Thread: Immigrants, the work ethic and nativist myth SDUT

San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial

Another inconvenient truth / Immigrants, the work ethic and nativist myth

Friday, January 29, 2010 at 12:04 a.m.

Nativist lore has it that immigrants only come to the United States for the handouts. Supposedly, whether they arrive legally or illegally, their chief ambition is to simply collect welfare, milk social services and otherwise sponge off America’s generosity. For more than 200 years, the narrative has been that newcomers are constantly taking, using and consuming without giving back to the country that received them.

That is just not so. In fact, it is a malicious lie that is often used to justify all sorts of mistreatment of immigrants. For one thing, who has time to take advantage of the system? According to most studies, and lots of anecdotal evidence all around us, many immigrants are too busy working, starting their own businesses and employing others to stand in line and collect benefits. Talk about an inconvenient truth.

That point was recently driven home again with the release of a new report detailing that, in our own back yard, Latino immigrants are very likely to be self-employed – more likely, in fact, than nonimmigrant Latinos and even native-born U.S. citizens. The report by the California Immigrant Policy Center, a statewide partnership of immigrant-rights groups, was compiled using U.S. Census data pooled from the American Community Survey from 2005 to 2007. According to the report, one-quarter of San Diego County’s gross domestic product is generated by immigrant workers, either acting as entrepreneurs or employed by others. Latino immigrants in the county have a self-employment rate of 13 percent. That’s greater than native-born citizens, including native-born Latinos.

Some of this will sound counterintuitive to those who believe that the longer an immigrant family remains in the United States the better off they are. That is not always the case. For all that is gained over the generations in terms of greater prosperity and opportunity, it might be that other things – such as optimism, a work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit – go by the wayside.

If immigrants are now, and likely always have been, an economic positive to a given region, then San Diego County is in good stead. According to census data, 23 percent of county residents are immigrants, and 45 percent of those are naturalized citizens. And those immigrants come from all over the world, including Latin America, Asia, Europe and Africa. And many of them own their own businesses.

The message from all this is encouraging. Despite what you hear on talk radio or from conservative bloggers, most immigrants give back to the economy as much as they take. It’s essential that they come legally, of course. That part is nonnegotiable. But, the fact is that, once they’re here, they’re more likely than the native-born to roll up their sleeves, start their own businesses, make payrolls and employ other workers. Without these newcomers and all that they contribute, we’d be a less productive and more culturally impoverished country – one that bore no resemblance to what the Founding Fathers had in mind.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010 ... h/?success

People complain about "ILLEGAL ALIENS" and the SDUT hears "IMMIGRANTS".

Well they obviously never saw the line at the welfare office in my town - all Hispanics. And the health department. And the hospital emergency room. And the food pantries.

I remember the migrant farmworkers in my childhood years and they were indeed hard workers. The problem is that we were soon to develop technology that could replace both their--and my--labor, but much of this has been thwarted by their legal advocacy groups.

And why shouldn't they be hard workers? Compared to their financial lot in their home countries they have stumbled upon an incredible boon, whereby they suddenly make far more money than they were used to, enjoy an advanced culture and have idealistic "social activists" fawning over them. Or, they can make good money in a multitude of black market vocations. Is it any wonder they get so elated and start reproducing---resulting in our further emburdenment? I have been informed by highly reputable sources that many will have a family back in their home country and another in the States.

Of course they start businesses. Being ineligible for our retirement system, this is the way they will build nest eggs. Probably a lot of the "businesses" started as under the table operations, anyway, competing with bona fide US enterprises. And then there are always the sympathetic Americans, all too eager to help the person they perceive as the underdog.

I just saw an article this morning about nine vocations in the US that are on the way out--made obsolete by advancing technology. Where are the advocacy groups to help those American citizens?

Entrepreneurship? Sure, setting up a drug distribution business, cutting down national forests for pot farms, putting together a home-based fraudulent document shop, money laundering or even sellling tacos out of a shopping cart.
Meanwhile, the lady of this house is also earning her keep with a baby every year, for which they get food stamps, WIC, rental assistance, free medical care, and school lunches and breakfasts courtesy of the taxpayers.
Sure there are legal immigrants that are law-abiding citizens and have opened a licensed business, but among the poor and huddled masses are many that are looking for the quick buck in violation of our laws.
To lump the foreign-born all into one category as "immigrants" is a real disservice to those here legally. It is time they spoke up.

That is just not so. In fact, it is a malicious lie



Is that so? Well then....why all the objection over laws intended to stop them from collecting all of those benefits and services they don't take advantage of?


According to most studies, and lots of anecdotal evidence all around us,


"Most studies" bought and paid for by the illegal alien advocacy, conducted by liberal think tanks and/or special interest concerns.

And, as for anecdotal evidence....if I were them, I wouldn't be using that angle to prove their point of how wonderful illegal aliens are.

There is far more evidence....anecdotal AND factual...... which proves the exact opposite of what they claim to be the truth.

They just don't get it do they? NO ONE is interested and no one believes the propaganda anymore because the facts speak for themselves.

According to census data, 23 percent of county residents are immigrants, and 45 percent of those are naturalized citizens. And those immigrants come from all over the world, including Latin America, Asia, Europe and Africa. And many of them own their own businesses.

So that means 68 percent are foreign born inside the boundaries of the county, leaving only 32 percent as native born.
And what is the definition of self-employed in this study? And how many of these Latino businesses have driven others out of business by their employment of folks here illegally for under-the-table wages and are able to outbid an honest business owner?

For one thing, who has time to take advantage of the system? According to most studies, and lots of anecdotal evidence all around us, many immigrants are too busy working, starting their own businesses and employing others to stand in line and collect benefits. Talk about an inconvenient truth.

I'll tell you who as time to take advantage of the system. That illegal invader walking down the street, pushing a baby stroller, with two or three anchor spawn in tow, and one more in the oven!

That's who has plenty of time to take advantage of the system!

That is just not so. In fact, it is a malicious lie that is often used to justify all sorts of mistreatment of immigrants. For one thing, who has time to take advantage of the system? According to most studies, and lots of anecdotal evidence all around us, many immigrants are too busy working, starting their own businesses and employing others to stand in line and collect benefits. Talk about an inconvenient truth.

Which studies? It is easy to make up data and then refer to "studies." But claims based on unidentified "studies" have no foundation. Talk about an inconvernient truth. The truth is that most immigrants do not start their own business employing others. And the ones who do, dont hire Americans, so it is not a plus for us to have them here.

Originally Posted by NoBueno

I'll tell you who as time to take advantage of the system. That illegal invader walking down the street, pushing a baby stroller, with two or three anchor spawn in tow, and one more in the oven!

That's who has plenty of time to take advantage of the system!

You are exactly right, this is why illegal aliens have twice as many children as their coharts who stayed home, they use the extra kids to profit from the welfare system.