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56% Americans say immigrants work harder at low-paying jobs
businessshrink.biz — With immigration reform less of an issue with gas prices and economic troubles on people's minds, a study released by Pew Research Center says that Blacks, Whites and Hispanics believe immigrants work harder than Whites and Blacks. Since 1986 less Whites believe immigrants work harder than Blacks, only 55%, while more Blacks, 64%, think it's true.
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- jordankasteler, on 05/16/2008, -5/+103I've worked blue collar jobs before. I think it's true as well. It's not racism it's just a general fact.
- TomK88, on 05/16/2008, -9/+18Is it racist to say that Blacks are more likely than Whites to commit a violent crime? It's the whole question of cause vs. effect. I think it's difficult to argue that immigrants work harder at low-paying jobs unless you are also arguing that they are more likely to be criminals. It's a double-edged sword. People have no trouble pointing out the positives of minorities, but it's a whole different ball-game when you start speaking about negatives.
- RealmDown, on 05/16/2008, -4/+10It can't be said that blacks are more likely than whites to commit violent crimes because it has been made to be racist to simply make the request to compile the statistics.
Remember the golden rule, "If it works FOR you, then it is justice; however, if it works AGAINST you, then it MUST be racist."- silveravnt, on 05/16/2008, -8/+1No it's "Do unto others and you would have them do unto you". Maybe yours is the bronze rule?
- RealmDown, on 05/16/2008, -2/+1Only if you are under 10 years old or not in politics.
- Venom339, on 05/16/2008, -6/+7From what I've seen personally, and I don't want to generalize, but most of the criminals I've seen tend to be the sons & daughters of the immigrants.
It's what I've seen, personally. Most immigrants pay over $4000 to get into the country, and they intend to work, and appreciate the fact that they've made it here.
Their children, though, grow up unappreciative, with the american mindset, and usually end up in gangs, and such knowing quite well they're citizens from birth.
I've found it rare to see an adult immigrant commit a crime, and that's usually because they want to avoid being deported.
I live around a lot of these immigrants and that's something I've come to see myself.
I just find it annoying that this was once the land of opportunity, which was founded on immigration and built by minorities, but now tries to downplay that and send them off.
Just my 2 cents though.- silveravnt, on 05/16/2008, -2/+4I don't think that is accurate. We don't downplay immigrants. Historically we have granted entry to anyone who we think is good for our country. The same applies today. Doctors and scientists have no problem getting in.
We still need immigrants but we can afford to be picky. Just as an employer can hire the best man for the job. Why would we want to import poverty. We have enough of that here. - sparkleton, on 05/16/2008, -0/+5Actually, doctors and scientists ARE having a hard time getting in right now. The waiting list is unnecessarily long for those who want to come in legally.
- silveravnt, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3I don't know where you get your info. The only personal experience I have is from my spouse who is a clinical director for a hospital. She hires Canadians all the time. And those are just nurses.
- Mononuclear, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3I have several friends who are Doctors who can't get into the US. There are news reports all the time about College educated people with doctoral degrees not being able to get work visas. Many doctors and nurses I know are going to Canada instead. Microsoft awhile back said they were going to build an R&D office in Canada because they couldn't get work visas for engineers. Doctors and scientists have an even a harder time immigrating than many other people.
- silveravnt, on 05/16/2008, -2/+4I don't think that is accurate. We don't downplay immigrants. Historically we have granted entry to anyone who we think is good for our country. The same applies today. Doctors and scientists have no problem getting in.
- silveravnt, on 05/16/2008, -4/+4Statistics are racist?
- RealmDown, on 05/16/2008, -0/+5Depends on if they work in your favor or not.
- ShugNinx21, on 05/16/2008, -1/+1Why is it this article is comparing immigrants to Blacks and Whites, when Immigrants come in all colors from all over the world? Oh, wait I see why, because they keep referring to immigrants when they are actually talking about Illegal Immigrants which are a totally different group.
And why are Whites grouped together by color, Blacks grouped by color, but Hispanics can be any color?- rilus, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2Because they're comparing non-Hispanic whites and black versus Hispanic blacks and whites. I don't know how much clearer that can be.
- ShugNinx21, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1I was asking why they needed to separate blacks and whites when they could have compared Hispanics and non-Hispanics. Or better yet, they could have polled Americans of all colors to show what Americans thought as a country of citizens and not separating their opinions based on the color of their skin.
- MadOtaku, on 05/16/2008, -1/+1It's not racist to say that, it's just not accurate. We don't have statistics on who COMMITS crimes, we have stats on who is caught and punished. Some (not me*) would argue that it's institutional racism that makes it so more blacks are convicted.
*while I'm sure racism plays a part, poor people would probably be more likely to commit crimes, and blacks are more likely to be poor. That's my explanation, anyway.
- RealmDown, on 05/16/2008, -4/+10It can't be said that blacks are more likely than whites to commit violent crimes because it has been made to be racist to simply make the request to compile the statistics.
