fett on 1/5/2006 at 17:49
So today in the good ol' U.S. of A., "illegal immigrants and their allies took to streets across America to take part in "Un Dia Sin Inmigrantes" — "A Day Without Immigrants" — in an effort to show their economic importance to the country."
Anyone noticed the impact? There are a few restaurants closed in downtown Little Rock (we have a HUGE fucking immigrant population), but other than that, I got gas, ran some errands, didn't notice any schools closed - pretty normal day so far. I'm sure it's much more noticable on the West coast and in larger cities (??).
My views on this are pretty simple I guess - maybe even niave, so correct me if I'm misinformed or just an idiot. The new laws are intended to force illegals to register (read: pay taxes), which seems only fair if they are taking equal part in economic activity. On the other hand, many employ illegals because they will work for less. I have no idea whether this is good or bad for the economy, or even makes up for the lack of taxes paid by illegals. The more money retained by the employer, the more taxes paid by the employer, therefore it all seems to come out in the wash.
Interested in opinions, and more knowledgable views than mine (any economics majors out there?).
Oh also, if you've ever banged an illegal, post all graphic details itt. Thnx.
DarkViper on 1/5/2006 at 18:27
OMG SAN DIEGO IS IN SHAMBLES WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO OMG OH NO OH NO
Good or bad for the economy? I dunno, but I support it. Having read books on illegal immigration and doing a college-level essay [many of these books leaning in the PRO-ILLEGALS direction mind you] I have to say they still need to GET OUT... or become legal and pay taxes.
Paz on 1/5/2006 at 18:49
I like the way you both avoid having to acknowledge that ACTUAL PEOPLE with COMPLICATED LIVES AND MOTIVATIONS are involved in this discussion, by referring to them as a homogenous mass of "illegals".
That's very classy, well done.
Stitch on 1/5/2006 at 19:01
Quote Posted by fett
Oh also, if you've ever banged an illegal, post all graphic details itt. Thnx.
Paging kingofthenet's imagination.
Carini on 1/5/2006 at 19:26
I live in South-East Texas and as you can imagine we have A LOT of mexicans be they legal immigrants or not. The biggest impact I've seen is there is currently a building being put up right outside my window (30 feet away) and it's usually crawling with people assembling it. Today I've seen two people on it.
Somnus on 1/5/2006 at 19:29
No, I believe that the law also seeks to deport them from the country if they're illegal. Which means that it's actually going to try to deport tens of millions of people--which sounds next to impossible on its own--and also split up millions of families whose children are U.S. citizens, which sounds pretty god damn inhumane. Something needs to be done, but this particular plan reaks of xenophobia and racism.
Most polls say that a large majority of "illegals" want to become legal workers and pay taxes. It's just, you know, they get arrested if they try to do that now.
I think the impact on the country would be enormous if all those people somehow disappeared from our economy. Oh sure, you don't notice it now, but I seriously doubt that all the illegal immigrants in this country are participating in the boycott. Secondly, this is just one day--businesses can survive one day with cover shifts and the like, but the ones that rely on cheap labor, the ones that subvert minimum wage rules, would be hit much, much harder if this were to occur on a long-term basis.
As an aside, I live in a very heavily Hispanic area and most of my friends are Latino. In fact, I'm so exposed to the Hispanic community that I've come to think of them as actual "persons" rather than "illegals."
I think you're kidding yourself if you don't think there's an impact on the country today. You say a few of your resteraunts closed? Well if they couldn't cope with a day, then how are they going to cope with years?
Tonamel on 1/5/2006 at 19:54
Hire new people?
Rug Burn Junky on 1/5/2006 at 20:07
Quote Posted by Stitch
Quote Posted by fett
Oh also, if you've ever banged an illegal, post all graphic details itt. Thnx.
Paging kingofthenet's imagination.
I never banged an illegal, but I did once get a blowjob from an Austrian au pair in the back seat of her employer's Benz. I think she was here on a student visa.
I fell asleep three times and accidently pissed in her mouth. Don't remember much else.
Phydeaux on 1/5/2006 at 20:07
So today's a good day to go to Walmart or the hospital then?
Dia on 1/5/2006 at 20:17
I absolutely agree. A friend of mine had a lucrative landscaping business going until last year. Several of the other landscapers in the area started hiring illegal immigrants and my friend just couldn't remain competitive. He ended up losing his business and as a result, the seven men & women (all tax-paying US citizens) he employed ended up losing their jobs. They haven't been able to find anything comparable since the landscapers in the area seem to prefer hiring people who are in the US illegally. I know this is just one small company, but from what I've read/heard, this is happening all over the place. I'm not casting any aspersions on the characters of those who are here in the US illegally; I'm sure for the most part they're nice, hard working people. But I have to agree that if they want to work here, they need to be subject to the same laws as the rest of us.
