Originally posted by svt4stv:
youre right Jato, but squeezing the demand side just makes the cost of many many things, especially produce, go way up. people b*tch and moan when lettuce hits $3 a head because of bad weather. can you imagine how much it would cost if the farmers lost all of their cheap labor?? there are entire industries in our own nation that thrive/depend on this cheap labor. agriculture, construction, car washes, garment industry, garndeners, housekeepers/nannies, etc...

people think gas is expensive, imagine everything else suddenly shooting up in price.



I totally agree with this; few people realize the degree of which dirt-cheap illegal immigrant labor has continued to prop up lower prices across numerous segments of the US economy. The fact is that many immigrants fulfill roles and jobs that many natural-born US citizens feel is too low-paying for them. Having the US government effectively cracking down on illegal immigrants and companies/individuals that hire them to a draconian degree would birth something of an artificial labor shortage in some segments of the US economy, if you ask me. I wouldn't say that the sky would be falling, but I do believe it would be felt in terms of higher prices for certain goods and services, which would get folks like you and I screaming at buying tomatoes at $8/lb. and lawn service/landscape prices doubling or even tripling.

Having said all of that, the only other solution is to create sustainable 1st-World growth economies in Mexico and the rest of Central America, which would compel immigrants to stay home.

Knowing first-hand the corruption and mentalities of the bulk of businesses across the border, as well as the current education level of the native populations within those countries AND the way most Central American governments conduct and manage their civic and social agendas, this is probably akin to asking for a virgin in a whorehouse. At least I think it is and will continue to be during my lifetime.

Don't get me wrong; I greatly admire some of the countries in Central America in that some have made GREAT social and economic gains in the past 20-30 years, but each and every one still has a long way to go before rampant corruption in business and government is stomped out and social/educational services come anywhere NEAR close to what the US offers.

I think that the only viable solution will be an ongoing mix of the two; the US clamps down HARD on illegal immigration in addition to Central American countries making political and economic gains of the likes that make their citizens WANT to stay within their borders.

This is something that will take decades to stabilize and it will always be an ongoing process; economies that rise can certainly fall and those that do will have their citizens looking for "greener pastures" outside of their native land.


JaTo e-Tough Guy Missouri City, TX 99 Contour SVT #143/2760 00 Corvette Coupe