Sen. John McCain (R-AZ): "Americans wouldn't pick lettuce for even $50/hour"

[E-Z-B]

Yes, that's correct.Â*Â*McCain, a sell-out to the right for softening his stance on Jerry Falwell this week (http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/03/right-winger-mccain-to-speak-at.html), and now making this idiotic statement, is still trying to appear as a "straight-shooting" moderate.Â*Â*

From http://thismodernworld.com/2811

Murmurs from the crowd turned to booing. “Pay a decent wage!� one audience member shouted.

“I’ve heard that statement before,� McCain said before threatening to leave.
. . .
But he took more questions, including a pointed one on his immigration plan.

McCain responded by saying immigrants were taking jobs nobody else wanted. He offered anybody in the crowd $50 an hour to pick lettuce in Arizona.

Shouts of protest rose from the crowd, with some accepting McCain’s job offer.

“I’ll take it!� one man shouted.

McCain insisted none of them would do such menial labor for a complete season. “You can’t do it, my friends.�

Some in the crowd said they didn’t appreciate McCain questioning their work ethic.

These guys are so out of touch.

http://www.bluebus.org/bushmccain.jpg

[KrAzY3]

He's losing it for sure.

And for the record I'd pick lettuce for 12 bucks a hour...

[Old Corps Gunny]

I remember picking green beans as a kid for about a dollar an hour during the summer, also peaches, pears, apples. I saw a lot of non-Hispanic adults doing the same with their kids alongside them. If the growers were willing to pay $50/hour, there wouldn't be room for illegals in the fields. I doubt there would be any carpenters putting up houses, either; they would all be picking lettuce.

[Alonzo]

I remember picking green beans as a kid for about a dollar an hour during the summer, also peaches, pears, apples.Â*Â*I saw a lot of non-Hispanic adults doing the same with their kids alongside them.Â*Â*If the growers were willing to pay $50/hour, there wouldn't be room for illegals in the fields.Â*Â*I doubt there would be any carpenters putting up houses, either; they would all be picking lettuce.


There also wouldn't be money for fruits in most houses.

But I think mccain made a good point, just totally blew it when trying to put it into words.

Also, many of these jobs americans will do somewhat, but they aren't very reliable, and have poor performance or high turnover rate.

[Drocket]

The problem, I think, is that McCain has absolutely no clue about money. He's long since joined the ranks of people who have so much money that they can't comprehend any amount less than a million. 98% of the people in this country think "$50/hour? Sweet Jesus, sign me up!", whereas McCain realizes that you'll NEVER be able to afford more than 2 or 3 mansions on that amount of money - heck, that's practically living on the streets!

The real problem is that the farming industry doesn't even want to pay $50/WEEK for people to pick lettuce. Even if the job just involved sitting on your ass, no American would take the job because the only way to survive on what the jobs pay is to live in a dirt-floor shack with 12 other people. This, sadly, is still a reasonably good deal for most Mexicans.

There's exactly one way to stop illegal immigrants: hold employers responsible for employing illegal immigrants. Any other plan is smoke and mirrors to make politicians look tough while they can nod and wink and their big-business donors who continue to benefit from illegal workers.

[Labrocca]

I wouldn't do it for $50 an hour. Seriously...I know some people would be really Americans are too lazy. Our unemployment is incredibly low right now but most of the menial labor jobs are filled with immigrants. Everything from Housekeeping, Farming, Restaurants, Construction...you name it.


I am moving this to "repuplicans" area.

[E-Z-B]

I'm sure there would be a ton of wal-mart employees willing to quit their jobs and pick lettuce instead.

[Labrocca]

lol..oh yeah cuz when I envision wal-mart employees I see hard working people..lol

no way!

[bobbylien]

Heres an example... my uncle runs a landscaping company that pays the road crew workers 25$ an hour+ and he has been trying to find people for over two years. Hes had 3 applications in the past 2 years... if that doesn't say something lol. People seem interested until they realize that the work is really hard and then they quit. He has had tons of foreign people apply but they are always denied because they don't know english :( . If people think that kicking the imigrants out would raise the wages of these jobs they are completely wrong. We are a nation of immigrants and will always have them, we need to be less lazy. The fact is that americans think they deserve something extra just because they are american citizens.

