What does he mean that we are all hypocrits?
When it comes to illegal immigration, nobody seems to take responsibility, and we are all, through action or inaction, complicit.
It should be no surprise that illegal immigration is one of the primary means by which the U.S. economy gains access to low-skilled, low-cost labor. As the share of low-skilled native-born Americans falls – in 1960 half of U.S.-born working-age adults had not completed high school, compared with 8 percent today – employers have become ever more dependent on illegal immigration as a steady source of cheap labor.
According to a 2009 Pew Hispanic Center study, 40 percent of the nation's brick masons, 37 percent of drywall installers, 28 percent of dishwashers, 27 percent of maids and housekeepers and 21 percent of parking-lot attendants are undocumented. In California, those percentages are likely to be higher. A 2006 U.S. Department of Labor survey estimates that most California farm workers have no papers.
So whatever your feelings about illegal immigration, if you eat vegetables, enjoy restaurants, reside in a house built in the last 30 years or ever let a valet park your car, the chances are you're implicated in the hypocritical politics that allows 7 million to 8 million people to work illegally in the country....
And the more we blamed those awful illegals for coming to this country, the less willing we became to claim any responsibility for their being here – or for treating them decently. As illegal immigrants were increasingly cast as a threat, Americans cast themselves as victims.
What do you think?
Are American's hypocrits on the issue of illegal immigration? Are American employers who are seeking out cheap labor partly responsible for the immigration problem? Are American consumers partly responsible for the problem of illegal immigration because they always seek out cheaper products? In more personal terms: Are you willing to pay more for vegetables so that better paid, legal, American labor will pick and package the vegetables? Are you willing to pay more for your new home because it was built by better paid, legal, American labor?
Or, is there no hypocracy here? Are American employers and consumers not at all responsible for illegal immigrants? Are the illegal immigrants making the wrong choice and they alone hold responsibility? Can Americans expect to get the best of both worlds?-- no illegal immigrants and cheaper goods?
Whatever your response, explain yourself. Tell me why or why not you believe what you do?
There is a story to tell here. One of my best friends dads is the CEO to some home-line phone company. This is a guy who, one would think, would have the money to get his house professionally painted. Yet one day he told me a story about how he went to some poor area of arlington to pick up "illegal immigrants" to get the job done for "half the price". I was young when he told me about this, and i at the time i didn't really understand, but now i find it a little disturbing. I feel that this is the attitude that a lot of companies has who want cheap labor. This is why there are underground sweatshops in brooklyn and other cities. This is also a partial cause for unemployment issue because the illegal immigrants are taking away jobs that would otherwise be given to a citizen. It is very hypocritical to allow this when we ban sweatshops in out country.
ReplyDeleteYasmin Modica
PliSci 100.04
I think that we as Americans are hypocrits when it comes to illegal immigration. We do NOT want to pay more for anything. We feel we work hard for our money and should be able to use it as we please and to get the most from the money we earn. However the way the businesses are able to cut low prices for us is to spend less money to make the products we consume. So if you look at this issue in this light, we ALL are responsible. The immigrants are responsible for wanted a better life and will do what it takes to get it. We are responsible because we want the best deals even if it means we need to drive farther or order online. Companies are responsible because they want to save money by any means necessary in order to grow their business ventures.This as Yasmin said does take the jobs and benefits away from our citizens, yet we don't want to pay the price! So where does it all end? We keep running around in circles and pointing the finger at someone else.
ReplyDeleteI think we are hypocrites in regards to immigration, and both consumers and business-owners are responsible for the use of illegal immigrants as cheap labor. If there were a sudden surge in prices due to employment of legal citizens, consumers would be upset and may stop buying those products. In the food industry, I know that people wouldn't be willing to pay more for it. Because we are so capitalistic, we don't really care where our food comes from. We just want it to be the cheapest it can, no matter what happened to the people producing it. It's the same with all consumer products; that is why nearly everything we buy says "Made in China". We can only have one or the other: more jobs for legal citizens, or cheaper foods, clothing, and houses.
ReplyDeleteRebecca Herbert, Psci 100.05
American's are hypocrites when it comes to illegal immigration; and employers and consumers are both guilty of facilitating the problem. They complain that they want food and clothes and all other essential items to be cheaper; but then they complain when they find out that the companies are using illegal immigrants to cater to this demand. The same people that are saying, "they took our jobs" are some of the same people that shop at supermarkets because they have cheaper prices. Personally I would be willing to pay a little more for the things I use if they were the product of better paid, legal American labor. Unlike some however I am more horrified at the thought of anyone making as little as immigrants do then the fact that they are illegal immigrants in and of itself.
ReplyDeleteJessica Hall, 100.04
Yes I definitely believe that Americans are hypocrits when it comes to illegal immigration. Americans complain that they don't want people from foreign places coming into our country stealing our jobs and practicing their culture. On the other hand, Americans would be complaining even more if they had to pay higher prices for fruits and vegetables that weren't picked by immigrants who work for cheaper wages. Americans refuse to work for the wages that immigrants will accept which leads to the immigrants "taking over" some job industries. It is not possible to have cheaper goods and no immigrants because in order for Americans to produce these goods they must be paid higher wages which must increase the overall price of the good or there wouldn't be a profit. Brandi Parsons PSCI 100.04
ReplyDeleteI think we as Americans are hypocrites. Owners of large companies want to pay as little as possible to their employees so they make out with profit. Therefore, they hire illegal immigrants to work for cheap so that they are not deported out of the United States. They would rather hire someone who is not a legal citizen of America than hire an American that wants minimum wage pay. We in many ways are responsible for immigrants in our country. Immigrants know they can get jobs over in America so they cross the border and get hired to work a heavy job for little pay because that is better than nothing.
