Would the U.S be better off without the migrant workers?

Question

WOULD THE ECONOMY BE BETTER OFF OR WOULD IT STAY THE SAME? WOULD THE COST OF EVERYDAY ITEMS BE HIGHER?? WOULD THE AVERAGE WORKING AMERICAN DO THE JOBS REQUIRED FROM THE MIGRANT WORKERS UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS AND PAY??

Answer 1

It would be BETTER. Cost of living would be LOWER (as minimum wage wouldn't be arguable at all). More citizens would have jobs, hence unemployment would be almost non existent. Our taxes could pay for a better quality of life for all, not spend it on welfare for non-citizens, etc.

Answer 2

There is a huge difference between migrant workers and illegal immigrants/aliens.

The country has a place for a limited number of migrants, be they workers or tourists or families of workers. Those numbers have been established by Congress and other agencies and the country can and does use them.

Now if you meant to ask about illegal aliens, the country would be much better off without criminals working in the economy. And, make no mistake, they are criminals. They cross the border unlawfully, have no papers to permit legal employment, and when they start businesses they do so without insurance, bonds, workers comp insurance and other things legal businesses have to provide. Just check the different rates charged by gardeners in your community. Then look at the gardener businesses that are out of business. When you run a very small business, a couple of thousand dollars a year is too much to absorb and still stay in business.

So when that cheap gardener you hired gets hurt, who pays? Either you or you and I. Either you as an individual take care of it or the welfare system provides the medical help.

When an expectant mother crosses illegally and delivers in the US, the baby is a citizen. Mother and child can't be separated and the mother can't work because the baby needs her, so welfare steps in again.

This could go on for weeks.

Answer 3

Why on earth should ANYONE do that work under the same conditions and same pay? There were years and years of labor strikes to earn the living wage for American workers, and they want it back.

Legal migrants are not a problem. There is an H2 visa for just that thing.

Illegal immigrants are generally poor, and even if they pay taxes they pay very little of what they and their families take out in services, particularly education. That is why all developed countries limit the number of poor people who can immigrate. A few wouldn't be a big problem, but 12 to 20 million is a huge number and a huge problem. Schools and health care are failing in our border states and areas where illegal immigrants concentrate.

If farm worker wages went up 40% to take them out of the poverty level, it has been calculated that the average American family would pay $10 more PER YEAR for fruits and vegetables. Most of the cost of fruits and vegetables is not from labor.

Answer 4

Well to start off no, I don't think Americans would put up with the kind of slave labor that "illegal" or "migrant" workers have to put up with. That is why we have labor laws (on another topic that's why we have a minimum wage).

Lets say hypothetically that all migrant workers disappeared. First there would be no one to pick the fresh fruit and veggies at the rate they are currently paid, farmers would have to raise prices to balance out the wage increases. Second alot of dock workers are migrant workers so there would be no one (again to work at the same rate of pay) to unload the trucks after the produce has been shipped, most the time the person paying for unloading would be the trucker, truckers and trucking companies would have to raise rates to balance out the pay rate. This cost is passed onto the "store" or "retailer", who then passes the cost onto the consumer. After all is said and done the consumer would have to pay a much higher price for say a head of lettuce then we currently do now. These increases would make Americans have to save more for luxury items that at the time of migrant workers they might have been able to afford. Other industries would suffer as well. The housing construction market would pass the cost off to the new homeowner making the already high prices of houses even higher. Landscapers would have to charge more for those pretty structured lawns and foutains we all enjoy and not as many of these items would be seen. And on and on and on.

Would the economy take a hit? Not outright just like we have seen with the rise in gas prices people would be more frugal with their money and spend less on other items. New products wouldn't get the R&D needed to further our technological age because if no one will buy the new more expensive product, why put it out if no one will buy it? Money will be spent on making items already out on the market cheaper.

With all that said, it would be retarded for America to invest the kind of money needed to "kick out" every illegal that lives here. That kind of money would further bankrupt our deficit. Then given what I have just said may actually hurt the economy in that our GDP would be greatly reduced and the dollar would fall even further in the global market.

Answer 5

Think about it, would Singapore be better off if we didn't have migrant workers from China and India to do the job that you would never think of doing? Then apply it to the US. The US is built almost entirely by the hands of migrants. You would be hard pressed to find a white guy working in the subway station or in construction, as a taxi driver or as a waiter in a cafe. Migrant workers are given low pay and in so doing are forced to work long hours without job security. so to ans your questions:
1. NO. Worse off definitely.
2. MUCH MUCH Higher.
3. Over their dead body. Would you work in construction earning 200 dollars a month?

Answer 6

The answer to the last question you asked about Americans doing the job that immigrants have done. The answer is "no" not if the wages are keep as low as they are today. In fact minimum wages would be 7.00 and hour + in California. The farmers would refuse to pay these wages because they would claim that they can not make any profit at the end of the day.
Even if some way could be found to get the two sides to compromise, the rise in produce at the grocery store would be immense. The cost of living would rise dramatically. And our neat little program of exploiting foreign workers would be exposed.

Answer 7

Better???? That answerer must be crazy! Not many Americans would work for the wages that the migrant workers make, and it is too little for there to be taxes taken out. Why doesn't anyone see that??? The whole system stinks!

But MY produce already costs too much, as does the average restaurant meal. Add minimum wage to that equation, and I'll be eating crackers and water!

Answer 8

A question based on incorrect assumptions does not promote intelligent debate. For instance: America is a land of immigrants.
All, except the American Indians, and the Eskimo and Inuit are either foreigners or children of foreigners. There are secret decrees that govern America. The plebiscite are not afforded access to those. As a result, some people will not understand why we burn surplus food, why we must have two military machines; one covertly operated and the other highly visible. I will borrow a quote here. In short: there are two Americas: one for the "Us-a-crats" and the other for the "Them-o Crats." The Mexican border issue is changing the geopolitical dynamic in America--to the detriment of the "Us-a crats." Enough said on that one.
Boaz

Answer 9

America needs migrant workers to do the menial jobs that spoiled americans doesn't want to do anymore. Migrant workers are willing to work longer hours at meager salary, hence they keep everyday items cost lower because their labor is cheap. These workers will make life easier for you.

Answer 10

No. We need those migrant workers to do work americans don't want to do. When was the last time a migrant worker stole a job you were trying for?

Answer 11

The reason Americans don't want the jobs is because they don't pay enough to support anyone.

Our government doesn't worry about it because illegals get the job done and create jobs for those who chase them. Our government is mainly interested in creating jobs. One way or another.

The illegals keep doing it because they make more money than they would in their own country if they don't die getting here.

When I was in high school the farmers would recruit students in the Summer and we worked the fields. It paid better than babysitting. Some of our teachers were our supervisors.