Statements I've Never Heard

[pdxmilf]

I've heard people say time and again, "Illegal immigrants are stealing jobs from Americans!".....however, I've yet to hear anyone make the following statements....so I'm a bit confused.

1. Since I was a little boy, I dreamed of becoming a strawberry and lettuce picker. 

2. My parents expected me to get good grades and go on to college so I could become a dishwasher. 

3. I love cleaning toilets and making beds; that would be my dream job! You wouldn't even have to pay me minimum wage!

4. I applied for the Quality Assurance position at Intel but they gave it to some guy who swam the Rio Grande to sneak into this country.

5. I worked hard to get my Masters in English Literature so I could teach at a higher level but the illegals in this country keep stealing those positions away.

6. I tell my kids to do their homework and get good grades so they can make a living mowing lawns and pulling weeds when they get out of school.
 

[Goodwoman614]

Oct. 13, 2007 at 4:41 PM Seriously.  There are no easy answers, but my folks going back a few generations came to this country seeking opportunity and to not starve to death(read: Irish potato starvation).  On the German side, for the opportunity to possess their own land and to not be persecuted for their religion.  Like most people. Today, the biggest population are economic refugees.  WE would be doing the same thing if we were in their shoes.  So I wish everyone would stop bashing these people and work for/support REALISTIC solutions to this dilemma.  There is no easy solution for a complex issue that has many different factors, all of them complex in and of themselves,  combining to create  what  some would like to simplify and politicize.

[pdxmilf]

Oct. 13, 2007 at 4:55 PM

Thank you for adding your two cents. I do agree, there are no easy answers to the issue of illegal immigration.

I greatly admire the strength and perserverance of those who come into this country, live 8 to a room  atop each other, eat just enough to survive , and focus on working towards their goal of bettering life for their families. The loyalty and tight-knit family units are deserving of our admiration. What happened to extended families in this country? Show me another country that warehouses their elderly and mentally ill as quickly and at as high a rate we ours does. Ooops, that's another topic for another journal!

(Original Poster)

[painthead]

Oct. 13, 2007 at 6:57 PM when i was a little girl i always wanted to clean floors. Now i have my dream job cleaning three butts including my own, staying at home , only to cook and clean and then get on welfare and never have to work again, thanks AMERICA, because of u i can do all i set out to do.

and yeah and i'll work hard to get the rest of my family here to so on christmas we can be together. all 50 of us, plus 50 kids from friends who are not here yet.

[pdxmilf]

Oct. 13, 2007 at 7:22 PM

No one can just get on welfare. My father worked for the Social Services Department of his county for over 40 years and my mother also put in some time doing intake for the Human Services Division. I'm familiar with the changes that have taken place and how difficult it can be for those receiving assistance to continue to receive it - which I think is good - it should be a temporary safety net, not a lifetime situation. 

Shit happens to people every day but many people make the wrong choices and their fellow-country men end up paying their support.  

The system still has it's flaws. The concept of welfare was fine when it was created out of the Great Depression but it shouldn't have lasted as long as it has.  

No one come into this country and jumps on the welfare wagon, it's not possible. To do so would mean exposure and with that come deportation. Visit any Health/Human services department in your area - you'll be surprised at those you see there.  

(Original Poster)

[Goodwoman614]

Oct. 14, 2007 at 12:31 AM

Yes, pdxmilf.  What people do not know b/c the mainstream media do not cover is:

**illegal immigrants pay far more into the country's coffers than they receive back in services(yes, it's true)

**many places in the country, including Philly, where I am near, actively court immigrants b/c they know they need to replenish their population for the benefit mentioned in my first point, among many other reasons 

**demographics in this country related to the aging of the population portend great troubles on our horizon.  Many countries in Europe are have a negative growth rate and this will be just as bad for them as our looming social security problem

There is a lot more to the picture.  As in the past, immigrants make convenient targets.  When you begin to educate yourself on the issue, you find many surprises.   

 

[wearygram]

Oct. 14, 2007 at 12:07 PM Well I may have a little different take on things. My mother, grandmother and father, and their parents were all fruit tramps. They went where ever the harvest was, apples in Washington, melons in CA and so forth. They worked hard, made a good living until about 20 yrs. ago. Now the employers are hiring illegal workers to save money and benefits. There were plenty of people who did this type of work, the ones with out a higher education or those that just enjoyed the work and travel even though it was hard. Now there is no place for them. They say the illegal population are the only ones willing to do this work and that is not true. I did it when I was young as did a lot of people I know. I grew up in CA and there was always work in the fields. The same thing is happening in the construction and service industries. I think employers should be fined for hiring illegal immigrants knowingly. I have seen abuse by employers, they wait till payday and threaten to call INS and watch them scatter. This is so not fair to those that have worked hard. I don't blame people for wanting to be here, but doing it illegally opens the doors to abuse as well as taking jobs from legal citizens. I do not break the law and get away with it.

[sophie_sue24]

Oct. 14, 2007 at 4:01 PM The only thing that really bothers me is if they are willing to break the law to come into this country illegally,  what else are they willing to do illegally to get ahead. 

[tijuanamom]

Oct. 14, 2007 at 7:02 PM

I love your post, keep up the good work

[Shelbel]

Oct. 15, 2007 at 12:36 AM

Coming to America to better yourself and your family is very admirable.  But come to this country by illegal means and it's UNFAIR!!  Illegal immigrant woman come here to give birth just to get into our wonderful WELFARE program.

I've personally witnessed 5 illegals trying to use the SAME social security number to gain employment!  Now where do you suppose they received this social security number?  THEY STOLE IT!  If you or I stole a person's social security number we would be put into a federal prison!! 

I get so sick of hearing the illegals are only taking the jobs no other american wants ...I look around and they aren't just working in our fields, which by the way they can receive American visas to do so.  They are in retail, restaurants, telemarketers, cleaning, customer service, roofers, carpenters, drywall hangers and finishers, lawn services, factories, automotives ect.  You nor anybody else can not tell me there isn't an American that wouldn't want these jobs!  WHO DID THEM BEFORE THE ILLEGALS CROSSED OUR BORDERS??? 

[justbeverly]

Oct. 15, 2007 at 12:51 AM

I agree with you  Shelbel!!!  Thank-you!

Shelbel Oct. 15, 2007 at 12:36 AM

Coming to America to better yourself and your family is very admirable.  But come to this country by illegal means and it's UNFAIR!!  Illegal immigrant woman come here to give birth just to get into our wonderful WELFARE program.

I've personally witnessed 5 illegals trying to use the SAME social security number to gain employment!  Now where do you suppose they received this social security number?  THEY STOLE IT!  If you or I stole a person's social security number we would be put into a federal prison!! 

I get so sick of hearing the illegals are only taking the jobs no other american wants ...I look around and they aren't just working in our fields, which by the way they can receive American visas to do so.  They are in retail, restaurants, telemarketers, cleaning, customer service, roofers, carpenters, drywall hangers and finishers, lawn services, factories, automotives ect.  You nor anybody else can not tell me there isn't an American that wouldn't want these jobs!  WHO DID THEM BEFORE THE ILLEGALS CROSSED OUR BORDERS???