posted on April 22, 2007 06:10:06 AM new
This is just something I got in an e-mail today.
Tomatoes and Cheap Labor . . . Cheap Tomatoes . . . This should make everyone think, be you Democrat, Republican or Independent !
From a California school teacher - - -"As you listen to the news about the student protests over illegal immigration, there are some things that you should be aware of:
I am in charge of the english-as-a-second-language department at a large southern California high school which is designated a Title 1 school, meaning that its students average lower socioeconomic and income levels.
Most of the schools you are hearing about, South Gate High, Bell Gardens, Huntington Park, etc., where these students are protesting, are also Title 1 schools.
Title 1 schools are on the free breakfast and free lunch program. When I say free breakfast, I'm not talking a glass of milk and roll -- but a full breakfast and cereal bar with fruits and juices that would make a Marriott proud. The waste of this food is monumental, with trays and trays of it
being dumped in the trash uneaten. (OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK)
I estimate that well over 50% of these students are obese or at least moderately overweight. About 75% or more DO have cell phones. The school also provides day care centers for the unwed teenage pregnant girls (some as young as 13) so they can attend class without the inconvenience of having to arrange for babysitters or having family watch their kids. (OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK)
I was ordered to spend $700,000 on my department or risk losing funding for the upcoming year even though there was little need for anything; my budget was already substantial. I ended up buying new computers for the computer learning center, half of which, one month later, have been carved with graffiti by the appreciative students who obviously feel humbled and grateful to have a free education in America. (OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK)
I have had to intervene several times for young and substitute teachers whose classes consist of many illegal immigrant students here in the country less then 3 months who raised so much hell with the female teachers, calling them "Putas" whores and throwing things that the teachers were in tears.
Free medical, free education, free food, day care etc., etc., etc. Is it any wonder they feel entitled to not only be in this country but to demand rights, privileges and entitlements?
To those who want to point out how much these illegal immigrants contribute to our society because they LIKE their gardener and housekeeper and they like to pay less for tomatoes: spend some time in the real world of illegal immigration and see the TRUE costs.
Higher insurance, medical facilities closing, higher medical costs, more crime, lower standards of education in our schools, overcrowding, new diseases etc., etc, etc. For me, I'll pay more for tomatoes.
We need to wake up. The guest worker program will be a disaster because we won't have the guts to enforce it. Does anyone in their right mind really think they will voluntarily leave and return?
There are many hardworking Hispanic/American citizens that contribute to our country and many that I consider my true friends. We should encourage and accept those Hispanics who have done it the right and legal way.
It does, however, have everything to do with culture: A third-world culture that does not value education, that accepts children getting pregnant and dropping out of school by 15 and that refuses to assimilate,
and an American culture that has become so weak and worried about "politically correct" that we don't have the will to do anything about it.
If this makes your blood boil, as it did mine, forward this to everyone you know.
CHEAP LABOR?
Isn't that what the whole immigration issue is about?
Business doesn't want to pay a decent wage.
Consumers don't want expensive produce.
Government will tell you Americans don't want the jobs.
But the bottom line is cheap labor. The phrase "cheap labor" is a myth,a farce, and a lie. there is no such thing as "cheap labor."
Take, for example, an illegal alien with a wife and five children. He takes a job for $5.00 or $6.00/hour. At that wage, with six dependents, he pays no income tax, yet at the end of the year, if he files an Income Tax
Return, he gets an "earned income credit" of up to $3,200 free.
He qualifies for Section 8 housing and subsidized rent.
He qualifies for food stamps.
He qualifies for free (no deductible, no co-pay) health care.
His children get free breakfasts and lunches at school.
He requires bilingual teachers and books.
He qualifies for relief from high energy bills.
If they are or become, aged, blind or disabled, they qualify for SSI. Once qualified for SSI they can qualify for Medicare. All of this is at (our)
taxpayer's expense.
He doesn't worry about car insurance, life insurance, or homeowners insurance.
Taxpayers provide Spanish language signs, bulletins and printed material.
He and his family receive the equivalent of $20.00 to $30.00/hour in benefits.
Working Americans are lucky to have $5.00 or $6.00/hour left after paying their bills and his.
The American taxpayers also pay for increased crime, graffiti and trash clean-up.
Cheap labor? YEAH RIGHT! Wake up people. THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS WE SHOULD BE ADDRESSING TO THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR EITHER PARTY. 'AND WHEN THEY LIE TO US AND DON'T DO AS THEY SAY, WE SHOULD REPLACE THEM AT ONCE!'
posted on April 22, 2007 12:27:34 PM new
Third world cultures are conservative in nature,family values are important to them and fewer cases of teenage pregnancy and education is not free .
Parents work hard to send their kids to schools and both know how important it is as a ticket to better lifestyle.
If a girl is pregnant,it is considered a family shame,and abortion/adoption is quietly arranged,parents and daughter do not go on talkshow or write book about their experience.
Many do not have insurance but they do save relentlessly,they dont whine when their house get blown away or strapped with big medical bills that the Federal govt better do something!
I find it hard to believe that the immigrant kids are the worse behaved ones in schools.
(I am referring to the kids who were born overseas or born here and living with their immigrant parents)
*
Lets all stop whining !
*
posted on April 23, 2007 02:43:38 PM new
I heard an interesting report on NPR this morning that basically said that one result of our importing cheap farm labor is reduced industrialization of the farm industry. Why buy an expensive machine when 50 people will pick for $2.50 a hour (or whatever they are paid... I honestly do not know what farm labor is paid, I understand it is not much). Lets add to this the lack of innovation in farming machines the lack of sales causes. There are high paying jobs making Farm Machines...
One farm owner they spoke to was getting ready to buy a machine to do picking and would reduce his Picking crew from 60 to 3. Those three would make the same as 20. The money for the other 40 would pay for the machine (over time), and the expense in having the machine.
Overall, it was very interesting and may have moved me a bit on the issue. The real solution is to make it possible for people to stay where they are and earn a livable wage. Most immigrants from Mexico do not come for political reasons, but economic ones. They do not WANT to be here, they HAVE to be here. Farm workers are just one facet of the issue... Lots more research and thinking needs to be done...
BTW, I teach at a title 1 school also. I teach computers and would LOVE to get some of that $700,000. My computers are about 9 years old. Lots of spit and wire holding this lab together.
posted on April 23, 2007 02:49:26 PM new
Hwahwa, I used to work at a school in South Central. The students there were 98.7% immigrants (1st generation). Most were in the country less than 5 years. They were polite, well mannered, hard working, and grateful. I now work at a school that is about 50% immigrant family. Most of them were born here. They are pretty good, but not as good (they are also High School, where my old school was Middle school). I have more problems with Graffiti, some students who don't know me can get nervey, but once they know me, they don't DARE. I have found that Many Hispanic males have a problem with Female teachers, Many Armenian Males have a problem with Male Teachers. There is a lot more I could tell you about general trends in the areas I've Taught.
