Beautiful wedge issue considering the failing U.S. economy, right, readers?
"Seasonal worker shortage threatens tourism"
".... Hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and landscaping businesses on the Cape and islands rely on an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 workers from Jamaica, Bulgaria, Brazil, Poland, Russia, and other economically depressed countries, who come to the US on temporary H-2B visas to bolster the workforce during the busiest season.
But this year, the seasonal worker program became entangled in the contentious immigration debate, and the number of workers allowed in the country was curtailed, catching many business owners by surprise and leaving them scrambling to fill positions.
"We're all in deep trouble if nothing gets done," said Mark Hogan, owner of the landmark Nantucket breakfast spot the Downyflake, whose veteran crew returns every year from Jamaica. "I don't know what I would do with our business, whether I would close or move tables out because I wouldn't have people to serve them. People don't understand how it will devastate our economy."
In 2005, in response to increasing demand for foreign labor, Congress relaxed the cap of 66,000 foreign workers admitted each year on H-2B visas in legislation that said workers who had held visas in the previous three years could return without being counted as part of the quota.
That allowed some 50,000 more visas to be issued.
But last fall, as proponents sought to renew the exemption for returning workers, Hispanic members of Congress said they would insist on comprehensive reform of immigration laws and oppose all piecemeal legislation, which included the exemption. The renewal stalled and the cap on workers reverted to 66,000.
Supporters of the seasonal worker program say it has little to do with immigration, though it has been swept up in the larger issue.
"This is designed to meet a seasonal need - it isn't about illegal immigration," said US Representative William Delahunt, who represents the Cape and islands and supports the cap expansion.
Delahunt said a bipartisan coalition in Congress has drafted a letter to President Bush asking him to reinstate the exemption, and may also propose adding the measure to the forthcoming economic stimulus package.
"We have reports from all over the country that businesses can't function and will close down unless this program is reauthorized," Delahunt said. "It's not helping an economy that is in serious trouble."
But critics say the foreign workers drive down wages and take jobs from Americans. Steve Kropper, co-chairman of Mass Citizens for Immigration Reform, said the roadblock to finding local labor is the low pay the business owners offer.
"Americans will fill any job for the right wage, and we're all advanced when the people on the bottom of the scale get paid better," he said. "We have our own low-skilled people; let's help them out...."
The rest is all pro-immigration, readers, as AmeriKa's MSM pushes the agenda!
Just like they did last week!
Can't believe the paper printed a coherent and lucid response to their agenda-pushing promotion:
"January 27, 2008
I FIND it incredible that the Globe printed such a wrongheaded argument for a national ID card (editorial, Jan. 20).
You first repeat the tired old trope about preventing terrorism. May I remind you that the Sept. 11 hijackers were all in the country legally, traveling under their own names, with valid identification? No improved ID card would have prevented this disaster; to suggest otherwise is shameless pandering.
Not to mention they were "Al-CIA-Duh" agents under the Able Danger program -- and lived at Pensacola Naval Base for a while.
You also allude to the Indiana voter case before the Supreme Court - another red herring. Election fraud is far more likely to occur by insiders tampering with voting machines than by individuals voting repeatedly.
MSM IGNORES VOTE FRAUD and is BIASED!
Just check out the Ron Paul coverage.
All you need to know, readers!
Case closed!
Most troubling, you argue that we are already expected to show government-issued ID in numerous ways. Well, yes, and is this a good thing? I don't find intrusion into my private life a compelling argument for more intrusion.
The proposed national ID card would be expensive, intrusive, and prone to abuse, and it wouldn't solve a single actual problem.
But it would advance the agenda of the globalists and their lackeys in the AmeriKan MSM!
LARRY CAMPBELL
Brookline"
