If American consumers are only willing to pay Wal-Mart prices for consumer goods (food, houses and services) and producers are forced to produce at that ridiculously low price using cheap labor.  How accountable are we for creating the demand for immigrant labor?
199750
it is not who to blame. first you need to figure out what you are mad about. if you are mad that they are over populated then it is about sex. if it is the taking of the jobs. then it is jus that there are not lazy and will do anything for money. so you need to rethink your question
48459
There needs to be a control on who and how many immigrants the US receives. This could be done if we allowed people who only wish to work, access to the US easily. There could be safeguards as to how many workers and information on both sides about how many jobs are available and what not. This could benefit many business in US and reduce illegal immigration to those wanting to cause harm to the US, not a family trying to make a living. Both sides could benefit as long as companies do not try to attract Mexican immigrants to work in jobs not sanctioned by an agreement.
333068
Blame the sanitation workers who fought for better wages, benefits, etc. instead of fighting for an education.  Blame the unions, and blame the employers for falling for their diatribe.\n\nAmericans are doing themselves out of jobs.  Don't point a finger at immigrants or the employers.\n\nWhere else can uneducated people who do not fit well within society find work at $20 an hour with health insurance, vacation and paid sick days?
218997
His statement expressed a common misconception.  Americans spent years doing jobs like fruit picking and washing dishes.  It is not that Americans are unwilling to do the work, but that Americans are unwilling to do the work for the wages being offered.  Americans want to make minimum wage and to have workers comp if they get hurt. \n\nThe reason is that those jobs commonly filled by illegals pay less than minimum wage, but still more than they would make in their own country.  The employers get away with this because illegal workers don't complain about employer violations for fear of being deported.
8463
They are doing that in many smaller communities.  Just imagine you owned the local grocery store and are making a good living.  Walmart comes into town, you are out of business.  You will never be able to get the wholesale prices that they get or sell the different products that they are able to.\n\nThey are lowering income levels of the entire community when they move in.  That is according to their own study.\n\nAnother issue with Walmart is how they deal with suppliers.  If you had a farm and sold your produce to Walmart, they will say we need a 20% discount from you.  And if they are you only customer, what do you do?\n\nThey are hard on the community (store owners) they move in and the suppliers.
639854
Well sometimes the answer just to live with is not acceptable. I think it might be a good idea to start talking with policitians about creating a bill where for every job the company outsources they should have to create a job here. Outsourcing does help the economy of other countries so it is good for international trade, but honestly I think we should start doing something about the problems here before we worry about what's going on out here. If this would be a bill that would pass then it would cost more for these companies to outsource and it might actually get them to stop it. Or maybe an incentive program would be better..but then it wouldn't be a big deal to some companies who save millions by outsourcing to other countries.\n\nAbout the only thing we can do as consumers is start purchasing products made in America. If we start hitting them where it hurts then maybe something will come about it. It's hard to do because it will cost more but the message will be loud and clear. This could also create more jobs in the long run as well. The more products we buy the more the companies have to produce the more workers they're going to have to hire to make the products. So...yeah..that's what I came up with anyway.
