We hear that phrase a lot these days, in the broiling discussions about immigration and illegal immigrants.  We hear that they fill a need in our workforce by "doing the jobs we won’t do".  The implication is that the immigrants are a good thing, that they fill a gap that needs filling, often in agriculture or service industries.  But while they intend this in a  feel good smarmy way, there is really a very dark and ugly reality. 

You see the only reason that equation works, is that they are here illegally and won’t complain about the wages, hours or conditions making them ripe for employers who are more then willing to exploit them.  There is a vast market for this pool of willing workers.

The problem is, and what bugs me the most, is they may be right. 

There really are jobs that the average American will not take because they either won’t do them, or they do not pay enough to make a living on.  The wage gap is fairly severe when the minimum wage is really only $5.15 an hour, where as skilled labor averages are considerable higher.  Some states pay more, but some do not.

There are a lot of contributing factors.  Inflation and cost of living.  Unions demanding ever increasing wages.  Rising costs of benefits.  The government tries to help with aid programs, but they end up making the problem worse.  Consider that when I was laid off of a contract position in 2004, I was eligible for unemployment.  While I was job hunting on unemployment I was ignoring  jobs that paid 13 dollars an hour, almost twice the state minimum wage because unemployment paid more.

But even leaving money aside, there is that ugly reality that deep inside of us, I think too many people don’t really mind letting someone else do the scut work for us.  I know some bloggers liken this to modern slavery, and while I see their point, i think that is an emotionally baited parallel.  But is it too close to the truth?  Is the 21st century plantation a lettuce field in Central California?

These comments invariably lead to more emotional posturing about racism, but this is not a racial issue at all.  It’s about work ethics and laziness.

I think we, particularly this generation, have a problem with hard work sometimes.  Hillary Clinton made a remark to that extent recently and while I hate like hell agreeing with her, she has a point:

http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/63643.htm

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton lashed out at the instant-gratification generation yesterday, saying young adults "think work is a four-letter word."

"Kids, for whatever reason, think they’re entitled to go right to the top with $50,000 or $75,000 jobs when they have not done anything to earn their way up," the Dems’ 2008 White House front-runner said.

"A lot of kids don’t know what work is. They think work is a four-letter word," she told a Republican-leaning audience gathered at the annual U.S. Chamber of Commerce convention.

The fallout from this was immediate, and in one sense close, to home.  Everyone trotted out the example of this or that hard working youth.  And they are right, there are many hard working kids working everyday.

But her sternest critic is in sense proof of her being on track:  Daughter Chelsea.  Chelsea can hardly be lauded as a modern example of hard work.  She has the very best of opportunities handed to her at every step of her life, and now as a college grad a nice cushy 6 figure income job as well.  Yet she called to complain to her mom that she worked hard and her friends did too.

But there is a difference between working hard and hard work.

Take me for example.  I am a Computer Analyst, and make an OK salary crunching numbers and researching.  28 years ago I started my working career tossing frozen beef patties at a fast food joint.

In between I was:

• A bus boy
• A dishwasher
• A paper boy
• Assembled PC boards
• Washed cars
• Delivered furniture
• Did shipping and receiving
• Delivered flowers
• Worked rides at an amusement park
• Security Guard
• Book store clerk
• Pizza cook
• Short order cook
• Bartender
• Grocery clerk

All those before age 22.  Then:

• AF Aircraft Mechanic (which was 19 jobs in 1)
• Pizza guy again 
• Janitor
• Parts driver
• Grocery clerk again
• Grocery stocker
• Truck driver 
• Inventory manager
• Operations manager
• Computer salesman
• Aircraft assembler
• Convenience store clerk
• AF Reservist
• Computer technician/analyst

Along the way I got a college degree, and 6 computer certifications.

Compare me to Chelsea.

• Politicians kid
• College kid
• 6 figure income

Because I doubt she ever had to wait tables to get spending money at Stanford.

Now don’t misunderstand.  She played the hand life dealt her, and I cannot blame her.  She has had a life i frankly do not envy.  But in real terms, while she may work hard, she has probably never had to a day of hard work.  She also didn’t face any uncertainty about her career, or have to sweat out a tough interview, and she likely never will.  So be it.

So when we look at the employers who have their livelihood tied to this cheap source of labor, it just may be true we won’t have anyone to replace them when the wall goes up, and the hammer falls on the businesses.

Sure we can bump minimum wages and all that, but that never works in the long run, as cost of living goes up with it.

So we must ask ourselves, if the labor market dries up for illegals, assuming the government grows a spine and actually enforces the laws against these employers, will we be willing to slow down our Starbucks filled lives and do those dirty jobs?

I think we will.   SOme don’t and point to the need for a guest worker program.  Others believe that the wages are all that hold us back.

The LA Times however, does not.  They claim even at high wages we won’t work hard:

A Job Americans Won’t Do, Even at $34 an Hour

Some landscape firms rebut claims that higher pay, not immigration reform, is needed.

Cyndi Smallwood is looking for a few strong men for her landscaping company. Guys with no fear of a hot sun, who can shovel dirt all day long. She’ll pay as much as $34 an hour.

She can’t find them.

Maybe potential employees don’t know about her tiny Riverside firm. Maybe the problem is Southern California’s solid economy and low unemployment rate. Or maybe manual labor is something that many Americans couldn’t dream of doing.

Bluto at Stop the ACLU says Yeah, Right. Pull the Other One.

$34 an hour is nearly three times the starting base rate for a Transportation Security Administration airport sceener, yet somehow, the government managed to fill all of the screener positions - with US citizens - even in southern California. Somehow Cyndi can’t find gardeners for three times the pay?

I tend to agree with him, it sounds too fantastic.  That wage (UP To $34) is likely a supervisors slot because I cannot see how she could possibly stay in business paying people that, nor can I give credit to the notion that landscaping is such a tough job that 70k is not an enticement.

The article provides the answer:

As a government contractor, Diversified Landscape is required to pay prevailing wages as calculated by the state Department of Industrial Relations. Experienced laborers earn $34.24 an hour; untrained "tenders" make $14.17. Each work site is required to have an equal number of laborers and tenders.

So you have a 50 50 chance of being the experienced guy and not the tender.

Note please that government prevailing wage policies are at work here, and if this article is accurate, they aren’t helping.

So if the LA Times is right, at least as far this field is concerned, then we really are a lazy lot.  At least in Southern California.

Not making any conclusions here, but it is food for thought.  The issue of illegal immigrants and jobs is not a simple one.

We need to have a serious study and discussion of the problem and the needs, but we may also need to take a look at our culture too.  We may have helped make our own problem.