- RealmDown, on 05/16/2008, -0/+9Personally, I think it is upbringing, and taking pride in ones work. If you want to do well, then you can. Opportunities, or lack thereof not withstanding, you decide how "hard to work" at your job, not your nationality, gender or color.
- rilus, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2Nationality, ethnicity culture, and economic status do matter and you can make fairly accurate generalizations using those properties. For instance, most crimes are committed by poorer people. Most immigrants that come here do work for less not because they're more hard working, but because they desperately need the money. Also, since they're undocumented, they will bitch and ask for raises less because they're afraid of being easily replaced. In addition, they will use less government aid, if at all, simply because they lack the necessary documents to qualify for it. What's funny is that you don't have to be a legal resident in the US to qualify to pay taxes. In fact, you can apply for a TIN (taxpayer identification number) from the IRS with the sole purpose of reporting income. So, while very few undocumented immigrants can't receive any government benefits, many (most?) immigrants still have to pay to taxes.
By the by, I am a Mexican living in Texas who at the age of 13 came here legally with my parents, stayed illegally, until our we were able to afford to become legal. My dad is an engineer with a master's degree in industrial chemical engineering and the situation was so desperate in Mexico that when we first arrived to the US, he accepted a job at a local church doing janitorial service until he got another job in a factory unclogging drains, etc. He worked from that position to quality control manager of that plant, while still being illegal, and he still works there.
Remembering how we had $4,000, after selling all our possessions in Mexico to come to the US and start completely anew without a house, car, and only what we could carry in our luggage makes me tear up a bit, honestly. All these anecdotes I'm telling here is to illustrate the desperation that many immigrants feel when they come here. Why they risk their lives to cross the border and why they'll work for almost dirt.
- rilus, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2Nationality, ethnicity culture, and economic status do matter and you can make fairly accurate generalizations using those properties. For instance, most crimes are committed by poorer people. Most immigrants that come here do work for less not because they're more hard working, but because they desperately need the money. Also, since they're undocumented, they will bitch and ask for raises less because they're afraid of being easily replaced. In addition, they will use less government aid, if at all, simply because they lack the necessary documents to qualify for it. What's funny is that you don't have to be a legal resident in the US to qualify to pay taxes. In fact, you can apply for a TIN (taxpayer identification number) from the IRS with the sole purpose of reporting income. So, while very few undocumented immigrants can't receive any government benefits, many (most?) immigrants still have to pay to taxes.
- BigManOnCampus, on 05/16/2008, -6/+6blue collar does not mean harder working. Try being an investment banker.
- culbeda, on 05/16/2008, -1/+6In my youth, I worked in janitorial services, grounds keeping (in a cemetery no less), agricultural labor and even bagging ice in an ice factory. All of these jobs are now predominately filled by immigrants. My experience taught me one thing: I didn't want to do it for the rest of my life. It's hard, back-breaking work for very little money. That being said, I know that some factory workers (immigrant and native-born) don't put forth their full effort. But only 56%? That surprises and disturbs me.
As a side note, I wish more American-born kids received that kind of life experience that this kind of work provides. I know it's a cliche, but it really does build character. - pintomp3, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3i don't think it's about race. immigrants often are much more hard working, whether they come from india, mexico, nigeria, ireland, or elsewhere. they come here with a specific goal of making a better life for their family.
- unpluggedboy, on 05/16/2008, -1/+1Well when you don't qualify for welfare, and lack the education to get a job that has any real benefits, it's really the only way to survive. Especially if you came from a country that doesn't even have any jobs period.
Only goes to show that welfare makes government dependent parasites of all the lazy people, incapable of ever escaping it. - known, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wage_slavery
- known, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1Immigrant == Wage Slave
- TomK88, on 05/16/2008, -9/+18Is it racist to say that Blacks are more likely than Whites to commit a violent crime? It's the whole question of cause vs. effect. I think it's difficult to argue that immigrants work harder at low-paying jobs unless you are also arguing that they are more likely to be criminals. It's a double-edged sword. People have no trouble pointing out the positives of minorities, but it's a whole different ball-game when you start speaking about negatives.
- ssn697, on 05/16/2008, -5/+94Wait. WHO is surprised by this?
- theblueprint, on 05/16/2008, -1/+59I'm the Production Manager for several factories.
We have many legal immigrants (a majority from the middle east), and they're worth two "typical" workers. They show up for work every day, don't attempt to bleed workman's comp. from the company, and do an *excellent* job. They take pride in their work, and do what they're asked without complaint.
I worked my way up through the factory to my current position. I've seen examples of this hundreds of times.
I really think that it's a cultural phenomenon. There's plenty of hard-working Americans, but their hard work earns them jobs that surpass the entry-level and (relatively) unskilled labor positions. That leaves the "worst" of the American workforce competing with the best and most motivated immigrants.- OMGWTFROFLMAOx2, on 05/16/2008, -2/+4The same can be said for Indians in the IT industry.
- strangewill, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2You sir have never had to deal with overseas tech support.
