Illegal Immigrants are Taking Our Jobs?

If you're into sociology, cultural studies, or immigration issues this is a pretty interesting book. The very white author wanted to see what it would be like to work in jobs that immigrants (legal and illegal) frequently take. He tried three jobs for two months each, one picking lettuce in Yuma, AZ (it's actually called "cutting lettuce), one working in a chicken processing plant in Alabama, and one as a bicycle restaurant deliveryman in NYC. This book is a recollection of his experiences.

This caught my because I have always shared his conclusion that there are jobs in this country that American simply do not want to do. The dumbest argument against immigration is that the "immigrants are stealing our jobs." Yeah, right. So someone that says this really wants the jobs that immigrants (particularly the Latin type of immigrants) usually take? It was a great read but here is one of my favorite quotes:

"I had expected to find more [racial] anger. One of the most common complaints, after all, is that immigrants are taking jobs meant for Americans. In Russellville [Alabama] the main source of jobs is the poultry plant. But no American laboring within the four walls of the plant felt that his or her job was in danger of being 'stolen.' The jobs at the plant come easy: I was hired within a week. It is surviving the work that is hard. People lose their jobs at the plant because they quit, not because an immigrant takes their position."

We recently watched a great documentary called Food Inc. A portion of this film showed Homeland Security officers smashing in the doors of trailers where illegal immigrants who worked in factory farms lived. Their pistols were drawn as they tackled these dangerous criminals. Just some more of America's brave men and women playing their part on "The War on Terror." Give me a break.

Don't get me wrong, illegal immigration is a real problem but immigrants are hardly the source of our economic woes (Bernie Madoff, AIG, Lehman Brothers, home loan scum bags, etc., I am looking in your general direction). I say we continue to crack down on the influx of illegal immigrants, legalize those that are already here working and start taxing them like we do to everybody else.