Doing The Jobs Americans Won't Do (immigrants, Mexicans, highway, Reed)

[perfecttan01]

I will tell you why this statement bothers me.
When I was age 10 my father died, my mother was ill and unable to work, there were 6 children including myself.
The only financial aid there was at that time was low income housing ( a housing project ) and our rent was $23 per month at that time.
I got up every morning and ran a paper route before school, after school I mowed lawns, shoveled walks, collected pop bottles, picked and sold apples, walnuts, and blackberrys, and anything else I could find to do.
I didn't do this for spending money, I did it for my family to survive, sometimes we ate, sometimes we didn't.
By the time I was 15 I had quit school and was working, carrying concrete block, hauling hay, working in tobacco, roofing, and every other hard, nasty job i could find to make money, to support my family.
When I was 18 I joined the military and saved every nickel except what I sent home.
After leaving the military I drove trucks over the road and unloaded the trailers for a few years until I got a loan to buy my farm.
Farm work is hard, it starts at daybreak and ends at dark, I still do it every day, my children and family do also.
Do I regret it? No Would I do it over again? I wouldn't change a thing.
No one can convince me that Americans are afraid of hard work.

[Jim280]

Originally Posted by perfecttan01

I will tell you why this statement bothers me.
When I was age 10 my father died, my mother was ill and unable to work, there were 6 children including myself.
The only financial aid there was at that time was low income housing ( a housing project ) and our rent was $23 per month at that time.
I got up every morning and ran a paper route before school, after school I mowed lawns, shoveled walks, collected pop bottles, picked and sold apples, walnuts, and blackberrys, and anything else I could find to do.
I didn't do this for spending money, I did it for my family to survive, sometimes we ate, sometimes we didn't.
By the time I was 15 I had quit school and was working, carrying concrete block, hauling hay, working in tobacco, roofing, and every other hard, nasty job i could find to make money, to support my family.
When I was 18 I joined the military and saved every nickel except what I sent home.
After leaving the military I drove trucks over the road and unloaded the trailers for a few years until I got a loan to buy my farm.
Farm work is hard, it starts at daybreak and ends at dark, I still do it every day, my children and family do also.
Do I regret it? No Would I do it over again? I wouldn't change a thing.
No one can convince me that Americans are afraid of hard work.

I know exactly what you're saying, when I was 14 yrs old I worked in corn fields all day for .50 an hour. I worked at what ever I could, times were hard you worked or you didn't eat. I was in the trucking business myself, that's not a easy life either.

[UB50]

I see Mexicans standing on freeway offramps selling flowers and oranges. Why don't I see others doing this? I see Mexicans pushing ice cream carts down the street in the middle of summer when it's 100 degrees out. Why don't I see others doing this? When I used to work in an office, we had an old Mexican man who used to buy fresh fruit and veggies, package it bags and sell it for $1 or $2 a bag to the people who worked in the offices who wanted healthy snacks. He used to push a little cart around with all these bags hanging off it. Why don't I see others doing this job?

These are not exclusive jobs. I'd bet your kids could even do them if they had the desire to make some money. I see a lot of immigrants doing these "make your own job" jobs... Why don't the others?

[Jim280]

Originally Posted by UB50

I see Mexicans standing on freeway offramps selling flowers and oranges. Why don't I see others doing this? I see Mexicans pushing ice cream carts down the street in the middle of summer when it's 100 degrees out. Why don't I see others doing this? When I used to work in an office, we had an old Mexican man who used to buy fresh fruit and veggies, package it bags and sell it for $1 or $2 a bag to the people who worked in the offices who wanted healthy snacks. He used to push a little cart around with all these bags hanging off it. Why don't I see others doing this job?

These are not exclusive jobs. I'd bet your kids could even do them if they had the desire to make some money. I see a lot of immigrants doing these "make your own job" jobs... Why don't the others?

Maybe you're not looking in the right places, I see people selling flowers all the time, pushing Hot Dog carts etc. People stand in the median at highway intersections and sell Roses, sell flowers beside the roadways. All kinds of little veggie stands.

[Nea1]

Originally Posted by UB50

I see Mexicans standing on freeway offramps selling flowers and oranges. Why don't I see others doing this? I see Mexicans pushing ice cream carts down the street in the middle of summer when it's 100 degrees out. Why don't I see others doing this? When I used to work in an office, we had an old Mexican man who used to buy fresh fruit and veggies, package it bags and sell it for $1 or $2 a bag to the people who worked in the offices who wanted healthy snacks. He used to push a little cart around with all these bags hanging off it. Why don't I see others doing this job?

