Illegals Don't Drive Down Our Wages

If they got paid more, that wouldn't make us richer

The Wage Competition Myth. Either illegal aliens working for less than minimum wage go South, or our wages go South, according to the myth. If an illegal works for $3 an hour picking oranges, how can a citizen keep his $8 an hour job picking them? Illegals working for low wages are therefore driving down citizen wages, according to the myth.

Then conversely, the best thing we could do to keep our wages high, is to start paying illegals $500 an hour. Right? If we start paying illegals like we do doctors and lawyers, that will make everyone richer, right? No, you say? But if paying them too low brings down our wages, then won't paying them too high raise our wages?

Hmmm. Why doesn't the myth make quite as much sense now?

Here is what the myth leaves out: if an illegal works for $3 an hour picking oranges, it may be that it will make it harder for a citizen to pick oranges for $8 an hour. But every worker is also a consumer. He has to fill his gas tank, and his belly, and pay for food and shelter, at the rates citizens charge. So every worker who comes here creates a new job for every one he takes, and the jobs they create are better than the ones they take to the extent their wages are low.

Are we grateful that doctors and lawyers charge so much, because that drives our wages up? No? Don't their high wages, for services we require, simply transfer our wealth to them?

Then why do we imagine the worst thing for our wages is for illegals to have low wages? When they work cheap for us, yet still pay what we charge them for the services they need from us, isn't that good for us? Isn't it us, taking advantage of them? Yet we accuse them of taking advantage of us, by working like slaves for us, making us rich!

This is not making us look good. It is not making us look smart, either. I wonder how much Southern slave owners blamed their slaves for driving down their cotton picking wages?

OK, you're not convinced. You still think the key to our prosperity is to pay lawyer's fees to orange pickers. OK, I am stillwilling to work with you.

Which scenario do you think most threatens to drive down wages because illegals will work for less:

a) the current situation, where illegals get fake ID’s and take jobs at $5 an hour or less where their ID’s won’t be scrutinized?

b) Bush’s plan, where illegals will be able to work legally, so it will be safe to ask for $10 an hour – and indeed where guest workers will try hard to earn a pay raise because that will help them earn a Green Card (if one of the incentives proposed by Congress is adopted)? or

c) Malkin’s plan, where illegals will be muscled out of jobs here and will go back to Mexico where they will work for an American factory making auto parts for $5 a day?