ReplyDeleteStephanie Hudlow
PSCI 100.05
Everyone makes a big deal about illegal immigrants but yet employeers still hire them, just because it won't cost them to much to pay them. If America is going to complain about illegal immigrants then don't keep giving them jobs. Just because they work for cheap and recieving our jobs, the legal citizens have no where to go for jobs so unemployeement rates are up.
ReplyDeleteLacie Sirk PSCI 100.05
This is an interesting topic and honestly leaves me a little confused as to what to say. I am shocked at yet again how we, as an American whole yet again are critisized to be hypocrits. Which unfortunately is the truth. We back up so many ideas but then end up commiting them ourselves. On the issue of illegal immagration I don't really know what exactly I do believe. A lot of the illegal imagrant workers are around my area of living. Almost every day I come into contact with them. I can't imagine having some of those goods not being there, and I know for a fact they would not be there if workers had to be paid more. It's crazy to think of it in that sense. I also do think it becomes a little ridiculous because these high paying companines are making even more money by not paying these workers to the maximum. This is a topic is somehting you never really think about, but deal with everyday. It has me questioning and thinking about what exactly I'm getting and who was putting the work in for me to get it.
ReplyDeleteHanna Simane
100.05
I agree that a majority of Americans are completely hypocritical when it comes to the topic of illegal immigrants. Even though Americans usually don't know the difference between an illegal immigrant and a legal immigrant, they still make a big deal about people of a different race (usually Hispanics) who are living in our country. I often hear Americans make rude comments about these immigrants who came to the United States. Americans, typically older people, will say things such as, "Look at those Hispanics working. They're probably illegal and getting free health insurance and don't have to pay taxes. We're paying for them to live here!" The funny thing is that I'll hear them say this, yet they'll continue to walk right into the restaraunt, orchard, construction company, etc. to purchase something. Americans also complain that illegal immigrants are stealing our jobs, but I don't see anyone else vying for the jobs that they do. Would Americans want to work a difficult job for under minimum wage? I definitely don't think so, and the United States government would never allow a citizen to work such a job for under minimum wage. Allowing illegal immigrants to work the jobs they do for an extremely low pay makes the United States government look like hypocrites as well. Yes, it may give Americans cheaper goods, but isn't the United States against all of the sweatshops that are placed around the world? All in all, Americans are complete hypocrites when it comes to the topic of illegal immigration.
ReplyDeleteKelly Sweeney
PSCI 100.05
I definitely agree with everyone else about how Americans are hypocrites. We all want to pay the least amount for the things we want, but we'll still go and complain about the people who get us these things. Another thing I don't agree with is how people can say that illegal immigrants are taking good jobs for Americans. This isn't true at all, because the fact is that these immigrants do jobs that no one else wants to do, but that someone has to. The United States is manipulative in that it allows these immigrants to do the dirty work, and then complain about their existance in our country.
ReplyDeleteJessica Meyers 100.05
It's almost impossible to say that we are not hypocrites. I have no problem with illegal immigration. I know of a few places that have undocumented workers working for them, but when people start abusing the labor because they are illegal is where i see a problem. In both cases I know the undocumented workers are friends or family of the employer. I know many times this is not the case though and that undocumented workers are mistreated. I think Americans should be proud that so many people will risk their lives in many cases to live in the United States. I also think a blending of the cultures is important to help stop abuse and help stop the "us vs. them" ignorance.
ReplyDeleteI see this as the bottom line, unless we sprout the skills to grow our own food, make our own clothes and be completely self sufficient on our OWN we are going to have to deal with illegal immigrants in our county. Like its been said, we are all pretty much illegal, this is pretty much what the US has been built on. We are hypocritical most defiantly because most of us don’t think about each side before we express our opinions of situations. If there is a person out there that is willing to get paid 25 cents an hour to be in the snow, rain and extreme heat to do their job more power to them. I don’t mind the cheaper prices for food and clothing. We talk about immigrants taking our jobs, it’s a shame that so many Americans are with out work (me being one of them) yes but I don’t know anyone that would allow themselves to be in those type of conditions for THAT type of pay. We believe we deserve more, more pay, more everything. As if its our god giving right and business are going to snatch up people willing to work for next to nothing because at the end of the day its more money in their pocket. Greed is also what I think this country is ran on, I cant be convinced to this day that is not true. Im greedy, you might say your not greedy but I believe other wise. We want all we can get and until we are completely self sufficient on our own, or we decide we want to pay 3$ for a onion we have to take what we can get.
ReplyDeleteMarChell DeShong
Americans are definitely highly hypocritical, especially when it comes to those who just absorb whatever they listen to on the news station of their choice instead of educating themselves on a topic. When people do this, they are completely unaware of what they're actually talking about. This just happens to make up a very large amount of the population. For the longest time I was this way on this topic. All I knew was that everyone was angry at the people coming in illegally, so they must have done something wrong. Once I discovered the real situation it infuriated me that people walk around saying these people are awful. These people accept these jobs, the ones nobody else wants, because they would be willing to do that instead of living where ever they had come from.
ReplyDeleteKatherine Martin PSCI .04
We are very hypocritical when it comes to the issue of immigration. One on hand we say that we need to deport them and stop illegals from entering the country. Yet we still want low prices and cheap labor. I don't think corporations are to blame for immigration, they are just one of many contributing factors. It is important though that these immigrants that come here illegally are regulated and monitored. It is unfair to the tax payers who's pay checks suffer from this burden. This issue is one that is very hard to take a firm stand on one side or the other because regardless someone has to suffer somehow.