These are not exclusive jobs. I'd bet your kids could even do them if they had the desire to make some money. I see a lot of immigrants doing these "make your own job" jobs... Why don't the others?

I have actually seen alot of people doing those things that are white and African american, not just hispanic. My kids dont do those things, they have a lawn mowing business, dog poo picking up business and a dog walking business. My daughter sell lemonaide as well. I pulled spuds and picked corn and helped my Uncle herd sheep and picked strawberries for 2.00 a pallett for two summers until I was told I was no longer needed, they got cheaper laborer. I am a woman and i even did framing with our business. I dont want to hear that Americans wont do the work crap. Not all of us are lazy and greedy.

[perfecttan01]

Originally Posted by perfecttan01

I will tell you why this statement bothers me.
When I was age 10 my father died, my mother was ill and unable to work, there were 6 children including myself.
The only financial aid there was at that time was low income housing ( a housing project ) and our rent was $23 per month at that time.
I got up every morning and ran a paper route before school, after school I mowed lawns, shoveled walks, collected pop bottles, picked and sold apples, walnuts, and blackberrys, and anything else I could find to do.
I didn't do this for spending money, I did it for my family to survive, sometimes we ate, sometimes we didn't.
By the time I was 15 I had quit school and was working, carrying concrete block, hauling hay, working in tobacco, roofing, and every other hard, nasty job i could find to make money, to support my family.
When I was 18 I joined the military and saved every nickel except what I sent home.
After leaving the military I drove trucks over the road and unloaded the trailers for a few years until I got a loan to buy my farm.
Farm work is hard, it starts at daybreak and ends at dark, I still do it every day, my children and family do also.
Do I regret it? No Would I do it over again? I wouldn't change a thing.
No one can convince me that Americans are afraid of hard work.

I see people sitting on the side of the road selling fruit and vegetables every where I go.
Flea markets are in every town, it's the same thing only in a controlled, legal enviroment.
I see people on roads with signs( will work for food ) are they scamming, possibly sometimes, but not usually,I have gave several a days work and they were glad to get it.
Give me a break!!!

OOPS, Sorry this was a reply for UB50, it's still early.

[Torn2pieces]

If they are illegal, they are breaking the law, it's plain and simple. Get it now?

[wildberries61]

UB50, Not sure where you live but, in my town that is how most of us survive by doing the jobs you mentioned and I see kids doing these also.

But, I think are children are being raised with the notion that they don't need to do hard work let somebody else do it. We are raising are kids soft by supplying them with games and things that are teaching them to be by their selves. How many kids do all of you know that actually know what the word CHORES mean?
For the most I think Americans are to worried about their status in life rather then,productive in life.

[perfecttan01]

Originally Posted by wildberries61

UB50, Not sure where you live but, in my town that is how most of us survive by doing the jobs you mentioned and I see kids doing these also.

But, I think are children are being raised with the notion that they don't need to do hard work let somebody else do it. We are raising are kids soft by supplying them with games and things that are teaching them to be by their selves. How many kids do all of you know that actually know what the word CHORES mean?
For the most I think Americans are to worried about their status in life rather then,productive in life.

My children work every day after school and on weekends, even the youngest.
The older ones if they don't work they don't get gas money to drive, the younger loses their allowance.
I have never had a problem, start them when they are young, it becomes a way of life.

[Nea1]

Originally Posted by wildberries61

UB50, Not sure where you live but, in my town that is how most of us survive by doing the jobs you mentioned and I see kids doing these also.

But, I think are children are being raised with the notion that they don't need to do hard work let somebody else do it. We are raising are kids soft by supplying them with games and things that are teaching them to be by their selves. How many kids do all of you know that actually know what the word CHORES mean?
For the most I think Americans are to worried about their status in life rather then,productive in life.

Mine know what chores are. They had to earn their own money for their game system and games. I wasnt going to just give it to them. My oldest had to work for his car, gas and insurance. My others will have to do the same. I never had things just handed to me, I had to bust my butt for everything I have, so will my kids. My oldest is paying for his own college tuition. Of course he had to choose a 68,000.00 dollar for three year school. but that just means he has had to work harder, get his own loans and bust his butt. He lives on his own as well.