Hi folks,
Here in the county we have many migrant workers who come up every year to do the work our local folks apparently will not do. This will not do is partly based on the wages earned for the back breaking work of harvesting broccolli. The stuff smells horrid and the work is terribly difficult. Many of these men bring their families with them (sponsored by a local) and the students - non English speaking - attend our schools. It's a very difficult situation. the children really do not thrive. they are so isolated here. However, this has led to people trying to stay here and that always ends badly. We do have a very busy immigration contingent at the borders and often arrests are made of people coming across from Canada. (not Canadians) Most of these broccoli harvesters send money home to their families while they are here. There are also many men working as foresters in the same situation.

I do think we are carying a heavy financial burden as taxpayers in the US because of the number of illegal immigrants . There are schools and hospitals filled with people who are not able to pay their share. Free meals at schools are the norm. Many of these kids tho are born here of parents who here illegally. It's such a difficult, complicated, and confusing issue. I certainly don't have the answer. But I do believe that the inpouring of people needs to stop. There are too many people who cannot make their way financially here. There's only so much the welfare system can handle.

I think it was Kathy was suggested that those welfare recipients who are able to work should be "put to work" I agree. there is work. It is low paying and not enough can be made to sustain a family's lifestyle. But even lowpaying jobs are a beginning. Our local newspaper is filled with want ads. So why is the unemployment level so high? Because too many of the jobs are considered undesirable or too low paying. Aren't these the jobs that often end up being done by migrant workers or illegal immigrants? They are willing. Even the minimum wage jobs of the USA are higher paying jobs than most third world countries have available. So these people do what must be done to take care of their families.

My son Kevin makes a higher hourly wage painting houses in Southern Maine than I do working in the school systems. He tells me I need to learn a trade I guess he's right. Go figure.

Kathi & All, I have been lucky enough to have had enough income that I can volunteer on campaigns and commettees that I feel do good things and thus meet alot of people plus stay in contact with my old business partners and have lots of connections for good so..... Every now and then I get invited to talk and I find it flattering and humbling too but I speak from the heart and with compassion. I agree with lots thats been said lately. We are too lax in this country about lots but if its done out of true belief and in good spirit it will all come out ok. Its just the way in which the immigrations system treats things that upset myself. I have unfortunately had the experience of working with it on several occasions and WAS NOT impressed. Its soprt of like being a vocational minister..... Don't believe in it. People aren't in those positions because they want to do the right thing. Most of them knew someone who "gave" them a job and usually the qualifications are anything but educational. Oh well, enough said but the silent majority has to speak up! I am not against making the illegals legal but they must go through the same process that the rest of them that want to be legal must!

Karen, I didn't see your post before--I think we must have been writing at exactly the same time! Yeah, it would be easier if things were black and white, but I'm constantly in the gray area where nothing's clear one way or the other!

That was well said, Richard. And good to see you on the blog again!

About 25 years ago, there was a really beautiful movie that was difficult to watch at times, called "El Norte". It was about a brother and sister that left the political unrest of Guatemala and made it into the US as illegal immigrants. The final leg required going through a series of septic pipes. Once in the US, they did work that others were not interested in. The late teen, 20 something girl, worked as a housekeeper. When she did laundry, she laid it out on the lawn to dry. That part was visually very beautiful. It was a different way, for sure, and not popular with the woman she worked for. In the end, the girl became sick and died from disease that had been transmitted by rat bites she received when she was going through the pipes. The trouble with laws is that when things get to that point (and often they do) there is some bad in it for everybody- never a clean winner.

Kathi, let us know when the movie will be aired. It sounds like the interview went well--at least they were respectful and sensitive, though I'm sure it must have been very painful for you.

Karen, I don't think these people WANT to come illegally, but if they're not allowed to enter legally and conditions in their own countries are so bad, I guess they're willing to risk coming in illegally. And I'm not sure those welfare people would do those jobs (like Kathi said). The same thing happens in Israel--there are certain jobs Israelis aren't willing to do, so workers are brought in from China, Thailand, the Philippines, etc. But there, they're brought in for 3 years, I think, and then they're supposed to go back to their countries. The problem is a lot of them don't want to go back after the 3 years. So it's a confusing situation. We sort of want them and don't want them at the same time. From what I've heard, a lot of the ones in L.A. get fake IDs and DO pay taxes.

Karen, I see what you mean about choice coming before conception. I agree with that. I just don't think it's good for a child to grow up feeling unwanted and unloved. If that's how the woman is going to treat her child, I think it's better that she doesn't have him.

But I do I agree with you that people should do things legally and take the consequences of their actions. Am I being confusing?!

I was interviewed on Saturday for the documentary. There were 4 students and the professor from University of Norwich at my sister-in-laws house. Her interview took almost 2 hours. These were all done one on one with the film crew. They were very nice and respectful. They did get into very personal areas. What Kevin was like growing up....last time I saw him....how I deal with his death....highly emotional, which is what, I am sure they were looking for. This documentary will eventually air on PBS with a special viewing for the families in February. I'm glad that I did it and hopefully, the film will be accurate.
As for political views....if they weren't illegal, they could pay taxes like the rest of us. Its true that many welfare Americans are too lazy to do the jobs that these migrant workers do period.
There are some Americans who get welfare and work....and try to get by. I think there should be a limit to the amount of time a healthy person can remain on welfare without getting some kind of job.
Abortion, in my opinion, should be a womans right....our bodies, our conscious...
Have a great day and Happy Thoughts to all.............I did tell them the Happy Thoughts story!

Karen, I think I'm on the other side of the immigrant issue. I don't keep up that well with the news, so maybe I'm uninformed. I just know there are thousands of (illegal) immigrants in L.A., and they do the work Americans aren't willing to do. So why not make them legal? Why make it so hard for people to become legal if they want to live here? I understand they have to set some limit or else they'd end up with way more people than they can handle. It just seems like they make problems for the good ones and miss the dangerous ones that they're really trying to keep out.

While I'm at it, I'll also say that I don't agree with Roland on the abortion issue. I think a woman should be able to make that choice, either because of health reasons or because she's not able, for whatever reason, to bring up a child the way he/she needs to be brought up.

I'll shut up now!