332792
yes i think that would help but this whole guest worker crap is not going to work its just another way around it heres why :\n\n\nI wonder how many nurses, teachers, or high-tech workers would work for $8 an hour. Wait, you didn't know that Bush's "guest worker" plan would be open to those people too?\nThat's what they have in mind. And, there would be no wage-related restrictions on it other than the minimum wage. So, employers could offer a teaching job for $8 an hour. American teachers would either take that rate or, more likely, they wouldn't. So, the employer could hire that "guest" worker from Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi would consider that a king's ransom. All the requirements of Bush's plan had been met: there wasn't an American willing to do the job.\nBush's plan would force millions of previously higher-wage jobs down near the minimum wage. What phrase would most Americans use to describe such a plan?\n\nWhat exactly does he mean by "families"? Will their immediate family come with them or not? If not, are we going to be able to split up families? Not all people coming here would be Mexicans or from the parts of Mexico near the border. Is Bush going to require men to travel hundreds of miles to see their immediate family?\nIf, however, they're bringing their immediate family with them, there will no doubt be hundreds of thousands of children born, and those children will be U.S. citizens. Who's going to be able to make them go home after they've had a U.S. citizen child? And, won't most "guest" workers intentionally have children here so it will be harder to make them go home?\nAnd, given that, doesn't this plan consist not just of an amnesty, but as a massive incentive for a huge chunk of Mexico's population to come here? Was any thought put into the consequences of this plan at all?\nNo, no guestworker program should take the place of following the law! This still allows the law-breaking illegals to go to the head of the line and disrupts the ability of legal immigrants to get their chance! Until such time as all able-bodied welfare recipients are put to work, all homeless people, all college and high school students have the chance to work, we don't need to import anyone to take our jobs! Stop pandering, stop giving handouts and stop lying to the American people!\nEvery so often the real agenda slips through\n\nhow can an American be expected to do a job that has had the wage undercut by cheap illegal labor from Mexico? How will legalizing this cheap labor change that situation? Of course, it will not. In fact, it will only encourage more border crossing, which will result in more Mexican citizens and others living in the United States and having children who are U.S. citizens, and who are thus harder to deport when their “temporary” guest worker visas expire. Given the fraud, incompetence, and bureaucratic lethargy that mark most government programs, how can the public have any faith that such a plan would work even remotely as advertised? \n\n\n\n\nAll of these illegals will eventually stay, become voters, if the DNC has their way, their population will continue to grow and they will become a voting block that has NO interest in our language, history, military, or patriotism, only the $$$$ that are available will be the main interest.\nThat scenario is not totally here yet, but it is lingering in the future if our national course of extreme liberalism continues to erode the very fabric of our nation.
616407
that's the problem with America. i know what your saying. we should start to make our own factories and build our own products. then we can truly be an independent nation. That is what our founding fathers wanted. But people will still buy product simple because its cheap. have you noticed that Wal-mart is cheaper that target or shop-ko or any other store. that is what Americans want... things that are cheap so people will continue to shop there. I am not a Wal-mart (china-mart) citizen and neither are my friends. but it is out-of-my-hands, i can't control other people. But people buy from their because they are cheap and not everyone can afford higher prices.
291600
American Corporation has moved their company's over to China for "Cheap Labor," To my understanding doesn't freight cost more to ship over seas, or even on a cargo plane? To me it seems that the Corporations should be loosing money. Then there's "Cheap Labor," Mexicans, Would get paid less then the average Joe, The problem here is pure simple Greed. Greed from the Government for not in forcing laws, and Pure Greed from Corporations. There wallets are getting fatter, while I have no Idea where or if I will have a Job next year?\n\nThe reason Why most Americans won't do the jobs is the number one reason "Cost of Living" Everything has gone up but not our pay. There is no way that we could survive on so little. WE are Americans We would not get any Help From the Government, So therefore; that's is why.
481548
No\n\nThe point your trying to make is that a price floor actually creates a shortage.  That is classic economic principles at work.  Lets let go of the emotion and think.  For all of those who think that those earning minimum wage would be better off if we raised minimum wage, consider this:\n\nWhat if, due to the higher cost of labor, businesses hired less people and those people who had the jobs get fired in an attempt by the business to cut costs.  Then their lives would get a lot harder.  Other companies would be doing the same thing.  They may not be able to get any job.  What then?  How are they going to feed their families.  \n\nIts a hard decision to make.  but it is a fact.  Price floors create shortages. To help the unfortunate... what do you do.\n\nThe deeper concepts are that the market sets the price that labor is worth.  If a business cant find any people to do the job that it needs done they raise wages.  The law of supply and demand.  Lots of fast food places don't even pay min wage.  The harsh truth is that if the job that these people were doing was worth more to the business they would be paid more.  When you force a business to pay someone more than they are worth (whether that arbitrary price keeps up with inflation or not) they will take certain steps to require less help from labor.  Mechanize or whatever they need to do.  Jobs will decrease.  \n\nAnyone who is in desperate need of higher min wage should think about moving to New Mexico.  Their min wage is like 9 bucks an hour.  Why are people not stumbling over themselves to go there?  Because there aren't enough jobs to go around.  The price floor of wages has created a shortage and has slowed economic growth.  This is a real life example.