Other Fantastic Articles, Books, Movies, Music:
Home Sweet Home!
Does anyone care what the word actually means? Get in WHAT Line? For most, there IS no line! Public Schools aren't Free for ANYONE! Emergency Hospital Care Averages $21 Per Illegal PRUCOL: the Legal Illegals in Immigration Limbo Illegals don't receive welfare, unless you redefine either 'illegals' or 'welfare' Why God is not Stupid when He offers Populations the Blessing of Multiplying Rule of Law vs. God-Defying Legalism: how 'Rule of Law' was defined by Americas Founders If the study hadnt counted citizens as 'illegals' it would have concluded illegals contribute $10 billion MORE in taxes than they consume in 'services' 'Moral Conservatives' redefined by Immigration Debate Social Security: Rod of Gods Judgment 'Mark of the Beast' Constructed by Immigraphobic 'Moral Conservatives'; Why God Cares: Why We Should Care! Social Security: Rod of God's Judgment 'Moral Conservatives' redefined by Immigration Debate If the study hadn't counted citizens as Rule of Law vs. God-Defying Legalism: how 'Rule of Law' was defined by America's Founders Why God is not Stupid when He offers Populations the Blessing of Multiplying Illegals don't receive welfare, unless you redefine either 'illegals' or 'welfare'. PRUCOL: the Legal Illegals in Immigration Limbo Emergency Hospital Care Averages $21 Per Illegal Public Schools aren't Free for ANYONE! Get in WHAT Line? For most, there IS no line! Does anyone care what the word actually means? Bueno! Border Security: A Simple, $-Saving, Surprising, Solid, Sweeping, Consummate Solution Immigration Quotas: Unconstitutional 'Immigration Compromise': the whole bill, with Translation and Analysis 'Equal Protection of the Laws' for Illegal Children 'Immigration Compromise': the whole bill, with Translation and Analysis Immigration Quotas: Unconstitutional Border Security: A Simple, $-Saving, Surprising, Solid, Sweeping, Consummate Solution Related Immigration Articles If Solutions are more important to you than Shouting, this is the Site you have been waiting for! Have you suffered enough that telling your story no longer satisfies you, and now you are bristling to slay the Divorce Beast that destroyed your family? This site is for you. 'Sodomites' is what our Loving God calls them. (See Bible study.) Can I say I love them  more, because I call them anything less? Solutions for Education Why the Child Abuse Industry Nabs the Wrong Kids; Why the Child Abuse Religion - Psychiatry - is a fraud;  How Child Abuse Laws need to be changed Some of my Personal Experiences with the Drive-By Media Bible Studies on a Variety of Issues I pray, for Sudan, a government under a Constitution like ours. Heres how it would adapt to their situation, and by the way, this will help Americans understand our own Constitution. A few articles I wrote for voters while running for State Representative I really want your input! Family Music Center in Des Moines Iowa, what pays our bills Some of the good stuff about me - to balance the other stuff youve heard. Personal Leach and Barnes family stuff Every once in a while I remember to keep a record of changes to the site. Spectacular Music Videos of original songs by Dave Leach, produced by Lowbudget Productions Fiction by David Lane, who served time for redecorating an abortion office, daydreaming about what he would REALLY like to have done. Poems by David Lane about abortion, which he went to jail to stop. A roadmap of all the categories, and most of the articles, on this site. A roadmap of all the categories, and most of the articles, on this site. Poems by David Lane about abortion, which he went to jail to stop. Fiction by David Lane, who served time for redecorating an abortion office, daydreaming about what he would REALLY like to have done. Spectacular Music Videos of original songs by Dave Leach, produced by Lowbudget Productions Every once in a while I remember to keep a record of changes to the site. Personal Leach and Barnes family stuff Some of the good stuff about me - to balance the other stuff you've heard. Family Music Center in Des Moines Iowa: what pays our bills I really want your input! A few articles I wrote for voters while running for State Representative I pray, for Sudan, a government under a Constitution like ours. Here's how it would adapt to their situation, and by the way, this will help Americans understand our own Constitution. Bible Studies on a Variety of Issues Some of my Personal Experiences with the Drive-By Media Why the Child Abuse Industry Nabs the Wrong Kids; Why the Child Abuse Religion - Psychiatry - is a fraud;  How Child Abuse Laws need to be changed Solutions for Education Have you suffered enough that telling your story no longer satisfies you, and now you are bristling to slay the Divorce Beast that destroyed your family? This site is for you. If Solutions are more important to you than Shouting, this is the Site you have been waiting for! Other Issues on this Website 'Ancient Riddles Solved!' 'Never Before Revealed Theological Secrets!' 'From the diary of an angel! A fictitious angel, but an angel nonetheless!' (Scroll half way down the page) Hell really makes a lot of sense, understood Biblically. We all know what its like to resist good, God, light, love, truth, evidence, life, and grace. Explain how it is possible  to choose such woe even for a moment, before you reject Biblical evidence that some harden their hearts so much that they will resist forever! Will you? (Scroll almost to the bottom of the page) Spectacular Music Videos of original songs by Dave Leach, produced by Lowbudget Productions Spectacular Music Videos of original songs by Dave Leach, produced by Lowbudget Productions Hell really makes a lot of sense, understood Biblically. We all know what it's like to resist good, God, light, love, truth, evidence, life, and grace. Explain how it is possible  to choose such woe even for a moment, before you reject Biblical evidence that some harden their hearts so much that they will resist forever! Will you? (Scroll almost to the bottom of the page) Really Great Books and Music! Drive Down Wages? Hah!