Comments Posted By C. Perrine
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BUCHANAN'S NEW BOOK: "PREPARE YE FOR THE END"
Michael Reynolds said: "Sorry if that sounds elitist to you...." Well, no it doesn't sound elitist, but the question that preceded this remark sounded myopic and stupid.
You asked, "Are you suggesting the college professor who lives to my left, or the financial analyst who lives across the street, or the accountant two houses down, will take up home building?"
Who do you think built almost all the homes in America until approximately 10-15 years ago when Hispanics began to dominate the construction trades? Skilled laborers who entered this country lawfully, many of whom trained their sons to follow in their footsteps. Does experience and craftsmanship matter to you? Does it matter to you that the framer who cannot speak English might also have problems reading a ruler? I'm quite sure it doesn't matter to you that the guy who had 20 year's experience and was still only making $18/hour was replaced by a novice willing to work for $8/hour. The week before the novice framer was flipping burgers for $6/hour or maybe washing dishes for $5/hour. Even if the $18/hour guy was willing to take a cut in wages to save his job, he would have a need to become bilingual in order to work with an Hispanic crew, so he might as well get a job at the local 7-11 where at least his ability to speak English is valued.
If you are lucky, that college professor living next door to you might be an economics professor or at least a sociologist, and you should ask him or her why all these layed off construction workers are not reflected on the unemployment rolls. The answers are many and complex, but the bottom line is we have a good many unemployed people in this country whose circumstances don't qualify them to be entered as a labor statistic. The fact you are unaware this invisible labor pool exists all around you is what leads me to conclude you are myopic. You might also have an elitist attitude, but that would be beside the point.
Comment Posted By C. Perrine On 27.01.2008 @ 02:28