229770
"Third, I don't like the idea that they take jobs from Americans who are willing to work. However, many of the jobs they take are jobs that legal Americans are unwilling to do because they are "demeaning". Also, Americans expect to be paid more because we want to buy the house and the car and the big screen television. They on the other hand want to put food on the table and clothes on their kids."\nMaybe Americans also want to put food on the table and clothes on their backs?  And what's wrong with wanting to get paid more to buy a house or a car?\n\n"Further more, have we forgotten that Texas was originally Mexico? Let's give it back! While we're at it, let's give back Hawaii to the Hawaiians, Alaska to the Russians, Louisianna to the French, Florida to the Seminoles, The Midwest to the Cherokee and Sioux and the East Coast back to England. Oh, and while we're at it drag all the Americans back from Japan, China, Taiwan, South Africa, and Australia."\n\nUh, many of those places you speak of were purchased.  And regardless of what the past was like we live in the present now.  It doesn't matter if the land belonged to someone else before.  The U.S. is U.S. property and it will and should not change.
50170
Legal immigration is moving to this country by filling out the proper paperwork and being given permission to live here. Illegal immigration means entering or staying in the country illegally.\n\nNow, with regards to the economic impact. Illegal immigrants DO do work that Americans refuse to do. And that is because of the wages. Say Americans picked oranges and had to be paid $15 per hour plus medical plus benefits. Americans would be lined up outside the door to get those jobs, right? Are you willing to pay $10 or $15 for a quart of orange juice to cover those wages and benefits? I think I know the answer to that one. So, to keep your quart of orange juice at $3, orange growers have to pay illegals 2 or 3 bucks an hour to do the work.\n\nHaving "fair pay that allows economic participation home,food,clothing,auto,health care,checking and savings accounts etc" sounds all well and good, and I think MOST Americans would be in favor of that if it were feasible. You wanna pay $15 for your McDonald's combo meal? No? Then guess what, people get paid minimum wage. You wanna pay $20 for a pound of meat? No? That's why stockers and tellers get around minimum wage.\n\nMOST of the people in those jobs (tellers, fast food, etc.) tend to be teens and people in their early 20s. Do you know why? Because they don't have any experience doing anything else! Why SHOULD they have everything handed to them on a silver platter? They are unproven as employees. After a couple of years, most move on to a little better jobs with a little better pay. They prove themselves there and move on to something bigger and better.\n\nGuess what? That is the way of the world ... always has and always will. Some people don't make a decent living because they do not prepare themselves to be able to earn a decent living.\n\nWhen I got married in 1989, I worked full time and netted $110 per week. $440 per year. $5280 per year. And I worked my a$$ off for it. I chose not to go to college, but I spent ten years in the military getting skills. I never made more than $25,000 in any year. I got off of active duty and was offered a job making over a hundred grand per year almost immediately. I had sh!tty pay for a decade, but there was a payoff - and that is right now.\n\nDon't be angry at the "cheap bastards trying to play capitolist" (and it is captilalist, not capitolist). Capitalism is all about the law of supply and demand. If the supply (the workers) will work for minimum wage (the demand) why SHOULD they be paid any more? If they don't like it, they should prepare themselves for a better job.
