ARE "THOSE PEOPLE" REALLY TAKING "OUR JOBS?"

The hotel and restaurant industry, and the agriculture and construction fields... Would you agree that it's fair to say that these sectors of our economy could not function without the undocumented workers--most of whom hail from Mexico and the rest of Latin America--who come into United States illegally? In most cases, 'those people' take jobs that the rest of us won't take. Let's face it, it's killer work with low pay, long hours, and very few benefits.

As we all know, unemployment is a big problem in the United States right now (right now the ranks of the unemployed are between 5.6% and 7.9%, depending on how you count them). While jobs are not being created fast enough to fill demand, our own citizens aren't exactly lining up for those low-paying service sector positions that we like to say are being taken by "those people." Would that change if wages were higher (in case you weren't aware, the minimum wage in this country is $5.15/hr.)? Maybe, but would you and the person next to you be willing to pay more for produce or for the meals you receive in a restaurant, to cover those costs? While I'd like to think so, there's still a sense out there that "those people" are taking "our" jobs... and with this being an election year, we're sure to hear lots of rhetoric about it, especially when you throw the debate surrounding border control--in the name of preventing terrorism on our own soil--into the mix.

The answer is yes, they are taking "our jobs". If an illegal immigrant enters the country and works anywhere, that is one job taken in our country. Whether it is glamorous or not, the job is still taken nonetheless. I do not believe there is work out there that Americans will not do.

I'm planning on hiring a Lawn Care service this year. The companies are locally owned. Imagine if Indiana had even more cheap illegal "Mexican" labor to do these services. Where does that put our locally owned Lawn Care services that are following the rules and hiring legal workers?

I think you would be surprised to find there are many Americans willing to do the work in the Agricultural, Construction, Hotel, and Restaurant industries. I went to school at Purdue with many Ag-Econ majors, men and women wanting to attempt to run and work their family farms. The company "Merry Maids" was founded in the United States by Americans. There are plenty of Americans willing to be maids. Construction workers - heck, a lot of those jobs are sought after by many Americans. So were our Factory jobs.

The reason goods and services are so cheap in this country is not always do to "cheap labor". America has a tendency to overdue the supply side of things at times and that often causes the decrease in prices.

Ironically, many businesses like using illegal immigrant labor because they can use that illegal status to control the workforce and prevent organization for those pesky things that American labor demands such as minimum wage, insurance benefits, reasonable work hours, etc. etc.; and the Bush presidency is attempting to encourage this. There was an article in Salon.com about this just the day that you posted this.

There is another, related issue: What about the high-tech jobs that are being sent overseas?

I think that illegal mexicans are taking american jobs, especially the teen jods at like McDonalds and Burgar king. even if they are low paying/ minimum wage job if they keep on coming illegally us teens wont have any jobs to even work at and there already hardly any jobs.

Uncle Sam's Hammer was made in the U.S. but forged in Mexico. Bush is allowing it and now it is simply a race to the bottom as U.S. workers have to compete with sub-standard labor just to stay alive.Just as our economy is falling apart so will all of our building simply because people want to save a few bucks and hire illegal aliens. Soon so will the American Dream of everyone who is just now entering the work force and seeing how hard it is to compete. This is our country but Bush is giving it away... Well Mr. Bush, when Juan and Jose finish your construction return to Mexico with all of the money AND the Labor warranty (if any), dont raise my taxes to compensate. And when your building falls apart dont call me to repair it. I had to sell my hammer to put food on my familys table.