Maybe a few would do it for 50$ an hour, but that amount is completely unreasonable.. they won't every make more than 12$ an hour doing it and i can guarantee that those protestors at that event wouldnt have lasted a week at 12-20$ an hour. The fact is that money isnt everything, the quality of your job is also very important. 12$ an hour in an office job is better than 25$ on some road crew out on the highway in 100 degree heat.

[bobbylien]

The problem, I think, is that McCain has absolutely no clue about money. He's long since joined the ranks of people who have so much money that they can't comprehend any amount less than a million. 98% of the people in this country think "$50/hour? Sweet Jesus, sign me up!", whereas McCain realizes that you'll NEVER be able to afford more than 2 or 3 mansions on that amount of money - heck, that's practically living on the streets!

The real problem is that the farming industry doesn't even want to pay $50/WEEK for people to pick lettuce. Even if the job just involved sitting on your ass, no American would take the job because the only way to survive on what the jobs pay is to live in a dirt-floor shack with 12 other people. This, sadly, is still a reasonably good deal for most Mexicans.

There's exactly one way to stop illegal immigrants: hold employers responsible for employing illegal immigrants. Any other plan is smoke and mirrors to make politicians look tough while they can nod and wink and their big-business donors who continue to benefit from illegal workers.

That was the biggest load of bullshit i have ever read.. seriously lol.

[Labrocca]

I agree with Bobbylien on this one. Americans don't want to be dishwashers or hole diggers or anything that's a menial task that requires labor. Sure there are lots of solid union jobs and we all know how well those union construction workers are. They take 3-10x as long as non-union workers...

[bobbylien]

Typical of liberals to come out with bullshit like this and then are suddenly nowhere to be found when someone comes out with a decent arguement.

[Cephus]

We are a nation of immigrants and will always have them, we need to be less lazy. The fact is that americans think they deserve something extra just because they are american citizens.

I don't think that's true. McCain's $50 an hour works out to $104,000 a year. Heck, I'd pick lettuce for that if I was making minimum wage. The problem with your statement is that while we are a nation of immigrants, we are a nation of LEGAL immigrants. Why is it that everyone always purposely forgets that word?

Seriously, all of these arguments about giving illegals amnesty and getting them better wages is ridiculous. Why do you think they have jobs to begin with? Because they're CHEAP! The second they demand better wages, business owners are going to fire them and hire some more illegals.

[Churchel]

I would work a 35 dollar an hour government subcontractor job to pick lettuce.Â*Â*As long as I am only expected to pick a negoitated ammount a week.Â*Â*As long as I only worked hard for 5 to 6 hours a day.

Mccain is someone who wants to be president; to be president.

[bobbylien]

I would work a 35 dollar an hour government subcontractor job to pick lettuce. As long as I am only expected to pick a negoitated ammount a week. As long as I only worked hard for 5 to 6 hours a day.

But thats just it, you would be expected to work 8+ per day. Doing hard manual labor isn't as easy as you think, you would get tired of it very quickly.

Are we paying all of this money to have an education system that produces field workers? No. People also need to understand how hard it would be to make any money growing crops and paying people over 10$ an hour to work in them.

[bobbylien]

oops. delete please

[Cephus]

But thats just it, you would be expected to work 8+ per day. Doing hard manual labor isn't as easy as you think, you would get tired of it very quickly.

You've got to understand that McCain's $50 an hour is $104,000 a year! I can't imagine there are many people who would give up that kind of money because it's hard work. If I was making minimum wage with a family to feed and someone offered me that, you'd better believe I'd jump at it.

[bobbylien]

But thats just it, you would be expected to work 8+ per day. Doing hard manual labor isn't as easy as you think, you would get tired of it very quickly.

You've got to understand that McCain's $50 an hour is $104,000 a year! I can't imagine there are many people who would give up that kind of money because it's hard work. If I was making minimum wage with a family to feed and someone offered me that, you'd better believe I'd jump at it.

That is where personal responsiblity should factor in. It is INCREDIBLY selfish to have children when you arent making a living wage. Have you ever worked out in a field harvesting crops all day? I have, many many times, and I will tell you that its extremely hard work and not something that someone so selfish as to have kids while making min. wage would be willing to do.

[Cephus]

That is where personal responsiblity should factor in. It is INCREDIBLY selfish to have children when you arent making a living wage. Have you ever worked out in a field harvesting crops all day? I have, many many times, and I will tell you that its extremely hard work and not something that someone so selfish as to have kids while making min. wage would be willing to do.


Which is why hispanic families are so large, right?