ReplyDeletePeople are very hypocritical when it comes to immigration. While we enjoy the low prices that come from illegal labor, we do not want to see these immigrants living next door or consuming our resources. Many people believe the illegals are taking jobs from the American citizen but I disagree. I grew up in Arizona and every morning you will find immigrants up at the crack of dawn waiting to be picked up by farmers and contractors looking for cheap labor. These immigrants are willing to do whatever it takes to earn a dollar, meanwhile the unemployed white man or woman is still snoring in bed. As Americans we feel it is beneath us to do hard work in less than desireable conditions and would rather feed our family off unemployment checks than toil in the earth. The illegals are only taking the jobs that nobody else wants. In Arizona immigration has made the job market more competitive as employers want to hire those who are bilingual in order to better serve the growing population of spanish speaking individuals. But these legitimate jobs are not available to the illegal immigrants. The illegals do not have access to assistance such as uneployment, legal aid or healthcare that citizens may turn to during tough times. But the illegals take the blame for everything from violent crime to the moral dergragation of the area. It is unfortunate that a few bad apples give rise to the stereotypical mindset people have of immigrants. Many of these people are just trying to survive and care for their families the best they can, often escaping from repression or violence within their own country. Iggnorance of the other gives rise to fear and hatred. I personally do not think borders should exist. Whether this would work or even be feasible in our world today I do not know;but I do know all people when seen with a haert of love and compassion are as valuable as the next and all should be allowed the opportunity to thrive. As for the price of food, I already pay double to ensure my family eats food free from neurotoxins, growth hormones and other not so delectable chemicals that my own government allows into my food supply. We the people should be pissed about our food being contaminated with poison instead of getting all up in arms over who picked it. We should be giving these immigrants a pay raise as everyday they jepordize their health in the pesticide ridden fields...many of which have been found to be quite effective for use in chemical warfare. It was stated in class that nature itself does not define nor recognize borders. Sometimes nature causes disasters that negatively affect the entire world but it also shines its life giving light on everyone regardless of national identity. Immigration comes with challenges for sure, but by focusing on the negative we fail to see the gifts.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Americans are hypocritical when it comes to the topic of illegal immigrants.Americans usually don't know the difference between an illegal immigrant and a legal one, and still make a big deal about people of a different race living in our country. The majority of Americans make rude comments about these immigrants coming to the US. Most Americans see us as paying for immigrants to live here in the US. But the funny thing is that in actuality Americans don't mind because they will go into the restaurant or hire them to mow their lawns. Americans complain that illegal immigrants are stealing our jobs, but the only reason we even notice is because jobs are tight and people are willing to do anything to support their families. And usually the jobs that we subject the Mexicans to are ones that we ourselves don't want to do. I don't see anyone else fighting for the jobs that they do. And more importantly they don't ask for a pay raise of benefits or even union up just because their trying to make a life for them selfs.Americans would want to work a difficult job like the Mexicans would and expect high wages and a 401K. The government would never allow a citizen to work such a job for under minimum wage. Allowing illegal immigrants to work the jobs they do for an extremely low pay makes the United States government look like hypocrites but we actually need them if the Mexicans were to be removed from the jobs they do our economy would begin to worsen because of the adjustments of replacing the Mexicans with Americans. Inflation would occur and we might not make it. In a way you could look at immigration as saving our economy and nation.
ReplyDeleteCordova, J PSCI100:05
I believe that America are hypocrites when it comes to illegal immigration. Everyone wants to pay as little as possible and still complains about the prices being high. If the illegal immigrants would leave then the prices would go up and everyone would be complaining even more than they already were about prices. So if everyone want to continue paying cheaper prices, they should complain about illegal immagrants. I also don’t think that illegal immigrants are responsible for taking all the jobs because the majority of the time they take the jobs that no one else wants to do.
ReplyDeleteAshley Mellott
PSCI 100.03
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletei believe that as far back as history goes in america people have immigrated to the us and offered cheap labor. becuase of this it perpetuates the cycle of poor people in other countries wanting to come to the use in order to make money and have a better life.. it is just a big cycle. as long as there is cheap labor to be done there will be the opportunity for illegals to keep coming. i think that some people are hypocritical and i believe that work should be done by people who are legaly alowed to work in the us, but i know that this topic will never be solved.
ReplyDeletecolin springer
100.03
This topic can be argued but it is actually very simple. The people that are against illegal immigration are all hypocrites. The rest, like me, probably couldn't care less or just don't have an opinion on it. The companies don't bring in the people because if they liked where they are living they wouldn't leave. So, they have to want to come here in the first place. The companies just make it possible for them to be here. The consumers feed the companies because they rely on the companies to provide the low prices. The need for the low prices comes from the middle to low class and lets face it, the majority of us belong to one of these classes. The rich companies need to be less selfish and pay up. They need to pay not only the immigrants closer to minimum wage, if not that mere $7.25, and need to pay the actual US citizens more. But then, they wouldn't be able to control us because they won't be as wealthy and as we all know from class and from experience, money is power. Bottom line, if you need those low prices, don't be a hypocrite.
ReplyDelete100.4
American are huge hypocrites to immigration. The problem is no body wants to do the job that most illegal immigrants are willing to do, ask anyone how much they would have to be paid to be a trash man or a farm worker they will tell you it would have to be a lot. We are a very spoiled society and we expect too much for less. No one is willing to work hard anymore because there are more jobs out there that are easier and do require physical work. I believe it’s everyone’s fault because yes we all want things cheap and no we don’t want to do the work ourselves because we will pay people to do it for us. For employers yeah its wrong to pay someone less, but they are still making more here and most Americans are not hard workers, they complain a lot, and want a lot of time off. So if someone else is willing to do it better and not complain then that’s what we get for being complainers. The only thing I do strongly believe is if someone is going to work and live here then yeah they need to pay taxes to because they are using our resources as well. We also need to remember that our country was based off freedom and liberty to all and that once we where all immigrants trying to find a better life for our families and ourselves.
