While in Vegas, I realised that there is something really big occurring in the south. Something that many of the people there see as a plague that could bring down the USA nation as a whole. The war on terror looks silly compared to the “War on Illegal Mexican Aliens” (I made up this title). In the south, it’s hard to find a person who likes Mexicans, or, I just had really bad luck. The people that I spoke to, as well as the TV news, and newspaper, all speak of them as some foreign invades who come to steal jobs and drain the economy. My grandmother’s neighbour started talking to my mom about the “illegal aliens,” and my mom assumed he was speaking about invaders from another planet. Down there, these “illegal aliens” are a hot discussion topic. The guy I was speaking to at the YMCA there also spoke about them. He joked with me that he will be going to Mexico to give them maps to Canada. I told him that that would be fine. But would it?This CNN article reports that there are 7 million illegal immigrants, most of which come from Mexico. Maybe they do have something to be concerned about? I mean, how is it that they are able to get in, and just stay? I want to move to the US, could I do that?
Many people argue that they are stealing away jobs. I disagree with that, to a point. While in Vegas, I noticed that Mexican people worked at almost every restaurant, fast food chain, and other labour jobs. Also, I saw plenty of “now hiring” signs. There didn’t seem to be a shortage of jobs.
Obviously what is happening is exploitation. Businesses are hiring Mexican people because they are desperate, and will work for minimum wage. (Oh, and by the way, minimum wage is 5.15US in Nevada. Now think about what that would work out to be in Canadian dollars! Our minimum wage will be $8.00 soon.) The government doesn’t do anything about border problems because businesses like the cheap labour.
I don’t really know much about the issue though, what do you guys think? Vegas boys, what are your thoughts?
