March 31, 2006
FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - Underdogs: One of the teams playing in this weekend's NCAA Men's Division I College Basketball Tournament ìFinal Fourî here in Indianapolis is Virginia's very own George Mason University. Generally speaking, are you the type of person who likes to root for the underdog?
Q2 - Immigrants: Do you think employers should face criminal charges for knowingly hiring illegal immigrants?
Q3 - Wages: As of today, the federal minimum wage here in the U.S. stands at $5.15 per hour. In your opinion, should the minimum wage be raised, and if so, to how much; and if not, why not?
Q4 - Shopping: I'm headed to the grocery store. Is there anything I can get for you?
Posted by Mikal at March 31, 2006 8:36 AM
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Q1 - Underdogs: I always root for the underdogs. In fact, one of my favorite cartoons growing up was The Underdog Show.
Q2 - Immigrants: Yes. Either have a law and enforce it or strike it from the books. With unemployment so low, U.S. companies are finally having to face the laws of supply and demand. With a limited workforce, they would actually have to pay people a decent wage. Instead, they work around this by hiring illegal immigrants and moving their companies offshore. It's unfair to American workers... the people who consume all the stuff these companies produce.
Q3 - Wages: No. I think wages would naturally rise if companies were not allowed to hire illegal immigrants and were forced to hire a certain quota of American workers. This question and the previous question go hand in hand.
Q4 - Shopping: A big, thick rib-eye steak and some fresh asparagus. Thanks for asking.
1. Of course. I always pull for the underdog.
2. The so called problem with immigration is due to lack of enforcement on employers. These laws are not enforced because our entire economy depends on it. I say penalize the employers but not the poor workers who are only seeking better lives.
3. Yes, and it should be raised to a living wage. All adult persons who work should be entitled to a living wage. I would give more flexibility to employers when it comes to teenage labor.
4. Hmmm, is there a price limit?
Q1 - Underdogs: I donít follow sports. If the Uconn Womenís team played University of Hartford I might have watched to see if the pupil had surpased the master. Jen Rizzotti was one of coach Geno Auriemma best players.
Q2 - Immigrants: Yes and prison time.
Q3 - Wages: Yes, it should be raised to a livable wage. Here in Connecticut it is now $7.40.
Q4 - Shopping: You can get me some steamers ( long neck clams ) and a lobster
Q1 - Underdogs: One of the teams playing in this weekend's NCAA Men's Division I College Basketball Tournament ìFinal Fourî here in Indianapolis is Virginia's very own George Mason University. Generally speaking, are you the type of person who likes to root for the underdog?
Sure, if it doesnít involve basketball! I think this country, and especially this state, is way too focused on sports. We make the big players our heroes and pay them millions of dollars a year. I just donít get it.
Q2 - Immigrants: Do you think employers should face criminal charges for knowingly hiring illegal immigrants?
Yes, I believe it is the employerís responsibility to verify the legality of their intended employee.
Q3 - Wages: As of today, the federal minimum wage here in the U.S. stands at $5.15 per hour. In your opinion, should the minimum wage be raised, and if so, to how much; and if not, why not?
Raising the minimum wage has an effect on so many other aspects of our economy. It has been studied time and time again and comes to the same conclusion: raising the minimum wage hurts the poor and encourages high-school students to drop out. Raising the minimum wage causes some individuals to enter the labor market who would not otherwise do so. With a larger pool to choose from, employers naturally choose the higher-skilled applicant. Therefore, raising the minimum wage hurts the low-skilled individual in two ways: by having fewer jobs available to them and by raising the pool of applicants for a given job and thereby making the competition stiffer. Finally, raising the minimum wage has very little positive impact on the lives of the poor. Rather, it is a political ploy that plays to the misunderstanding of the impact of raising it. America needs to have a better understanding of the true causes of poverty. We need a system that focuses more on raising the education level of our people.
Q4 - Shopping: I'm headed to the grocery store. Is there anything I can get for you?
No thanks, Iím good. I am a grocery shopping freak! I grew up in a household that shopped for food each day. Itís funny how Europeanís are shocked to see our huge refrigerators we have here in the U.S. We just love big everything here in this country, big cars, big houses and big debt. Conspicuous consumption is the name of the game!
1. I usually root for the underdogs. That is, unless my team is playing them.
2. Of course. If they know that the person is illegal, they also know that they're breaking the law by employing them and should expect to face the conequences.
3. Generally, I'm in favor of this, but I don't particularly believe that a high school or college aged kid working a job for spending money should be in the same category as an adult who is actually working to support him/herself or a family.
4. I'm good. I just got back from buying food for this week's lunches at work.
1. Normally, I don't care about underdog status. I care for or dislike a particular team, which chooses the team I root for, accordingly.
2. HELL YES! The employers are the largest part of the illegal immigrant problem. They helped create the market forces that attract all the illegals. They should have their business licenses suspended for 6 months for KNOWINGLY hiring illegal immigrants. And, they should be forced to verify the applicant's documentation through a third party to ensure that the docs are legit.
3. The current minimum wage is a joke. We should have been past $5.50 by now, as suggested by Clinton. However, the Republicans are so scared of the lowly middle class screwing up their McMansions and gated communities that we will never have a living wage for a minimum wage.
4. Dude, get me something to improve my mother's tap water. She has a water softner and it makes the tap water taste like shit. Coming from CO, I'm used to drinking far more water in a day than is feasible to obtain from bottles. Plus, I feel like someone had to take out an entire herd of brontosaurus to make all the plastic bottles I've used this weekend. PETA would be pissed.
1. I usually root for the underdogs in life. I couldn't give two scoots about most sports.
2. Yes. Big crimincal charges.
3. I don't know much about this issue, but it seems to me that raising the minimum wage doesn't solve the issues. I'd much rather see a lower minimum wage but with every person having access to decent healthcare and educational opportunities.
4. I'd like a rutabega, please. And a sack of Yukon Gold potatoes.
Hey, Mikal.
Are you on Spring Break or something? I've missed the latest Four for Friday.
Anyway, here are my answers:
1) yeah, i'm an underdog rootin' kind of girl myself.
2) I've really liked reading other people's posts on this and the next question. I wish our politicans would read them. I agree that it might be a good idea to make it more costly for employers to hire illegal immigrants so it evens out the cost benefit a little bit. I also think a guest-worker program s/b in effect. But the next question comes into play with this too. As long as we keep raising minimum wage, you're making illeal immigrants more appealing to employers. Everything is connected. We are connected to those immigrants too...but don't get me started. My point is these questions are very complex and there is not a simple answer. But we have to recognize the essence of humanity in each person as a basic starting point.
4) Eggland's Best large eggs, wheat bread, and organic 2% milk. Thanks.
I just noticed that you commented on my blog way back in November. Thanks. and Sorry for not reciprocating your visit.
Well since you've asked for some opinions I'll oblige you on Q2 : No, they should not face criminal charges for hiring illegal immigrants, but they should face criminal charges for knowingly paying illegal immigrants less than what an American citizen would ask and for knowingly creating workplace hazards and conditions that an American citizen would not put up with.
I think immigrants make up America whether you believe or not.
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