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Pay for jobs should NOT be set based on a reasonable or living wage. They should be based on market competition. Anything other than that is pure socialism.

Wages and prices should of course be set by competition and by market principles, but don't you think that a problem arises when some of the "competitors" choose to violate the law? The problem here is that some employers are hiring people who aren't legally in the country. Their presence in the country increases the supply of labor and depresses wages for the workers legally here.

How is hiring counterfeit workers (illegal immigrants) any more legitimate a competitive practice than selling counterfeit Gucci bags?

"Wages and prices should of course be set by competition and by market principles, but don't you think that a problem arises when some of the "competitors" choose to violate the law? The problem here is that some employers are hiring people who aren't legally in the country. Their presence in the country increases the supply of labor and depresses wages for the workers legally here."

I think this definitely occurs in some job markets, but not all job markets. I think Bush's proposal will go a long way to correct this problem as employer's will be legally required to pay at least minimum wage. Also employer's who provide benefits to legal employees will have to provide those same benefits for temporary workers. THis being the case, the incentive for hiring illegal aliens will be gone and maybe with that, more Americans will get the jobs currently occupied by the illegals.