Monday, November 24, 2008

Day laborers staying because of Obama


By 5 a.m., many of the city's estimated 8,000 day laborers congregate at pickup sites such as along Roosevelt Ave. in Jackson Heights, Queens, the waterfront shopping center at Bay Parkway in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, and outside a BP gas station on E. Tremont Ave. near Lehman High School in the Bronx.

With work so hard to find, many laborers have been trying to earn enough to trek back to their home countries.

But Obama's win has convinced some not to give up yet.

"I have a hope [Obama's] doing something for us, because his parents are not from here," said Guatemalan worker Lazaro, 31, referring to the fact that Obama's father was from Kenya.


Workers hurt by economy but find hope in Obama

49 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sorry there are no jobs for you.Some of us from here are needing a second job or hope to not have job cuts.

Anonymous said...

He was raised by his Grandparents in Kansas.Dont expect any change until the 4 trillion dollar fantastic super fun "conserving" debt from bush is paid off in 40 years or longer.
Republican George W. Bush has added more to the national debt ($5 trillion and counting) than all previous presidents combined.

Republican Ronald Reagan created and institutionalized “voodoo economics” in our government - reckless tax cuts, deficit financing of current govt. operations, leave the debt to someone else (aka our children).
Is taxpayer home to tell me im filled with hate??How about accountablity?

Anonymous said...

The problems were never tax cuts. The problems are about too much government spending.

Anonymous said...

There are several ways to view Obama's opinion in these folks. Hispanics are an important group who help elect him and cannot be ignored. Or The Afro Americans whom are solidly behind Obama have major job issues in their community to just allow illegals to join the union and take this job away from AA? In this econpmic storm, Obama will side with citizen issues not illegal citzen issues.

Anonymous said...

Immigration issues are a low priority in the oncoming administration, though Obama cannot completely ignore the Latino vote... Don't expect the issue to come up for substantive debate this year.

The only thing for certain, however, is that the chance of the enacting of a guest worker program in this economic climate is nil.

Anonymous said...

These guy's aren't the sharpest knives in the box, but they ain't stupid either. Why do you think they are staying put? Because Señor Obama is going to take the wealth from a certain group of high earning people in this country, and redistribute it to another group. Also, the illegals probably figure that Señor Obama is going to give them some of these 2 million jobs that will supposedly be created. Will guys like "Joe The Plumber" be getting any patronage jobs? Fat chance! Welcome to the Untied States of America, and the new racial spoils system!

Ever wondered what the last days of the Roman Empire were like? Look around, you're living it!

Where's my fiddle?

georgetheatheist said...

Panem et circenses.

georgetheatheist said...

Ave Caesar, morituri te salutant!

georgetheatheist said...

www.nra.com

Anonymous said...

Because Señor Obama is going to take the wealth from a certain group of high earning people in this country, and redistribute it to another group.

----------

Well, Wade, consider that the accident of birth gave many of those people a good rolodex, and a good portion of the rest of them dont play by the rules (you know, get sued for stock fraud, go to offshore locations for legal tax evasion), it doesnt seem to most of us that this is a problem.

After your buddies the Regan/Bushie team changed the laws to give wealth accumulation to a small elite, while the system either ignored the rest of us, or financed it with our taxes and our future, you are not going to get much sympathy from this community.

After all, as Mark says, 'from those whom much is given, much is expected'. What do you think of that?

Anonymous said...

Welcome to the Untied States of America, and the new racial spoils system!


Actually is the Untried States of Armenia.

But seriously, its called tweeding, and its been going good and strong in places like Queens since the 1800s.

Anonymous said...

Maybe Obmama will clamp on on immigration.

Remember, Nixon opened China. He was from the fire-eating isolationists and was perfect for this. If a democrat would have done it, charges of commie commie would have dogged every step.

Rememeber a good portion of Obama's base are blacks, and immigrants are squeezing them out of jobs, housing, welfare, schools, voting power, etc.

I would not be surprised if he solves the immigrant issue with the same style as Nixon did to solve the Red China issue.

It would capture for him a large segment of the general population who will be squeezed and restive over the next four years - raw meat for Hucklebee and the Republicans.

Immigrants are the 800 pound gurilla. Its big and its there but no one dare say a thing.

He does seem to be different than the tiresome tweeding Queens Machine.

Anonymous said...

wade said...
"These guy's aren't the sharpest knives in the box, but they ain't stupid either. Why do you think they are staying put? Because Señor Obama is going to take the wealth from a certain group of high earning people in this country, and redistribute it to another group."

First of all, any illegals in this country shouldn't hope for too much from Obama. I don't believe he'll do much for them. What is so wrong with helping out poorer segments of our society? You see, that's why the Republicans lost this year. People are so sick of the "rich getting richer". Even Bozo the clown would've won on the democratic ticket. That's how disgusted people are. And why exactly can't the wealthy pay a little more in taxes? Paying a few thousand more is really going to destroy your life? Doubtful. Be kind and generous and try to think of others who are less fortunate than you.

"Also, the illegals probably figure that Señor Obama is going to give them some of these 2 million jobs that will supposedly be created."

I don't know why they would figure that. Americans won't stand for any illegals taking OUR jobs. So many are out of work and about to lose their shirts. Have some more faith in Obama. He may just surprise you.

:)

georgetheatheist said...

Achtung Hell Gate Kid. The New Testament describes VOLUNTARY action. You're supposed to give charity through ELEEMOSYNARY activity.

How in Hell are you gonna get to Heaven through the government FORCING you to shell out your dough?

Anonymous said...

After your buddies the Regan/Bushie team.....

My buddies Regan [sic]/Bushie? Where did I ever say that I support them, Hell Gate Chump? I've publicly supported Ron Paul on this blog several times.