[Labrocca]

But thats just it, you would be expected to work 8+ per day. Doing hard manual labor isn't as easy as you think, you would get tired of it very quickly.

You've got to understand that McCain's $50 an hour is $104,000 a year!Â*Â*I can't imagine there are many people who would give up that kind of money because it's hard work.Â*Â*If I was making minimum wage with a family to feed and someone offered me that, you'd better believe I'd jump at it.


And what if your back isn't good. Mexicans are short and generally have good backs. It's part of their genetic makeup. They have been farmers for generations while the average American has been eating McDonalds and sitting in front of a TV all day. I doubt that even at $50 an hour most Americans would last a month.

Your skin would burn.
Your hands would bleed.
Your feet would be sore and cracked.
Your back would feel like a crane fell on it.

If you did this work for a week you would understand.

[bobbylien]

Which is why hispanic families are so large, right?

Show me statistics. What you said is completely steriotypical.

[Cephus]

Which is why hispanic families are so large, right?

Show me statistics. What you said is completely steriotypical.


Not that hard to do a Google search, you know:

Hispanics live in family households that are larger than those of non-Hispanic Whites. In 2000, 30.6 percent of family households in which a Hispanic person was the householder consisted of five or more people. In contrast, only 11.8 percent of non-Hispanic White family households were this large. Among Hispanic family households, Mexican households were most likely to have five or more people (35.5 percent). Family households with only two people represented 21.7 percent of Hispanic family households compared with 46.0 percent of non-Hispanic White family households. Among Hispanic households, Cuban family households were most likely to have only two people (41.3 percent). For the population aged 15 years and older, Hispanics were more likely to have never been married than non-Hispanic Whites (33.2 percent compared with 24.5 percent). Among Latinos, Cubans were least likely to have never been married (20.4 percent).

That comes off the 2000 national census.

[Cephus]

Mexicans are short and generally have good backs. It's part of their genetic makeup.

Ah, are you trying to suggest that Mexicans are genetically built to do menial labor or something?

[Nathan Brazil]

"Hmmmm...$50 an hour for manual labor, or sit back, watch Jerry Springer, and collect my welfare check?"

McCain's half-right, as usual. So long as the welfare system is in place, why would anyone want to work when their basic needs are being met for nothing?

Sounds like the remark was a typical elitist snit people like McCain get into when the rubes won't obey master.

[Labrocca]

Mexicans are short and generally have good backs.Â*Â*It's part of their genetic makeup.

Ah, are you trying to suggest that Mexicans are genetically built to do menial labor or something?


No...I didn't say that. Read my quote. It's pretty clear what I said. They are short and have good backs. A genetic fact of the Mexican population. Have you been to Mexico? Even the Mexicans know this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Average_height

[Drocket]

Yep, and negro hands are perfectly made to pick cotton. Everyone knows this, even negros. White people, of course, have vastly larger brains and are therefore most suited to overseeing negros in their cotton picking and Mexicans in their lettuce picking. What, are you going to claim its racism to simply state scientifically determined facts?

[Labrocca]

wtf is that all about drocket???

Don't start slinging mud at me for a factual comment. There are differences in races and that's facts. There are diseases which are prone to certain races. There are height variations. Skin variations. This is stuff that's just plain truth. I didn't state any claims that Mexicans are made for menial labor. I made a plain statement about their height and strong backs which allow them to do farm work pretty well. It's not a slur on them or some mindless derogatory statement. It's just truth buddy.

If you want to bring up brain size why not quote a viable source.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_intelligence_(Average_intelligence_gaps_a mong_races)#Recent_studies

You are seriously talking some crap and I don't like the tone of it.

[Drocket]

wtf is that all about drocket???
Its about the fact that you're using the *exact* same kind of language and 'science' that were used to justify slavery. So the Mexicans are short - so were the Japanese, until they started eating a different diet - the average height of Japanese people has increased significantly over the past several decades. Odd are that the height difference has a LOT more to do with diet than genetics. Even if there is some genetics involved, saying that they're more suited for farming IS racist.

Lets give them a generation or two of high-fat, high-calorie American diet and see how well those 'good backs' hold up under an extra 50 pounds.

[Labrocca]

If it's only 'diet' then why does it take a few generations to change? Inevitably diet changes will work into the genetics...same thing bro.

I suggest you spend 30 minutes reading the wiki page I linked to.

