredibly familiar with the recent reform bill (so much so that I deduced they had authored parts of it), were all for illegal immigration.  These panelists also were active in supporting illegal communities and in traveling between U.S. and certain Mexican communities.  They were very careful (this was before the last vote that killed it) in responses to audience members, not wanting to reveal anything inflammatory.  When asked whether the U.S. should work with Mexico so that its citizens wouldn't emigrate here, they all fell silent...then said, sure.

 The failure of the recent bill means little if the U.S. continues its open borders policy.  Proponents who load their arguments by emphasizing family and starving Mexicans are hiding their true motivation--which is strictly business.  This is about cheap labor for business...in a country where slavery is no longer legal.  Business wants these people here permanently so they can be assured of their profits.  They claim that Americans don't want jobs that pay $30-$50 thousand a year in construction because they are too educated. 

Buried in this is some very racist views, too, addressing the quality of the American lowskills workforce. 

I resubscribed to the list and plan to monitor it and post until I am banned altogether. 

macktan - good information!  Thanks

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They claim that Americans don't want jobs that pay $30-$50 thousand a year in construction because they are too educated. 

What an incredibly elitist statment! I know a great many people who would love to earn 30 to 50 thousand a year - in construction or any other line of work. I have two degrees and have graduated three academies and I've never found any type of work beneath me.

 It's the same attitude of the people who backed this bill and who have never been in touch with the actual working class in the nation. This a bridge that I don't know how to gap - the only way it could be done is for those who have never spent a day at real labor be forced to work as most of the rest of us have for a few years.  

They seldom ever come in contact with the great smelly unwashed mass of us so they don't have a clue and don't much care. I'd like to kick them squarely in their portfolios and cram their stock options up their arrogant, snobbish.... throats.

Their major concern is fattening their bank accounts and the welfare of the nation and its people is of no concern if it doesn't affect them.

Guess I'll go sit in the corner and eat my cake. (Or is it a burrito?)

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My brother and I could both use a job at an average wage of 40k a year. William Jefferson "Blow Job Bill" Clinton let the crazies fly into the world trade center and created a crash in the stock market that ruined a lot of that had just retired. All you hear about is how much money was lost in the Enron debacle let me assure you it is a drop in the bucket to what was lost in the Market right after 9/11.

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I once had friends who owned a landscaping business that did business with the city of Chicago.  I helped them prepare bids for various jobs and run their office.  At first, I thought it was wonderful that they hired so many Mexicans.  Then I found out the true story.

The city of Chicago requires that labor be paid a prevailing wage that covers the cost of labor and health and welfare.  Since this business did not have a benefits package, it was required to pay its labor $30 an hour, doubletime for work over 40 hours a week.

The owner's wife did the payroll.  Her husband, co-owner, would hand her the hours for each of the crew.  She would cut the checks.  One day, a new crew member started yelling in Spanish.  He came to the wife and said that his check was not right.  She said you'll have to speak to my husband about it, and he referred this employee to his head Mexican guy.

This is what was going on.  These guys were paid anywhere from $5.00 to $10 an hour.  They worked always 60-70 hours a week.  But the checks had to be copied and sent into the city each month, and they had to reflect the $30 an hour.  The owner would convert the hours so that the checks could be written at the required rate (which meant the hours would have to be reduced accordingly).  The owner sheepishly said to me--I take on big risks hiring these guys, and if they want the work they'll have to share them.  Did he pay them overtime?  No.  But he would give them a bonus at the end of the year.  But these workers instead of making $6000 a month were making barely $2000 a month--if that.  Not to mention working at the owner's home and feeding his dogs.

He was reported to the city.  But Chicago politics being what they are...He would bribe certain people--doing fence work for them for free, etc.

And all of this is publlic information.  Vendor contracts are even available on line.  (once a young black student applied for work at his company, but was turned down.  Americans, of course, would not have accepted the "risks" argument, would not have gone along).

This is why I know businesses are going after the cheap labor and pocketing the profits for themselves.  They are all Enrons. 

Landscaping is a grueling work--but there are many Americans who could use $6000 putting up fences, doing construction, or landscaping.