The American Spectator

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Wolf Terner BR>Fair Lawn, New Jersey p> LABOR BALANCE BR>Re: John Tabin's Enforcement Is Not Enough : p>Mr. Tabin seems to be saying that the demand for immigrant labor in today's booming economy will induce some problems. Yes, and similarly just because there are laws against murder does not mean there will be no murders. The real argument is about priorities. p>A generation ago it was thought that unemployment could go no lower than 6% to 7%. It is 4.5% today. The number of new immigrants to fill job requirements must be balanced against the supply of labor already available from American citizens. But Americans will only take these jobs immigrants take if they pay more and business interests want cheap labor. Yes, but wages for low wage earners should rise just as prices for food, energy and commodities have already risen. And wouldn't it be nice if Republicans could say we want to set quotas for immigration that give Americans first crack at jobs and put legal immigrants on a path of training, self-reliance, assimilation toward citizenship? Wages for low paying jobs will rise because of this policy, pushing consumer prices up. But why shouldn't they; other prices have risen. Properly balancing labor supply and demand will get America to the "sweet spot" and allow the economy to grow in a balanced way. BR>-- Howard Lohmuller BR>Seabrook, Texas p>Does America have an actual labor shortage and is immigration the answer? Immigrants basically fall into three categories; a. legal, b. illegal and c. Washington isn't sure yet, but let's focus on legal immigrants, the blessed ones. Have you ever heard a Silicon Valley businessman whine it's impossible to find engineers and we need to import some from India, China or England? I always wonder why the reporter doesn't respond in a skeptical tone with: "You mean there isn't a single, apple pie loving, 'Made in America' engineer anywhere in America, including Alaska and Hawaii?" p>What about that unemployed engineer in Atlanta you interviewed over the phone? Well, it costs $30,000 to $50,000 to relocate someone across the country -- too expensive. Well, then, what about that sharp gal from down the street you interviewed? She wants $10,000 more a year to jump ship and my folks would all want raises if I hired her. Yep, let's face facts, there really are no engineers anywhere in America, we need to import some. p>How bad do you need an engineer? If you were legally required to pay the entire household relocation costs to move someone from Woking in Surrey England to San Jose, would you do it? Now wait a minute, that's not what I meant by there are no engineers in America, maybe that guy in Atlanta might just work out after all.

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