Thoughts on immigration/ terrorism...

Imagine if we required all business who sell their products in the United States to follow our federal minimum wage, safety and environmental regulations. The countries that we see most as an economic threat would have their citizens income increased, their pollution levels drop, and their citizens health and well being improve dramatically. Which would move them from threat to potential partner.

As a groups wages increase their purchasing power would also increase, particularly for luxury and non-essential items. The items with brand names, and the USA is the biggest brand name going right now. Either to be emulated, or burned in effigy, but still the biggest. This happened locally in the United States in the 1940's as trade unions became accepted and the lower classes were able to purchase such life altering appliances as dishwashers. Crossing the Arizona dessert on foot for an extra 50 cents an hour looks a lot less worthwhile than crossing the same dessert for an extra $5 an hour.

If workers had a more level playing field, the exploitation of the poorest cultures would be replaced by utilization of local resources. It may seem to be a semantic difference, but, anybody who has worked for less than subsistance wages because they had no other choice can tell you the difference.

Many terrorists also point to the United States economic policies as justification for their delusional, meglomaniacal attempts to rule the world through murder and fear. It's easier to recruit the poor into an organizaion like Al Quida than it is to recruit in a middle class neighborhood. By increasing the standard of living for people outside of our own country, we will do more to stem terrorist ideology than 200,000 soldiers ever will.

Many of the companies that hire people illegally do so to avoid taxes, and wage requirements. The people who work illegally do so for the same reasons, avoiding child support payment, taxes, or to get both their unemployment and disability check along with an income. Instead of paying $300 in various taxes, insurances, health plans, etc. plus $15 an hour to their employees, the illegal hires are making a flat $12 an hour with no taxes removed, benefits, or workers comp insurance. Employees are often told that if they fall, they're fired before they hit the ground. The owner can then underbid on a given project since the employees cost him $420 less per week per employee. This makes it difficult for business owners who work legally to compete, and also reduces the negotiating power of unions. (numbers made up, but the costs aren't)

The fastest most effective solution would be to identify a large company that uses illegal workers. Walk into a board meeting with an m-16, and open fire. After that no company would even think about hiring somebody illegally. However that solution is also inhumane, and highly illegal, so other avenues must be sought.

The excuse is often given that immigrants who work illegally are doing the jobs Americans won't do. No, they are doing the jobs Americans won't do for those wages. Pay $2,000,000 a bushel for hand picked apples, and every able-bodied man woman and child in the area will be lining up with their own basket.