Clayton Cramer states well a viewpoint I’m in concert with. I have been living at ground zero – truly the gateway county -Maricopa Az – for illegal immigration for almost 10 years.
That experience is starkly divided between ’99-’02 Jane Hull & ’02-’08 Janet Napolitano. From 1999 thru 2004 – I enjoyed the best earning years of my life. By 2008 my field – financial services – had shed easily 250K – HUNDRED THOUSAND -or more jobs. Banking is a big sector out here – it’s hardly limited to mortgages – lending of all sorts – collections is especially huge in Phoenix – 3rd & 1st party. We rivial other states for the largest concentration of call centers – mostly customer service.
I moved from Ohio, a state that had about a 7% unemployment rate in Cuyahoga co in ’99 – to a virtual full employment situation. I was just past 40 w/a BA (English) pieced together in the late ’80′s. The listed unemployment in ’99 – thru 9/11 – was 1%. That is full employment folks – something I had never enjoyed in my lifetime – to quit one job and walk right into another in a day if one so desired was a common occurance. Even with 9/11 we never got up over 3% and got back down below that until the start of the credit burst in ’05-’06. We hover a tab below the national average now, 6-7% last I looked.
Without a doubt the best opportunities were for qualifed professionals. But there were vast opportunities also available to those with little or no college – and not just limited to construction or burger joints.
I worked in sales (lending), credit analysis, & collections – and I worked with many people in some six organizations – & at least a dozen who never spent a day in college who brought home six figure incomes – in what was a very different modern blue collar world from my youth; you didn’t work in a dirty machine shop but instead at a computer while on the phone.
I don’t much care for Mr. Navaratte who often incits here, but I do conceed one argument he often puts forth. That is, that EMPLOYERS LIKE TOM ABOVE & politicians like NAPOLITANO (thankfully gone to a ‘higher calling’)promoted and facilitated a ‘surge’ in illegals pouring in – which many on sites like this refer to as an invasion. (which it is)
Tom the ‘employer’s’ talking points are absolute bunk. I’ve seen such ‘employers’ out here. It boils my blood. Wage theft is common, like a feudal entitlement – quit & you don’t get paid or if you do it’s a F.U. pittance. Another trick that began cropping up regularly – claiming a former employee for tax purposes a year AFTER LET GO. Accounting tricks to cut wages when commission is involved. It isn’t about the disriuption or if you gave proper notice – nothing like that.
Employers do it because they believe their entitled to it – and there is nothing to stop them.
Coming from the Midwest I never encountered this kind of crap. It’s a right to work state here with no history like the Midwest or Northeast. There is no established legacy of Trade Unionism – with higher wages & workplace standards – concerning safety and fairness. It’s a ‘bad attitude’ bad apple kinda senario when you view your labour as a viable commidity as well – not just the employer as providential divinity providing employment and substeance….’oppertunity’.
Instead there is the long established legacy of cheap migrating labor. And we’ve all heard the chorus’ of hosannas – they are all mythical beasts of burden – great workers, with great attitudes, and just the best employees you could ever hope for…bla..bla..bla. Yeah – they are CHEAP. They don’t complain because if they do – since they snuck in like a thief in the night – ….
How often have we as americans heard some chamber of commerce nitwit or business luminary complain about the ‘level of education’ for their entry hires? Or the 1 out of every 3 Black men is dead or in prison before hitting 25 echo? (just catch Tavis Smileys upcoming ’10 STATE OF THE BLACK UNION.) Or the health care debate now taking place – or the Social Security viability debate that been ongoing?
Everyone with a wit of intelligence or education tells their kids to get an advanced education to have a shot at a good life with economic oppertunity & security – but with Hispanics dominating immigration its convienetly ‘misforgotten’ because most arrive with half as much an education as my great-grandfather in 1890!
So, if you demand immigration reform that includes locking down the border & reducing illegals coming and those already here? It’s impossible and racist.
Thirty years ago when I first went to college as a wide-eyed freshman – after growing up a pipefitters son in greater cleveland – it was inconceivable to believe I would enter my middle age in an America were it was both respectable and legal for an employer to call themselves an employer and yet not offer medical benefits as part of their wage package.
Today it is commonplace. That is a blatant message – you and your labor are NOT WORTH ENOUGH to include medical care for you and yours if and when you should get sick.
That was a battle that my grandfather and HIS FATHER fought on my behalf. It was part of my legacy to be blessed to be born free in the right geography – part of the currency of my citizenship. NOW I HAVE TO FIGHT THAT BATTLE AGAIN!
Name calling is irrelvent given what Pol’s like Janet Napolitano and race hustlers like Mr Narvarette are selling.
Immigration remains a volitile and intractable political problem because it effects our quality of life today and the futures we envision for our children. Its as live wire as it gets – about life and liberty – bread and butter.
Nativist anger and politcal push back has made a difference, in my opinion. Both here in Az and through out the country.
I detect a palpable despiration on the part of the Race Hustlers – much like after 9/11 when Bush brushed off the guest worker idea – and again now when we have a world wide recession & maybe even worse.
People see California – how poorly it has fared since becoming the #1 destination of the Latin Invasion – and take note. That massive Latino immigration didn’t CAUSE CAlI to become a broken state with a failing economy – but it did contribute.
These are just a few reasons why I mistrust the Race Hustlers and voted for the anti-immigration Props here in the past few years. This is a different world we live in today – with global competitiveness the absurd comparison to prior eras of immigration are bogus arguments that need shot down for good.
And by the way – those same anti-immigration props carried almost idential pro/against HISPANIC numbers. La Raza and the Ruben Navarette’s don’t speak for a plurality of Hispanics any more than Al Sharpton does Blacks or Joe Arapio Anglo-hybrids.
There is no suitable answer to satisfy everyone. But I do believe we can take back our country and demand orderly immigration that controls our border, leverages Mexico to be a co-operative partner ON OUR TERMS, and requires assimilation of those wanting to be here and stay here.
I don’t share the pessimism. We have made a difference will continute to.
