Texsox

QUOTE(Alpha Dog @ May 30, 2007 -> 01:58 PM) You know full well that there is a huge amount of people in this country that can barely even say '12th grade' much less graduate from it. What are they to do? I am not saying they should aspire to do migratory farm work, but isn't that better than being drain on society and a useless piece of s*** that everyone looks down upon? During the Great Depression you had people willing to do any honest work available to survive. Now, not so much. There is your labor pool to replace/suppliment the illegals. There are, and they are employed also. Look at the want ads. Just like the jobs at the high end that we have to import workers for, we also have had to import low skilled workers as well. Why is it so easy for Americans to believe there are not enough smart, technical people, but that there are millions of Americans wanting low wage, menial labor jobs? And let's look at the impact from the employer. Would you rather employ someone willing to die to get to work or someone who is forced to work there? Would you want to risk your life savings? Do you really think America is better off with a work force that is eager and willing or reluctant and unmotivated?

QUOTE(Alpha Dog @ May 30, 2007 -> 12:01 PM) There are more than enough dropout and other people here already that could do the same jobs, especially if they had to. We don't need to create people to take their place, they are already here. As with every problem we face, it is interconnected with other things. Sure, people should stive to be the best they can be, but somewhere along the line parents need to instill a work ethic in their kids. Too many wastes of space just sit around all day doing nothing, because they CAN. Fix it so they can't, and there you have your new farm hands. The great part of our economy is they do not have to take those jobs, and haven't in a generation or two. Unemployment has stayed very low and our schools turn out workers with better skill sets. We are a nation of immigrants, and those immigrants have always taken these jobs as a stepping stone into our economy. From our darkest past when it was kidnapped slaves in our agriculture industries and indentured railroad workers, to "free" immigrants working in our nation's factories. " kids, you can do more. You can follow the crops from Texas to Oregon, living in your car and toiling long hours in the fields. Now go out there and make me, and America, proud." That's the work ethic it takes. If that's the best we can turn out after 12 years in our schools we have failed.

Reading your diary has me losing the last bit of support I had for this war. Perhaps I am too sensitive to the loss of human life, but it is seemingly more and more stupid to be there, knowing nothing will stay changed.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ May 30, 2007 -> 11:43 AM) You know one of the other remarkable little side points here Tex? There are an awful lot of companies who would be willing to import and hire foreign-born, highly educated workers, but because of the disaster that is our current Visa system, which has gotten much worse since 9/11, that can't happen. And even beyond that, a heck of a lot of people come from overseas to go to U.S. universities, because we happen to be really good at that, but then if those people want to stay and take some of these high-level jobs, the Visa system makes it so difficult that a lot of them just leave and go back to help build foreign economies. So in other words, we're shooting ourselves in the feet at every level. We hate foreigners in this country. And we have for a very long time. Unless of course they come from Europe or can hit .300 with some power.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ May 30, 2007 -> 11:35 AM) Don't want any more Cindy Sheehan's? Stop invading countries. We need more families like Tillman's. The military can lie to them after their son is killed by friendly fire and they were not nearly as annoying.

I am still amazed we care more about minimum wage jobs being taken by workers than about workers coming in and taking high paying skilled jobs, or middle class jobs heading over seas. We have this elaborate H1B program to bring in skilled labor, but ignore where there is a greater need in numbers. The flaw here from a legal standpoint is there isn't a system in place for legal immigration for workers making minimum wage like the H1B program. And the cost burden was too high to track these workers. The other problem is these workers are low skilled, have poor language skills, and are not likely to become peers with the middle class voters who dominate this country. Instead many live in a manner we can not comprehend. High density, extended family, making little, saving much. QUOTE(Alpha Dog @ May 30, 2007 -> 11:30 AM) I say we just send Mexico a bill to cover any costs associated for caring and dealing with the illegal immigrants. And when they default on that bill, we just repossess the oil fields to cover the payment. Or, we could just tax the hell out of wire transfers from the US to Mexico. And Alpha Dog will become a migrant farm worker to take their place and encourage his kids to become janitors and yardmen What a great American you are

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ May 29, 2007 -> 09:54 PM) I'd love to talk more, but I am fulfilling my civic duty by serving on a jury of my peers. You have no peers Bottom line it is going to cost money to fix the problem. Based on emotion, we will spend more than the problem costs, but it's only money. We'll have direct costs in deporting people, building fences, court proceedings, removing the working illegal and leaving behind his legal spouse and kids, we'll need to import more workers which will cost employers, we will be paying more for food and other items that relied on cheap labor. But we'll be safer.

