Alfred Doyle – 1/4/09

This page was last updated on January 6, 2009.

Let Americans fill jobs held by illegals; Alfred Doyle; Beaver County Times; January 4, 2009.

This is at least the fourth letter from Mr. Doyle on this topic since November 2007 and the third since September 2008. I didn’t critique the previous three letters [“Whatever it takes” (11/28/07), “Immigrants with talent are welcome” (9/4/08), and “Ways immigration could be controlled” (9/12/08)].

Below is a detailed critique of the letter.

“President-elect Barack Obama wants to create 3 million new jobs at a cost of hundreds of billions of dollars, a worthy goal in these rough economic times.”

[RWC] No, it isn’t. It would be a bad idea to have government “create” jobs even if the Great Depression showed it doesn’t work.

“But first, start by getting the 7 million jobs now held by illegal immigrants to the 10-20 million unemployed or underemployed Americans. Phase in mandatory electronic or secure documentary verification of employment eligibility for new hires at big companies first, and eventually for all hires.”

[RWC] “[B]ig companies first?” Most of us are employed by small businesses, not “big companies.”

“The IRS and Social Security Administration know which companies employ the highest percentage of those with fraudulent Social Security cards. Let them share this information with the Department of Homeland Security so action against these lawbreakers can be better focused.

“To attract citizens to physically demanding jobs held by the illegals, as in construction and agriculture, give them a subsidy — on top of a decent minimum wage — that is sufficient to put their income toward the median. There are no jobs Americans will not do for a proper wage.”

[RWC] NO! Eliminate illegal aliens and the market will drive up the compensation for those jobs for which there is a shortage of workers. Minimum wages and wage subsidies only make the problem worse.

“Greatly expand vocational training in our schools to give young people better opportunities in the trades, in construction and in building maintenance to help them take over from the illegals.”

[RWC] What “vocational training in our schools” does Mr. Doyle want that we don’t already have? We have vocational training in high schools, post-high school vocational schools, commonwealth colleges, and traditional colleges.

“Enforce heavy penalties for those selling fake IDs and for those knowingly hiring illegals.

“On the other side, America’s strength crucially depends on the entry of those of extraordinary promise and accomplishment who are likely to innovate and make jobs. We should define this select group and put them on a fast track to citizenship.”

[RWC] Finally something with which I can agree.