Mike,

When I posted my original comments, I expected some fireworks. You are not disappointing me. Don't know why you are getting so upset however - I find it useful to exchange views. Maybe a few of us will learn something or modify our viewpoint?

Anyway, first, sorry to disappoint - I am not a left winger.

Second, as I mentioned originally, this entire subject is extremely complicated. It will not be possible to explore all the areas that affect this whole subject area. But... one of the key things you talk about is "don't tell me Americans wouldn't want those jobs..." etc. Well, I think one of they key problems in America today is that we have developed an "entitlement" mentality. We are actually losing what made this country great. We used to have a "hard work" and "innovation" mentality - and have reasonable expectations of lifestyle. Today with MTV and all the advertising messaging, kids expect a BMW, house on a cliff over the ocean, every gadget known to mankind, vacations up the ying yang... all without having done the "time" to contribute. The result is a society that is in decline and will continue - because we simply are no longer competitive globally. The advantage that India and China have today is that their populace has not developed these wealthy tastes as of yet.

So a few random thoughts:

1. It is impossible for American companies to pay expected wages in certain sectors (like manufacturing) and be competitive globally. That means if Americans want their "rich" lifestyle AND they want the income to support it - THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR GOODS AND MAKE SURE THEY BUY AMERICAN. But the problem is that Americans are the WORST offenders when it comes to spending cheap. We will jump ina nanosecond to buy Asian goods that are much less expensive. Well we can't have it both ways - either we support our larger incomes by paying more for the goods, or we decrease our salary expectations. But you can't create something from nothing.

2. I personally believe that societies follow an evolution. They start out with certain advantages that allow them to gain "market share" in the world - things like low salaries, a focused work ethic, a burning desire to gain some wealth etc. But as the society begins to "win", the expectations and lifestyle of the populace changes and incomes go up and work ethic declines - until some other country starts to displace it by being more competitive. The result is a natural decline that is pretty much unstoppable. Look at England... remember "the sun never sets on the british empire"? Where is it now? A nice country but not the dominant worldplayer anymore. Well, I suspect America is heading the way of England, and China will take over America's role in the next 40 years.

3. My comment about immigrants is not condoning breaking the law or illegal immigration. But I do think it is obnoxious to play a "joke" for alaugh and threaten somebody's freedom and family integrity. The guy in the video is a disgusting human being in my opinion. He sat there laughing hysterically as those guys are running away. I'd like to see when he is down on his luck on something and having a problem, and people around him are laughing at his situation.

As for your comments about "learn something before you run your mouth...". You are obviously a knee-jerk, bad-tempered, opinionated individual. You might want to consider that you are not the expert you seem to think. What are your qualifications on this subject exactly? For your information, I own a manufacturing business. I do not hire illegal workers by the way. But I understand business and the global financial reality quite well than you

 

LMAO...... Nice violent Mexican solution....exactly why they need to be herded up like cattle and sent home where they will have to pay taxes like I do. Yeah give em guns so we can shoot em on sight.

 

They are definitely criminals for breaking the law......I say kick all their asses back to Mexico...I'm sick of paying for them...why don't you donate your annual earnings to them.

 

Exactly....

 

By the way - for the record - I am not at all disputing that they (illegal immigrants) have broken the law. The issue I have is with some idiot ridiculing them in a video with potentially extremely serious consequences for these human beings.

Lots of people break the law in many ways - how about people who don't wear helmets when there is a helmet law? What is the appropriate punishment? What about people who change exhaust systems and break the law about noise or EPA compliance? Maybe we can make a funny video of taking them over to the local EPA office instead of taking them to a bike rally? That would be pretty damned funny wouldn't it?

The question isn't whether they broke the law. The questions is if it is right for someone to have complete disregard for other people's plight by making a video to ridicule them. And that someone is a racist idiot from all accounts.

 

Warren,
well for the most part the mexicans that illegally come here are not working in maufacturing. They are working in jobs such as construction, landscaping, day labor type jobs where the greedy american business owner can get away with paying low wages, not having the right documents for them and cheating the system. That in turn will make the legit landscape company, small business home builder in a bad situation because they now cant compete for jobs because of the low bidding by the greedy american business owner paying the illegal aliens a cheaper rate. So to confuse the fact that the manufacturing sector being shipped overseas is not at all the same thing, or has anything to do with illegal aliens coming over here.

To respond to your statement about laws and helmets annd such. You are talking about apples and oranges. The illegals know the rules and laws when they decide to break them. Most of the time they are not put in jail or anything like that. They are merely brought back to where they came from. I dont think that is inhumane at all. Now most people know what the law is for not wearing a helmet. They choose to take that chance, and when caught pay the punishment for it. I dont see your point about the laws ????

How do you feel about the mexicans and whoever else hanging the american flag below the mexican flag ? Not only that but flying it upside down ? These people come to the country and then wanna talk about how bad it is here. GIVE ME A BREAK.

 

What Warren 888 said. My point being that they don't shoot people that misstreat them stupid. No, I'm not a Mexican. If they are not paying taxes, the fault lies at the feet of the employer not deducting it from their pay. Oh yes, it is illeagle to employ undocumented workers.

Bodies of illeagles are often found in the mountains and deserts of So.Cal. These people have risked their lives to do the jobs that none of you would. Do you really think that the immagration laws are fare, guess again. I guess a lot of you flunked history, discrimination has a long history in this country.

No one has a choice where he or she is born. The people of Mexico are trying to do something about their standard of living and curb the corruption and crime; it's the victumized that get out. They can only go in two directions North or South, which way would you go if the shoe was on your foot?

Take a good look at that little snot in the pick up, does he really make you feel proud to be an American?

 

I am very proud to be an american!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!

 

This is NOT a simple round 'em up and send em home topic. I have been to the most squalid areas of Mexico's and built houses for families with no electricity, running water, breadwinner (often times a woman raising a family and kids by herself because husband died), car or any of the other luxuries we take for granted every day. After seeing that, and seeing that they have a 50 gallon barrel of water that they use for bathing, cooking and cleaning.. I don't question why some of them would pack up and venture across the border.

So who's fault is it that they do that? Maybe the government's. They expect people who have absolutely nothing to not cross an invisible line (no fence along most of the border) that separates them from the opportunity to live a million times better than they are? C'mon.. every one of us would do the same. Their own government has failed them, and our government is allowing them to sneak over here by not enforcing our laws.

As for this, "Oh we should feel sorry for their family and whatever if they get deported.." You obviously don't know how INS works. I have dealt with INS in my profession, and know that you have to break a pretty serious law (drug trafficking, felony assault, etc..) to get sent back. Granted they are willing to do jobs no one else will do, but they are also willing to smuggle drugs and shoot cops who try and stop them. They also drink and drive, and beat their wives just like our citizens. They are people just like us. Some of em good, some of em bad. We should not feel sorry for them, but instead try to see it from their viewpoint.

Personally, I found the video ironically humorous. Here's some guys looking to put food on the table, WILLING TO WORK, and they get jacked up by some prankster in a very funny fashion. I personally would rather see him cruise the slums for people sitting around, living off my dollar, with who knows how many babies from different daddies, with NO jobs, and ship them off to who knows where. Give the hard working Mexicans, who would die for a chance to be citizens their houses and let's get on with life.

 

Urgh...lets feel sorry...I'm offended...it's not right...this isn't right...they deserve to have rights....we should have to assimilate to their culture....they're trying to make a living and shouldn't have to come here legally...they deserve healthcare even if they're not here legally...etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc....puke.[:'(] I just don't get it.