Posted on 05/08/2006 9:59:34 AM PDT by kellynla
Ever since President Bush unveiled his first guest worker plans early in his first term, employer claims of labor shortages have dominated the economic side of the national immigration debate. Without an ever-greater inflow of immigrants, representatives of numerous industries have warned, their sectors literally will run out of workers. Indeed, these business leaders insist, U.S. immigration policy has been so restrictive they have been forced to hire illegal immigrants to stay in business and thereby keep the economy growing.
These views, and related calls to open U.S. borders wider, have been reinforced by much of the conventional wisdom surrounding the American economy. The native-born population's birthrate is relatively low and consequently this population is aging and stabilizing. Moreover, as President Bush and his allies keep repeating, legal and illegal immigrants alike are mainly doing "the jobs Americans won't do" -- physically demanding labor in low-paying but essential industries.
Yet the most important statistics available show conclusively that, far from easing shortages, illegal immigrants are adding to labor gluts in America. Specifically, wages in sectors highly dependent on illegals, when adjusted for inflation, are either stagnant or have actually fallen.
Both textbook economics and common sense teach that wages are a surefire measure of labor market abundance or shortage. When labor is genuinely scarce, and too many employers are chasing too few workers, businesses typically bid wages up in the competition to fill jobs.
When too many workers are chasing too few jobs, employers typically cut wages, confident that beggars can't be choosers. Labor Department data reveal that the wage-cutting scenario is exactly what has unfolded recently throughout the economy's illegal immigrant-heavy sectors.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
ping
But, but who will do the jobs that Americans won't do for $2 per hour under the table?
awe come on now, you don't know any out of work American teenagers who need a job. they have such a good work ethic to begin with... :D /s
It's amazing basic supply and demand principles need to be reiterated.
Whats with hispanic illegal and legal immigrants and litter? Is this a phenomenom limited to Hispanics or all immigrant communities? I dont remember if the Irish or italians lived in filth. I only ask because San Jose gets dirtier by the day. Today's deep question.
apparently they're creating the need for more illegals to clean up after them, it's in the handbook ya know ;)
I know its a provacative question but its the elephant in the living room..CLEAN UP YOUR MESSES!
ping
The answer is simple, look at Mexico.
Of course! And then when one of them gets hurt on the job, you can just throw them away like trash and hire a new one. Of course, mister and misses taxpayer will pay for the former injured illegal alien employee's health bill when they go to the ER. Perfect out of whack black market for labor, just like any third world country or slave-master society.
Greenies..........Sheesh.
A separate set of rules for business and lowly consumers. If the business claims the cost is too high they break the law and get workers from across the border.
If the cost of medicine is too high, it's tough noogines for the lowly consumer. He better not get caught getting cheaper meds in Canada.
Friend of ours recently sold their house in a Mexican area here in town and moved over to Pismo Beach. He was here this morning and went by the house. He said they have someone living in the Tuff shed (a large one) that is beside the house and someone else living in the workshop that is behind and attached to the detached garage.
Our code enforcement here doesn't care.
Nope, their parents usually take care of all their needs and wants.
To bad CalTrans can't drive by Home Depot and pick up a crew to clean up the 280/880 interchange. That would be $2 an hour well spent.
/S
Falling inflation adjusted real wages goes along ways towards explaining why President Bush is having the unprecedented problem of his popularity swirling downwards in the toilet in a booming economy. It's hard to get enthusiastic about abstract growth numbers when your standard of living is falling. Significant numbers of Americans are living worse under Bush and I won't be surprised if they look elsewhere besides Republicans for a fix.
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