They may work hard, but the quality of support is mainly *****, yes yes, all tech support generally have a huge knowledge base that they read from, but I always get problems with logical deductions. Ex: Sending an e-mail detailing all the steps I've tried and my background in computers, yet they send me back an e-mail asking me to repeat the steps I detailed regardless.
However that could just be humanity in general. - rilus, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1The same is seen in medicine, from my perspective. I now own a computer IT business around the Dallas area and the great majority of my clients are doctors. Well, out of 34 of those medical clients, only 4 are Americans, the rest are all Pakistani and Indians.
Also of note, they are a very closely knit community and they will help out one another immensely.
- strangewill, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2You sir have never had to deal with overseas tech support.
- OMGWTFROFLMAOx2, on 05/16/2008, -2/+4The same can be said for Indians in the IT industry.
- mattes5, on 05/16/2008, -1/+1yeah thats what I was thinking
- centerblack, on 05/16/2008, -1/+5Definitely. Lower paying jobs are usually more taxing physically. I think it's really important that everyone hold a really ***** job at least once though, it really gives you a perspective on how people treat each other.
- aladrin, on 05/16/2008, -0/+344% of Americans. ;)
- Culero, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2I'm working a pretty blue collar job just to get myself through college. It's working for the state, and the majority of the "typical" workers try to milk the system/take advantage of being in a union so they don't have to work nearly as hard as their immigrant coworkers. But that's just my experience.
- theblueprint, on 05/16/2008, -1/+59I'm the Production Manager for several factories.
- JustAn0th3rFace, on 05/16/2008, -9/+33unskilled labor = harder low paying jobs. thats the way its been for many MANY decades. Whether you are talking legal Chinese or Irish or WHATEVER the trend during that time period.. not just Hispanic.. they just tend to be the flavor of this time period.. not to be insensitive or anything, just looking at it in historical context..
- uziko, on 05/16/2008, -2/+3decades? so 100 years ago, the lawyers worked harder than the field laborers?
it has nothing to do with time, it's just a big duh, that higher paid white collar workers work with their brains instead of their hands and using your brain is much less physically strenuous than using your muscles- JustAn0th3rFace, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2i do not disagree with you what so ever. There are different types of labor.
Where do you think our transcontinental railroad system came from. Did it just spring out of the ground? That was damn hard work done by IMMIGRANT (legal, but still immigrant) labor.
- JustAn0th3rFace, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2i do not disagree with you what so ever. There are different types of labor.
- uziko, on 05/16/2008, -2/+3decades? so 100 years ago, the lawyers worked harder than the field laborers?
- speedracer17, on 05/16/2008, -1/+61Each summer I would come home from college burned out and wanting a change. It only took about three weeks of working on a construction crew for my summer job and I couldn't wait to get back to school. It only reinforced why I needed to be in school. I couldn't make it as a general laborer.
- khail250, on 05/16/2008, -0/+27general laborers can't get on digg at work!
- teh_techie, on 05/16/2008, -1/+33True, but they can sure dig at work!
- MacEnvy, on 05/16/2008, -1/+16For a minute I thought your comment was going to be a commercial for ITT Tech.
- KingGorilla, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1I think I can use that kind of motivation
- 808ethan, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1That is who you are, but not who everyone is. There are many people who couldn't make it as a college student, and would be happier as a general laborer, or working customer service, etc.
- khail250, on 05/16/2008, -0/+27general laborers can't get on digg at work!
- jmpeagle, on 05/16/2008, -8/+25well they often have a family to feed back in their home country and try to subsist on less than half of what they make and send the remainder home which makes them very dependent on their jobs. Also, illegals don't have benefits to fall back on so they must work harder.
- lukemann, on 05/16/2008, -6/+5Yeah it's rough they go to ER whenever they're sick and the state picks up the bill since they have no health insurance. Then they live in a apartment and send their 4 kids to public school my property tax is supporting. Whatever disposable income they have is sent back to Mexico and doesn't help our economy.
- MarioWhereRu, on 05/16/2008, -1/+5You mean the 4 kids who know that they have to work hard or they will end up working their asses off their whole life like their parents?I think they deserve the education more than the kids in gangs who dont give a ***** about school and will die in the streets.
- Rubab, on 05/16/2008, -2/+13i noticed it
- Abomonog, on 05/16/2008, -38/+16It's an illusion. Most immigrants will work the same job as an American for less pay thus immigrants give more returns for less money. This makes them appear to do more work. As a result less qualified immigrants are often hired into professional level jobs at half pay or less than what an American would make. The construction trade suffers the most as companies have been emboldened by Bushes policies to hire illegals into professional contractors work over licensed Americans.
Despicable behavior.- smotpoker, on 05/16/2008, -3/+13It is not simply an illusion. Many immigrants have suffered REAL poverty and persecution that most Americans haven't and are desperate to stay away and help save their families from it.
