Curbco Shopping

**btkr** · 05-12-2019, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by Patriot76

I agree that they are great workers and have every right to better themselves. I just think one expectation for living in the U.S. should be to learn our language. In decades past immigrants learned our language and often spoke their native tongue at home or in their communities. We did not teach English as a second language in schools and immigrates took pride in learning our language. Some may remember the demolition job I did in Omaha where everyone on the crew only spoke Spanish except the foreman and myself. That was the hardest working crew I ever dealt with, but communication was a major issue. Is it to much to ask that they learn our "official" language or am I expected to learn their language. Rant over.

Strictly my opinion:

I have more respect for the person pushing the shopping cart into the scrapyard than others ........ ( fill in the blank).

Arriving in this country as an Eastern European immigrant at 2 yrs. old, I am bilingual. Looking back on friends and family who also immigrated to this great country, there was a mix regarding learning the language. My parents and similar aged folk, learned English. The kids were all bilingual speaking native language at home and English outside. We also went to school and were taught.

My grandparents did not speak much English. I believe that age had something to do with this, and necessity. My grandparents spoke few English words, but were able to communicate there thoughts as rudimentary. They had no problem counting or spending money, lol.

Back than there were little government handouts. My dad said “ back home you have to roll up your shirt sleeves to your wrists. Here you have to roll up your shirt sleeves to your to your elbows.” Translation: no handouts, get a job, assimilate, earn your own way, work hard, be a productive member of society. This is The primary reason I know the value and how to scrap,repurpose, and recycle. Times were lean.

My parents fled the horrors of Hitler to find a better life for themselves and the family and they did. They did not tell us much but what we did hear, at times, was heart breaking. We came here, paying our own passage on a plane. Did not come through Ellis Island. Again no handouts and became naturalized US citizens.

Whatever people’s reasons are to come to the US, as a guest in this country, we followed the rules. Others should do so also. At 8 yrs. old, I was very proud to become a naturalized citizen and swear allegiance to my new home and country.

With that said, this is my opinion on the subject matter. It is not meant to offend anyone or any nationality. Others have different situations. I do feel strongly in saying that whomever does come here should contribute to society and not be looking for a handout.

God bless America.

**RagnBone** · 05-13-2019, 09:52 PM

Originally Posted by btkr

...Whatever people’s reasons are to come to the US, as a guest in this country, we followed the rules. Others should do so also. At 8 yrs. old, I was very proud to become a naturalized citizen and swear allegiance to my new home and country...

As a Libertarian I often find myself at odds with both the Democrats and Republicans. I believe in a free market, and I think the Wall will only serve to displace and distress wildlife populations and send our national debt levels to soaring heights, pushing us to the brink of an economic collapse.

That said, I do understand the fears your average blue-collar citizen has about illegal immigration and it's effects on the labor force. I don't for a second believe it's only about racism(as if Guatemalan or Mexican is a race) and fear of "brown people".

Before I got into the metal business I worked for a year and a half as a public health inspector in my county. Inspecting restaurants I saw with my own eyes the incredible amount of Hispanic men--in particular--who worked long hours and lived in dormitory-style housing situations to send as much money back home to their native country as possible. It's hard for a U.S. citizen to compete in the open market against these men while paying taxes and raising a family on U.S. soil. I can see now why roofers born and raised in America would struggle to compete against a crew of Mexicans sending the bulk of their $60 daily wage home to their families in Mexico and living 10 to an apartment to pool their resources in the meantime.

It's a tough riddle to solve and I don't have the answer. The only thing I know for sure is that the Pareto Principle has been shown to apply, generally and broadly, to the labor market as a whole. This means that, roughly speaking, 20% of workers do 80% of the work. If I can always be pushing to be in that 20% I have a really good case for why I should be able earn my fair share of the pie!