Thinking a little bit about immigrant labor and other stuff in no particular order

[ThomWV]

China is lucky; the chances of surviving a swim across the Pacific are worse than crossing the Arizona desert. That aside it is reported that wages are increasing in China, and factory workers are starting to feel like maybe they too are due some part of the pie. The trend can only continue as international communications (the Internet) continues to make inroads into the country, I would think. So I have to ask myself, what will that do to Wal Mart? The newly-wealthy in China will be squeezed between a massive working public demanding greater pay and better workplace conditions at the same time their the big buyer requires lower and lower prices (n real terms) in order to sustain profits in the face of declining demand. Let me put it this way, I wouldn't want to be the next guy who stands in front of a tank in that country, 'cause it ain't gonna go so well next time.

I am adamant that immigration reform follow this form. Immigration as needed to satisfy seasonal domestic demand shall be allowed to any extent necessary with the provision that strict worker protections will be put in place to protect those workers who do come and go and that the legal system will treat employers who hire outside of those legally sanctioned be treated with all the legal mercy that heroin dealers receive. God dam! If we need them, then let them in, but lets not let the vultures pray on them and lets make sure they get paid a fair days pay for a mighty hard day's work - and it is we the people who benefit most form the work they do that must demand this for them, because we have a voice and they do not.

And that will do for this evening's rant.

[Hello_Kitty]

1. K and R. But there needs to be a serious overhaul of the guest worker system.

Abuse and exploitation are rampant with H2 visas. ITA that immigration should be targeted to meet genuine labor needs and not as a funnel for slave labor.