[von949]

Most of the "white" business owners hire the illegal helpers anyway. So either way you will be helping both groups. Every time I hire a legal contractor to do some work at my house they usually have a non English speaking laborer with them. There has been one instance where this was not the case. It was for a garage spring repair job. The crew was a father and his two son team. The two sons were early to late teens.

[C_A_Braun]

Originally Posted by Cyborgt800

So rather than help legitimate businesses and workers you want to encourage law breakers coming into this country instead?

If I can pay them $100 rather than someone else $500 for the same job, yes.

[C_A_Braun]

Originally Posted by forestgump

I have heard that these guys work for $100 a day...per person

Thank you. That is about what I was thinking it would be.

[C_A_Braun]

Originally Posted by Kalbo

There are some that will paint then rob.

I am not overly concerned about the rob part. The house is empty and will be for quite some time. I guess it is possible that they might return 4-6 months from now which is about my time frame for furnishing the place but if them come back before then thinking they are going to strike it rich on my dime, they will be quite shocked when they walk into a house that is just as empty as it is today.

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by macgeek

Not to cast dispersions here, but the Mexican day workers have families, and children and all the expenses that us "white people" have as well. This is not about "stealing from the mouths of hard working american's" this is about having some work done on your house, and trying to save a few bucks.

I would rather have them paint my house, then being so desperate they need to rob it.

Nope, I cannot agree with this. Illegal immigration exists because there are jobs available in the US. Remove the jobs -- from agricorp to domestic work to unlicensed handy man -- and the immigration problem goes away.

We howl about companies that "send jobs overseas." But when someone hires illegal aliens from Home Depot's parking lot, they're basically sending jobs across the border -- jobs that US citizens desperately want -- in order to save a buck or two.

There's also the risk/reward ratio. By hiring uninsured, unlicensed men in front of Home Depot, a homeowner risks financial ruin and bankruptcy for the reward of saving a few hundred bucks. I think this is unacceptable.

People will try to justify it by saying, "These people are just trying to feed their familes. It's just a small job." But at the end of the day, hiring illegal immigrants is poor citizenship.

[C_A_Braun]

Originally Posted by nfapps

and legal is legal, and on and on....

to the OP, I was lucky enough to find a great handyman that does the work you're looking for professionally and reasonably. PM me if you'd like contact info.

I might be in need of a handyman from time to time but not necessarily for this task. And as was mentioned before, it seems just a likely that if I hire a handyman for this job he is just as likely to stop by home depot and pick up a few laborers to at least assist with the job.

So why bother with the middle man?

[Fat_Guy]

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

Nope, I cannot agree with this. Illegal immigration exists because there are jobs available in the US. Remove the jobs -- from agricorp to domestic work to unlicensed handy man -- and the immigration problem goes away.

We howl about companies that "send jobs overseas." But when someone hires illegal aliens from Home Depot's parking lot, they're basically sending jobs across the border -- jobs that US citizens desperately want -- in order to save a buck or two.

There's also the risk/reward ratio. By hiring uninsured, unlicensed men in front of Home Depot, a homeowner risks financial ruin and bankruptcy for the reward of saving a few hundred bucks. I think this is unacceptable.

People will try to justify it by saying, "These people are just trying to feed their familes. It's just a small job." But at the end of the day, hiring illegal immigrants is poor citizenship.

People want cheap labor but cry about illegals and the drain on the U.S. system. You cannot have it both ways!

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by von949

Most of the "white" business owners hire the illegal helpers anyway. So either way you will be helping both groups. Every time I hire a legal contractor to do some work at my house they usually have a non English speaking laborer with them.

There are non-English speaking laborers working with me at the casino, too. Doesn't mean they're illegal aliens. But it DOES mean they've passed a background check. So I'm guessing they're legal. Hell, my mother in law barely speaks English. But she's a US citizen, and a very productive one at that.

If the homeowner plays by the rules and hires a licensed company, he or she has done everything possible to do the right thing. If the business owner is a scofflaw, that will bite him or her in the ass someday.

The people who hire illegals are contributing to the 14% unemployment in the valley. They are also contributing to our local and national healthcare problem. And they contribute to our local and state tax woes.

To save a buck on an easy-to-do-yourself job? No thanks.

[macgeek]

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

Nope, I cannot agree with this. Illegal immigration exists because there are jobs available in the US. Remove the jobs -- from agricorp to domestic work to unlicensed handy man -- and the immigration problem goes away.

We howl about companies that "send jobs overseas." But when someone hires illegal aliens from Home Depot's parking lot, they're basically sending jobs across the border -- jobs that US citizens desperately want -- in order to save a buck or two.

There's also the risk/reward ratio. By hiring uninsured, unlicensed men in front of Home Depot, a homeowner risks financial ruin and bankruptcy for the reward of saving a few hundred bucks. I think this is unacceptable.

People will try to justify it by saying, "These people are just trying to feed their familes. It's just a small job." But at the end of the day, hiring illegal immigrants is poor citizenship.

Scoop, I admire you, and respect your opinion A LOT, But I think on this issue we will agree to disagree, If your grandparents where treated then, they way we treat the immigrants of today, you would be living in a hovel somewhere.

I am ALL FOR controlling illegals and for English being the ONLY language in America, I like everyone else have been financially burdened with the additional costs of illegals (My taxes where so high this year, I had to borrow money from my IRA (at 20% tax & 10% penalty) JUST TO STAY CURRENT ON MY TAXES.. So I would be the highest on that soapbox.

BUT

If voting really did something and mattered, it would be illegal..

Jonathan


/RANT

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by macgeek

Scoop, I admire you, and respect your opinion A LOT, But I think on this issue we will agree to disagree, If your grandparents where treated then, they way we treat the immigrants of today, you would be living in a hovel somewhere.

Seven out of eight of my great-grandparents went through Ellis Island, learned English, got jobs (well, the men at least -- it was a different time), and worked their way legally through the system. The eighth great-grandparent's family had been here since the 1600s.

My mother-in-law, her late husband and my wife waited for the Immigration Act of 1965 to be passed. And then they applied for residency, and waited, and waited, and waited. And then they waited in lines, jumped through hoops and then came here -- in the 1970s. Immigration officers handed my wife a baby-name book and told her to pick a new name, because her original name was unpronounceable. Her family went straight to work, learned English and became citizens as soon as they were able. My wife now teaches English to immigrants -- legal and otherwise.

So, our family has a long and proud history of playing by the rules. And you want me to give illegal immigrants a pass? Why? These people want all the benefits with none of the effort. If they want to be Americans, they can go about it the same way my wife did, and the same way my ancestors did. If they want to just be residents, make some money, and go home, there are legal ways to do that, too.

You're right, we're probably never going to agree on immigration. Keep in mind, I'm all for immigration. In general, immigration makes our country stronger. But running across the border straight to the East L.A. phony-ID shop is not immigration. It is wrecking our healthcare system, and destroying employment. And I'll have no part of it by hiring people in front of Home Depot when there are citizens who desperately need the work.