The Tariff Questions?

[steve mercier]

Looking ahead to the next pandemic.... will the Bird Flu vaccine get a 100,000 % Tariff ?

 

[harryS]

Morton, Illinois grows a ton of pumpkins, which many of us will be having in pies this week. Libby employs all legal migrant workers. You can bet that Campbells down in Florida does the same. ICE is always checking the big operations for easy fines.

 

[Roamers]

Yeah those darn illegals. But hey Roamers, don't look at who is running the milk parlors and most large dairies. HINT they speak Spanish. Who drywalled your new house? Poured the concrete? Mows, blows and goes to work on your landscape? That's the dirty little secret that your ilk seems to miss. Oh boy and let me know when the neighborhood white kids get up at 4AM to pick tomatoes for 10 hours so you and I can afford them.

Lots of legal immigrants speak Spanish also. Legal immigrants are welcome; deport the illegals and fine those that employ them.

I can’t speak for who was employed to build the house I live in now (1981), but 4 years ago it was reroofed by a crew of white, english speaking locals.

The house I was general contractor for in the late 80s had no non-white, Spanish speakers as subs.

 

[February]

Morton, Illinois grows a ton of pumpkins, which many of us will be having in pies this week. Libby employs all legal migrant workers. You can bet that Campbells down in Florida does the same. ICE is always checking the big operations for easy fines.

I live in orchard country, Michigan grows so much of its own food and food for the US and abroad. Both mom and pop Farmers and larger fruit and veg companies rely on migrants and so do you. Migrant workers here are some the hardest working people on earth and I respect them for doing what most young Americans will not, back braking labor for a pittance. Virtually all migrant fruit and veg pickers are here legally. We are a country of immigrants, many who came from Europe illegally. Musk was an illegal immigrant, but he is a useful idiot for those in power, just like the orange one. Or I could bring up The German family that is here illegally because they lied on their application for asylum; they were not political or religious asylum seekers, but white, blond haired, blue eyed, home school nutters. No offense to homeschooling, unless you are the type who flee your country because it won't let you teach the bible as science and teach science is evil. I could go on, but won't. I'm not so much grouching at you or anyone else, I just hate the whole illegal immigrant thing. It's a stupid piece of hate propaganda that holds no water. We have had 0 net illegal immigration for almost a decade now. Here let Ralphy explain :

 

[Roamers]

a universal language( so people can communicate to abolish fear) can be English or Spanish( personally I like Spanish)

The International Standards world (i.e., ISO) already uses English to conduct meetings. Although most contingents speak English (better than Americans), some bring interpreters.

 

[February]

The International Standards world (i.e., ISO) already uses English to conduct meetings. Although most contingents speak English (better than Americans), some bring interpreters.

one day rhis whole "territorial" charade is going to have to turn into a true global community with justice and truth for all,the social structure needs to be revamped.I do agree with a couple of points the "Georgia guidestones" espoused,we need a general population reduction( not by genocide,but by education and general quality of life) and a universal language( so people can communicate to abolish fear) can be English or Spanish( personally I like Spanish) the guidestones were razed after a petty act of vandalism(Reichstag anyone? the god of war is pleased) ! never thought about anything like Ares till history spake into my mind, for example the "divine wind" Dunkirk.Trinity,to name a few always something to keep the chess pieces moving( did he go away for awhile during the era of "good feeling?" who knows) it seems mankind had better get his act together before the final incineration and long winter.

Lol on the English. There are so many dialects of it, that two people who speak the exact same language can't understand each other at all. As an anglophile I've watched British movies and shows since I was a child. I can understand broken English and all the UK and Irish dialects, even surprised one English immigrant by calling gasolene, petrol, but struggle with people from the deep south who speak like Boomhower from King of the Hill (by the way, as silly as they sound to us, we all sound like special needs to them). Just watched the series Say Nothing about "the troubles". While I understood every word of English being spoken, guarantee you a majority of Americans probably needed subtitles to understand what people were saying. Laughed when I read a few years ago, Indian telephone operators are now being taught to speak English with a heavy British accent.

 

[mschwett]

of the 1b+ global speakers of english, my experience (globally) is that about 95% understand each other. then again, my experience only includes most of the united states, the UK, continental europe, chile, peru, india, china, australia, new zealand….

the only regional variations of english which trip up most english speakers are the scots, in my experience. people learn english globally watching everything from jersey shore to british murder mysteries.