Also, the illegal ones are not protected by unions or unlawful termination laws, depending on region face a rougher time finding work and are aware of various forms of prejudice that might endanger their position - all of which provide extra motivation to not risk their position by being perceived as a slacker. - bomarizza, on 05/16/2008, -2/+3Abomong: I don't think you know what you talking about. Many immigrants who get professional level job getting less wages not because they less or not qualified - because they don't speak English well enough and they in many cases on same level or better qualified for same position. At least in IT where I work.
So, don't say anything unless you know what you talking about.
Last, Americans are nation of immigrants if you forgot.- Abomonog, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2I do know what the hell I'm talking about. I used to do tile setting in Williamsburg Va. for a living. I had to change professions because of the illegal invasion after VA Beach Mayor
Myra (The Hobbit) Opendorph declared the she wouldn't prosecute illegals found by local police. I watched the tile trade labor pricing drop from $5.00 per sq. ft. to $2.00 per sq. ft. in the space of a single season because of the influx of illegal alien tile setting crews. I lost my business because of these bastard.
Immigration is one thing. My boss is an immigrant (Korea) and I got no problems with him. He's legal. You get a green card and I'm good. If you don't think I know what I am talking about all you need do is come here and see the situation. Nearly all my friends in the construction trade are either out of work or have taken severe pay cuts to keep their jobs because of illegals. Illegals that local law enforcement welcomes into the Hampton Roads area by the insistence of the local mayors. The average illegal alien makes about $3.00 to $6.00 an hour doing the same work I got paid $15.00 an hour to do here. And recently they have figured out a way to even undercut suppliers for tile and durock.
Illegals don't do IT work. They don't do office jobs. They have taken over building the buildings IT workers work in and are doing it for a fraction of of the costs to make it safe and legal. Illegal are a detriment to our economy. They are not taking crap jobs any more. They are now doing professional grade work that requires a license to contract and they are doing it under the table and on the sly. But hey, maybe when the next Geek Squad dude who shows up at your door calls you gringo and can't speak English you'll finally understand that. Just realize that olny $5.00 of the $200.00 is going to him.
Immigration is O.K.
The influx of illegal assholes who can't take the time to get a green card is bad.- AzureRise, on 05/16/2008, -1/+1Green cards aren't exactly easy to get. Most Americans wouldn't be able to go through the process and a recent study that was posted on Digg a while back shows that Most American citizens can't pass the idiotic and useless citizenship test. As for the Geek Squad comment those guys are brain dead retards. Their solution to everything is lets reinstall Windows.
- Abomonog, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1You're right about Geek Squad. :) It's funny that you should mention the test. I passed it when it showed up (but just barely). The fact that Americans can't pass it speaks more about Americans than the test. When I went to high school every question on that test was covered sometime during my history courses. If they are not covered now then our schools need fixing. If they are then Americans need fixing.
And as for the green card. I asked my boss how long it took him to get his. He said he took a vacation to San Diego and filed at the immigration office there. He had his green card in about 3 months. Green cards may be hard to get but passports can be got instantly in any free country. The Mexicans can pay their 150 pesos for a passport, walk across at San Ysidro, wander the quarter mile to the immigration office, and file there. That way they don't have to wait for their own government to pass the application along and ours takes about 8 weeks to pump one out. (You do realize it's our government that issues the green cards, right?)
all this is not that hard to do if you're already standing at the boarder fence. If my boss could travel 6,000 miles just to get his green card I think the Mexicans can walk the extra 300 yards.
- Abomonog, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2I do know what the hell I'm talking about. I used to do tile setting in Williamsburg Va. for a living. I had to change professions because of the illegal invasion after VA Beach Mayor
- smotpoker, on 05/16/2008, -3/+13It is not simply an illusion. Many immigrants have suffered REAL poverty and persecution that most Americans haven't and are desperate to stay away and help save their families from it.
- mentallyinhell, on 05/16/2008, -14/+5Who's doing scientific studies based on race now? These articles only encourage racism and it won't be long before the comments start getting ignorant.
- pentupentropy, on 05/16/2008, -0/+8i have to agree with some of the others. This is no surprise at all.
- tomjm5000, on 05/16/2008, -13/+8444% of Americans are content to scream "dey took er jerbs" in town-hall meetings.
- pinkSocks, on 05/16/2008, -18/+5Just because you don't think all immigrants necessarily work harder than you doesn't mean you resent their working. Maybe you think they work with the same amount of effort. What's wrong with that?
- BaudiIROCZ, on 05/16/2008, -1/+12Just because you failed to see the Southpark reference doesn't make your post obsolete.
...oh wait yes it does.- centerblack, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2Everyone needs to keep up with their southpark.
In Identifying Potential Internet Memes 211, we watch a variety of pop-culture television shows and discuss possible applications on ytmnd, fark and digg.
Apply to the South Harmon Institute of Technology today!
- centerblack, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2Everyone needs to keep up with their southpark.
- BaudiIROCZ, on 05/16/2008, -1/+12Just because you failed to see the Southpark reference doesn't make your post obsolete.
- thespudmall, on 05/16/2008, -1/+10DEY TOOK MY JERB!
