[Leisler]

"The big difference today: we don't need more labor. We don't have blue collar jobs for these people. They are now a BURDEN. "

Actually we do need more labor. Ever been to any major old city? What happened to all the carpenters, masons, plumbers, all the supply yards and sundry buisnesses? Furthermore, look at new building everywhere, all designed and built for ever less skilled labor force. I could go on, poor and long time for road repairs. Go into any factory, and asked the factory floor manager about the mechanical skill level of males these days. Very poor. The same can be said and I know from personal experience that it is very difficult to get any, especially American, to show up for work, let alone apply oneself. Before, at and after the turn of the century we had piles of schools that trained mechanics in all fields, and thus gave human power to the industries of the last century. Now we just give prozac, counciling, tv and sports to the less academic types. Lastly it is not a burden. To the lefties who get government jobs and money, it is their buisness. Dependency is a growth industry. It is just the forced taxes on you to pay the lefties that is a burden. Defund the left, the real reason for less taxes and the real reason the left fights it so, because they'd have to get a real job, and we all know how skilled they would be. Not.

[ffusco]

Actually we do need more labor. Ever been to any major old city? What happened to all the carpenters, masons, plumbers, all the supply yards and sundry buisnesses?

Skilled trades people are not Labor. Labor is unskilled. Cities have plenty of Laborers, I lived in NYC for 18 years and worked construction!

There is very little manufacturing in NYC, its mostly assembling. Its economy is information, services and tourism.

even mechanics today aren't really mechanics. They replace components ( again assembly work)