I got this in an email. I hadn't read it before.
This English teacher has phrased it the best I've seen yet:
Tomatoes and Cheap Labor
CHEAP TOMATOES?
This should make everyone think, be you Democrat, Republican or
Independent.
From a California school teacher - - -
"As you listen to the news about the student protests over illegal
immigration, there are some things that you should be aware of:
I am in charge of the English-as-a-second-language department at a
large southern California high school which is designated a Title 1 school,
meaning that its students average lower socioeconomic and income levels.
Most of the schools you are hearing about, South Gate High, Bell
Gardens, Huntington Park, etc., where these students are protesting, are
also Title 1 schools. Title 1 schools are on the free breakfast and free
lunch program. When I say free breakfast, I'm not t alking a glass of milk
and roll -- but a full breakfast and cereal bar with fruits and juices that
would make a Marriott proud. The waste of this food is monumental, with
trays and trays of it being dumped in the trash uneaten. (OUR TAX DOLLARS
AT WORK)
I estimate that well over 50% of these students are obese or at least
moderately overweight. About 75% or more DO have cell phones. The school
also provides day care centers for the unwed teenage pregnant girls (some
as young as 13) so they can attend class without the inconvenience of
having to arrange for babysitters or having family watch their kids. (OUR
TAX DOLLARS AT WORK)
I was ordered to spend $700,000 on my department or risk losing
funding for the upcoming year even though there was little need for
anything; my budget was already substantial. I ended up buying new
computers for the computer learni ng center, half of which, one month later,
have been carved with graffiti by the appreciative students who obviously
feel humbled and grateful to have a free education in America. (OUR TAX
DOLLARS AT WORK)
I have had to intervene several times for young and substitute
teachers whose classes consist of many illegal immigrant students here in
the country less then 3 months who raised so much hell with the female
teachers, calling them "Putas" whores and throwing things that the teachers
were in tears.
Free medical, free education, free food, day care, etc., etc, etc. Is
it any wonder they feel entitled to not onl y be in this country but to
demand rights, privileges and entitlements?
To those who want to point out how much these illegal immigrants
contribute to our society because they LIKE their gardener and housekeeper
and they like to pay less for tomatoes: spend some time in the real world
of illegal immigration and see the TRUE costs.
Higher insurance, medical facilities closing, higher medical costs,
more crime, lower standards of education in our schools, overcrowding, new
diseases etc., etc, etc. For me, I'll pay more for tomatoes.
We need to wake up. The guest worker program will be a disaster
because we won't have the guts to enforce it. Does anyone in their right
mind really think they will voluntarily leave and return?
There are many hardworking Hispanic/American citizens that contribute
to our country and many that I consider my true friends. W e should
encourage and accept those Hispanics who have done it the right and legal
way.
It does, however, have everything to do with culture: A third-world
culture that does not value education, that accepts children getting
pregnant and dropping out of school by 15 and that refuses to assimilate,
and an American culture that has become so weak and worried about
"politically correctness" that we don't have the will to do anything
about it.
If this makes your blood boil, as it did mine, forward this to
everyone you know.
CHEAP LABOR? Isn't that what the whole immigration issue is about?
Business doesn't want to pay a decent wage.
Consumers don't want expensive produce.
Government will tell you Americans don't want the jobs.
But the bottom line is cheap labor. The phrase "cheap labor" is a
myth, a farce , and a lie. There is no such thing as "cheap labor."
Take, for example, an illegal alien with a wife and five children. He
takes a job for $5.00 or 6.00/hour. At that wage, with six dependents, he
pays no income tax, yet at the end of the year, if he files an Income Tax
Return, he gets an "earned income credit" of up to $3,200 free.
He qualifies for Section 8 housing and subsidized rent.
He qualifies for food stamps.
He qualifies for free (no deductible, no co-pay) health care.
His children get free breakfasts and lunches at school.
He requires bilingual teachers and books.
He qualifies for relief from high energy bills.
If they are or become, aged, blind or disabled, they qualify for SSI.
Once qualified for SSI they can qualify for Medicare. All of this is at
(our) taxpayer's expense.
He doesn't worry about car insurance, life insurance, or homeowners
insurance.
Taxpayers provide Spanish language signs, bulletins and printed
material.
He and his family receive the equivalent of $20.00 to $30.00/hour in
benefits .
Working Americans are lucky to have $5.00 or $6.00/hour left after
paying their bills and his.
The American taxpayers also pay for increased crime, graffiti and
trash clean-up.
Cheap labor? YEAH RIGHT! Wake up people!
THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS WE SHOULD BE ADDRESSING TO THE PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATES FOR EITHER PARTY. 'AND WHEN THEY LIE TO US AND DON'T DO AS THEY
SAY, WE SHOULD REPLACE THEM AT ONCE!'
THIS HAS GOT TO BE PASSED ALONG TO AS MANY AS POSSIBLE OR WE WILL ALL
GO DOWN THE DRAIN BECAUSE A FEW DON'T CARE.”