If there was a prospect that something would be done then yes, by all means call. I believe when one sees something that is wrong or illegal one does something about it. It is unacceptable that, because of politics, some illegal transgressions are not only ignored, but sponsored to the tune of billions of dollars.

You certainly are not intimating that the progress of TV would come to a grinding halt....are you? It might stumble but I will forecast for you what would happen if the hammer was dropped on illegal immigration. The ones who really want to be here will do something to get legalized (what ever that means). Some will head back to where they came from. Some will go deeper in hiding until the heat is off. Many other unemployed will fill in the gaps left by those who leave. The terrorists will have to find a new way into the USA.

What else that is illegal are some of you willing to keep looking the other way?

When ya see something illegal or wrong, turn 'em in....Those who do nothing to protect themselves wind up being victims!!!

btk

btk

Yes, I am saying that the building of homes, villas, golf courses, landscaping, and rec centers would come to a screeching halt if undocumented workers were not here. It would not just be a stumble. It would be catastrophic. There would be unfinished houses, etc all over The Villages and new comers would not be buying into a place like that. Property values would drop and we might be left in a bad place. The Villages needs workers and the undocumented workers need The Villages.

BS to the above post.

Originally Posted by buggyone

Yes, I am saying that the building of homes, villas, golf courses, landscaping, and rec centers would come to a screeching halt if undocumented workers were not here. It would not just be a stumble. It would be catastrophic. There would be unfinished houses, etc all over The Villages and new comers would not be buying into a place like that. Property values would drop and we might be left in a bad place. The Villages needs workers and the undocumented workers need The Villages.

:1 rotfl:

Instead of just replying with "BS" and a laughing icon, please express how you believe it would play out if undocumented workers very suddenly left their jobs. Of course, mine was only my thought. I really would like other thoughts of how it might play out and any repercussions.

Originally Posted by buggyone

Instead of just replying with "BS" and a laughing icon, please express how you believe it would play out if undocumented workers very suddenly left their jobs. Of course, mine was only my thought. I really would like other thoughts of how it might play out and any repercussions.

I think if illegal aliens were to suddenly all go home tomorrow,
builders would be forced to hire American citizens. It's really that simple. Maybe they would have to pay a larger renumeration to secure that worker, but they would have to do so and thats all there is to it, in my opinion.

The void would be filled, believe me. Years ago I was a construction worker. My last job that I had before I quit the trade was in another state. I traveled early Sunday morning for my 5 hour drive. I stayed in a camp with 5 other guys during the week and came home Friday night. I did that for around 6 months. There was no work in my state so we went where the work was. Sometimes I regret leaving the trade because Jimmy Carter was the President then, but a couple of years later the trade boomed under Reagan.

the only reason most of the contractors use illegal aliens is they can pay them less for the same days work. They can also not have to hire ANY of them as they can, each day, go to the labor pool and pick up what they need for that day.
If that resource was gone tomorrow, I would bet that within a week the word would get out and more unemployed craftsmen would be employed...yes at a higher price per hour/day. But I would not jump so quickly to the notion that would raise the cost of building here. It would for sure cut into the very handsome profits made for using "cheap? labor. Whether the builders would try to recoup dollar for dollar would be a function of whether the developer would tolerate it and they most likely would not. And if those builders would pull out (highly unlikely) there are plenty to fill the void in the FL depressed construction market.

There would be a skipped heart beat and they progress overall would barely be impacted. Some of us remember when all the work was done by resident Americans. The advent of allowing illegal aliens to remain and work for less money is a function of politics. Just like corporations putting jobs overseas...to pay less for the labor, lowering the cost and increasing their profits.

