February 21, 2006
Guest Workers Mean More Unemployed Americans
"Charlie Bearse, the president of Sidney Coal, was expressing an opinion that many in these mountains secretly share. The problem was, 
he put that opinion in writing. 'It is common knowledge that the work ethic of the Eastern Kentucky worker has declined from where it once was,' Mr. Bearse wrote to the state mining board. Bad attitudes and drug abuse, he argued, were affecting attendance 'and, ultimately, productivity.' Mr. Bearse's appeal to the board: Relax an English-only policy in the mines so he could bring in Hispanic workers," the New York Times reports.
In an excellent write-up, John Hawkins of RightWingNews.com explains why this story is indicative of how businesses routinely lie to fire American workers and hire cheap foreign labor. "Isn't it interesting that a job paying $18 an hour with benefits is now supposedly one of the jobs that 'Americans won't do?' And the solution to the problem is to hire non-English speaking workers (translation: illegal immigrants) who'd undoubtedly be paid cut-rate wages to do the same work . . . For example, let's say we get a guest worker program and Charlie Bearse gets permission to start bringing in guest workers. Then those guest workers, quite naturally, drive wages into the toilet and start putting tens of thousands of American workers in a position where they have to choose between big pay cuts or losing their jobs."
Read the full story
Isn’t it strange how, when corporate America wants to talk up the economy, they say that the American worker is the most productive in the world. When they want to talk about compensation, they say how uneducated and lazy we are. It would seem that the American worker will only suit them if he/she is not American.
"...and, ultimately, productivity..."
What an admirable end goal for our country...short-term corporate profit per worker. If Mr. Bearse wants this to be the ideal for New America, then he can lead the way by insisting upon an immediate cut in his own compensation...$1.00 per year?
How about a RICO lawsuit filed against him and his company BEFORE he hires illegal aliens along with a permanent restraining order against him and his company forbidding him to hire illegal aliens and ORDERING him to hire Americans at $18 per hour?
From Plantations USA:
'It is common knowledge that the work ethic of the Eastern Kentucky worker has declined from where it once was,'
He mean they can not be exploit, like illegals can.
Once again never under estimate the power slave-labor.
Because American workers understand the changes that corporate America are making to force them to work harder, longer, for less, in more dangerous and unhealthy conditions, that means "the work ethic of the eastern Kentucky worker has declined?"
I am sick of hearing about jobs that Americans won't do...what needs to change is the attitude that we are all to be considered slaves therefore we have no value...
Our government can be blamed for slashing safety regs, OT regs and other workplace regulations that allows business and industry to court cheap, foreign labor and leave Americans in the poor house.
If Mr. Bearse is genuine, then he should not mind paying a 20% premium for "guest workers", huh? I mean, if foreigners are so much more productive, then the extra cost should pay off in the long run through productivity gains. But we all know what Mr Bearse would do if this played out. He would immediately lower wages, jettison benefits (let the taxpayer pick up the tab), and pocket the profit. And we the taxpayers get the pleasure of financing this money making scheme for these traitors. That is all that would happen. These proposed actions are not "supply and demand" of labor, it is exploitation of the American and foreign work force.
And the author is correct in that a "guest worker" program would only exacerbate the existing problem. We would have a flood of legal guest workers accompanied by the continuing flood of illegal immigrants (gov't has no intention of sealing the border to stop illegal crossings). The situation would become 2-3 times worse in a very short time. We would essentially be over run and out manned in 10 years.
Sing the chorus one more time:
"If Americans won't do these jobs, then pray tell who DID DO THEM BEFORE THE ILLEGALS GOT HERE?"
Well, what do you know? It was AMERICANS! Now supplanted/pushed aside by those willing to work for "nada".
It appears that our gubernment and corperate america would sell us all down the river without a paddle.
American spirit, can do attitude, taking care of employees, making the work environment pleasant with clear ethical rules will boost productivity.
Americans do not want hand outs, we want jobs! Good paying jobs with organizations that take care of their employees.
It seems business ethics have declined along with solid american values. They want high profit margins and slave labor. A big portion of this is the american peoples fault... in that, we did not rise up and stop corporations from going offshore, or importing labor. We are outsourced!
If we stopped all the businesses from moving offshore (hiding money and hiring really cheap labor) and cut way back on imports... our economy would grow simply because the money would be here at home.
Another way we did it to ourselves... is making it hard to do business in the country with tons of tax laws and environmental hurdles to deal with.
If we made it easier and better to stay in America, to hire americans, then perhaps things would improve a great deal. However, we are now reduced to fighting illegal labor vis a vis the illegal alien and H-1B visa programs. As well as getting our gubernment to enforce the laws, hopefully stoping the invasion.
Since it is an envasion, by foreign hostiles, why is a good ol' boy conversation with the head of the invasion going to do anything to curb the invasion, unless it was to inform him of our plan to stop it.
Takn,
Immediately, upon taking office, Bush threw out most of the safety regulations that were in place for mines, as well as other industries. It was Elaine Chow, (big Bush campaign donator and now head of Labor) who has made employees work longer and harder for less. I thought that was the Republican way. I'll NEVER understand how people who voted for Bush didn't see this coming.
For Ella:
I wish I could fully convey to you the sadness that I feel that I voted for bush not once but twice. The reason that we didn't see it coming was because: 1) Kerry didn't look any better, and 2) bush used the time-honored ruse of toting around a Bible, speaking Christian-speak (evangelical style), etc. We are all sick with sorrow over this outcome. It was/is the border issue primarily which unveiled this man and his true intentions. How on earth could one cry out "for peace and safety of the American public" and leave the border wide open and purposely unguarded??!! Answer: he is not really for peace and safety of the American people--he is for the peace and safety of the corporate Babylon of which he considers himself Pope. The secrecy in which he and his staff operate indicates that something is terribly wrong. There is no need to hide things unless something is wrong. He says that he is a Christian--and while I realize that there are differences between denominations, etc., the hallmark of an evangelical (which is hints that he is) is that they are SUPPOSED to live "transparently". "Let nothing be done in secret", the scripture says. And, of course, we are not talking about military secrets here, but secrets between partners. And he and we Americans are SUPPOSED TO BE PARTNERS. (We are not.)
I am sure we have all seen those National Geographic specials where squids, when approached, squirt out a cloud of ink so that they may go elsewhere undetected. The words spoken by this administration are just that: a camoflage device so that they may go where they wish undetected.
I am so very disappointed--with myself for voting for him and with him for doing what he has done and will do--no matter what we say.
Impeach Bush,through out the Open Borders Traitors in Congress. And Jail the Employers,do all that and maybe just maybe we can save America for our children/ Grandchildren.
Pro Patria!!!