212468
The reason is that, they are considering both sides of the coin. Ilegal aliens work in restaurants (cooking, washing dishes, cleaning bathrooms, etc, for low wages). The truth is that employers don't want to hire U.S. Citizens because U.S. Citizens want more money. So, let's say that they hire U.S. Citizens for 50% more in they paycheck than Ilegal aliens. Than increase would be reflected in the price of the goods or services. Can you imagine drivers,cooks,construction laborers, janitors, plumbers etc?\nWe complain about the problem, but we don't want high prices on most products and services.\nThe politicians are evaluting the problem, but most likely they have to come with some kind of guest worker program, to help businesses succeed and not fail.\nOtherwise who is going to do those jobs for minimum wages?\nAnother thing is Taxes. Ilegals pay taxes for groceries, gasoline, insurance, utility bills, licence plates, etc.\nCan you imagine how much money those people generate to most States?. Believe or not Millions of dollars that help the economy of the United States.\nWe definitely want that problem solved without a high price.
100448
Well, I think we should show our full power to both sides of that question, even if it's contrary to popular opinion. And yeah... there are effects of illegal immigrants on residents of states, especially those bordering mexico... I live in Arizona, and I'm a carpenter, but I find it hard to get a job, because an Illegal Immigrant will take the job for a whole lot less money than I could go down to... It affects more than you think... and you wouldn't like to be dealing with the illegal immigrant thing personally like I have to every day.\n\nAnd well, about the war... if we WANTED to win, we could... but like I said, It's about popular opinion and people covering their own butts.\n\nAnd if you want to talk to me about why getting minimum wage doesn't affect them negatively, I have explanations for that, too.
271186
Poor workers still take more from the system, education, health, etc. then their taxes put in, even if they pay income taxes.  The middle class pays most of the benefits through taxes.  That is why all countries limit how many people without economic resources can come in, regardless of how hard they work.  The problem is that the employers aren't held accountable for those costs as they should be.\n\nImmigrants need to stand in line and come in legally.  The reason the line is so long is because our middle class so highly subsidizes services for the poor. We can't pay for the poor of the entire world.\n\nAnd if our people are so lazy, how did we come up with the sort of economy they are so desperate to join?  We pay them, don't we? And we work hard for that money.\n\nThey really tick off people who might be sympathetic when they steal our services, ruin the education for our kids that we, not they, pay for, then say we are lazy.
634887
I reckon it has not so much to do with being lazy, but having an education ... if you speak the language fluently ... if you have a good education .. then in all likelihood you'll be offered a better job ... and as someone said, it also depends on where you live in the U.S.  I wouldn't call people who work 70-80 hours a week in offices all around the U.S. lazy ... they're doing a different kind of job, but lazy?  Nahhhhh .... \n\nFruit and veggies have to be picked, they have ALWAYS been picked though, but not always by illegal aliens ... the only difference you would see if all the illegals were deported would be that wages for such jobs would go up ... and before someone screams You'll pay $10 for a head of lettuce ... not so!!  It is a simple fact that the veggie producers want to SELL their stuff ... nobody would buy at those prices ... there have been plenty written about this, and most seem to be in agreement that there might be a SLIGHT increase in prices, and a dip in profits for the veggie producer ... but hey, the crops would still be harvested, the produce sold ... we don't NEED illegal immigrants!
570036
What you obviously dont understand is that the companies that hire these people for minimum wage COULD NOT do this if they were forced to pay higher wages.  By having these illegal immigrants working for these low wages, it brings down the entire middle class.  There are very few places that pay much more than the minimum wage but in Texas where I live, it is a common thing to see most jobs paying $7-$10 an hour.  How is a person to live?  Not everyone is cut out to go to college.  What you dont acknowledge is that these illegals are also being exploited.  And it is a matter of time before they too will decide that the profits that these companies are raking in are going to the CEO's and not trickling down to the people who are actually doing the bulk of the work.  And along with that are the numerous jobs that have added to it that you must be bi-lingual.......