Immigrants passing out pink slips. U.S. unemployment highest level in 20 years.

www.zwire.com ^ | October 14, 2003 | STEVE GILL

[Fee]

Add to the fact that during the turn of the century, we had a frontier for immigrants who did not make it on the first try in the cities. They had a second chance to start all over again. Today the frontier is 70 percent owned by the federal government and is off limits for development. Without this safety valve, it would be crazy to maintain the traditional immigration policies of the past. I agree with article of limiting immigration until we have an immigration policies that reflects 21st Century reality.

[Support Free Republic]

New Thread Here

[Conspiracy Guy]

Would the last American leaving America please turn out the lights and bring the flag.

[Freedom_Isn't_Free]

Maybe it's just me, but I've noticed that almost every time I see an "apparent" immigrant worker (obviously I can't determine whether they are actually immigrants, let alone whether or not they're legal), they are doing a job that I have no desire to do ... and never have.

Most of the "unemployed" and "laid off" workers I've seen in the news did not lose the type of jobs that are typically taken by these immigrant workers. Of course, many folks have lost jobs to plants moving to other countries, but that is an entirely different issue.

Folks, somebody's gotta harvest the crops, process the poultry, landscape the yards and perform the many other tasks that most Americans consider "beneath" their dignities! If these immigrant workers are willing to do this work, more power to them ... and if they are performing their services at low,low pay, that is a form of taxation in itself, and we all benefit!

[hookville]

Of course, the first thing that's wrong is the assertion that this is the highest unemployment rate in 20 years. See http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/UNRATE/12/Max

[BushCountry]

If you can't find a job, make one and quit bitching.

[zencat]

"The U.S. unemployment rate today is at the highest level in 20 years."

Wrong. It was over 10% in the early 1980s and almost 8% in the early 1990s.

6.1% isn't nearly as bad as all the bellyaching would have us believe, and it appears the economy is beginning to create jobs again.

[gubamyster]

ping

[TomGuy]

Unemployment percentages have always been deceptive. They usually represent the number of person currently (at any given time) receiving unemployment benefits from a state.

Once the UE benefits run out, the unemployed person ceases to exist for statistical purposes. He is no longer counted as either employed or unemployed.

Traditionally, UE benefits run between 4 and 6 months with a possible Federal extension up to 6 months, for a total UE benefits period of 1 year. Thus, an unemployed individual can be counted up to one year. Under unusual circumstances, a person may requalify for benefits for during a 2nd year, but that usually only occurs if the person had significant employment during the previous year.

[MissAmericanPie]

"But a Congress that should be looking for ways to help unemployed Americans is busy opening the floodgates to millions of new immigrants who take jobs away from Americans - and also helping companies take the remaining jobs offshore."

It's sure a darn good thing Republicans are in control of the House and the Senate, ain't it? What time is it?

[PRND21]

Bump

[TomGuy]

if they are performing their services at low,low pay, that is a form of taxation in itself, and we all benefit!

Just remember, that dang Lincoln had to go and free the slaves. Well, at least the illegals are getting a pittance.

(end sarcasm)

[No wonder the general public has little confidence in Republicans/Conservatives when it comes to people-employment.]

[skeeter]

If these immigrant workers are willing to do this work, more power to them ... and if they are performing their services at low,low pay, that is a form of taxation in itself, and we all benefit!

I see no evidence that immigration, illegal or otherwise, has any effect whatsoever on the price of the service they are rendering.

For example, the quotes I received for landscaping my front yard, the type of job permeated with illegals in these parts, 'bout knocked my socks off.

I'd like to see the evidence that excessive immigration - or for that manner, outsourcing, has any effect at all on the normal cost curve of the industries they're involved in.

[MissAmericanPie]

"America has always been a land of opportunity and a nation of immigrants."

How long are native Americans going to keep tolerating this destructive lie? We are not a nation of immigrants there has not been an immigrant in my family since 1734. This lie from the bowles of corrupt politicians suggests that nothing has been built here, there is no native population, no culture, no history, and we have no more say about who and what comes into our home than someone with wet feet. What time is it?

[ZDaphne]

Amen!

[skeeter]

Correction, I meant to assert immigration has no effect on price curves. They certainly have an effect on the cost curves.

[dennisw]

Get real.... you are so uninformed about the nature of our illegal alien workforce.

[hookville]

I think, zencat, that you're attributing that view to the wrong person. Read again what *I* wrote and look at the link, which is to a graphic demonstrating that the present unemployment rate is not extraordinarily high --especially for a recession.

[zencat]

Actually, I was just trying to add support to your comments. Nice link though. I'll save it in my favorites for whenever someone post those "worse X since the Great Depression" articles.