Unskilled workers don't have a path to permanent residency

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

No you're not being thick. But you know about the system because you've been in it.

The subject article talks about how US immigration has no legal path for unskilled workers. It also talks about people who think illegals have "jumped the line". Neither (I would daresay) are things most of the US population has any clue about. It's my opinion that most Americans think illegals are lawbreakers just because they have the physical ability to swim across the Rio Grande.

Make sense?

*edited for third-grade grammer*

Good to know I'm not losing my mind. And your third grade grammar might be fully excused, but your third grade spelling is not.

Just pullin' your leg there.

[Fandango 1,440]

There are those unskilled workers who have no path to actually step foot in the US. Using the OP's logic, we should all chip in for their plane tickets.

Or do we just feel sympathetic to those who are either close in proximity or already here?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Outsourcing indirectly effects lower wage jobs.

Not even nearly as much as the addition of millions of low skilled, easily exploitable laborers.

[lostinblue 1,989]

There are those unskilled workers who have no path to actually step foot in the US. Using the OP's logic, we should all chip in for their plane tickets.

Or do we just feel sympathetic to those who are either close in proximity or already here?

You are racist if you only desire to give hispanics an easy way to stay here. A hundred million chinese would love to come here. Maybe 50 million or so from africa and throw in SE asia. Send them all to california and have one big mega city. Just think you can have the "city" of California. A liberals dream come true.

[Heracles 417]

You are racist if you only desire to give hispanics an easy way to stay here. A hundred million chinese would love to come here. Maybe 50 million or so from africa and throw in SE asia. Send them all to california and have one big mega city. Just think you can have the "city" of California. A liberals dream come true.

Which I see as the biggest issue with willy-nilly immigration currently practiced in the US. Canada and Australia [aka immigration aficionados] ensure a diverse number of people enter the country. They generally do not allow one country to dominate the immigration system.

The second issue that is concerning is that over the last decade, a country of 310 million, accepted more immigrants than every single other country combined. The geniuses who chant country of immigrants rants don't care to ask what the impact is on American's quality of life [which is already taking a huge hit] and America's environment [anyone seen the ghettos and dilapidated littered country]. Rather, they then come out with some ingenious, out of the air argument, like they pay taxes too. Yes, someone unskilled is paying huge amounts of tax.

Do other first world countries allow in unskilled immigrants? Yes, they sure do. However, the number is on a per-need basis and they adjust their quota accordingly. Furthermore, they trickle these unskilled migrants in to allow them to have a chance in acquiring a better quality of life.

Edited June 4, 2010 by Booyah!

[GabiandVi 34]

Do other first world countries allow in unskilled immigrants? Yes, they sure do. However, the number is on a per-need basis and they adjust their quota accordingly. Furthermore, they trickle these unskilled migrants in to allow them to have a chance in acquiring a better quality of life.

This is EXACTLY what it is being suggested the US do. Currently, we do not have any legal immigration of unskilled laborers except through coincidence with family based immigration and DIVERSITY (as to your other point) visas. Why not grant such a visa on an as needed basis and let it be a road to residency/citizenship? If we got rid of all the illegal workers, we might just have a need for unskilled laborers and we might have a more diverse response.

[Heracles 417]

This is EXACTLY what it is being suggested the US do. Currently, we do not have any legal immigration of unskilled laborers except through coincidence with family based immigration and DIVERSITY (as to your other point) visas. Why not grant such a visa on an as needed basis and let it be a road to residency/citizenship? If we got rid of all the illegal workers, we might just have a need for unskilled laborers and we might have a more diverse response.

That is exactly what should happen. Illegal status of any sort should not be an option period. Once If that avenue is removed with a range of proactive measures, then this allows for an unskilled visa class, that people from all over the world would be able to apply for. That is, rather than the status-quo of just Latin Americans walking in as they see fit. It should be similar to the greencard lottery.

That said though, all forms of immigration should be heavily monitored.

The current US population density is: 83 per sq mile

*Canada: 8.8

*Australia: 7.6

^India: 931

^UK: 659

* A point the US was once at, hence country of immigrants.

^ The point where the US is headed

Edited June 4, 2010 by Booyah!

[Fandango 1,440]

This is EXACTLY what it is being suggested the US do. Currently, we do not have any legal immigration of unskilled laborers except through coincidence with family based immigration and DIVERSITY (as to your other point) visas. Why not grant such a visa on an as needed basis and let it be a road to residency/citizenship? If we got rid of all the illegal workers, we might just have a need for unskilled laborers and we might have a more diverse response.

