In 1983 my father was a journeyman carpenter and a independent contractor. He paid himself from his small company the prevailing wage for a carpenter $15 an hour. Now in 2005, 23 years later with the influx of illegals in the construction trades the wage is $12 to $15 an hour. Illegals are not used to do the work we will not, they are used to suppress wages on lower level jobs. This reason is why I would love to see the borders shut to illegals.
And you live your life based on what the government calls the 'prevailing wage'? PW is a completely socialistic creation. Have you considered other causes of wage stagation for such a wage? Modular homes? SIPs? Concrete homes? Package homes from the lumber yard? Owner/Builders? Framers and carpenters are becoming exstinct, and its not because of Pedro from Mexico.