What's Idaho's position on illegal immigration? (Boise, Nampa: apartment complexes, car insurance, crimes)

[Sage of Sagle]

A bit of grave-digging to revive this old post...but OK...

Please remember that we're avoiding political rhetoric and focusing on how illegal immigration affects life in IDAHO...just a reminder since these threads can go downhill awfully fast...sometimes faster than I can delete posts from trolls...so everyone play nice...

Here in NID, all we have is Canadians coming across the border despite our best efforts to stop them, shopping at Home Depot and Wal-Mart...the nerve...

[boi2socal]

With all due respect if political rhetoric is not allowed I also feel racism should not be allowed.

Believe me I don't agree that people from other nations should come here and use our tax funded services at virtually no cost but at the same time I feel blaming them for high crime and no jobs isn't exactly fair considering most white people wouldn't work any of those jobs.

Related: Idaho's Hispanic growth mostly in Ada, Canyon counties last year
http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/464152.html (broken link)

[Sage of Sagle]

boi2socal,

Blatant racism will be edited out. But people who believe that a group of society is responsible for many ills are not de facto racists, although it's possible they have some prejudices at work. I myself struggle with prejudices in this area as a retired LA cop, and I try not to have my judgment clouded in this regard. There are statistics being used on both sides of this argument (the "do illegal aliens hurt America?" argument) and I'm not going to be the one to make that call.

People (EVERYONE) who wants to post in this old thread should recall that we're talking about IDAHO'S POSITION on illegal immigration, not the general political view, which is fodder for the P&OC ugly arguments.

Now, to keep it germane to Idaho, my comment on your statement "most white people wouldn't work any of those jobs", I would like to point out that here in North Idaho, TEENAGERS do all the jobs that nobody else wants to do, from picking berries in fields to mowing lawns to working crappy jobs washing dishes and such....all the things that I THINK you're talking about...

"Idaho Teens...doing the jobs adults won't do"...

[Trace_Rinaldi]

Thats a great point Sage and one I have made many times here.. In So Cal there are no summer jobs, teens CANT get work, and everyone wonders why they lay around playing video games or getting in trouble. Its understandable somewhat, I mean you can hire an adult illegal alien for the same or less than you can hire a teenager.
The old argument that they are here to do the jobs nobody else will do is weak. If people need work, they will do just about anything, if there are jobs.
My grandmother grew up living in a tent doing migrant farm work with her family.
IF I had no other opportunity, and I needed to make money, I wouldnt be too proud to do anything to support my family.. Its funny too, my grandmother always made her childhood out to be the greatest time of her life. She never complained about it at all.

Im always astonished when in Idaho. Jobs you would normally see immigrants doing, white people are doing..The girl bringing towles to your room will most likely be a white teenage girl or young lady. Many of the road workers are white women, convenience stores and fast food places are chock full of young teenagers starting out their path in life. Heck even the donut shops are run by white folks..

Now just saying something like this makes me racist in some peoples eyes, but its just an observation, and proof that we dont need millions of illegal aliens flooding into the US to do jobs we "wont"...

[boi2socal]

Originally Posted by Sage of Sagle

Now, to keep it germane to Idaho, my comment on your statement "most white people wouldn't work any of those jobs", I would like to point out that here in North Idaho, TEENAGERS do all the jobs that nobody else wants to do, from picking berries in fields to mowing lawns to working crappy jobs washing dishes and such....all the things that I THINK you're talking about...

"Idaho Teens...doing the jobs adults won't do"...

Well, I am speaking from a viewpoint of the Boise Metro where I don't recall ever seeing Caucasian teens working on large farms...there were exceptions of course but mostly if it was the family farm/ranch/business. Now I did see Caucasians working in fast food, gas stations, etc. (as I did). Although I have noticed that is changing each time I visit Boise.

I look at it this way...omitting crime issues, etc...people will go where jobs are. You can't blame anybody for that. 90% of the people that complain about immigrants taking jobs probably aren't looking for anything similar to the jobs immigrants are taking.

But I will agree with one of the above posters...why do we get worried about people coming here for jobs that most Americans won't take when the middle class jobs that we do want are being shipped elsewhere?

