FACT: Rotting Apples and a LIVING WAGE

Where did you get that figure Jackie?

OK I did some homework...



http://www.livingwage.geog.psu.edu/browse_county.php?state=27

Balfour CDP, Henderson County, NC
Population 1,200

Annual After-Tax Income That's Required

One Adult

One Adult
$12,133 [$5.83/hr]

One Adult
$22,266

Two Adults
$18,188

Two Adults,One Child
$25,630

Two Adults,Two Children
$31,899 [15.36/hr (two adults working)..]

Lloyd, I went to the sight where you took your figures and I accessed the "whole state" calculation, which showed a figure of $19.51, so I would estimate that Jackie selected a different county or combination of counties to arrive at her figure.
2003 Standard poverty levels for a family of 3 and 4 respectively are:
$15,260 and $18,400 - Definately not $19 plus/hr

Okay Anne: Now DIGEST your lower amount. What is that per hour and how do you think that would affect prices in the United States?

Debbie: I just cannot tolerate the level of biased reporting - sheesh - talk about credibility issues....as if we need to make the situation worse than it actually is!!!

Anne: I accept your lower "living wage" Now do the math and tell me that nationwide we won't be begging for "illegals."

I invite critique of my writing (Lord knows I need it), but I can admit that when it comes to political and religious opinions, I have strong ones and keep them to myself.

Jackie, you take hits with every article you write. You are one hell of a fighter.

Am I becoming cliche? Keep up the hard work and I will keep reading and supporting you.

p.s. I do slam my friends, co-workers and family with hard facts whenever I get the chance. There is no doubt that you and I both have the same thoughts on many issues. Not all, but most.

So I am not just blowing warm air, I do my share - locally...

Governator just supported a billto increase the minimum wage to $8/hr (not today, over the next year). You know this though.

$8/hr is a far cry from a living wage and a far stretch from NC

d.m. thanks for the support. This is tough - believe it - but I feel less like I'm standing naked on stage these days - thanks to people who may not whole-heartedly agree but post rationally their thoughts and feelings.

There are days when I empathize alot and days when I am more frustrated with them or us.....goes with the job, I guess.

Regardless, I feel better knowing that those who are just now forming an opinion have a few more choices than extremist views.

Take care and know that I need your support - if not on the issue, then as a person. You are appreciated.

Jackie, Lloyd is the one who found a lesser living wage, not I.
NO we DO NOT need the illegals, we cannot afford too many more bringing down our wages. These figures reflect what specific agencies claim to be US figures for living in specific areas.
Having lived in an area that had NO industry, "better" paying jobs were 20 miles away or more, yet rents were OVER $1000/mo for a 2 bd. 2nd floor dump apartment, I'd say those stats are as wrong as you claim so many other things are.
Having physically seen for myself what areas that were overrun with illegals have become, and what the wages paid had DROPPED to, I would not want more illegals here, and prefer that many of the ones that are, be sent back.
They do NOT help the economy, they are making it more difficult for us to make a livable wage!
Yes Jackie, this IS tough, and I have been fighting this fight for over 10 years (I don't think you ever read the post in the other thread), I post rationally, and I stand firm on my beliefs, from experience!!
Go back and read what I posted on the other thread that I said you dropped because you didn't like the direction it had taken.

To be honest, you'll have to give me the name of the thread, Anne. You see, I post as I run across them and although I try to keep up, I work long hours and have a little problem finding my way back. Also, I post when I feel the need. If I have nothing to say, I refrain and read.

You have your experiences - I have mine.

So, tell me, what do YOU suggest the USA do?

It sounds as if you propose we take no responsibility as a nation for their contributions when they weren't as visible. It sounds as if, now that you can see them, we need to ship them out - they've outlived their usefulness....

Diversity is a gift. It is what enables you and I to "Gather," breathe the same air and put our pants on one leg at a time.

The two threads are:
1)Frist: Border Security Only Immigration Issue to be Addressed

2)A letter to Our Political Leaders on September 11

I am not sure what responsibility you think we should take as a nation for the Illegal actions of others. We DON'T owe them anything!
They gave up any rights when they entered this country illegally. If you want to break it down to that basic, then they gained more benefit by being here than this country gained by them being here.
It is NOT our responsibility to take care of the poor in every nation around the world, but if we are going to do it, then there are many much worse off than those in Mexico, and we should start with them.
America is the way it is today because we fought for it. When things were taking a turn the people didn't like, they took up arms, and turned things around. These people need to learn to stay in their own country and turn things around for themselves. The US has sent more money to Mexico, loaned fortunes and then forgiven those loans, and absorbed the cost of illegals, more than any other country has done for any other country in the world. Now it's time to take care of our own first.
Diversity is one thing, altering the entire thread of a nation is altogether unacceptable.

I hear you - loud and clear.

We have complete absolution for not protecting our own freakin' borders, not enforcing our own laws and then allowing all these illegals to work menial jobs to eek out a living.

All those who agree with Anne that we are IN NO WAY accountable for the current situation, please post here...

sheesh - no wonder this country is such a disaster.

With ya, Jackie.

Jackie,

Another thread you might want to look at is mine. It explains how the Minimum Wage is not only bad for immigration, but keeps the little man down.

The Minimum Wage: Fraud on the Poor
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976784913

Anne:

If you notice, none of the Pro-Illegal Alien crowd ever talk about the responsibility of the Latin Home Countries these illegals come from...for instance, why isn't it Mexico's JOB to take care of it's own?

Another thought...on the racist La Raza web site they tout the fact that there are 43 Million Latino's living in America, use that to weld political force. Now, the reality is, if we deport the illegals, and their ANCHOR BABIES, that 43 million would drop to HALF...in short, they would not have enough voters to claim they could swing a vote in any given election, the politicians would NOT GIVE THEM THE TIME OF DAY. La Raza is fighting as hard as they are for ILLEGALS for one reason, and one reason only....if the Illegals are deported, their POWER GRAB is over, and most of their funding from our Federal Government is gone. Further, if their numbers are cut in half, corporate companies now giving them millions of dollars each year will lose interest, and we'll watch La Raza wither on the vine.

Porgie: How do propose to do that, exactly? I mean we're already drowning in debt - what is your plan?

Don't you read anything I write? Is this a mental block or do you just conveniently skip the parts where I state that Mexico should be held accountable?

I want to know why we cater to the Mexican government.

Who has an opinion on that one?

Jackie I am in the middle of some work problems and taking care of some people across town, but I wanted you to know I intend to respond, here or in another thread.