ReplyDeleteKatie Clevenger 100.05
We Americans are hypocrites when it comes to illegal immigration. We know that illegal immigrants will work for a reduced pay rate, and as Gregory Rodriquez mentioned, it’s great for our economy. However, on personal terms, I would rather pay more for a non-illegal immigrant to do work for me than pay cheap for an illegal immigrant. Illegal immigrants should not at all work until they become legal workers. I understand the outcome would definitely be more expensive but I believe it is simply the right thing to do. Firstly, we shouldn’t have to reward illegal immigrants with paid work. If they want to come to America to work, they should be willing to become legal citizens. Second, why should we resort to illegal activities to solve the problems of “cheap” labor? If anything, the solution shouldn’t be illegal. There has to be a more reasonable way to handle this situation, and this will never be found if we keep this up.
ReplyDeleteAlaina Meserole
PSCI 100.05
I think Americans are hypocritical when it comes to immigration. We, as Americans, say we do not want immigrants “taking over” the country. However, we think were above the jobs which immigrants take to keep this country going. I don’t think the employers who seek cheap labor add to the immigration problem, they are simply playing their part in the free-market. Instead, Americans who think they are above those jobs contribute to the problem. This allows immigrants the chance to take those jobs. In turn, we all complain about the immigration problem. Workers should either accept the same jobs which immigrants take, or accept immigrant workers because of the economic benefit it provides to consumers. The issue of immigration is a win-lose situation and will never be completely resolved or agreed upon.
ReplyDeleteCayce Martin
PSCI 100.04
I think Americans are very much hypocrites on the issue of illegal immigration. Many people say how bad the illegal immigrants are so much, but if they had to pay more for food and homes they would probably change their thought about it some. To me illegal immigration is not the best thing not only for us, but also them. Employees tend to hire these illegal immigrants because they know they can use them for large amounts of work and pay them little to nothing. So how is it that we complain daily about them when the U.S continues to use them? I would hope if the illegal immigration is correction and stop that people would take reasonability and pay for higher cost.
ReplyDeleteWayne Fleming 100.4
I agree with everyone about how Americans are hypocrites. Everyone is all about paying low prices for things. Something I don't agree with is how people say that illegal immigrants are taking away jobs for Americans. This is not true at all, because these immigrants do jobs that no one else wants to do, but that someone has to. People would rather pay immigrant’s four dollars and hour rather than people in America eight dollars and hour. America is controlling in that is lets the immigrants to all the dirty jobs, but yet then complains about letting them into America.
ReplyDeleteMegan Long
PSCI 100.03
Kathryn Stevens, PSCI 100.04
ReplyDeleteI really don't mind immigrants because they get the job done faster and half the price. Many americans I think are lazy and don't want to do anything for cheap. I have worked in restaurants for awhile and alot of the cooks are hispanic. They will cook faster than most americans. The only time when I get frustrated with immigrants is when they don't speak english. It is hard to communicate and can mess up any process. I am cheap and want the easiest way to get my vegetables. Some Americans want to blame immigrants for taking their job but who could resist someone who would work for less? In class we were discussing a law that you have to take a test on English to pass. I think that would solve some of the communication barriers.
Immigration has been going on for years, and as discussed in class the majority group that is immigrating is always shunned at first. I do believe for the most part that Americans are hypocritical, but only because they are scared, ignorant, and too self absorbed to look at the big picture. Who’s to say which specter of the economy (corporations or consumers) is more to blame but we should all be held accountable. Personally I try to but organically and locally, more for health reasons than anything else, yet I admit that if I see an organic orange priced at $2.00 each and one from Chile for $1.00 each I almost always go for the cheaper one. Overall humans in general are pretty hypocritical in everything they do, so I don’t expect anything less when it comes to them defending the jobs they are losing to the immigrants when in reality they are jobs they as “true” Americans are too good to take. I feel we shouldn’t complain about illegal immigrants because everyone tries to defeat the system at some point, either big or small infractions, and eventually the riskier ones get caught; as long as there is no direct harm involved we should all learn to live happily together and support each other since we are just simply trying to survive.
ReplyDeleteThe American media loves to talk about illegal immigration and cast Hispanics as questionable and set them up as a national threat. Regardless of it being hypocritical or not, why do we care? Is nationality really a good reason to discriminate against someone? The job is getting done, the company is functioning, and someone is getting paid, sounds like a good system. If an American doesn’t have a job it is not because a Mexican took his job, it’s because they’re not trying. And for the language barrier, every European country speaks more than their native language, why can’t we?! The school system already teaches Spanish but it should be improved upon so students actually learn it.
ReplyDeleteDavid Hickerson PSCI 100.4
ReplyDeleteI believe that Americans are hypocrites. We are the laziest nation in the world and expect to have others do it for us to make us look good and pay them little to no pay at all. I have said that the ones coming here get all the benefits while our own people hardly get any at all. Learning about how it really is I understand that they get it because some cant afford a lot. I do think that if they do come here to live they should speak english. When I was working as a cashier it would get extremly annoying when I'm trying to ask them questions and they gave me a blank stare because they don't understand.