[rickers]

I don't understand why people even expect to be handed a job at all. My first job paid over $10. per hour and that was when I was nine years old ! I pushed my moms lawnmower around the neighborhood looking for lawns that needed mowing and knocked on the door and stated my price. I was busy all summer long and was able to buy a surfboard and a stingray bike with a banana seat. If a person has trouble getting a job then go out and create you own. Unless a person is some dumb cluck, it's not all that hard to just find a need and fill it. The dumb clucks don't last long as employees anyway and many end up as bums. We don't have illegal aliens in our town (Conrad Mt.), all the motel maids are white women, kids these days wont work anyway.

[Sage of Sagle]

Originally Posted by rickers

kids these days wont work anyway.

I guess that works in favor of NID teens....this winter, when Missoula and Kalispell were having roofs cave in from snow weight, companies there were paying NID teens $90/hour to shovel roofs. My friend's sons were making $1800/week (5 hours a day, 4 days a week), for nearly 3 weeks. And they would have paid illegals...ANYONE who would pick up a shovel and save their roof from caving in...

If teens don't want to work...well...that's a whole other topic, would go in the "Parenting" forum here on CDF...but you know what I mean...

[boi2socal]

Originally Posted by Trace_Rinaldi

Thats a great point Sage and one I have made many times here.. In So Cal there are no summer jobs, teens CANT get work, and everyone wonders why they lay around playing video games or getting in trouble. Its understandable somewhat, I mean you can hire an adult illegal alien for the same or less than you can hire a teenager.
The old argument that they are here to do the jobs nobody else will do is weak. If people need work, they will do just about anything, if there are jobs.

From what I've seen kids in SoCal (and even Boise to a lesser degree) don't want these jobs and in many cases their parents don't want them working these jobs. Not to mention if they do get the job they probably will work half as hard as an immigrant. It is part of the culture I suppose too, "I'm not doing the job of an illegal immigrant." In any case there are jobs here (SoCal). Macy's or some store in the mall is going to hire a white teen before an illegal alien that doesn't speak much if any English to push their product.

But lets say I'm totally wrong about all that. Why are we blaming illegal aliens for being hired by cheap crooked white business men? If you're in Mexico making pennies a hour but can move to America and make many times that what would you do? We should be upset with the people providing them with these jobs.

[Trace_Rinaldi]

Originally Posted by boi2socal

From what I've seen kids in SoCal (and even Boise to a lesser degree) don't want these jobs and in many cases their parents don't want them working these jobs. Not to mention if they do get the job they probably will work half as hard as an immigrant. It is part of the culture I suppose too, "I'm not doing the job of an illegal immigrant." In any case there are jobs here (SoCal). Macy's or some store in the mall is going to hire a white teen before an illegal alien that doesn't speak much if any English to push their product.

But lets say I'm totally wrong about all that. Why are we blaming illegal aliens for being hired by cheap crooked white business men? If you're in Mexico making pennies a hour but can move to America and make many times that what would you do? We should be upset with the people providing them with these jobs.

I DONT blame them, heck if I was in Mexico I would do everything to get here I had too. I DO blame the business's that hire them, in fact I think thats the only real way to stem the tide of migration, is to go after the employers who hold carrots out to them to get the cheap labor.
If I had my we way would stop buying cheap toasters and TV's from China and invest in industry IN Mexico to provide jobs for the people that have no other alternative but to come here illegally. Im sure things would cost a bit more, but in the long run we would be better off IMHO.
As I've said before my Mexican sister in-law is still working to get her citizenship, but she did it the right way. SHe speaks english and works her butt off. And went through the proper channels.
I love her, and my little nieces, so dont think Im just some redneck complaining about Illegals.

My son just turned 18, and all his cousins and friends are in the same boat. They want to work, but they cant find jobs.
I'll tell you what, you take teenager and tell him he cant drive till he gets a job, they will do just about anything. Yeah they may not want to flip burgers or clean a toilet, but I have done worse jobs, and if properly motivated and the opportunity is there, they WILL do them too.

I dont think we disagree on anything here, but I just wanted to explain a little about my beliefs on this.

[boi2socal]

No that is fine and I understand the job situation on a different level...believe me I get frustrated with the job situation as well when I'm not hired because I'm not bilingual. I understand. That is why I'm learning Mandarin Chinese. So when China takes over the world I'll have a job outside of the sweat shops they've built in America. (joke...I hope)

Although in the overall scope of things I think the job situation may mostly because of a weak economy. I've been told competition is fierce so I assume that resonates to all levels of employment. I could be totally off base but I highly doubt reputable companies or even franchises would hire illegal aliens over legal residents.