Driving in Capitola yesterday, I saw a sight that set my teeth on edge. At the risk of pissing people off, I'm sharing and not apologizing for my outrage
( Read more... )
It is broken, you're absolutely right. But do you have any thoughts on how to fix it? Because the reality is that the illegals can afford to work for half as much (and anyone who is hiring a worker is likely to hire the cheapest laborer, especially when they're *better* laborers) because a) they're living together in great numbers per home here or b) they're taking it back home to where that money goes a lot further. Oh, and c) they don't need to give a mighty chunk of it to the government in taxes. So that means that the legal workers need to drop their standards a bit in regards to their living situation, by living in smaller more cramped positions, living in another state and commuting to california to work periodically, or ...? Yeah, I'm looking for a solution, I'd love to know what can fix it. I make minimum wage, and unless I gave up sleeping, I don't think I could work enough hours in a week to live in my home alone, without financial help.
So, for starters on the solution... a couple weeks ago there was a driver who had been stopped and was being ticketed (speeding, I assume) across the street from about 30 day laborers. My perverse curiosity (masochism) made me stop and watch. After citing the driver, the police dude got into his car and drove away, not even giving the day laborers a second glance. So, to begin with, I'd give police orders and protection to demand proof of residency, or ID proving a right to be working in the US. And if such ID can't be displayed, they get carted off. And these days, you don't even need to worry about being accused of racial profiling. Just ask _everyone_ standing there. Another idea would be to place such steep fines on hiring someone without the proper documentation that it would make the risk of doing so prohibitive. Just a couple ideas off the top of my head.
So you think the solution is to strengthen the laws and enforcement of those laws that restrict the hiring of illegal workers. I agree that could solve the immediate problem. But I wonder about addressing the reasons behind why it's happening in the first place. A more long-term solution. Because people will always find a way around the laws.
Comments 7
Reply
Because the reality is that the illegals can afford to work for half as much (and anyone who is hiring a worker is likely to hire the cheapest laborer, especially when they're *better* laborers) because
a) they're living together in great numbers per home here or
b) they're taking it back home to where that money goes a lot further.
Oh, and c) they don't need to give a mighty chunk of it to the government in taxes.
So that means that the legal workers need to drop their standards a bit in regards to their living situation, by living in smaller more cramped positions, living in another state and commuting to california to work periodically, or ...? Yeah, I'm looking for a solution, I'd love to know what can fix it. I make minimum wage, and unless I gave up sleeping, I don't think I could work enough hours in a week to live in my home alone, without financial help.
Reply
Reply
Damn, I think I just broke Godwin's law.
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment