gimme yer workers -- 4/1 saturday toon

[radfringe]

I'll probably get flamed for this one... but in my defense I find bush*'s reasoning for guest worker program to be demeaning to those who are just looking for a better life

http://radfringe.tripod.com/

when my grandparents immigrated here - on my father's side - they went to work in coal mines for a few years.

on my mother's side - my grandfather's first job was delivering bread for $2.00 a week, my grandmother made ribbon bows at home and was paid piece rate...

we're at a condumdrum regarding immigration - legal or not. How do we continue to allow immigration and still secure borders? The argument is being framed as either the door is wide open or locked tight.

just my 2-cents - it's not that clear cut of a problem. I don't have an answer, but I do know the guest worker proposal won't solve it, it's just a new label on an existing situation.

[SeattleGirl]

1. No flames from me!

I don't flame truth! That's a great toon! And since I'm doing tomorrow's toon thread, I will probably use it, if that's cool with you.

[radfringe]

3. you are free to use it

thanks!

[SeattleGirl]

4. Cool! Thanks much!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

Then indeed I will! You do good work!

[radfringe]

8. older toons

and this current one are also in "MY JOURNAL" - scroll over to the furtherest right column... (kind of wish I could have said scroll over to the furtherest LEFT column.. :rofl: )

[Glenda]

15. the great thing about journals,

you can post your toons there.

Yeah, I don't know what to think since you put them in the Right column. ;)

:hi:

[nonconformist]

2. No flames here - great toon! nt

[TomClash]

5. No flames here either

The guest worker program is indentured servitude and racist nonsense.

[ikojo]

6. As it is in every country that employees guest

workers. I think guest workers are widely used in middle eastern countries with them doing some of the crappiest jobs.

[radfringe]

7. my partner came out with a good one last night

she said "it's not a BE-OUR-GUEST program, it's a CLEAN-OUR-MESS program"

[radfringe]

9. a kick for late risers

[justice1]

10. Have you ever seen the movie Matewan?

I had completely forgot about it till you mentioned coal mining. If you haven't, definitely rent it.My ancestors were miners for generations, in fact, the people involved in the uprising are distant cousins of mine.It's about unionizing the mines, and one thing they realized was that as long as there was someone waiting to take your job, you didn't stand a chance to have safer working conditions and fair wages.

Today, it's illegal immigrants, or potentially "guest workers". In 1920, it was Italians and blacks. People died fighting, but they succeeded and improved the quality of life for all the workers.

Regardless of what side of the issue you are on this, realize we have to work together to fight oppression.

[radfringe]

11. my biggest objection

to guest worker program / amnesty and variations is that it does nothing to stop the explotation

bush*'s feelings are that illegal/legal immigrants do the work we won't do and heck someone has to do it

but they do it for crap pay - better than they may get from where ever they are from - but compared to "normal" US wages - it's still crap pay and it's the companies that hire these folks for crap wages that reaps the benefits

my partner and I have had numerous discussions about moving out of Pennsylvania. One of the things we look at is jobs, what the going wage for that job is, and compare it to the cost of living in where ever. Moving to another state may get us higher pay, but cost of living expenses cancel out any gains -- conversly, moving to a state with a lower cost of living is canceled out by lower wages. No gain, so why move?

I guess what I'm trying to say is that any immigration legislation needs to also address wages. If you don't want someone a burden on the system, they need to earn enough to pay for things themselves.

[darkmaestro019]

13. That's why we haven't moved. Equally bad everywhere.

My lover's parents keep asking why we don't move to "warmer climates" and we go "Where?"

"I guess what I'm trying to say is that any immigration legislation needs to also address wages. If you don't want someone a burden on the system, they need to earn enough to pay for things themselves."

That isn't what They want. They don't give a damn what it costs the system, the taxpayers, the "guest workers" themselves--only what it'd cost THEM to have to pay decent wages and benefits to all workers regardless of origin.

[radfringe]

12. one more kick and then I'm off to do grocery shopping

[justice1]

14. Global Reform

Almost 100 years ago, a small group of people rose up and forced major changes that benefited workers in the U.S.

Today, we have the technology to reach out on a global scale.