- centerblack, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2Not just your, 'er' jobs.
- pinkSocks, on 05/16/2008, -18/+5Just because you don't think all immigrants necessarily work harder than you doesn't mean you resent their working. Maybe you think they work with the same amount of effort. What's wrong with that?
- DiggLive, on 05/16/2008, -4/+77You look familiar.
I was your gardener for 25 years.
You look different without my lawn under you.
I don't take the lawn with me when I go sir.
I was right to trust you with it then.- culbeda, on 05/16/2008, -4/+11People don't give "Family Guy" enough credit. (I'm looking at you, Matt and Trey.) There are often almost-subliminal comments on important issues like race relations, immigration, etc. Sometimes... it's not so subliminal.
- Devrdander, on 05/16/2008, -1/+5Reading a little too far into that...
- legalizeitmon, on 05/16/2008, -2/+2Thanks for clearing that up I thought it was just a ***** poem
- culbeda, on 05/16/2008, -4/+11People don't give "Family Guy" enough credit. (I'm looking at you, Matt and Trey.) There are often almost-subliminal comments on important issues like race relations, immigration, etc. Sometimes... it's not so subliminal.
- doremon313, on 05/16/2008, -6/+13They do work very hard, I can't imagine how it is like to stand outside in hot summer or raining days selling fruits and flowers just to get by, thats a job no one here is going to take, they are not stealing anyone's job.
- o0joshua0o, on 05/16/2008, -6/+3The street vendors you're talking about probably didn't legally register their businesses with the state, either. And how many of them collect sales tax?
- joshhan, on 05/16/2008, -2/+2Hmmm...and amazon.com collects sales tax too, right?
- jimchou, on 05/16/2008, -4/+3That "they are not stealing anyone's job" is totally bogus propaganda by people wanting to exploit them. When people say they do jobs no one else would take, what they really mean is they take jobs no one else would take for such low pay. If you look around the country, non-immigrants do the exact same jobs as illegal immigrants in areas of the country where there are low numbers of illegal immigrants, they just do it for more pay.
- ShugNinx21, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3I think some are confusing immigrants with illegal immigrants. Anyone who says that legal immigrants are stealing jobs are idiots considering we are a country made of immigrants, and by immigrating legally they have every right to work here just like people have done over the past 200 plus years.
Illegal immigrants on the other hand don't have the right to work here. You can take your own stance on illegal immigrants and I offer no opinion on them, but don't group Legal Immigrants with them as if they have no right to immigrate here or work here once approved.- strangewill, on 05/16/2008, -1/+1I stole my job!
- o0joshua0o, on 05/16/2008, -6/+3The street vendors you're talking about probably didn't legally register their businesses with the state, either. And how many of them collect sales tax?
- oldhick, on 05/16/2008, -7/+11I can't argue with the poll. I'm sure they are fantastic workers. I think the problem here is that they allow for wages to be kept at artificially low levels. We need to pay "fair market" wages for our economy to function correctly. Having a pool of undocumented workers allows companies to take advantage of their status and offer lower than normal wages. This makes it difficult for our documented Americans to take those jobs.
This is a fairly complex issue...- ZenMojo, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Now I'm waiting for the part where they ask if immigrants work harder than Hispanics. Blacks include African and Asian immigrants (among others) when they think of immigrants, but how many Hispanics or whites include Africans and Asians? Is there a racial component in the polling or a cultural one? Just a thought. Anyway, I agree that immigrants work harder than natural-born citizens, I do not however agree that there is a racial component.
As for the issue at hand, as a Socialist, I have to say my issue with illegal immigration has nothing to do with immigration and everything to do with "illegal." How do you keep track of taxes, medicare, and minimum wage with a workforce willing to violate all three and with no obligation to properly attend to any of them?
In an Anarcho-capitalist society these comments about how hard immigrants work would suffice in crossing the threshold of intrahuman respect, but it simply does not fly in a Social Democracy such as this country leans toward where intrahuman respect is a given and social function is the concern. Without worker protections, our country would turn into the same economic state many of these immigrants are fleeing -- depressed wages, high mortality, insufficient care, monopolized business, and finally caste-system determination -- which is part of the motivation for assholes like Felipe Calderon trying to facilitate emigration FROM his country, since their laissez-faire practices and sale of resources to the highest bidder have bankrupted it.
It's not an argument of IF immigrants work hard, it's an argument of what happens BECAUSE they work so hard for so little and do their best to avoid getting caught doing it. It's not a matter of respecting immigrants as human beings but of respecting EVERYONE and sustaining the country against forces of exploitation.
- ZenMojo, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Now I'm waiting for the part where they ask if immigrants work harder than Hispanics. Blacks include African and Asian immigrants (among others) when they think of immigrants, but how many Hispanics or whites include Africans and Asians? Is there a racial component in the polling or a cultural one? Just a thought. Anyway, I agree that immigrants work harder than natural-born citizens, I do not however agree that there is a racial component.
