Red meat: 1804 = $1.8 Billion

[Chicken Little]

Man, I can't believe you guys haven't jumped on this.  Whadaya, tired or something?

From Tulsa World

quote:Economic impact of HB 1804 estimated


By GINNIE GRAHAM World Staff Writer
3/26/2008


The state bankers association says the loss could be $1.8 billion.


If 50,000 immigrants leave Oklahoma, the state would lose about $1.8 billion annually in productivity and wages, according to a study released Tuesday by the Oklahoma Bankers Association...

Is it worth it?  I have an opinion.

[YoungTulsan]

LOL

[Breadburner]

Bull****.....

[Cubs]

This "study" is poorly constructed ... and even if is was correct, we are still doing the right thing, because illegal immigration is ILLEGAL.

[Ibanez]

quote:Originally posted by Cubs

This "study" is poorly constructed ... and even if is was correct, we are still doing the right thing, because illegal immigration is ILLEGAL.

What he said...

[Conan71]

Feh, highly speculative numbers.  I also caught the point of them not taking sides on the issue.

[FOTD]

BB.....explain yourself. Just once.

[sgrizzle]

Productivity AND wages of $36,000 a piece?

[jamesrage]

The story sounds like a load of crap.

  If the numbers accurate I think it shows that we had a serious illegal immigration problem before HB1804 and there there were a lot of businesses owners out there breaking the law.

This is just another boo hoo poor illegals and poor scumbag business who hired illegals sob story that the liberal media occasionally likes to run.I remember another boo hoo poor illegals sob story they did a while back.It was about how this poor family had some relative who they are hiding is somehow trying to become legal,while at the same time failing to mention the fact he didn't give a rats donkey about being legal before 1804 went into effect.

[patric]

quote:Originally posted by Cubs

... and even if is was correct, we are still doing the right thing, because illegal immigration is ILLEGAL.

Having a drink in the privacy of your home was also illegal at one time.
It was still done, though, and the crime that flourished as a direct result if it's criminalization was of historic proportions.

[Gaspar]

WOW! Another ridiculous story. What a supprise! [:O]

I've got to make a point to read the Tulsa World less often!

They had to dig pretty far to find that dubious information to support their agenda!  But more so, it's the Bankers Association that should be shamed.

Shame on the Bankers Association! I know that the banks make hefty fees on wiring money out of the country, but even implying support for an illegal activity, by making it sound good for our economy is disgusting!

I love how they use the word "Productivity," as if only immigrants are capable of productivity.  What they really mean is "labor."  

[Gaspar]

Sorry!  I couldn't let this go!

I can't understand why some politicians rage for a higher minimum wage with one side of their mouth, but then defend paying an illegal alien $3.50 an hr to work a 80 hour week?

If we grew poppies and produced Oklahoma Heroine, I'm sure we could make billions, fix the roads, fund schools, and build  ball parks, but it's illegal!  

Just like heroine, we have to break our addiction to cheap labor, and start paying workers what their worth.  Why is this so hard for some people to swallow?  Yes!  it's going to cost more, and the withdraw is going to be difficult.  But we are being viewed as an example for the whole country.

I guess I'm so sensitive on this subject because on Monday someone sent me a radio broadcast from NPR (from Jan or Feb I think), that talked about Oklahoma's tough new immigration reform bill.  The broadcast started by painting a picture of Tulsa as a ghost town.  The reporter said that half finished buildings were sitting wrapped in Tyvek with piles of bricks around them.  Houses were left abandon with no one to live in them or build them.  Businesses had packed up and moved to other states.  They painted Tulsa as a deserted, dried up, hopeless town because of our immigration bill.  I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

They interviewed a nurse or doctor that said babies were left to die because their parents were afraid to go to the hospital for fear that they would be deported.

The more I listened, the madder I got!  None of it was real.  The entire story was ridiculous!  But it is one version of the story that the rest of the world is hearing.  

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by Gaspar

Sorry!  I couldn't let this go!

I can't understand why some politicians rage for a higher minimum wage with one side of their mouth, but then defend paying an illegal alien $3.50 an hr to work a 80 hour week?

If we grew poppies and produced Oklahoma Heroine, I'm sure we could make billions, fix the roads, fund schools, and build  ball parks, but it's illegal!  

Just like heroine, we have to break our addiction to cheap labor, and start paying workers what their worth.  Why is this so hard for some people to swallow?  Yes!  it's going to cost more, and the withdraw is going to be difficult.  But we are being viewed as an example for the whole country.

I guess I'm so sensitive on this subject because on Monday someone sent me a radio broadcast from NPR (from Jan or Feb I think), that talked about Oklahoma's tough new immigration reform bill.  The broadcast started by painting a picture of Tulsa as a ghost town.  The reporter said that half finished buildings were sitting wrapped in Tyvek with piles of bricks around them.  Houses were left abandon with no one to live in them or build them.  Businesses had packed up and moved to other states.  They painted Tulsa as a deserted, dried up, hopeless town because of our immigration bill.  I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

They interviewed a nurse or doctor that said babies were left to die because their parents were afraid to go to the hospital for fear that they would be deported.

The more I listened, the madder I got!  None of it was real.  The entire story was ridiculous!  But it is one version of the story that the rest of the world is hearing.  

Do you think the law is enforceable? I don't. So its likely the underground system that has operated to business' advantage will become even more sophisticated because I assure you, the minimum wage and wages in general for the type of work they did, will not be raised to match the demand. Not in this state anyway. Even if it was we lack the skilled and willing workers.  

The alcohol prohibition scenario mentioned above is a good example of what happens when you try to artificially and bluntly clamp off demand. Might as well legislate an end to gravity. Of course we needed to address the problem and manage it. This law addressed it alright but will likely direct the demand farther underground.

[Breadburner]

If you think illegals are getting paid below minimum wage you need to wake up....They get as much as a legal worker with the same skill level....

[guido911]

Waterboy, way to completely avoid Gaspar's well-reasoned and thoughtful post.

And by the way, tell us more about this underground system of labor; because the way I see it, unless this illegal labor is occurring literally underground or otherwise out of the sight of the people, there is no place to hide. Plus, who wants to risk felony charges for merely assisting in this underground system.