QUOTE(NUKE @ May 29, 2007 -> 08:54 PM) Good riddance. She was annoying. But there will be someone to take her place, there always is.

After watching the replay and watching a couple other outs he recorded against other teams, AJ was uncharacteristically to the inside of 1st. What I wonder is why he would risk injury to himself. I think at best it was just a little nudge at an old friend and as we always say, AJ being AJ. I think he did try and plant his foot close to, but not touching as he went by.

She received almost no support around here from Dems and GOP alike. Almost everyone agreed she's a fool and embarrasing. I'm glad she is gone and question the intelligence of any person, elected or otherwise, that felt she had a valid position on this war because she lost a son.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ May 28, 2007 -> 02:35 PM) how many state chapters? probably 50 . Colleen Connell is in charge to the illinois ACLU. as far as the other stories, yes the media would have picked them up if they were "notable". aka, Republican sends mean emails to people is HUGE. the media picks and chooses which stories it shines the most light on, and many of those decisions are political. honestly, if you don't think the national media is pro-democrat it doesn't really matter and i'm not going to try to convince you any further. Actually that isn't how the ACLU is divided, Illinois for example has ten chapters, Texas has 13, So there are probably 400 Chapter Presidents around the US. Is each one worthy of national media coverage? Sadly, my guess is they would have to kill someone to gain that attention, In fact, when one of them dies, does it make the national news? How many pedophilia stories make the national news? This is a local story and of local interest to most people.

There are a lot of reasons for having illegals on your payroll. If you know they are illegal, I have very little sympathy for you. But there are excellent forgers around and many companies can not hire enough workers, I see ads down here all the time for packing house workers, Companies down here are always looking for skilled maintenance workers and tool and die journeymen, By the time you risk your live to get north and finally find a job, you'd work your ass off also to keep it. Second generation migrant workers are among the hardest working people I know. They tell of watching their family follow the crops and work from dawn to dusk for very low pay and miserable working and living conditions. They always wanted to avoid that life. There are a lot of reasons for having illegals on your payroll. If you know they are illegal, I have very little sympathy for you. But there are excellent forgers around and many companies can not hire enough workers, I see ads down here all the time for packing house workers, Companies down here are always looking for skilled maintenance workers and tool and die journeymen, By the time you risk your live to get north and finally find a job, you'd work your ass off also to keep it. Second generation migrant workers are among the hardest working people I know. They tell of watching their family follow the crops and work from dawn to dusk for very low pay and miserable working and living conditions. They always wanted to avoid that life.

Happy Birthday!! Now turn off the turn signal, put down the Denny's endless cup o' coffee, grab your AARP card, and get to Florida and retire. Happy Birthday Buddy

QUOTE(mr_genius @ May 27, 2007 -> 01:49 PM) a school teacher does not have as much national influence as a the president of the ACLU's Virginia chapter. you know this, texsox. there is a large disparity when comparing the power and the level of scandal of a President of the ACLU and a gym teacher. How many chapters does the ACLU have nationally? Who is the chapter president where you live? And lets turn this around, if he did something really nice like saved a kid from drowning, would you think the national media should pick up the story? Should the national media cover every murder? The County Clerk here was busted for raping a 15 year old girl, why wasn't that national news?

