[brianl703]

I expect that how much it'd cost you to get a legal worker depends on where you are. I will point out that it's been my observation that the day-laborers are far more prevalent in the high cost-of-living areas, where $150K buys you a townhouse in bad neighborhood (infested with those same day laborers, I might add).

In Fredericksburg, VA, my brother used to make $12/hour (before taxes) installing commercial windows/doors, if that gives you an idea--and he was good at what he did.

In the same town, I was paying a legal worker $25/hour for side work involving new siding, kitchen counter replacement, front door replacement, bathroom remodel, etc--skilled labor compared to picking up debris and putting it in a trailer. Probably worth an extra $10/hour.

[jrawk]

I have a brother-in-law who is a painter in Wyoming, and a Cousin who is a Dry-Wall Contractor in Salt Lake City. Trade work is hard honest work. I work the more modern trade of programming computers myself, it is much easier on the back, but a lot longer hours.

I am surprised we don't have more immigration from Fredericksburg, VA here in Texas. Lot of folks from Missouri moving in...

We tried to send 11 Texans to Oklahoma, but they came back... ;)

Well, I will grant I live in a growth area.

But you know if all the McDonalds workers in the U.S. decided to get together and form a company that picked up brush piles for $8 an hour they would double their wage, and chase those immigrants right back across the border with competition.

For some reason I don't see it happening.

-- lates
-- jrawk