Thread: Jobs for teenagers scarce...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/bu...en.html?ref=us

Jobs for teenagers are at an all time low. Jobs at fast food chains, gas stations, mowing lawns etc. used to be start-up TRANSITIONAL jobs for American teenagers while they went on to college with the goal of getting an education so they could move on to better jobs.

But now with the importing of so many unskilled, uneducated ADULTS into our country, these jobs are drying up because they are being taken by illegal immigrants for whom these become PERMANENT jobs.

Sadly, THIS has been the norm in DALLAS, TX, for YEARS! And it is often wondered WHY some youths seem to get in trouble with the LAW nearly EVERY summer! Summer jobs would keep them OUT of mischief!

It is not only our idle young. The biggest problem comes from the cost of taxpayer subsidizing these low level workers. When teens performed the jobs, their parents put a roof over their heads - no need for 40 per household. They don't breed until they can feed - no overcrowded schools, welfare, Section 8 and food stamps and WIC. The parents provide healthcare coverage - hospitals now going bankrupt and ER's so overcrowded that citizens just don't go unless they are dying. The kids were not out drinking and driving for the most part, and at least it was not a big part of their culture. And, the money these kids made were spent - um, here? And not sent to Latin America. And, those kids paid taxes!!

So now their parents are supporting them, paying outrageous college costs while subsidizing illegal labor and higher costs for food, gasoline, tuition.

Yeah it is a problem. Our son is lucky that he has a guaranteed job at his dad's work. The owner likes having the employee's teens come in for the summer.

However, this summer, our son's friend from when we lived up in Washington state, is coming down to stay with us as he has been unable to get any kind of even part time work to save for a vehicle, he is 17. He hopes to find something here and get a vehicle, plus I kind of think he would simply like to get out a bit and see Oregon (it's all fine he is a really good kid).

Our daughter, when she was a teen (she is now 25) was not able to find anything, it was really bad then.