Doing the work no one else will

To the Editor:

This letter is in response to Michael Lange's recent letter.

Mr. Lange I am confused. First you state that the illegal immigration to the United States is robbing us of our blue-collar jobs and then you begin to discuss the Trade Agreements the U.S. had made in the last few decades.

I can't really see the relationship. If the illegal immigrants are taking all of our blue-collar jobs and the free trade is taking away all our industry, why are the illegal immigrants coming here? Would not it be better for them to stay home and get all the work that our international companies are sending oversees?

I am not all that familiar with the immigration issue but it seems strange to connect the loss of blue-collar jobs to the influx of illegal immigrants? If the jobs are leaving why are they coming here?

They would seem to be two separate issues. In my life, I see a lot of immigrants. I don't know if they are illegal or legal. Unfortunately, I can't force them to display their green cards to me on demand and to be honest with you I would not know a Green Card from a library card if I saw one. These immigrants are mostly working in the fields, chicken farms, landscaping or roofing. Not all what I would call blue collar jobs but the definition may have changed since I looked it up. Also, those are not jobs I would particularly care to do, mostly for the low pay and the extreme working conditions. I have spent some time sweating in the sun working and none of those jobs are ones I would select as my profession.

I would think that the best way to curb this immigration crisis is to actually enforce the laws we have in place. Punish the companies that bring or hire illegal immigrants here and revamp our failed guest worker program. There are many jobs that Americans don't want to do, and there are people out there who will do them for us. So lets get them here legally, have them do the job and then go home or if the law allows apply for citizenship through legal channels.

As for the trade, well it is a matter of convincing Americans that buying cheap foreign goods will have a negative impact on our industry. You don't buy it, they won't sell it. Simple economics, no demand equals no supply. Of course I don't know where you can get an American made T-shirt or a toy not made in China. Do you Mr. Lange?

R. Corey Foreman

St. Louis, Mo.