And if you ever ever ever refer to me as a racist again you will be banned. You don't know me or what color I am. You don't know my family so don't make presumptions about me.

That picking cotton remark was out of line.

http://www.answers.com/racism&r=67

Racism requires the belief that one race is superior to others. I believe in no such thing.

http://www.answers.com/prejudice

Prejudice requires that you don't accept or review facts. I believe I had backed up my statement with FACTS.

You are touching a nerve Drocket and I don't appreciate it.

[Drocket]

If it's only 'diet' then why does it take a few generations to change?Â*Â*Inevitably diet changes will work into the genetics...same thing bro.
Because diet depends heavily on environment. A kid who grows up in a family that predominately eats healthier fare isn't going to have the opportunity to each cheeseburgers all the time, and even if he did, his learned behavior isn't going to push him to do so. Diet is to a large degree dependent on behavior, and changes in behavior take time.

You could get around this somewhat by examining hispanic infants adopted at birth by non-hispanic parents. Its difficult to say, though, whether a large enough sample size exists to make any solid conclusions. Moreover, from the article you linked to in Wikipedia (more on that in a second), the mother's health partially determines the height of the offspring. So right there, you need at LEAST 2 generations of good (good generally being defined as unhealthy...) eating to get full effect.

I suggest you spend 30 minutes reading the wiki page I linked to.
I did (did you? You seemed to miss the part about the mother's health affecting the offspring's height...) Quite frankly, I don't see any real evidence in there that leads me to believe that height is particularly dependant on genetics at all (outside of random mutations such as dwarfism.) When it mentions that the Japanese were once believed to be genetically short, but have been proven not to be once their diet was changed, well...

And if you ever ever ever refer to me as a racist again you will be banned.Â*Â*You don't know me or what color I am.Â*Â*You don't know my family so don't make presumptions about me.
One thing I know about you is that you post racist comments. If I get banned for calling a spade a spade, well, so be it.

That picking cotton remark was out of line.
Why? As I said, you're using the exact same language that's been used for centuries to justify things such as slavery. Its just not longer quite as socially acceptable to say that negros are built for picking cotton, though apparently it IS still socially acceptable to say that Hispanics are built for picking lettuce.

Racism requires the belief that one race is superior to others. I believe in no such thing.
Of course not. You just think that white people should stick to what they're good at, which is programming computers, flying jets, making movies, etc, while Hispanics should do what they're good at, such as picking lettuce, mowing lawns, and plunging toilets (those short backs REALLY help get clogs unstuck!)


You are touching a nerve Drocket and I don't appreciate it.Â*
I believe there's an old saying - something about the truth hurting?

[Labrocca]

Drocket...my kids are black. Does that explain to you anything? I am Italian and my wife is very dark Jamaican. Sorry but your arguement about genetics only supports what I said.

http://www.answers.com/genetics&r=67

Read the definition of genetics. Maybe that's where you are confused.


One thing I know about you is that you post racist comments.


Because I gave you fair warning about this...you are banned.

[Alonzo]

Height is largely determined by nutrition, and this can be seen in places like china where height is increasing rapidly, though there are also genetic differences.

I am curious though about evidence for the "strong backs" part though, not sure if you provided a link for that. Poorer nutrition would result in weaker backs, but manual labor may or may not (depending on the type) result in stronger backs. I don't know of any actual genetic differences. Maybe one group is more prone to certain diseases, but I'm not aware of any difference in otherwise healthy individuals. I'm not very familiar with genetic differences in terms of physical health (other than some basic stuff), though it seems, much like intelligence, bone strength would be a diet and environmental issue.

[Labrocca]

Well it's a personal observation and also when I was in Mexico (on my 2nd visit) on a tour the Mexican guide made the statements which still to this day I remember. It was a great trip to Chitzen Itza some years ago.

http://www.photon-echoes.com/images/scenery/places/chitzen%20itza-1w.jpg

It's a beautiful place and a great country in many respects. I have spoken repeatedly here in support of the immigrants. Recently one of our good friends died of brain cancer. She was our maid for about 2 years but even after that we considered her a friend. She was only in her 20's and had 3 kids and a husband. We donated money and goods to them after her death.

Go to any South West construction site and watch the Mexicans work..then tell me that they ain't a strong bunch. They don't even look strong but I seen guys half my size do shit all day long that I wouldn't last 3 hours doing. And they do it day after day.