- Enochulator, on 05/16/2008, -9/+32I'm immigrant, and I think we work harder because we are excited about being in a new country, and we are anxious to be part of that society. We want to prove a point that we belong in the new place.
- suzywang3000, on 05/16/2008, -33/+8get back to work, you frigging Mexican!
- Monkeydew06, on 05/16/2008, -11/+2I feel bad, but I dugg you up... D=)
- Teck64, on 05/16/2008, -1/+5strange, I felt good digging both of you butt-pirates down.
- talonstriker, on 05/16/2008, -0/+5shut up and go back to your kitchen
- Mononuclear, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2go back to work you friggen Chinese!! See it works both ways..
- suzywang3000, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2i have no problem with Mexicans or any race in particular.
- Monkeydew06, on 05/16/2008, -11/+2I feel bad, but I dugg you up... D=)
- RealmDown, on 05/16/2008, -1/+5I wish you well, and prosperity to you and yours.
And I hope you learn to laugh at unbridled, often irresponsible, sarcasm before it makes you bitter. - 15thPD, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3YOU TERK ER JERBS!
- dreid1987, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3I sincerely hope that your attitude is shared by most immigrants.
- strangewill, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3What a great outlook when coming to this country, I wish you the best of luck, and thanks for such a positive attitude. We need more born American citizens with the same attitude.
- ramiro, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3Any immigrant, if he/she is a decent human being, can learn to love America for it is a beautiful, precious country.
- badthing, on 05/17/2008, -0/+2Hi Enochulator :)
Thank you for your honesty and I too wish you and your family everything that this country can offer you.
Right now I believe that becoming an American citizen is just way too expensive. Hopefully this will change and it will be easier for others who feel the same way as you do.
Peace, Love, Understanding and Respect,
Marilyn
- suzywang3000, on 05/16/2008, -33/+8get back to work, you frigging Mexican!
- khail250, on 05/16/2008, -2/+16I would say its not just general labor jobs either.. if you look at immigrant families they usually worked their butts off and live comfortable lives, my family moved here when i was 4 and had 400USD because thats all the soviet union would allow us to take, 2 days later we had 250 bucks because we had no idea what the hell to do. but in 2 years owned a house... this can be seen with many other families I would say more so from the Asian countries where here you can be someone, there are enough resources to succeed in life, whereas in those countries most start work to support themselves at 14.. now as an American, i feel most feel that things should just be given to us, we are gods grace.. but this is also why our country is sinking :(
- joshhan, on 05/16/2008, -0/+5So, your family went from $400 to $250 and then 2 years later, owned a house? Your family should write a book!
My parents came to this country with very little money but it took many more years than that to become somewhat successful. - ZenMojo, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1As the son of an immigrant who is now upper-middle class (not me, but my father, not to get people confused), I feel that is an unrealistic view of most situations. Most non-Hispanic immigrants in this country were middle-classed to start with and are frequently educated labor sources -- for example, my father lived in abject poverty in a 3rd world African country but received a high-school education under the British system. He transferred into college and after being unemployed for several years with a Graduate Degree from the number one school in the country suddenly found himself with a 6-figure job. Meanwhile the overwhelming majority of Americans neither attend college nor can they afford it.
The immigrants most people THINK about are not the immigrants you are most likely to encounter; these immigrants are unskilled labor unlikely to receive a high-school education. They work hard, yes, but they will never make an average salary (30k/year). They are poor workers with depressed incomes used as wage-slave labor.
The American dream works for some immigrants, but let's not pretend that a disproportionate number of immigrants aren't 1) already educated and/or middle-class or 2) uneducated and *****. Never forget how much "opportunity" is a combination of "luck" and "eagerness."
- joshhan, on 05/16/2008, -0/+5So, your family went from $400 to $250 and then 2 years later, owned a house? Your family should write a book!
- ElAssoWipo, on 05/16/2008, -29/+9WTF kind of poll is that?
Do immigrants work harder than blacks? I'm ***** speechless. I can't believe this is acceptable.
What would be the purpose of this study?
" Are you working harder than the immigrants that are taking your jobs? "
You want immigrants? Go at MIT. This is ***** disgusting. - EvilAnimator, on 05/16/2008, -5/+18Great! Then it's okay to immorally exploit them.
- Daedalus17, on 05/16/2008, -2/+1I wonder if by "immorally exploit them", you mean give them a 300% pay raise over their old job in their home country? I know if Canada was going to exploit Americans the way we exploit Mexicans I would probably move to Canada.
- robbymcdobby, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2799.99% of the world isn't surprised.
- Monkeydew06, on 05/16/2008, -1/+7.01% are in a coma.
- RealmDown, on 05/16/2008, -1/+5The other 8% are in remedial math.
- RealmDown, on 05/16/2008, -1/+5The other 8% are in remedial math.
- Monkeydew06, on 05/16/2008, -1/+7.01% are in a coma.
- JMellissa, on 05/16/2008, -1/+17I agree. I've noticed that too. Perhaps these immigrants have a better appreciation for things most Americans take for granted.