ReplyDeleteKatelyn Sine
100.04
Whether or not America is hypocritial, I can not answer. However, the jobs mentioned above have percentages that are not documented. They are less that half. So part of the half documented is Americans and not illegal immigrants. I know people who are dishwashers and brick layers, and who clean houses who are legal. I think more Americans would do these kinds of jobs if they had the opportunity and companies weren't searching for illegal immigrants. Reguardless, there should not be illegal immigrants at all, hence why people call them illegal.
ReplyDeleteHannah Hime
100.04
I do believe there is hypocracy in Americans when illegal immigration is concerned. Americans seem to have this entitlement issue, where they think they deserve everything handed to them Many people do not show the desire to work and show even less work ethic when they do choose to work. Illegal immigrants come to this country for the opportunity to work and are willing to do any job for a lot less money than most Americans. If American’s want cheaper products they have no right to complain about illegal immigrants coming in and doing the work.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what was mentioned in class, America as it stands today was formed based on immigration. If immigration was not allowed in the past most of us would not be here today. I think there could be better laws in place that would benefit both those coming into the country as well as those who are already here. There are many concerns about taxes being raised due to the expenses of illegal immigrants coming into the country. If we allowed more immigrants into the country we would have less illegal immigrants coming in. With more legal immigrants coming in they would be helping to pay the taxes everyone is complaining about. Then at least the money they are earning is being put back into the economy and helping the local area in which they are living. No matter how hard we try to keep people out they are going to continue to come into this country.
Karen Martin
PSCI 100.04
I think Americans like the cheap labor but are not willing to admit to it because if they did, there would be no reason to prevent the immigrants from coming. The U.S. would seemingly appreciate the cheap labor. If more people came into the country to work as an immigrant, we would become crowded. People want to have their space and cheap labor without welcoming it into their land. The U.S. needs them to function, to be able to keep prices low. But too many would cause population to increase, which would anger many Americans who like their land.
ReplyDeleteKindra Bittle
PSCI 100.03
I know for a fact that there are a lot of farms that do not have illegal immigrants working for them. That being said, I don't think prices would go up if we took out illegal immigrant labor. The market would work itself out. Example, people that are on welfare could take those jobs that illegals are using and then the government could stop giving those on welfare free money for them to sit on their butts. If you go to any other country illegally, you can guaruntee that you will go to jail for a number of reasons. Try to go to Mexico illegally and you're lucky if you don't get shot on the spot. Back onto the topic of the economy, the free market works. When a product gets too high, someone else will come up with something that will be cheaper and work just as good. And on another note, if the government would stop all these stupid regulations on American factories maybe we could purchase more American goods...
ReplyDeleteHeather Reynolds
PSCI 100.04
First, the hypocrisy of businessmen and employers that criticize illegal immigration and then employ illegal immigrants is unquestionable. The same is true for people that employ illegal immigrants in their homes or to do their work. However, it must be remembered that regardless of their views on immigration, most people are relatively unaware which institutions and businesses are employing illegal immigrants. Is it hypocritical for someone to question illegal immigration while obliviously shopping at places that hire illegal immigrants? And if the employment of immigrants is as widespread as this article makes it appear, what alternative do Americans have? You have to have a home, food, and clothes to survive.
ReplyDeleteSecond, although like most Americans I might be hesitant to pay higher prices (people will be less likely to implement a policy when it affects them), I feel it’s wrong that we have people working for subminimum wages in our country. These people are being denied the basic rights legal workers have in our country. Obviously if it was possible these workers would like to have higher wages and benefits such as health care. However, they were desperate enough to risk sneaking across the border and start a new life in a country where there is no guarantee they will be able to work or survive. They came here to better themselves and provide for their families. Why should they have to work in conditions that we do not allow our own citizens to work in? Focus should be directed toward helping these people become productive citizens and gain the basic rights of any other worker in this country. These people are being taken advantage of to gain lower business costs. Also, their status as an illegal citizen creates problems such as whether they should be able to use our schools, hospitals, etc. and, if so, how to tax them for these services. Obviously, for various reasons, there will always be some illegal citizens working in subpar conditions in this country. However the large number of illegal citizens in the United States reflects the difficulty of becoming an American citizen. If it was easier to gain citizenship, there would be less people trying to sneak in illegally and there wouldn’t be an immigration problem. Issues such as taxes, education, and healthcare for illegals would fade away as former immigrants gained all of benefits and duties that come with citizenship. Thus, the problem needs to be taken care of at the root, not by trimming the branches.
-Aaron M. Ladd
PSCI 100.05
Sam Beatty
ReplyDeletePoli Sci 100.04
The whole immigration situation is just a very bad one. I believe that it is partly the Americans fault for the rise of immigration and the rise of cheap labor. But that this happened when it was easy for many Americans to get jobs and no recession was around. We cannot blame the people for wanting to immigrate here, people have been immigrating to America for its whole history. The point of America is to gain better opportunities and to start a new life. But because of this recession I do believe there needs to be some restrictions on the borders. I believe that illegal immigrates already here should not have to leave now. But new restrictions should be made that does not allow everyone into America. With the whole getting cheaper vegetables and food and goods, I believe that is partly because of immigrants, but also because of all the work that is being done overseas for cheap labor. So I do not believe the price of goods would change much if they were here or not.
Sam Beatty
100.4
Americans are hypocritical because we want them out of the country but yet we do not want to work low paying jobs. Companies also encourage illegal immigration by hiring them for cheap labor. They can work long hours for low pay and get the job, and have no problem working for that kind of money because its more than they would get back home. Americans complain about how immigrants are taking American jobs but at the same time Americans do not want to work the jobs that the immigrants are working. So yes Americans are hypocritical. I feel that if I paid more for vegetables just so that legal workers could get better pay I would. I see that in terms of boosting are overall profits in America. Thus that would boost the Nation’s economy which would be great for our country. The thing is no one wants to pay for the more expensive vegetables.
