but by me, the Mexicans, illegal or not, are net contributors to our economy and our society.
Next to Koreans, the hardest working folks on the planet.
The heavy lifting in the post-Katrina cleanup here in the Big (un)Easy has been done by Hispanics, mostly Mexicans from Texas and ex-Texas. As the locals return, you see them hanging out at the corner, sitting on the porch drinking beer, smoking dope, wandering around without a care in the world, while the Mexicans are up and about early in the a.m., hanging out at corners where employers will pick them up so that they can become employed at some of the $10-15 an hour labor jobs that are a dime a dozen around here.
Most bring with them terrific family values.
I think an injection of entrepreneurial people who appreciate what this country can do for them and are willing to work hard at jobs others can't or won't take is absolutely a net positive. The price we see paid pales in comparison to the social and economic benefits they provide.
As time progresses, our country is going to get a lot browner. It will be a good thing, but not one that will be uniformly well-received. |