I think I work hard, but maybe I'm kidding myself?!- RealmDown, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2A valid, truthful self-assessment question. I commend you.
- RealmDown, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2A valid, truthful self-assessment question. I commend you.
- trer, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3It would be interesting to see a study that examine how hard Americans who immigrate to other countries work in the countries they immigrate to.
- PhattyPhattMatt, on 05/16/2008, -5/+14there is an upside:
Mexicans know how to cook mexican food, and I LOVE mexican food!- drastik21, on 05/16/2008, -1/+1Dude, you quiero taco bell
- Psi57, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2Taco Bell != Mexican food. Not even close.
- tehjarvis, on 05/16/2008, -2/+17They also brought kick ass food into my neighborhood! I love immigrants.
- drmangrum, on 05/16/2008, -3/+25The immigration debate was greatly overblown. Most people don't have any problems with Mexicans crossing the border. Most are looking for a better life. While their means of ingress can be irritating, you can't blame someone for wanting a better life for themselves or their family.
What people DO have a problem with is how government makes it easier for illegals to succeed than the citizens paying for the programs they use. I'm all for immigrants having a path for citizenship, but they should get no special treatment, and have some command for the english language.- Argentian, on 05/16/2008, -4/+1Most people DO have a problem with Mexicans crossing the border illegally. They have no 'right' to do so, and are just the kind of folks who will disregard any little rule like they did the border.
I don't want them here, at all, unless they follow the laws like most others whose progenitors came here from another country as legal immigrants.
- Argentian, on 05/16/2008, -4/+1Most people DO have a problem with Mexicans crossing the border illegally. They have no 'right' to do so, and are just the kind of folks who will disregard any little rule like they did the border.
- chanop, on 05/16/2008, -7/+1Anyone else get this when trying to expand a comment?
"ERROR!The comments you requested failed to load. This is clearly Kevin's fault. Try again!" - modestmelody, on 05/16/2008, -2/+71. Poll people with questions designed to only really make one option make sense.
2. Ignore the obvious conclusions that have nothing to do with the way the question is framed and which would be considered "nothing new".
3. Play on the issues which both divide America and brings out it's racism and bigotry in both directions...
4. Make conclusions that have nothing to do with what you asked and that are completely unsubstantiated.
5. Digg.
6. ????????
7. PROFIT - LeGend, on 05/16/2008, -10/+3No one has the right to talk about this situation that does not have to live, work and go to school with immigrants.
- uziko, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1i have the right to digg you down dumbass
- aladrin, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1And that would be all of us, idiot.
- phybere, on 05/16/2008, -3/+11In other news, 44% of Americans have never worked with immigrants.
- MaybeMike, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3completely agree.
- MariaEspanol, on 05/16/2008, -4/+4Could this article get more racist? 54% of commenters don't think so.
- talonstriker, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1How is this racist? It doesn't lend any credence to a certain race. All it says is that IMMIGRANTS work harder. Of course, some people probably took it to mean LATINOS work harder, every other race is filled with fat idiots who watch reruns of American Idol 24/7.
- Tyrghast, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3Yay opinions!
- saisumimen, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Opinions based on experience?
- NonLeftistDiggr, on 05/16/2008, -5/+2why is academics and reading at home not considered work? I'd rather do some labor than study a business/science subject and get homework. I'd much rather kick back with the TV than read programming books.... this view point is always wrong regardless of race. Working hard with the mind is far mor difficult than working hard with the body, I've done ***** of both.
- markgl, on 05/16/2008, -2/+4they come to america to get the american dream. work hard and live a good life. and they do it everyday.
- blackjack75, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1That's assuming working hard is the definition of a good life.
- Hetman, on 05/16/2008, -1/+6How about the fact that they are being paid below minimuim wage and that is against the law in this country? And how about the fact that they do not pay taxes which is also a crime in this country. How about the fact that they crossed here illegally which obviously is against the law in this country. I am all for allowing and helping immigrants that here in america now a way to become a legal citizen. But the facts are we need a secure border because we cannot have 20 million undocumented people in our country. Not to mention the fact that the only reason they are allowed in this country is so some rich business owners have a way to skirt the minimuim wage. It has nothing to do with helping these people. It is about just about profit.
- raybury, on 05/16/2008, -6/+16Newsflash from 1808: 56% of Americans say negro slaves work harder at cotton-pickin'
If you devalue labor, all you get is devalued labor. A lot of these sh*t jobs would go away if true cost of labor were faced by those employing it.- sanotaan, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1in the absence of legislation (slavery, union price-fixing), the market-clearing price *is* the "true cost" of labor.
- MassHysteria, on 05/16/2008, -6/+2That's why they mess up half the ***** in any restaurant or fast food joint I go to.
- gdagreat, on 05/16/2008, -8/+5and the closet racists come out...
- drmangrum, on 05/16/2008, -0/+4I hate when people like you automatically throw out the race card the moment someone has a different point of view. There are many non-racist arguments to support either position.