ReplyDeleteJoshua Labuhn PSCI 100.03
I believe that the issue of illegal immigration is the our fault as Americans and we encourage illegal immigrants to want to sneak into the United States. We put off this picture of life is so perfect over here, and there are so many opportunitys to make life better for you and your family, and you can make more money, and have nice things. But people can't just come over here from another country like a walk in the park. We make it so diffucult to get a green card or visa to come into this country. That people jsut come over and stay low key to not get caught. And I also believe that we exstort these Illegal Immigrants. Instead of trying to help them get their visa or green card or something to make them legal. We use them for cheap labor; because they work for little or way below minimum wage; and we as Americans are cheap and try to make the most profit from our companies. So it is our fault that we have so many big issues with illegal immigration and we are the biggest hypocrits when it comes to this issue.
ReplyDeleteLindsey Walls
PSCI 100.04
NO we aren’t will to pay more. If vegetables when up everyone would freak out and stop buy them then people would still lose their jobs and everyone would still be upset about everything. This whole issue shouldn’t be an issue at all if we didn’t have immigrants in the first place we wouldn’t be the country we are today. Whether they are illegal or legal they are important. If we don’t want illegal ones make it easier for them to become legal. It is stupid that the test they have to take most citizens couldn’t pass it. America is completely hypocritical and the whole issue is stupid.
ReplyDeleteSusan Stout
PSCI 100.05
I believe that illegal immigrants should not be here at all, bottom line. It is not fair to us, citizens of the United States to be living here legally, but have to pay taxes and those illegal immigrants are working and getting paid but do not have to pay taxes. Yes, they aren’t getting paid much at all for what they are doing, but they are still getting paid more money than they would be getting paid in the country they came from. I live about 4 minutes away from an apple orchard, and there is a little house where they workers live, and I would bet almost anything that they are illegal immigrants. I think it is not right and something should be done. Of course no one wants to pay more money for vegetables or pay more for your home because the workers are getting paid more, but no matter what Americans will be complaining about something. Some illegal immigrants are the ones picking your vegetables and building your home and doing valet parking, but as Americans paying less for these things does not make you a hypocrite. Every time you let someone park your car at a hotel or restaurant that has valet parking, would you go up to the person and ask them if they are illegal or legal? No, you just let the worker do what they are supposed to and get on your way. I think in the future years to come; something should be done about all the illegal immigrants in the United States.
ReplyDeleteLeigh Ann Nelson 100.03
Judging Americans to be hypocrits in regard to immigration it only one aspect of the illegal immigration problem here in America. I don't understand why obtaining legal immigration status is so difficult. Obviously, illegal immigrants are in the U.S. in vast numbers - Why not make their citizenship legal and allow them to join the entire system of government, taxes, etc.
ReplyDeleteIf it is a matter of the U.S. not being able to sustain any more immigration, then by all means, cap the immigration process and make hold corporations and others accountable for hiring illegal labor. The government is responsible for creating and sustaining this problem. Government does not enforce it's regulations in regard to companies using illegal immigrants, and they look the other way while the business owner benefits and profits.
That being said, I have seen a number of aspects of this subject: in Texas, I knew of legal Mexican small business owners who exploited their own countrymen to benefit their businesses; I knew of people who took advantage of cheap domestic and childcare options with illegals, but chided the system that allowed the illegals to have health care; and I've known more than one person to refuse to do manual labor (or fast food type labor) even in the face of long terms of unemployment. One person told me "That's why I went to college, so I would never have to do that kind of work."
So where does that leave us? There are no easy answers since there are so many facets contributing to the problem and attitudes of illegal immigration.
Dee Pierce
PSCI 100.03
We, as Americans, are definitely hypocrites. We only want to pay the cheapest amount on things and no more than that. We feel we work hard for money, yet we get paid twice as much as an actual hard working immigrant. Most people feel that immigrants take their jobs, however we’re the ones that want cheap labor. Everyone is responsible; immigrants want a better, more stable life, and Americans just want better deals on supplies. Many companies are also responsible, for they want to save money to grow their businesses. Everyone is a hypocrite when it comes to immigrants and I don’t see this changing at all.
ReplyDeletepamela smoot PSCI 100.04
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI believe Americans are hypocrites when it comes to the issue of illegal immigration. Many complain about how many illegal immigrants are in our country but I’m sure they would also complain if the price of a banana went up two dollars per pound. If we truly wanted to get rid of illegal immigration we would have to hold employers accountable for who they hired meaning no one would be hired without the proper documents. I believe if we can get rid of as many illegal immigrant workers as possible it would open up job opportunities for unemployed Americans; however, the price of goods would go up because the employers would have to pay the employees at least minimum wage. We will never get rid of illegal immigrants completely because it is almost impossible to stop their arrival into our country, but stricter laws would help the issue out.
ReplyDeleteJenna Peck
100.04
Yes, Americans like cheap products but who wouldnt!? However the stance on illegal immigrants i agree with Dee where I dont understand why illegal immigrants cant just become legal, and if they did everything it took to get their American citizenship i feel people would be a lot happier. It is completly ridiculous that they will get out of paying taxes and yet able to get instate tuition on Maryland. I am ok with Immigrants coming to America but not doing it and trying to live here without paying taxes. Come here and get your citizenships like other Americans have to do.
