"Jobs Americans Won't Do"

[mb7588a]

I've been quite unclear about this talking point, and I find a bit of elitism in those who use it.

It's a bit like saying, "This job is above my dignity."

And just what kind of jobs are we talking about?
- Construct a home?
- Lay concrete?
- Pick strawberries?
- Clean a hotel room?
- Wash dishes at a restaurant?

Americans did these jobs, and jobs like them, for generations. There are many skilled jobs that paid well until a workforce who would do it for dirt showed up.

Reform #1: ENDORCE HUMANITY AND PAY EVERYONE A LIVING WAGE.

I would pay $10 more per night for a hotel room if it meant the housekeeping staff was paid enough to support themselves and a family.
I would pay $1 more for a carton of strawberries if it meant that the backbreaking laborers were paid enough to support themselves and a family
Etc.

Many people would do these jobs if it meant a decent wage, and a chance at a comfortable life.

[benburch]

1. I used to work for a sewer contractor.

I used to get into septic tanks and cesspools with people's SHIT.

Don't tell me there is a job an American won't do if you pay a fair wage for it.

[phantom power]

2. Did you catch the McCain gaff?

He actually said (to an audience) something like "None of you would pick lettuce for $50/hour. You couldn't do it." Shit, that's more than I make now, as a computer scientist with 15 years of experience.

Ranks right up there with Bush The First not knowing the price of milk. These people might be even more out of touch than I thought they were.

[leftstreet]

3. John Sydney McCain III wouldn't pick lettuce for $50 an hour

That proves there are just some jobs Americans won't do.

:rofl:

[Hubert Flottz]

8. McCain Won't do the job he's being paid to do!

Uphold, defend and protect the Constitution of the United States Of America! None of the Republicans in Washington, will hold Bush accountable for his many HIGH CRIMES, but it is the job they swore they would do! They are stealing from the taxpayers when they draw their pay checks for work they refuse to do!

[sepia_steel]

5. I damn well WOULD pick lettuce for $50 an hour.

There are some Americans that won't do jobs... :rofl:

[mb7588a]

7. I would HAPPILY pick lettuce for that much. I'd even do it for $20! nt.

[havocmom]

10. Hell, I PLANT, carry water to and pick lettuce for the wage of salads!

Can't afford to buy the stuff so I grow it. Was just reading an article (not online) about the fact that too many farm workers can't afford to buy the vegetables they pick. A lot of other workers in America have the same damn problem!

[JAbuchan08]

14. Hell yeah I would do it, fresh air and hard work never hurt anyone

I just wouldn't do it for $1.50/hr.

[ninkasi]

16. Exactly!

Instead of using 50.00 an hour for picking lettuce, try 15.00 instead. In the eighties when my older son was in college, he worked summers to help pay his tuition. One year, the job was no longer available, so he and a friend mowed lawns, weeded, and did pretty much anything in that line to earn the money. It was hot...Houston, Tx., in the summers are...but he and his friend did the work. Americans can't afford to do the labor for under minimum wage, though.

A friend of ours operates a crane, and is worried because all of the new people being hired are Latinos, and work for much lower wages. It's not just picking vegetables or fruit, or lawn work, where jobs are being lost. They are also being lost in construction, something that Americans have done for years. I don't blame people for trying to get ahead, but employers take advantage of illegal aliens and American citizens both, and care about nothing but cheap labor.

When employers get hit with huge fines, or jail time, the reality of illegal labor would stop. Republicans, however, love cheap labor. If they didn't, then they would be much tougher on the businesses who hire undocumented people, instead of making the laborers criminals, and punishing only them.

[aden_nak]

4. What Americans will or will not do is based on the associated pay.

Most Americans aren't about to take a job that is grueling or difficult (construction work, maintenance work, roofing, etc) for the same pay they could get working at Costco or pumping gas. Americans aren't afraid of hard work, they're just tired of working hard and getting kicked in the ass for it.

[bush_is_wacko]

6. You are absolutely correct. The REAL problem is that elitists don't want

to pay a real wage. That is the bottom line. americans just don't want to work for 3 bucks an hour. They know they can't support their families on that kind of money.

College education has become one of the most elitists industries in this nation. Americans are spending millions of dollars and creating massive debt they can never hope to pay off by getting degrees in "travel" "medical office assisting" and bullshit certifications in all kinds of crap. We don't NEED a college education for these things because the degrees will never pay off! It didn't used to be this way. Employers trained employees to do the job and they paid them for that knowledge.

When and if employers are willing to pay a living wage to American citizens for jobs like house painting and lawn trimming Americans will be standing in line for those jobs.

[mb7588a]

9. agreed.

"When and if employers are willing to pay a living wage..."

It's really NOT too much to ask.

[rman]

11. All to the design of those who profit most

We wouldn't even have to pay more for everyone to have a living wage, if it wasn't for a small minority that's basically robbing us.

Supposedly the economy has grown since the time when jobs like home construction did provide a living wage, and supposedly it benefits everyone.
I do think the economy has grown since, in that there is more wealth per capita now then before, but also wealth is more concentrated then before - concentrated in the hands of a few, to the point where it is seriously harming many people. It's far worse still in 3rd world nations, mostly thanks to the wealthy nations, with the US in the lead ever since WW2.

[Deja Q]

15. How do you concvince 200 million people to stop working?

Oh my. They're working. Apparently McCain, Abel, and the rest forgot that plenty of us still work. :eyes:


My intent was not sarcasm. It's funny how McCain can say people don't want to work when we all do.

I wonder how many fools still believe him...

[lovuian]

12. If this people get the title of American then be ready to be

called Lazy American

its all the myth that Republicans shout over and over...

[necso]

13. Don't you mean

"beneath" as opposed to "above" in "...my dignity"?

However, this talking point seems to be having some effect.

But at least they should use the complete phrase: "jobs Americans won't do -- for slave-labor wages and under slave-labor conditions".

As far as I am concerned, anyone who hasn't recently made their living doing physical labor has no business preachifying on the subject of illegal labor. Indeed, I recommend that everyone try their hand at making a living by hard physical labor at $6-10 an hour with little or no benefits (when there's work) -- in SoCal.

[Neil Lisst]

17. there is no job Americans won't do