Bush seeks "a legal way to match willing foreign workers with willing American employers to fill the jobs that Americans are unwilling to do"

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

What would happen if one day all the illegal workers make a strike?

That would be great. Would make it very easy for ICE to pick them up.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

What would happen if one day all the illegal workers make a strike?

That would be great. Would make it very easy for ICE to pick them up.

Assuming, of course, that ICE had the resources necessary to do that

(they don't)

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

What would happen if one day all the illegal workers make a strike?

That would be great. Would make it very easy for ICE to pick them up.

Assuming, of course, that ICE had the resources necessary to do that

(they don't)

I know. But the thought of illegals striking is just as amusing. They won't either.

[Mirorgate 0]

This poll is missing one option:

Because Americans are lazy and unwilling to work for "less money" than what they think they're worth.

As others here have pointed out, the "jobs that Americans will not do" largely compose a myth of illegal immigration. Low-skilled Americans, or even more skilled Americans facing temporary employment difficulties, would, indeed, do many of these jobs were the wages not so insultingly low that even working 40+ hours a week at such jobs would be insufficient to feed a couple or a small family. This is not a case of American workers refusing to swallow their collective pride and tough out an undesirable job for some amount of time; rather, the situation is such that Americans can often make better livings through public assistance than they can by working. Which is an insult to any American who wants to see Americans work rather than survive by the grace of the government.{/b}

Illegal immigrants unfortunately help to both cause and exacerbate this race to the bottom. A Mexican is willing to work for $3 an hour not because he or she rationally concludes that his or her work is only worth that amount; rather, it's because $3 an hour is better than nothing, it is probably not taxed, and he or she is unable to demand more because of immigration status. Americans certainly cannot even subsist on such a low wage--not even a single American renting a small apartment and doing without a car, cable television, Internet access, and the like. It's impossible.

Yeah.. being lazy in wanting to afford a house and feed family kind of way. And @ most wages seen lately... even dual income families it's a stretch.

But since Pax did well in responding... reposted a few good points here.