 

[jabberwocky]

The issue with the

Lots of legal immigrants speak Spanish also. Legal immigrants are welcome; deport the illegals and fine those that employ them.

The issue with this mentality is that it ignores the fact that its extremely difficult (bordering on impossible) for uneducated labor to legally immigrate to the US in most cases. Its not like these are people who are just too lazy to do some paperwork. Its either work undocumented or not come to the US.

If you dig into the status and history of lots spanish speaking legal immigrants, they have undocumented immigrants in their family history. They are second generation (parents were undocumented but they were born here), or they married someone with status, or had family here who could sponsor them, or have just been here long enough to build the history and savings to work on a green card. I have friends and coworkers who immigrated (generally from wealthy families or highly educated) and its a long, difficult process. Several years and 4-5 figures of expenditure. They are universally enthusiastic citizens. They chose to live here.

A few builders I work with are run by second generation immigrants. Their parents were "illegals" but built a life here, had kids, and those kids worked hard and now own successful companies that do good work and employ lots of people.

I can’t speak for who was employed to build the house I live in now (1981), but 4 years ago it was reroofed by a crew of white, english speaking locals.

The house I was general contractor for in the late 80s had no non-white, Spanish speakers as subs.

I work in the construction field. Sure, plenty of white english speaking subs. But also lots of immigrant labor, especially in areas with large immigrant populations. Its a great field for someone who doesn't have a lot of education or language skills but is a hard worker and needs to make good money. Construction has been undergoing a labor shortage for the better part of a decade at this point (though it accelerated massively post COVID). Trades put a lot of effort into recruitment but its a hard sell, especially when the job market is as strong as it has been the past few years.

IMO the best way to judge a subcontractor is on the quality of their work instead of their skin color or what language they speak. But you do you.

 

[February]

of the 1b+ global speakers of english, my experience (globally) is that about 95% understand each other. then again, my experience only includes most of the united states, the UK, continental europe, chile, peru, india, china, australia, new zealand….

the only regional variations of english which trip up most english speakers are the scots, in my experience. people learn english globally watching everything from jersey shore to british murder mysteries.

I also struggle with heavy Scot Dialects/accents.

 

[S.Sage]

My background is mostly in larger commercial construction management. One hospital project had 1,000 plus on payroll and I remember about three men had the same SS number and were "let go" as soon as payroll noticed. We had audits at least twice per year too, sub labor had to be documented and verified.

So, it can be done legally. We still chose to pay a strong wage that attracted quality workers. I avoided hiring non-skilled labor, that helps greatly, but costs more. My "labors" were paid higher than the illegal carpenters of the day. It pisses me off when I see companies hiring guys at $12 an hour to run a pipe setting crew. Those folks should be ran out of business.

Even in south Florida most workers spoke English well enough. When I was a General Foreman on small Podunk projects I would come across illegals on my payroll that I liked, so we would get them legal ASAP if they didn't have a criminal record. What I found out working with undocumented folks is that 90% had a criminal record, had warrants out on them in their home country, sometimes they were wanted locally for major crimes. So they would not give you their real name. So I never kept illegals on my payroll, you need to know who you are dealing with. I had a few convicts working for me, one non-violent drug dealer fresh out of a GA prison worked out good and became a Forman, but most relapse back into their old criminal ways. I loved working on medical projects and anything federaly funded, background checks were SOP.

 

[mschwett]

I also struggle with heavy Scot Dialects/accents.

didn’t they get subtitles in trainspotting?

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

of the 1b+ global speakers of english, my experience (globally) is that about 95% understand each other. then again, my experience only includes most of the united states, the UK, continental europe, chile, peru, india, china, australia, new zealand….

the only regional variations of english which trip up most english speakers are the scots, in my experience. people learn english globally watching everything from jersey shore to british murder mysteries.

Wife and I watch a lot of British murder mysteries and have to agree: The Scots are especially hard for us to understand. We've been known to rewind 10 times when a Scot says something that seems important to the plot.

However, the Kiwis aren't far behind — especially on the North Island.

 

[Roamers]

The issue with this mentality is that it ignores the fact that its extremely difficult (bordering on impossible) for uneducated labor to legally immigrate to the US in most cases.

