Hi Everyone,

This should be another topic that we address in the future, albeit it's minor in the overall scheme of things. I visited Ocean City, MD this weekend (a major beach resort) and noticed a few Mexicans and Central Americans, but many European kids/students working at alot of the restaurants and stores. Many of them are from Eastern Europe these days (used to be more from Western Europe.) Ocean City has had them for quite some time, but I think that there numbers are higher than they used to be (or maybe I never noticed it prior to my education into immigration.)

I noticed three at a Baskin Robbins, one at the restaurant that I went into, and at least one at a Royal Farms. This is just a small sampling. While they are generally legal and I'd rather see them working than the mostly illegal Mexicans and Central Americans (these Europeans also speak English, as well) of course I'd rather see American kids doing these jobs.

I think there's a combination of reasons why we're seeing less Americans: 1. Some of the kids aren't being encouraged to work as they were in the past. 2. There's been an explosion of building in O.C. the last two years, and the local population never had enough people to support all of the businesses during the summer anyway (they always had college kids from MD, VA, PA, etc there doing many of the jobs) 3. The Europeans will work long hours and happily do it -- there might even be a perception that they are generally better workers. 4. And, don't forget, there are increasing numbers of illegals, which isn't helping the situation.

I have nothing personal against the Europeans; I just think we're becoming a weaker and softer nation if we continue to let others do the work that we should be doing. I mean, I bet if I was to do a poll, and asked people who they thought should be doing the dishwashing and busboy work in a restaurant, I bet many people would reply..."Mexicans, of course." That is a terrible way to think, but unless something is done now, an American citizen who applies for such work, maybe ten years from now, will be stared at and made to look like he/she was from another planet, by the employer, as the employer wil say, "Why are you applying for this type of work? You can be a waiter, but we already have people for dishwashing. You wouldn't fit in."

Sorry for going off on a tangent, but that's where I see our country going, if we continue to outsource the jobs to legals, or outright let illegals do the jobs.

So, maybe we can address this topic in the future, as these people are indeed here legally, but in the long run it's not good for the psyche of our young people...."Let the Europeans do the grunt work...you just stay in college and party and you'll make big bucks when you get out."

Thanks,

Ostrich