Because there's NO NEED. Get ppl off welfare and into unskilled jobs.

If the job pay wasn't set so low because employers are paying ILLEGALS, then these jobs could be fruitful to unskilled AMERICAN or pr status workers!

[Heracles 417]

Because there's NO NEED. Get ppl off welfare and into unskilled jobs.

If the job pay wasn't set so low because employers are paying ILLEGALS, then these jobs could be fruitful to unskilled AMERICAN or pr status workers!

Bingo.

I just don't know how anyone fails to grasp this simple concept. These jobs would not pay poorly had the workforce been more restricted. For example, take a city like San Fran where people are afraid to work with their hands or deem the work bellow them. Who would pick up the trash? Who would do any sort of blue-collar work? Had there been no illegal aliens or an unlimited cheap labor pool, they would have to pay people $15 or $20 an hour to do the work period.

I have numerous personal examples of this in country where the labor pool is heavily restricted. A friend quit being an architect to clean construction sites because he works 30 hour weeks and is paid over $100K. As he said, he has no stress, receives a range of benefits and works 10 hours less than others. Actually, I have a number of friends and family that have quit white-collar jobs to take on various manual unskilled work - like landscaping; with many making between $2 to $5k a week. How is this possible? This work is beneath them right? Wrong, it's an example of supply an demand. It's also why as mentioned earlier, a Latin American family [forget from where] has managed to raise over hundred grand working as office cleaners and now own three investment properties in the US. How is this possible? Because they didn't have to compete with millions of illegals aliens. As a result, they are paid a good wage working in AUS.

In summary, wages will never increase and the 60,000,000 Americans living in poverty will never get a chance to succeed. What Aus demonstrates is that as long as the labor pool is restricted, it works against big business and everyone working has a chance to prosperity.

Edited June 4, 2010 by Booyah!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

George W. Bush: Take pressure off border with guest worker program

Extending hope and opportunity in our country requires an immigration system worthy of America--with laws that are fair and borders that are secure. When laws and borders are routinely violated, this harms the interests of our country. To secure our border, we are doubling the size of the Border Patrol--and funding new infrastructure and technology.

Yet even with all these steps, we cannot fully secure the border unless we take pressure off the border--and that requires a temporary worker program. We should establish a legal and orderly path for foreign workers to enter our country to work on a temporary basis. As a result, they won't have to try to sneak in.

Source: 2008 State of the Union address to Congress Jan 28, 2008

Edited June 4, 2010 by El Buscador

[Heracles 417]

George W. Bush: Take pressure off border with guest worker program

Source: 2008 State of the Union address to Congress Jan 28, 2008

George wants his mates to continue exploiting foreign labor and do so by skewing S&D in their favor and ultimately do not have to pay American workers a livable wage. When Americans rightfully refuse to work for the equivalent $6 an hour that foreigners will do it for, they then call them slackers.

Under systems like AUS or Canada, his buds don't get exorbitant profits for doing nothing. Why? Because supply and demand skews in favor of the worker.

Edited June 4, 2010 by Booyah!

[JohnSmith2007 353]

George W. Bush: Take pressure off border with guest worker program

Extending hope and opportunity in our country requires an immigration system worthy of America--with laws that are fair and borders that are secure. When laws and borders are routinely violated, this harms the interests of our country. To secure our border, we are doubling the size of the Border Patrol--and funding new infrastructure and technology.

Yet even with all these steps, we cannot fully secure the border unless we take pressure off the border--and that requires a temporary worker program. We should establish a legal and orderly path for foreign workers to enter our country to work on a temporary basis. As a result, they won't have to try to sneak in.

Source: 2008 State of the Union address to Congress Jan 28, 2008

So now you think Bush is right? Funny how you can change alliances when it suits you.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

So now you think Bush is right? Funny how you can change alliances when it suits you.

Where did I ever disagree with expanding a guest worker program?

[JohnSmith2007 353]

Where did I ever disagree with expanding a guest worker program?

You know what I mean. Bush has been the lefts devil for 8 years, The current administration still blames him for all our problems and here you are quoting him. The irony is great.

[SMOKE 1,426]

Where did I ever disagree with expanding a guest worker program?

i've not heard you disagree w/ expanding it.....damn that hurt.