ReplyDeleteI believe most americans are hypocritical about this situation. As many of us know, most companies have moved their processing labor to foreign countries due to cheaper labor and it continues to happen almost every day. Nothing has been done about this yet. Also when I was a manager at a retail store, this company never did background checks, and the reason why they didn't do this was because they didbt want to turn illigal applicants away so that we would pay them less than an American citizen. Also another theory about this was that they needed the job and therefore they were better employees. Most Americans complain about this, but when it comes to paying more for these kinds of services they're not willing do much about it.
ReplyDeleteJorge alvareZ.
Psci 100.03
A majority of Americans are hypocritical when it comes to the situation of illegal immigrants in this country. We don't want them here because they are taking our jobs but we aren't willing to pay more money for goods that are produced by legal workers when we don't have to. No legal citizen would work for the rate illegal immigrants are willing to work for. Both employers and consumers are responsible for the continuation of this process. If illegal immigrants knew there wouldn't be any work found in America then they wouldn't be comming to the U.S. for the so called better life. That being said, this process is what makes up the U.S. economy and would be very difficult to change in today's world where saving money is the number one priority in this country's economy.
ReplyDeleteMiranda Beahm
PSCI 100.05
I think that Americans are hypocrites. They try their hardest to prevent immigrants from coming in but then when it comes to labor, they look for the employees that will take the lowest wage. In my opinion America is money hungry; it is willing do anything to spend the least but makes sure that they make the most profit. Another thing Americans do is complain about the immigrants which also makes no sense because more than half the time the immigrants are the ones that help with the production (i.e. planting, picking..). I suppose the cheapness of Americans wins out because they’re willing to complain just to have the cheaper price.
ReplyDeleteEmmi Shambeda
PSCI 100.05
I think immigration is an incredibly hypocritical thing when it comes to most Americans. We enjoy our low prices at walmart, but that wouldn't happen if it weren't for the illegal immigrants who worked for low paying wages. It's really unfortunate that most people are against it, because I think Immigration can be a good thing if we approach it the right way. If we gave all the immigrants amnesty, they would all be legal and we could tax them. I think we need to stop being so hypocritical with ourselves and stop using the word "illegal" to describe immigration, because no human is "illegal".
ReplyDeleteRoss Tamaccio 100.03
I think that Americans are hipocrits. Illegal immigration isn't right, but ast least they are willing to work. Illegal immigrants does the shitty work that Americans don't do. They are also willing to do it for smaller wages.
ReplyDeleteShayna Landis 100.03
I also believe Americans are somewhat hipoctitcal. We do not believe that illegal immigration should be allowed however, we want all the benefits they bring. I think that there should be standards of course. Immigrants should become legal citizens however, if the process is not immediate it is ok because Americans benefit from immigrants just as much as they benefit from coming to America.
ReplyDeleteEmily Liber PSCI 100.03
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMany americans who do not follow the issue would be unknowingly hypocritical about illegal immigration. I'm sure that if all of these people who once said that they do not want these immigrants coming to their country and taking our jobs and worsening our economy knew that it would cost them more a lot more money to buy a new house, or more for food, they would quickly change their mind. Many successful now legal immigrants, at once were illegal. I believe that they are all just looking for a chance and an opportunity to provide for their family and live an american life. No americans want to do the jobs that they do any way! because the american culture has drawn away from hard manual labor. I believe that there should be some sort of law passed that makes it easier for an illegal immigrant to become a citizen and work legally in these jobs.
ReplyDeleteDillon Berger psci 100.4
American's are highly hypocritical when discussing immigration and how it impacts our society. No American wants to pay more for products or park there own car and have to walk a mile to get it, we all look for the easier, cheaper solution to any problem we might have. At some point in time, every one has made a negative comment about a person that might not be here from America but never discuss what economic impacts it would have if they weren't here. On a larger scale, EVERY AMERICAN IS AN IMMIGRANT!!! We are all from different cultures, countries, or territories. Who are we to judge people for wanting to be a part our our country? We were looking for a better life, why should we deny others from the same freedom from persecution?
ReplyDeleteLaura Bright 100.05
I believe it is hypocritical. However, cheap prices have become so ingrained in the American culture that if all illegal’s were deported or forced to get legal citizenship, the prices of goods would rise and people would complain. I believe, just like many others before me on this post have said, that it does take away jobs from Americans. We are all in some way guilty of supporting illegal immigration, but I don’t really know any other way around it.
ReplyDeleteMatt Santmier
PSCI 100.03
I am perfectly fine if a legal immagrant were to come here wanting a better life. Although most jobs these illegals take are dirty and unwanted by most there are still those who will. I may sound like the typical conformist but I dont believe I am. There are certain aspects of me that would like to think I would do it the right way if I were an immagrant. Then there is also another part of me thinking I would do anything I could to make a better life for my family. So in this situation there is a very thin line to walk.
ReplyDeleteDerek Buckley PSCI 100.03
Although i am for immigrants coming into this country i think it should be regulated due to the drug trafficking and violence in immigrant communities. Another key point that angers me in this is they refuse to Assimilate. when doing so with so many people behind them they force the native population to learn their language just to preform everyday tasks. to most this means they are taking over
ReplyDeleteROBERT HAYES PSCI 100:04
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe typical American is extremely hypocritical of the illegal immigration issue. Everyone in this country has surpassed the old "Mom and Pop" country market in pursuit of the everyday low prices at Walmart. That same person will go home and bitch and moan about the immigrants coming over the mexican border. As far as a personal preference statement, I'm not sure if I am in the percentage that would be able to give up the convenience of super stores like walmart and other huge grocery centers. The years that these kinds of establishments have been in place America has been dug into a deep hole where convenience weighs more than morality. If there is any chance for something to be done about the illegal immigration issue people are going to need to band together in an attempt to change. It cannot be an individual effort and something does need to be done.