I am BIG fan of the hard working Mexicans we have in this country and imho in a couple generations they will greatly influence our culture and I don't really mind. The current so-called Mexican food sucks (taco-bell?). I also think more Americans should learn Spanish not the other way around. My wife speaks very good Spanish and we like to vacation where she can use it.

I never once in my entire life had a problem with a person from Mexico.

Bah..I can take back my comment about back strength if you guys really think it's out-of-line.

[Nathan Brazil]

Well it's a personal observation and also when I was in Mexico (on my 2nd visit) on a tour the Mexican guide made the statements which still to this day I remember.Â*Â*It was a great trip to Chitzen Itza some years ago.

http://www.photon-echoes.com/images/scenery/places/chitzen%20itza-1w.jpg

It's a beautiful place and a great country in many respects.Â*Â*I have spoken repeatedly here in support of the immigrants.Â*Â*Recently one of our good friends died of brain cancer.Â*Â*She was our maid for about 2 years but even after that we considered her a friend.Â*Â*She was only in her 20's and had 3 kids and a husband.Â*Â*We donated money and goods to them after her death.

Go to any South West construction site and watch the Mexicans work..then tell me that they ain't a strong bunch.Â*Â*They don't even look strong but I seen guys half my size do shit all day long that I wouldn't last 3 hours doing.Â*Â*And they do it day after day.Â*Â*

I am BIG fan of the hard working Mexicans we have in this country and imho in a couple generations they will greatly influence our culture and I don't really mind.Â*Â*The current so-called Mexican food sucks (taco-bell?).Â*Â*I also think more Americans should learn Spanish not the other way around.Â*Â*My wife speaks very good Spanish and we like to vacation where she can use it.

I never once in my entire life had a problem with a person from Mexico.

Bah..I can take back my comment about back strength if you guys really think it's out-of-line.


Out of line? No, just ill thought out. It's natural selection at work. People who can't handle the job physically don't stick around, leaving those who can in the fields. The skinny weak ones become dishwashers.

[Labrocca]

Well all this being said I still don't think that most Americans would pick lettuce for $50 an hour.

[PittsburghAfterDark]

You couldn't pay me to work in the fields for $50 an hour.

I freely admit it.

I'd hate every GD minute of it. I am incapable of performing jobs and duties I loathe on a professional basis. There are better ways to spend your life.

[Nathan Brazil]

Well all this being said I still don't think that most Americans would pick lettuce for $50 an hour.



Most Americans don't have to.

There's a couple of things that will happen once the invasion is halted.

Let's say we find politicians willing to act in the interest of the people of the United States instead of for themselves. That's a tall order, since the voters are too stupid to figure this out, but we can pretend that some day we'll get politicians that enforce the employment laws regarding the hiring of legals only.

So now we've only got legal employees. But the farmers still don't want to pay more than they pay the invaders today. Do we still have Americans on welfare? That should stop. If there's work for them to do, they shouldn't be laying in the hammock watching Jerry Springer, right? So, end welfare completely. That's a definite plus.

But now, even without welfare, people still won't go out to the fields to pick lettuce. Okay. The growers raise the wages. Eventually there WILL be a balance between what people want to get paid to do a job, and what employers are willing to pay to get it done.

If the wage rate it too high, employers will be more interested in ways to reduce the labor overhead, opening the door for mechanized lettuce pickers. It's never impossible to develop a machine to do some menial task like that, but it's often uneconomical. There used to be cute bank tellers, now there's ATMs. That didn't happen to provide customer convenience.

And, ultimately, if it's simply not economical to pick lettuce grown in the US because Americans really are too lazy to do it, we'll start importing lettuce from some South American country...which will be a totally ironic reversal on the myth of the lazy hispanic cultures.

[Cephus]

You couldn't pay me to work in the fields for $50 an hour.

I wouldn't because I'd have to take a paycut to do it, but if I was starving and had a family to feed, I'd be the first one in line to get out in the fields if that's what it took to take care of my family.

That's what a mature person would do anyhow. Unfortunately, most people don't take their responsibilities seriously.

[Churchel]

You couldn't pay me to work in the fields for $50 an hour.

I wouldn't because I'd have to take a paycut to do it, but if I was starving and had a family to feed, I'd be the first one in line to get out in the fields if that's what it took to take care of my family.

That's what a mature person would do anyhow.Â*Â*Unfortunately, most people don't take their responsibilities seriously.


