Governor Ritter Says We Need More Illegals (Pueblo: crime rates, unemployed)

[tfox]

This is an inflammatory issue, so Governor Ritter probably should have been more clear -- however, look beyond the hot-button politics and it's clear to me that he's talking about legal seasonal labor. While the problem of illegal immigration is often talked about, the fact remains that LEGAL immigration is still essential to our economy in many sectors, and legal channel is increasingly broken.

Like it or not, the ag and resort industries in particular rely very heavily on foreign help, and that help is needed to survive. Empty platitudes like "they should hire only Americans" is not going to get food on grocery store shelves. Ritter's complaint is a valid one: these industries need access to quick access to foreign labor on temporary visas with a minimum of bureaucratic red tape. That red tape has increased exponentially since 9/11. The failure to provide a legal channel for such labor will kill those industries, especially agriculture, which is already at a cost disadvantage compared to our Latin American competitors.

I agree with other posters that immigration law needs to be reformed. The current system is broken on so many levels -- illegal immigration does run rampant, while would-be legal immigrants, even those with crystal clear cases for immigrating (such as, say, marriage to an American or admission to a major university), sometimes wait years for their case to come up. Legal immigration needs to be put on a position of fairness.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by tfox

This is an inflammatory issue, so Governor Ritter probably should have been more clear -- however, look beyond the hot-button politics and it's clear to me that he's talking about legal seasonal labor. While the problem of illegal immigration is often talked about, the fact remains that LEGAL immigration is still essential to our economy in many sectors, and legal channel is increasingly broken.

Like it or not, the ag and resort industries in particular rely very heavily on foreign help, and that help is needed to survive. Empty platitudes like "they should hire only Americans" is not going to get food on grocery store shelves. Ritter's complaint is a valid one: these industries need access to quick access to foreign labor on temporary visas with a minimum of bureaucratic red tape. That red tape has increased exponentially since 9/11. The failure to provide a legal channel for such labor will kill those industries, especially agriculture, which is already at a cost disadvantage compared to our Latin American competitors.

I agree with other posters that immigration law needs to be reformed. The current system is broken on so many levels -- illegal immigration does run rampant, while would-be legal immigrants, even those with crystal clear cases for immigrating (such as, say, marriage to an American or admission to a major university), sometimes wait years for their case to come up. Legal immigration needs to be put on a position of fairness.

I disagree that immigrants are "essential" to our economy. I break with many of my agricultural friends on this issue. Immigrants are "necessary" because Americans are too spoiled and too lazy to do the work. And, no, I don't blame the immigrants for that. I blame this country's completely hosed welfare system for that. A friend--a high-up in Colorado's welfare system infrastructure--tells me that their internal calculations show that at any wage less than $13/hr., a Coloradan is financially farther ahead to sit on his or her *** on welfare than to work. I don't think that it is any coincidence whatsoever that most immigrant labor fits in the pay category of between the minimum wage and about $13/hr.! The idea that there is a "labor shortage" is this country is a myth--what there is a shortage of is people actually willing to work at some less agreeable jobs.

In my younger life, I worked some of those "disagreeable" jobs--digging ditches, cleaning sewers, etc., etc. Those experiences taught me a) how to work; and b) the importance of getting skills and education so that type of work would not be my life forever. When I see today's coddled "mall-rat" teenagers busily spending money deluged upon them by parents, it makes me sick. Let those kids go out and take some (or all) of the jobs now being done by immigrants. No, not all of those jobs are necessarily pleasant, or even safe, but they are far more beneficial to kids than sitting around picking their noses all day. As for welfare recipients, if they are physically able to work--then they should have to in order to receive benefits. Period. Requiring those two things would alleviate most of our "labor shortage."

[McGowdog]

Originally Posted by Shuffler

...spend their time otherwise websurfing, watching TV, working out, and getting 3 square meals a day. Making them actually do some work wouldn't hurt...

They surf the internet in jail/prison now? And watch TV? Have a free gym? Well, I heard about the meals and all... but wow! Where do I sign up?

Originally Posted by Josseppie

Like I said I fully support the Governor on this issue!!!!!!

Yeah, we heard ya! Back in posts 2, 10, 12, 16, and 20; as well as 7. Oh, and now 24. And here's why:

Originally Posted by Josseppie

Gang members are hot though lol

We're not impressed. Now let the adults here have a conversation.

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

I don't have a problem with bringing people up here to do farm work as long as they're tracked and go home in the fall. But this sneaking over the border and having anchor babies at taxpayer's expense has got to stop.

Agreed. How about if we pull California residents or jail mates like Shuffler said instead of illegals, to pick onions? Or how about if we pay hungry starving residents of Colorado $7.10/hr to do it?

