My intent in starting this blog is, as suggested above, to provide a forum for ALL people who are passionate, or even remotely interested, in the current controversy surrounding illegal and legal immigration where they may debate each other, as well as the issue, with mutual respect. To preserve this lofty ambition we, the administrators of the blog, reserve the right to set down and strictly enforce the following rules:
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1 Any and all words considered profane or referred to as profanity.
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4 This supersedes the general consequences to be established for violating the other rules.
I think I will just break the ice here. I believe most of us, at one time or anothr, have been in jobs that have become undesirable for whatever reason. It became time to move on. Las Vegas is a place of many opportunities to work doing a variety of different things.
I would have much more compassion for this man if he were stuck in some rural area where not many opportunities were available to workers. In Las Vegas, get another job.
Comment by Dolph | July 2, 2008 3:21 pm |
That’s true Dolph, however, workplaces such this, being the consequence of employers breaking the law by hiring illegal aliens at below market wages, without benefits or overtime or workman’s compensation or the mandated protections afforded the American worker just to improve the profit margin, is just wrong. And what’s REALLY wrong with this picture is that the American worker is being intimidated to accept this himself or leave, despite many years on the job.
Can’t you see how this scenario is being repeated over and over again throughout the country? How long before it becomes the norm rather than the exception and we’re once again living in a “sweat shop” era? You know that greed will ultimately win out unless things change.
Comment by AWCheney | July 2, 2008 8:43 pm |
Yet another example of how illegal labor kills the opportunity (and wages) for legal citizens. It’s here in PWC as well, when I was in high-school I worked in a fast food joint and then worked as a carpenter. Kids can’t get jobs like that now and if they can they got lucky but don’t expect them to start much above minimum wage and don’t expect them to get a raise very often either.
Comment by hello | July 3, 2008 12:53 pm |
These types of companies need to be fined and have their business license revoked (both big and small companies).
Comment by hello | July 3, 2008 12:56 pm |
There’s no question about that, in my mind, hello…as you can see in my post, The “Attrition” Theory.
Comment by AWCheney | July 3, 2008 7:48 pm |
AW,
What I don’t understand is why the people who end up seeing their jobs replaced in significant and abnormal circumstances don’t realize and act on their legal right to sue those companies under the equal employment opportunity act. You cannot guarantee equal outcomes but you can guarantee equal opportunities and be protected by fair labor laws. The EEO act probibits the hiring of people based on their race, religion, gender and ethnic group. When you can prove it is a senior company official who creates such an environment “such as the HR” rep and senior manager, you can usually win these lawsuits and things will change rapidly after that to hire entirely on performance and skill, ability and non-ethnic group traits.
Comment by michael | July 6, 2008 3:17 pm |
Well Michael, I would imagine the high cost of legal representation has a lot to do with it, and the average American tends to live from hand to mouth…paycheck to paycheck. That doesn’t leave much room for a lawyer in the budget, particularly when you’re off trying to find a new job in a rapidly diminishing market being taken over by low cost labor.
Comment by AWCheney | July 6, 2008 7:33 pm |
I understand most of the lawyers who take these cases “work for free” if they fail to win the case. I don’t see the impediment, just a failure to recognize an unfair EEO situation if you belong to a “majority” group. I’ll bet even the SPLC would take this case.
Comment by michael | July 6, 2008 10:39 pm |
It’s not as easy to find pro bono attorneys as you may think Michael…particularly if you’re a “working stiff.” Cases like this would require an attorney to go up against employers, who may well comprise the circle of paying clients in their area who make it possible for him to do pro bono work. It’s hard to convince someone to bite the hand that feeds him.
As far as groups such as SPLC, they, more often than not, have their own agenda and part of that agenda is how much extraneous money will it bring; how much national publicity; in general, in what ways does it benefit them, not necessarily the client…in other words, there better AT LEAST be a book in it. All in all, fighting the system is no easy matter…just ask David Ruttenberg (Rack N’ Roll) what it’s cost him. It would be a lot easier for someone to pull up stakes and go to another part of the country where the problem doesn’t exist yet…and that’s not easy.
Comment by AWCheney | July 6, 2008 11:05 pm |
I agree, Hello…because of the pool of unskilled labor…many of which are illegal…it is difficult for kids to find an entry-level job.
These “fast food” jobs were never meant to be and never will be high salary “career employment” with frequent salary raises. They are perfect for the teenager who is a reliable, part-time employee, primarily devoted to school, pursuing the background required for a future career.
There are plenty of people, including teenagers and spouses of the primary bread-winner, who lack marketable skills and are willing to work at jobs offering salaries commensurate with skill level. That would be minimum wage…afterall, not everyone is destined to make $100K per year.
What we need to do is preserve all jobs, including entry-level job opportunities for American citizens and let capitalism work.
Comment by freedom | July 7, 2008 7:41 am |
Well said freedom…
Comment by hello | July 7, 2008 8:57 am |