- Hetman, on 05/16/2008, -1/+1This is digg though. Everything needs to be socialized and we need to allow anyone around the world to enter our country illegally. It is all right though we will just borrow money from the Chinese to finance all this. Hopefully they never ask us to pay them back though. That would be kind of awkward. Yea we really do not have that trillion dollars that you loaned us, come back next week we might have it then.
- drmangrum, on 05/16/2008, -0/+4I hate when people like you automatically throw out the race card the moment someone has a different point of view. There are many non-racist arguments to support either position.
- howyoudosir, on 05/16/2008, -2/+6Give them enough time to be conditioned as a typical American, then they will be more lazy.
Most people born in the US have not had to work as hard as people from other countries. Ponder that one.- lukemann, on 05/16/2008, -0/+0I hear the French work very hard with their 6 weeks of government mandated vacation and the 35 hour work weeks. Que the arguments about how efficient they are.
- howyoudosir, on 05/16/2008, -0/+0I heard their productivity rate is higher than the US. Are you implying that laziness = productivity?
- lukemann, on 05/16/2008, -0/+0I hear the French work very hard with their 6 weeks of government mandated vacation and the 35 hour work weeks. Que the arguments about how efficient they are.
- thelif, on 05/16/2008, -0/+4It comes down to the fact that some people are willing to sacrifice more than others. Not just as low paying jobs but in other aspects as well. I am a university student who is above average in American standards but I will never be able to compete with international students who study 12 hours a day. I mean you can say, I COULD study 12 hours a day, but I personally choose not to. The same thing with illegal immigrants, they work for less pay and Americans personally choose not to work in such low-paying jobs. Unless you can convince them to quit their working harder, things will always be that way.
- jbenson2, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1B.F.D.! - The spread on the folks who disagree is only 5 %.
30% Total
30% Whites
29% Blacks
25% Hispanics - Spoomeister, on 05/16/2008, -2/+1So?
- Brainmodder, on 05/16/2008, -4/+8Just because people say things doesn't mean these things are true.
- jonmlm, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3duh
- supertaliman, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3It's true..
- silveravnt, on 05/16/2008, -5/+9The Pew Research Center is not objective and not just some hired research firm. They have an agenda and it includes making people believe that criminals who have broken our immigration laws are really good people who should not be punished.
Sure they work hard. Does that excuse them from breaking the law and hurting our country?- eryximachus, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3All I know is after playing GTA IV for the past week - being a successful criminal is not only dangerous, but hard work too!
- gregfadein, on 05/16/2008, -1/+1You mean breaking our laws and helping our country?
I hate to be the one to shatter your fantasy, but illegal immigration is phenomenal for our economy: without it, the cost of pretty much anything would be significantly higher.
As you may have learned in a history or economics class, Socialist and protectionist economic interventions like immigration laws distort prices and destroy the American way of life.- igeoffi, on 05/16/2008, -1/+1In the end, it still comes down to breaking the law. There are countless other immigrants in the US who entered legally and still are waiting to get citizenship.
- eryximachus, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3All I know is after playing GTA IV for the past week - being a successful criminal is not only dangerous, but hard work too!
- pagalchu, on 05/16/2008, -4/+1Low pay and hard workers immigrants normally speak very little English and have no education. I work 7 hours a day. One day from home per week and get paid really good. I agree most of immigrants are hard working but not ALL. I have seen some losers.
- joshhan, on 05/16/2008, -2/+3"...speak very little English..."
I think you should include yourself in that group.- Olfster, on 05/16/2008, -1/+1You want to be my editor? Just come along and reply to my comments so I can clean them up. How about let me email them to you first so you can clean them up and save me some time. Then we are both happy. I am looking for a good editor. Me's uneducaterd.
- joshhan, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1What's the pay like?
- joshhan, on 05/16/2008, -2/+3"...speak very little English..."
- Lenbot, on 05/16/2008, -1/+4Honestly they have to compete with all the other immigrants they better work there ass of or somebody's going to be taking there place in about 2 minutes. This is got to be dugg by captain obvious
- amightywind, on 05/16/2008, -2/+2The US should make H1B and student visa quotas depend on the trade deficit with the country of origin. The higher the deficit, the lower the quota. If China and India want more VISA's they need to adjust their protectionist policies and admit more US imports. India also needs to sign that nuclear treaty if they want *any* slots. The US is being played for a chump. As for the illegals, they all should be deported and get in the back of the line.
- o0joshua0o, on 05/16/2008, -5/+3An illegal immigrant can go to the ER and get free medical attention. The ER is not legally allowed to refuse them, even if they have no insurance or documentation. Where does the money come from that paid for their treatment? It comes from your tax dollars. Do you think the illegals pay taxes?
- rakovlam, on 05/16/2008, -1/+4I'm an immigrant and I work hard because I really want to take your jobs away.
- Teck64, on 05/16/2008, -2/+1If we grant them amnesty then they could be just like us, problem solved :D
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