ReplyDeleteSheridan Webb
PSCI 100.05
There is a lot of hypocrisy in America. I think we are hypocrites because we do want to buy the cheapest items, and pay our workers the lowest amounts. So, no I don't think we are willing to buy the more expensive things that relate back to better paid workers. At least I wouldn't, because I think some of the cheapest things now are still overpriced.
ReplyDeleteChristopher White PSCI 100.03
ReplyDeleteI am partly for and partly against immiagration. Here is why; We as Americans know that America has many oppourtunities for everybody and that is why people immigrat here. However, I don't think it is fair or just for immigrants to come to our country and plan to live here and not become citizens or learn English. It isn't fair that we work and make money to have it benefit immigrants that don't work because they can't because they won't become citizens. I also look at it this way, i don't think im looking at this in a hyprocrictally way because if i moved to another country i would learn thier language and become a citizen.
ReplyDeleteCourtney Pepperling
100.04
Alot of people in America get mad at immigrants because they think they are taking all our jobs but if everyone would look into the kinda of jobs they do then some of us wouldnt mind at all. Immigrants do hard labor jobs for very cheap pay and no white will do that so if they were to leave the U.S. then alot of different prices would be going up. Even though we do need some of them, immigrants do bring drugs and others things that the government does not want so we do tend to have strict laws and boarders to keep track of these things.
ReplyDeleteTrae Tinsman
100.04
This is a really arguable topic. Yes, I feel that Americans hire immigrants because of the cheap labor and they wouldn’t have to pay as much. It is also irritating when I call for service with something and someone is on the phone and I am trying to get help but they do not speak any English at all. I feel that it is ok for immigrants to come to America but if they want to work they should learn how to speak our language because I would do the same if I were to move somewhere else and try to get a job. I also feel that immigrants only work harder because they know they are only getting paid a little amount of money.
ReplyDeletePSCI 100.05
Morgan Himmighoefer
I think Americans are hypocritical of illegal immigration. The jobs they do for minimum wage are the jobs that most of us Americans wouldn't do. If they were all just to pick up and leave we would have a huge time adjusting as so many of these jobs would be lost and even though they are the lowest paying jobs they are still necessary for our country to continue what its doing. Yes the companies are somewhat to blame for the cheap labor but thats business and they are doing what they must in order to keep a hefty profit.
ReplyDeleteNick Mullican, PSCI 100.05
I do agree that Americans are being hypocritical when dealing with illegal immigration. Americans do not want to "like" it, but they will certainly use them to pay for cheaper help. Americans cannot have their cake and eat it too. However, I feel that I fall into that category. I do not think it is right, but I wouldn't want to pay for higher goods. Companies are to blame because we are used to paying less for goods, but it is wrong to allow jobs go to illegal immigrants just because of this. I wonder tho, would Americans do these jobs, and how much would they require for pay?
ReplyDeleteAmy Sultner PSCI 100.03
I think that america is really hypocritical on this issue as well as others. People would not be willing to pay more money for homes or the vegetables they eat. I agree that immigrants should learn enlgish so they can get around but that they should also keep their own heritage. I think that if i went to another country then i would be expected to learn their language and i agree that if i pay taxes people should too but i would not want to pay more money for goods.
ReplyDeleteCourtney Owens PSCI 100.03
If illegal immigrants suddenly disappeared from the United States there would be little impact on legalized citizens paychecks because most Americans don't directly compete with illegal immigrants for jobs. They have very little impact on unemployment rates as well. Undocumented workers take jobs that would otherwise go to legal workers, but they also create demand that leads to new jobs. They buy food, cars, and cell phones, they get haircuts and go to restaurants. On average, there is close to no net impact on the unemployment rate. Illegal immigrants have negative and positive impacts on different parts of the economy. As noted above, wages for low-skilled workers go down. But that means the rest of America benefits by paying lower prices for things like restaurant meals, agricultural produce and construction. Another negative impact is on government expenditures. Since illegal immigrants generally don't pay income taxes but do use schools and other government services, they are seen as a drain on government spending. So in my opinion we have the right to bitch and moan about their presence in our country because they are illegally residing in a territory where they pay no taxes, however; we should be realistic when down talking their effect in our economy.
ReplyDeleteIllegal immigration should be more closely watched. Not only are they taking every day americans jobs, they are creating this language barrier through out the United States. I feel because the illegal immigrates come into america not knowing any english, sets us back in the working fields. People cannot go to the local McDonalds without seeing a hispanic that is unable to speak clear english. Although we as americans should start to become bilingual, due to the social norm changing, I feel that if they come to our country they should know the basics of english.
ReplyDeleteI understand the whole cheap labor thing, because of course everyone wants to save money. I don't exactly agree with it because the illegal immagrants that are already here in the US still have families across the border in which they will get word of the work and come across too. There are plently of people here in the US in need of a job, so I feel as if the US should help out its own first, and worry about others later.
ReplyDeleteSecily Butts
PSCI 100.05
I do think that many Americans are hypocritical but at the same time I don't really think that the argument that we were all immigrants at some point in time really holds up. While yes I do understand and believe that, it doesn't mean that each of us is an immigrant. Someone in our family was at sometime but most people have no connection with those times or their original culture or country. This is where they have grown up and this is what they know. Back to immigration. I do think that employers should be held more accountable for who they hire. If the hire illegal immigrants instead of a US citizen just so that they can pay them less then I think they should be reprimanded in some way.
ReplyDeleteBen Hackett
100.03