We don't need to import uneducated; have plenty here already.

I haven't looked at immigration rules, but it should include "skills we need" criteria. Unskilled is not a skill.

 

[mschwett]

We don't need to import uneducated; have plenty here already.

I haven't looked at immigration rules, but it should include "skills we need" criteria. Unskilled is not a skill.

the “uneducated” native born are not willing to work at the rates that the jobs they’re qualified for pay. there are huge labor shortages across service industry and other sectors. we *do* need people to do those jobs, at least for the next 10 years or so. at some point it’ll all be automated away and we’ll have to embrace some form of UBI, population decline, or something.

 

[February]

didn’t they get subtitles in trainspotting?

Lol, I didn't need subtitles. And that is not what I would call heavy Scot accent. I've seen interviews with natives on the ground really stretching those vowels, it was difficult to understand some of it. I also like welsh, Irish and Sottish Gaelic, but don't understand any of those languages. Double lol, when I went to you tube to find an example, there was a video comparing Edinburgh vs Glasgow. Just watch the first minute of the video and you will see something familiar.

vs:

lots of good examples.

 

[February]

We don't need to import uneducated; have plenty here already.

I haven't looked at immigration rules, but it should include "skills we need" criteria. Unskilled is not a skill.

That's why doctors and programmers from India get a fast track through immigration. Yeah if you're a contractor and you are willing to pay comparable wages to Americans who refuse to do those jobs, I don't see what your problem is with having legal migrants do those jobs? Most of the Mexican migrant workers work in agriculture and meat packing(slaughter houses and processing) and return to Mexico when the seasons are over. If you are a contractor who thinks migrants are the ones making your life more difficult or costing you money, you're not paying attention.

Canada legalized recreational marijuana long before we did and it's still not fully legal in all states. Mexico, an overwhelmingly Catholic country voted Abortion rights into their constitution. Maybe what we need right now are more immigrants.

 

[Roamers]

the “uneducated” native born are not willing to work at the rates that the jobs they’re qualified for pay. there are huge labor shortages across service industry and other sectors. we *do* need people to do those jobs, at least for the next 10 years or so. at some point it’ll all be automated away and we’ll have to embrace some form of UBI, population decline, or something.

Once gov't assistance is gone, they will get hungry enough. If I did the emoji thing I'd do a thumbs down for UBI.

 

[Roamers]

I don't see what your problem is with having legal migrants do those jobs

Read back, legals are welcome. Got to get some of the "I'm too good for that" off gov't assistance before we know if we need to import unskilled.

 

[February]

Read back, legals are welcome. Got to get some of the "I'm too good for that" off gov't assistance before we know if we need to import unskilled.

So you're back to the 80's Reagan Welfare queen argument? Or you think people should work 80 hours a week for minimum wage, zero benefits or overtime simply to not die. Ok.... That one holds no water either. I once met a meat packer who had wires sticking out of the ends of his fingers because he accidentally put his hand through a meat saw. Sorry, man, if you think those people don't deserve medical attention without becoming indentured servants for the rest of their lives, well, cool I guess, but I think you are in the minority on that one. All welfare programs you are talking about constitute less than 1% of the federal budget. Again, you're not paying attention. The poors and those gaming the system are not the problem.

 

[Roamers]

So you're back to the 80's Reagan Welfare queen argument? Or you think people should work 80 hours a week for minimum wage, zero benefits or overtime simply to not die. Ok.... That one holds no water either. I once met a meat packer who had wires sticking out of the ends of his fingers because he accidentally put his hand through a meat saw. Sorry, man, if you think those people don't deserve medical attention without becoming indentured servants for the rest of their lives, well, cool I guess, but I think you are in the minority on that one. All welfare programs you are talking about constitute less than 1% of the federal budget. Again, you're not paying attention. The poors and those gaming the system are not the problem.

Not familiar with the Regan thing.

Both my SILs parents worked at "The Pack"; one of the best paying jobs in the city, they had all their body parts. I've heard things have changed.

I think you covered my beliefs, than continued with an emotional rant.

For clarity, I disagree with Federal Minimum Wage laws; pay is what the local market demands. I don't care how small the welfare is as a % of the federal budget; > 0% is too high. This is state/local level talk.

The federal gov't shouldn't be involved in things that favor or disfavor any person, group, community, state, etc.