I worked a weekend construction job that was intensive, in 100 degree ovens. The particulates from what we ground off the inside were hazardous so we wore masks. That was a job I showed up for at 7 am saturday and sunday. I worked there going to school, and finally quit after my primary job spilled into steady weekends, causing a schedule conflict.

I know 100 laborers currently working in a distribution center that would be more than happy to triple there take home pay for what is all told less work.

[cronic]

lol..oh yeah cuz when I envision wal-mart employees I see hard working people..lol

no way!


So, even tho I know this is an old thread Labrocca..It has to do with a McCain statement so I was interested in viewing it and Im pretty new also so I thought I'd look backwards in time at some other postings.

I was surprised to see you said this after reading some of your newer dated postings. I hope you don't still mean this inconsiderate remark you have stated here. I'm sure you didn't mean to offend me personally but maybe stop and think there could be others here now or back then that actually work at Walmart. It's also very possible they are hard workers. Id jump on a lettuce picking job for 50 bucks an hour..I think alot of legal Americans would.. Maybe its because jobs are even more scarce now then they was almost 2 years ago.. but.. even if they wasn't.. Id still jump on it.
You tell Drocket in this thread that he is touching a nerve with you and Don't start slinging mud at you for making a factual comment. well..Im sorry.. but after reading this.. my nerve has now been touched alittle, and if you believe that your comment here was "factual" then you have lost me because I and my daughter work our asses off at Walmart, putting in many hours for little pay my friend. I hope you realize that when you put down someone's job and lively hood you are then yourself Mudslinging! Again I'm sorry.. I'm just surprised you wrote this! Maybe you was having a bad day?

Just so its known to everyone, including you Labrocca.. I'm not singling you out, I am sure as I continue looking at old postings I will find other remarks by other members that I may feel the need or want to comment on. That's what forums are all about. I will disagree with people but I will respectfully disagree. I may also ask for an answer as to why and stress my disapointments. But if I don't get that answer.. I will get over it..I won't stay disappointed either..But I will remember where they came from. I just hope I'm given the same consideration when people disagree with me.

[MrHappy]

I'd run one of these for $50.00 an hour.

The Oxbo 1080 (http://www.oxbocorp.com/greens.html)

http://www.oxbocorp.com/images/greens1.jpg


Oxbo 1080
The newest machine in the Oxbo vegetable harvester line is the Oxbo 1080 spinach, greens and lettuce harvester. Oxbo listened and worked with growers and producers to develop a harvester specifically for this market. The Oxbo 1080 was designed to help growers and producers reduce labor costs while maintaining a high quality end product.

[Labrocca]

I hate Walmart. It's the worst employer in America. If you have a low paying job there it's your own fault. I feel NO pity for you. I have yet to get good service there. The place looks extremely understaffed and I am sure Walmart makes you work hard but from the customer perspective...it doesn't seem that way.

Get a better job and if there aren't any around blame walmart for closing all the good businesses that might have been better employers. If you must...MOVE. Go to a place that's not dominated by Walmart. I got money that says you live in a small town in the middle of nowhere.

[cronic]

I hate Walmart. It's the worst employer in America. If you have a low paying job there it's your own fault. I feel NO pity for you. I have yet to get good service there. The place looks extremely understaffed and I am sure Walmart makes you work hard but from the customer perspective...it doesn't seem that way.

listen Labrocca.. I dont want YOUR pity.. nor did I ask for it ..You may ban me for speaking my opinion and because your the top guy here.. thats fine.. its your forum.. not mine, but you sure do talk a different game from one thread to another, when it comes to respecting humans here at your .com website. Staff alone are not the only people on the forum that are humans.. all of the other membership here are also humans...you say PatrickHenry is disrespectful well look in the mirror pal..you disrespected me and my daughter by saying we are not hard workers..
lol..oh yeah cuz when I envision wal-mart employees I see hard working people..lol

no way!



Get a better job and if there aren't any around blame walmart for closing all the good businesses that might have been better employers. If you must...MOVE. Go to a place that's not dominated by Walmart. I got money that says you live in a small town in the middle of nowhere.