Originally Posted by jazzlover

...It is time for us to close the US borders to all immigration, except for those individuals who can prove a) they have work skills not available in the US labor force; b) are totally financially self-sufficient (and will stay that way) if they move here; and c) will not displace an American worker if they are allowed to immigrate here. The penalties for entering this country illegally should be made extremely severe. And, children born to immigrants should not be granted automatic US citizenship--and NEVER granted citizenship if their parents entered the country illegally. Many other countries, including Canada to north, have restrictive immigration laws similar to these. It's time that we do, too.

This all sounds flipping wonderful! Is this type of thought/solution to our problem supported by the people we just voted into office?

Originally Posted by Josseppie

If you really want to go there just go down to your local justice center. Oh but make sure you commit a crime first....

Defend myself, my family, and my friends from a gang member.

[Josseppie]

If you really want to go there just go down to your local justice center. Oh but make sure you commit a crime first....

[DOUBLE H]

I'm willing to bet a lot of these people on this board are in their early 30's. That would make them high school graduates by the time Bill Clinton took office in 1992. Those people are going to be in for the rudest of awakenings. I know. I worked power plant, road, pipeline, and commercial construction for 26 years. It was a crappy business, when all was said and done. Going to the unemployment office to file for unemployment benefits got depressing after the 10th trip. When I first drew it, I thought it was fun. After the 10th time, it got humiliating. Even though I was always on a "Job Attached status', meaning the layoff was temporary and I would be called back to work after either the weather broke, economy improved, or whatever, it still grinded on me after a while.

Back then, the state counselors urged people to do part time work, provided you can physically handle the work, at a variety of sources; working Christmas season at UPS loading freight. Or working in the ag fields with the migrant workers, or the day labor companies to send you down to Union Pacific's railyard unloading boxcars, sweeping warehouses, or working as a hod carrier. In my teens and early 20's I would take those jobs to not only stay in shape but stretch out my benefit amount. Before I got involved in this type of work I washed dishes, sacked groceries, and shoveled **** at a rendering plant. I never had to worry about demeaning myself, amongst all the people I hang with, at that time I was doing better financially than they were.

The people who get laid off now better think about doing those types of things. Jazzlover has been warning about how the house of cards are going to fall in. When you draw out your 26 weeks of benefits and your 8 to 10 week extension, you better have a plan. People might be hand wrestling with immigrants for this type of work. Ego? You lost it about the same time you lost your COBRA benefits. This isn't your ordinary recession here. I worked around a lot of laborers in my day of all races. They were like everybody else. Race, creed? There are only 2 types of people-good and bad. End of rant.

[Shuffler]

I'll labor if that's what it takes....with just a small mortgage and utilities to pay, I would hopefully get by. Strong like bull, smart like rock.

[Todd TCE]

Migrant, legal, and illegal workers are the back bone of our work force much more than most folks want to believe. I first encountered it in Tahoe in the early '80s. (guess I don't fit that demo above) There the main force was Phillipino (sp) and they ruled the low pay jobs. When I later lived in Monterey it was more Mexican. Here now in Phoenix it's clearly Hispanic (I call it a hybrid of Mexican and American sorta)

Growing up on CO however I don't recall much of this. Perhaps too young but more likely it was lower profile and under the table. They've grown up and brought their family and friends. Sooner or later their kids will grow tired of this line of work. Then who's going to do it? Answer; not me. A world full of 'not mes' is in the works now. If you really had to pay for consumables to the extents laborers were paid what YOU make figure you're food prices would rapidly double.

[Ailin]

Hard to believe that with the prospect of many thousands of Coloradoans becoming unemployed in 2009 that Ritter says we are being too tough on illegals. How about Ritter gets busy moving some of our people off welfare and into these jobs that he wants illegals to fill?

You do realize, to be on welfare you must have either SOME type of visa which makes you legal or a SSN# don't you? Illegals don't get welfare.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Ailin

You do realize, to be on welfare you must have either SOME type of visa which makes you legal or a SSN# don't you? Illegals don't get welfare.

They get free public education and health care. Their anchor babies are citizens and get benefits such as WIC.

If they had a program to bring people (and NOT their families) here to work, I'd be OK with that. But it needs to be coupled with STRICT enforcement. Get caught here illegally, you get a parachute and a C-130 ride to Antarctica.

[cobmw]

I still think Ritter is trying to make it easier for illegals to come to Coloradeo. Some say that he was not talking about illegals. But he said that the laws passed in 2006 are now hurting Colorado's industry. And those laws had to do with fighting illegal immigration. They required employers to get ID', cut off benefits for illegals, etc. The 2006 laws were entirely aimed at illegals. Now he seems to say the laws were a mistake.