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Sun. March 11, 2007
1. Field burning ban would improve quality of health in Oregon
2. The censorship of science undermines democracy
3. Salem police could use vacant buildings to add jail space
4. Despite Castro's best intentions, racism lingers in Cuba
These articles can be accessed by using the Statesman Journal link found in the "links" section of this Blog.
The article "Hispanic Workers Lead U.S. Job Growth" had the greatest relevance to this weeks reading. In particular, I direct you to the last paragraph, which stated that while the median weekly earnings increased for Hispanic workers in general, the earnings of "foreign-born Hispanic workers" actually decreased in 2006. Chapter seven of our text describes the exploitation of workers in third world countries. Yet here, in the richest country in the world it is much the same. As long as the employers of these undocumented workers continue to break the law by exploiting this slave labor, America is no better than the least of them. We have are own "third world" citizens living right here!
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4 comments:
Mark,
You are so right regarding our similarites with LDC. Slave labor and disrpect of people trying to achieve a better life. Some of are citizens do not deserve the resources freely given to them so they can do drugs and neglect their children.
wendu
Well, I have to say that I sometimes forget just how unfair employment can get.. It is so confusing to me, and please understand that what I say is in no measure supposed to be inconsiderate. I just can not distinguish the right and wrong way about cheap laborers. Let me first say, yes, it is a horrible condition. Exploitation is such a dichotomy though, we do things becuase of choices usually, and in this choice, women (of hispanic origin in this case) are in need of work, they are clearly not finding what they hope for where they are (for many reasons I know), and then they find it in America... So, the employer makes a great profit and the laborer makes a small one. But, isn't it still a profit nonetheless. Please, understand I am not trying ot be naive and ignore the major injustice going on, I just can not seem to say at what point can we really point the finger?
haley24, I agree with your comment about it being a win-win situation when it comes to the hiring of migrant workers. It is true, that these workers are making quite a bit more than they could working in their native land and we as consumers reap the benifits of such labor. The problem that I have with this issue in when these individuals are undocumented. The employers are breaking various laws and since 9/11 it is paramount for us to know who is crossing our boarders.It is also a slap in the face for those individuals who go through the necessary processess to come to America. What may percieved by some as slave labor is a godsend to others. I recommend a guest worker program so that the workers can provide the needed resources and a proper documentation will occur. Thank you for your comments. Sincerely, Mark.
Wendy, I could not agree with you more. Many of our fellow citizens are taking for granted what the tax paying individuals work so hard for. This loss of the "work ethic" in America is contributing to massive debt and a general decline in our society. I have seen too many examples of people "getting over" on the system in my plus 50 years of existence.I have seen recent studies which say that hundreds of thousands of Amercian children go to sleep hungry every night. I wonder if they take into account the vast numbers of parents who waste their "welfare" checks on drugs/gambling, etc. and fail to provide for their children. Thank you for your comments. Sincerely, Mark.
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