QUOTE(NUKE @ May 27, 2007 -> 08:24 PM) It is really disturbing to me how far backwards this nation is willing to bend over to allow these 12 million criminals to remain here and provide a drain on our system. It's equally disturbing to me that our elected officials on both sides of the aisle are willing to totally f*** this country over just to allow big business a pool of cheap, nearly slave labor to pick cherries and frame houses. And join the military . Sadly, the right cure is worse for this country than the compromise with the devil. Interesting that working people would be a drain on the system. I'd like to hear why the GOP is opposed to minimum wage increases but opposed to low paying jobs that are a drain on our system? Isn't the solution to pay a livable wage so everyone could contribute to the cost of this country? And isn't a deficit the only way to keep our economy humming along? I thought deficits are great! Bottom line is the right thing to do is pay to send 12,000,000 people back to their countries and put in a system where we can allow 12,000,000 people to take those jobs. The net is the same to social security and other working poor programs that the government offers, but we will have fresh new immigrants who came here legally. Businesses that relied on this labor may go under while they wait for new laborers. We'll temporarily drop 12,000,000 jobs from the economy, but we'll just cut taxes to make up for it. I notice SS hasn't found how to have people working these jobs without being a burden to social security. I was hoping he had a way to put these jobs on the books with different workers and save the system.

How many members does the ACLU have at this level? How much space does the national media have? Why aren't my local stories plastered all over the country? We had a school teacher and coach convicted of abusing kids and downloading child pornography. He wasn't national news because he was also a GOP leader and the GOP controlled media kept it out of the newspapers. Where was Fox News on that one?

QUOTE(Alpha Dog @ May 25, 2007 -> 07:23 PM) I thought 12 million was the amount of illegals here, not the amount of jobs they are taknig. You can't be saying that every illegal here has a job, because i KNOW that is false. Southsider brings up the ones that will now be working those 12,000,000 jobs on the books and earning credits towards social security. I'm not going to dispute the exact number, my point is no matter who is working those jobs when they go "on the books", the social security impact will be the same. The only way to avoid the social security impact is to either continue to employ illegals (something no one wants) or change social security. I do wonder how these "new: jobs compare to other low wage jobs that are created? Why would putting new jobs on the books hard social security? It would seem that adding these jobs to social security would help, not hurt. And if it does hurt than doesn't every new job paying low wages harm social security as well?

QUOTE(mr_genius @ May 25, 2007 -> 05:50 PM) that makes it 10 times worse (only three times more hilarious) the guy goes to speak at a fundraiser to help alleviate poverty... but demands $40,000, which if he waived his fee, would have gone to the poor. The fund raiser went to the University foundation, We also had President Bush a couple years back, Guilani, Powell, and Stormin' Norman. They all command that kind of price tag and all generate way more in community visibility and donations, From the foundation board it's a simple decision to hire big name and therefor high dollar speakers, BTW, sports stars and etc, charge waaaaay more than these guys,

QUOTE(sox4lifeinPA @ May 25, 2007 -> 05:51 PM) I'll be coming to San An-tone in December...we can kick back some shiner's and you can meet this Mrs. I'd rather meet the other Mrs

QUOTE(mr_genius @ May 21, 2007 -> 10:18 PM) http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate...;entry_id=16809 The $40,000 he received from my University was actually a fund raiser and they did very nicely having him there, I wonder how many of these appearances are fund rasiers? It probably wouldn't make a difference to anyone.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ May 21, 2007 -> 07:10 AM) If you put the two most hypocritcal candidates out there for each party, and the most polarizing in regards to common party lines, I have no doubt you will give a third party a golden chance to rush in a sieze the middle. I've been thinking Edwards was the front runner all along, Obama and Hillary will bash each others brains out and have high negative energy. In other words Dem voters will say I'm for Obama and if he doesn't win, anyone but Hillary. and I'm for Clinton and if she doesn't win, anyone but Obama Guess who "anybody" is? Edwards. Everyone's second choice, Or at least nobody's last choice. The GOP radio network has been simultaneously promoting Hillary as the front runner and tearing her down. Great strategy. She is the easiest for the GOP to beat. The ghosts of her husband and all that crap are enough to keep a lot of Dem faithful (including me) from voting for her.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ May 25, 2007 -> 05:14 PM) yea, good point can imagine if you were walking through the woods and saw something like that thing? Some of the land I camp on down here has some tasty feral hogs but something that big would have me pissing my pants. I was invited on an archery hunt for hogs and decided being on the ground with a pissed off hog coming at me was not in my best interest.

QUOTE(sox4lifeinPA @ May 25, 2007 -> 02:41 PM) I'm getting married June 24th. Finally. It will be a celebration of celebrations. My invitation seems to be lost in the mail . . .

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ May 23, 2007 -> 10:30 AM) Definitely gives me more disposable income. What is the rental fee?