Been avoiding politics these days…recent rulings by SCOTUS have all but ensured that big money-ed interests can do whatever they choose, and damn the ordinary citizen. I was even going to stay mute about a local race that the Democrats hope to win. I’m no fan of Josh Evans. He just isn’t to be taken seriously, its all God and guns with him. But he has at least picked a side, and he wears his Republican letter-man jacket proudly. Not so this sniveling, whimpering, craven opportunist the Dems “recruited”. At first, I just wasn’t going to vote for him. After getting his latest direct-mail piece, I’ve decided to sit down and write a small check to Evans, and vote for him as well. (Note to the caller that asked me if I would allow an Evans sign in my yard, sorry I refused, bring a big one) The entire mailer is about how Tennesseans can’t “afford to lose jobs to illegal aliens.”
I have a friend that does concrete work for a living. It’s a tough gig, even when the weather is pleasant, but in July and August? Fuggetaboutit. He is a foreman of sorts, that is, on most jobs, he is on site making decisions and seeing that the work is done on time and on budget. He is a hard worker and I have a lot of respect for his work ethic and his honesty. He recently complained to me that he is having a hard time finishing jobs because he cannot find help, even at 12-15 dollars an hour! He doesn’t want to run afoul of the law and hire undocumented workers, but it has so bad that I AM GOING TO HELP HIM ON A JOB NEXT WEEK. I’m 110 yrs old and have no business lifting anything heavier than a beer can, yet, I’ll be his right hand man for a bit.
We are, for the most part, an agricultural area, the “jobs” available are somewhat seasonal and usually physically demanding. Work tobacco for year and come and tell me how much you enjoyed it. You think local growers are turning away white, English speaking applicants in favor of using the undocumented? Bull. Another industry that might employ immigrants is of course construction, i can’t tell you how many contractors have confided in me that their native born crews are sporadic performers at best, and typically tend to disappear after payday and don’t return until they are broke.
So, Mr. Carneal, since you chose to perpetuate the lie that undocumented workers consume more in services than they produce…lets go ahead and talk about some major employers in our area, shall we? Will you expose the practice of using temp agencies as a way to circumvent laws requiring employers to verify a person’s right to work? Or, did some Democratic strategist tell you to go ahead and bully people who cannot vote? Such a courageous stand. You saw a mob running and worked your way out front to “lead them.” That makes you a tool. And not a very useful one.
Oh, and, if you are running as a Democrat, say so. Coward.