Nary a heartbeat!!

btk

buggyone,

What you have to remember is that the cost per square foot for any building is well planned out before the building even starts, including the labor cost as well as the materials, if there is a cost increase in materials/labor then the next job takes that into consideration and the cost per square foot goes up. Usually the builder has a contract for the materials on the one that he is working on so the raise in material cost stays the same for that building. So you will pay x amount of dollars per square foot no matter who builds your building. When illegals are hired does the contractor lower the cost per square foot? No, they just pocket the extra money as profit. So instead of making a 20% profit, they are now pocketing a 40% profit and YOUR cost remains the same.

Now do you understand it makes no difference who swings the hammer, your cost will be the same, only the contractor/subcontractor makes more profit.

Yes, Figmo, I do understand about the costs of contractors and subcontranctors and the cost of "who swings the hammer".

It is my belief, contrary to some others here, that you would not find enough "hammer swingers" to build The Villages if there were no undocumented workers to hire. It is not a cost issue, but a supply of people wanting to work.

I honestly do not think you could find the same number of US citizens who would work in the hot Florida sun putting up concrete blocks and doing roofing work as we have now.

Of course, there is no way of telling which of us is right or wrong since no changes are going to be made here - and that is a good thing.

US Bureau of Labor STATS reports unemployment rates for August are 10.7% in Florida and 9.1% in the country. Not so sure that all unemployed people out there satisfied to do nothing and collect the unemployment check, or no money at all if their time has run out. Necessity is often a life changer.

And if it were true there would not be enough of a particular class of people who would not work in the hot sun/etc....is that supposed to be reason or rationale why illegals should be allowed? I don't think so.

How about the majority of the immigrants who come into this country legally? Are they the ones who won't take a job in the hot sun (I am being a little sarcastic).

There is absolutely no justification for the illegal immigration to persist or be allowed to continue. Any country on the planet has rules by which one enters the country. No where are there exceptions, that if you can work in the hot sun or take a job no body else wants just jump the fence and all is forgiven....in addition be sure to get the list of benefits you are now entitled to. And you all in line waiting to come in legally....no talking or chewing gum in line or you will be taken to task.

Sarcasm and levity aside, illegal immigration and the billions being thrown at them is just another beyond comprehension inconsistency of political BS.

btk

Originally Posted by KatzPajamas

US Bureau of Labor STATS reports unemployment rates for August are 10.7% in Florida and 9.1% in the country. Not so sure that all unemployed people out there satisfied to do nothing and collect the unemployment check, or no money at all if their time has run out. Necessity is often a life changer.

It sure is. I remember many Ironworkers from my union who moved to Alaska in the 70's to work on the pipeline. I also knew a few guys who moved to Australia during that same period. If word got out that good paying jobs were indeed here, they would be filled without missing a heartbeat.

Necessity certainly is a life changer. As Village Golfer said, he knows former co-workers who moved to Alaska or Australia for good paying jobs. My father-in-law would travel around Iowa (where he lived with his family) to get brick laying jobs and be away from home a few weeks at a time. People will travel to get jobs and will live in less than desirable situations when they need to do so to work.

However, when a huge project like The Villages continues to build, you have to have the workers. There would NOT be the number of "hammer swingers" who would work. There would be SOME but not enough to complete the work in a time manner that is currently being done. Your home values would go down.

We need these workers. I say that with no doubts whatsoever. They are NOT taking jobs from citizens.

Originally Posted by buggyone

Necessity certainly is a life changer. As Village Golfer said, he knows former co-workers who moved to Alaska or Australia for good paying jobs. My father-in-law would travel around Iowa (where he lived with his family) to get brick laying jobs and be away from home a few weeks at a time. People will travel to get jobs and will live in less than desirable situations when they need to do so to work.

However, when a huge project like The Villages continues to build, you have to have the workers. There would NOT be the number of "hammer swingers" who would work. There would be SOME but not enough to complete the work in a time manner that is currently being done. Your home values would go down.

We need these workers. I say that with no doubts whatsoever. They are NOT taking jobs from citizens.

Every time an illegal is hired, he/she is taking a job away from real American citizens. It really is that simple.