I wasn't just addressing walmart.. but also the 50 bucks an hour picking lettuce issue that McCain and you say Americans wouldnt do. Also the fact that I corrected you on walmart workers not being hard working.. you are the one that said they wasn't.. now you stand corrected in atleast 2 cases when I say.. me and my daughter do work our asses off. You hate walmart.. thats fine also.. like you tell me get a different job.. well.. I tell you dont shop there..Your arrogance alone I am sure keeps you from even gracing there parking lots..so.. you dont shop there because you hate them..I am fine with that and I wont have to worry about seeing you there or giving you such bad service.. oh and you dont know jack about me or my faults so I could care less what you think concerning how I live or earn a living.. It just so happens after 2 major surgeries from an accident and working in factories all my life.. I can't get a better job because 90% of the employers out there wont hire me.. Im a health and insurance risk to them now.... Walmart gave me a chance and because of that I atleast have an income again.. to me thats a better option then starving.. Maybe you are all powerful and money and have a great job.. good for you.. I could care less what you do for a living.. One thing is for sure.. I wont knock what you do for a living because its your bread and butter..

About where I live...I live in Defiance.. a few miles south of Toledo..( feel free to google it ). We are not the size of Detroit or Chicago but we aren't a small town either.. ( I dont consider us a small town, maybe you would ). Defiance has a hell of a lot more stores in the city then walmart. As far as placing blame on jobs being fewer and far between, there are far better places to look than just placing all the blame on Walmart stores.. In 2005, over 11,000 U.S. workers were laid off because their jobs were moved overseas. In many of those cases, Mexico and China were cited as the place where the jobs were going. You know yourself that it has only gotten worse when it comes to outsourcing. Maybe we can start there huh when it comes to placing blame?

[Go Fish]

Yes, that's correct. McCain, a sell-out to the right for softening his stance on Jerry Falwell this week (http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/03/right-winger-mccain-to-speak-at.html), and now making this idiotic statement, is still trying to appear as a "straight-shooting" moderate.

From http://thismodernworld.com/2811

Murmurs from the crowd turned to booing. “Pay a decent wage!� one audience member shouted.

“I’ve heard that statement before,� McCain said before threatening to leave.
. . .
But he took more questions, including a pointed one on his immigration plan.

McCain responded by saying immigrants were taking jobs nobody else wanted. He offered anybody in the crowd $50 an hour to pick lettuce in Arizona.

Shouts of protest rose from the crowd, with some accepting McCain’s job offer.

“I’ll take it!� one man shouted.

McCain insisted none of them would do such menial labor for a complete season. “You can’t do it, my friends.�

Some in the crowd said they didn’t appreciate McCain questioning their work ethic.

These guys are so out of touch.

http://www.bluebus.org/bushmccain.jpg

I charge $65.00 per hour for lawn care. It isn't a matter of "work ethic". It's simple math. When water costs $3.00 a pint at the airport, people need to charge what they're worth. Illegal aliens artificially depress wages in the labor market, and are literally stealing the bread from American babies.
The sooner we lay land mines along the borders and put tracking collars on those who come here on work and student visas, the sooner the US dollar will recover its worth.

[Easy90]

It's gratifying for me to think that whenever I mow my own lawn, I am saving $65.00 an hour....But I have to wonder how long before the government figures out that by mowing your own lawn, you're saving $65 that could be taxed...and ultimately tax you on the value of the money you saved by doing it yourself?

[Truth_and_Power]

Heres an example... my uncle runs a landscaping company that pays the road crew workers 25$ an hour+ and he has been trying to find people for over two years. Hes had 3 applications in the past 2 years... if that doesn't say something lol. People seem interested until they realize that the work is really hard and then they quit. He has had tons of foreign people apply but they are always denied because they don't know english :( . If people think that kicking the imigrants out would raise the wages of these jobs they are completely wrong. We are a nation of immigrants and will always have them, we need to be less lazy. The fact is that americans think they deserve something extra just because they are american citizens.

Maybe a few would do it for 50$ an hour, but that amount is completely unreasonable.. they won't every make more than 12$ an hour doing it and i can guarantee that those protestors at that event wouldnt have lasted a week at 12-20$ an hour. The fact is that money isnt everything, the quality of your job is also very important. 12$ an hour in an office job is better than 25$ on some road crew out on the highway in 100 degree heat.


20/hour is 40k a year, and you will definitely find american workers for that. 12/hour is subsistence wages, and americans will find better jobs that pay similar. you can make that answering phones in a call center. It's a simple matter of pricing into the job market.

When I was younger I would have jumped at $25/hour for lawn work. And before you tell me the work is hard, know that I did this kind of stuff for my family for free.