After all, as Mark says, 'from those whom much is given, much is expected'. What do you think of that?

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his need(s)." What do you think of that?

Rememeber a good portion of Obama's base are blacks, and immigrants are squeezing them out of jobs, housing, welfare, schools, voting power, etc.

Couldn't agree with you more on this point. At the very least, Obama should favor American born black citizens in granting patronage jobs. It's the least he could do to those who voted for him en masse.

Have some more faith in Obama. He may just surprise you.

Thus far, his cabinet nominees include: a bunch of Clinton era retreads (Hilary, Bill Richardson, Lawrence Summers); a chief of staff who's disliked by the far left and the far right (Rahm Israel Emmanuel); a treasury secretary who was mentored by Robert Rubin (Timothy Geithner).

No change, and not much hope! But much hype!

Anonymous said...

"Thus far, his cabinet nominees include: a bunch of Clinton era retreads"

You seem to forget that the Clinton years were good ones. And the change Obama was referring to was the CHANGE from the current disastrous administration which thankfully is almost over.

Wade, I heard Obama is thinking of changing our national anthem. Here's a preview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGtFSTL1Nbo

Anonymous said...

Here's a comment from economist Arnold Kling (PhD, MIT), read it and weap!:

"When I see Obama's proposals for a big investment in infrastructure, I get this picture in my head of former mortgage brokers and bond salesmen on highway construction projects wearing hard hats and driving bulldozers. Actually, the employment benefit of infrastructure projects is more likely to go to the illegal immigrants who were laid off from housing construction and who otherwise would be headed back home."

http://econlog.econlib.org/archives
/2008/11/depression_mani.html

Anonymous said...

This site is becoming like Fox and the Republican party. All white, all the time.

Anonymous said...

This site is becoming like Fox and the Republican party. All white, all the time.

Really? Too damn bad!

So, we can logically infer then that you are in favor of the U.S. Government giving Keynesian stimulus jobs to persons who are not U.S. citizens, nor legal residents?

Why not state what your position is, show your cards!

Here's a couple web sites that might interest you, since this one is too "white":

http://www.noi.org
http://www.nclr.org

Loser!

Jeff with one 'f' said...

Italian Girl said...

"What is so wrong with helping out poorer segments of our society?"

Are illegal non-citizens part of "our society"?

It seems to me that they're part of Mexico's (or Guatemala, etc.) society.

Anonymous said...

I see it everywhere. Illegal Asian day workers in Flushing, Illegal day workers from South America in Elmhurst, Various European Day working in Brooklyn. Being hired mostly in the Orthodox community to clean houses. If you don't like it, don't hire a contractor who hire's them.(good Luck) Just about every diner, bar, etc... in our community use's them. You have all been served by them. Their not hard to find.

Ridgewoodian said...

WADE NICHOLS: Ever wondered what the last days of the Roman Empire were like? Look around, you're living it!

Where's my fiddle?


I assume you're referring to the well known saying about Nero playing the lyre during a major fire in Rome. (There's an entertainingly pedantic article about said saying here.) You do know that Nero was, in fact, only the fifth Roman Emperor, ruling from 54-68 AD, and that the Empire in the West limped along for another 400 years after his death, and another 1400 in the East? I know there are no pithy phrases associated with Romulus Augustulus or Constantine XI (XIII) Dragases but I do expect more out of you.

Anonymous said...

pedantic

Yes, you hit the nail right on the head with that word, pedantic.

Petty amazing, huh?

It's safe to say that no one on this board is of the caliber of Victor Davis Hanson, Kenneth W. Harl, or even Robert B. Strassler when it comes to Greek or Roman history, so you can spare the hair-splitting arguments. Most people would understand the main point of my reference though.

Anonymous said...

Hey Ridgwoodian:

NIKA! NIKA! NIKA!

look that one up.

Anonymous said...

Wade, as a graduate of Russian and Eastern European Studies Program at a well known university I find your instuctions amusing - and quite beside the point of this thread. Thesis on Byzantium...

Umm... you never did answer my question on Queens credentials.

Are you typing this at some hidden spa in, lets say, a great tourist destination like Nova Scotia?

Anonymous said...

lets look at the facts they make money here as illegal citizens , the money they make is then sent to there families in other countries removing that money from the american system. they work here say they love america but once the money run dries they wanna leave asap

Anonymous said...

Are you typing this at some hidden spa in, lets say, a great tourist destination like Nova Scotia?

Funny that you mention that. I actually was in Nova Scotia, back in September. A week in Halifax and Cape Breton Island. But I NEVER go on the computer when I'm on vacation, only dullards and Wall Street traders do that.

I'm a legal resident of Queens county.

NIKA! NIKA! NIKA!

Interesting, never knew about that. I just watched a documentary a few weeks ago, Byzantium: The Lost Empire. Had some nice pictures, but not much meat in terms of facts. Kenneth Harl's World of Byzantium course from the Teaching Company is much better.

Anonymous said...

Jeff with one 'f' said...
"Are illegal non-citizens part of "our society"?"

Illegal non-citizens should pack their bags and get lost. We need to make sure the CITIZENS of this country are okay. Anyone who wants to come here should do so legally.

Anonymous said...

http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Queens


Queens County, Canada?!?

Anonymous said...

Hatred is so stupefying.

Don't like tax cuts? Don't like runaway spending?

Blame the congress of the time. Presidents can neither raise taxes nor enact the budget. Presidents are legally required to spend money allocated by congress. Remember the US Supreme court regarding Nixon's plan to sequester funds rather than spend the money?

Who just allocated nearly a trillion dollars to give to our beloved banks and brokers? Who is now ready to give our money to GM?

Exactly what has Obama said about those matters?

Bush had nothing to do with your persistent erectile dysfunction problem. When people tell you to get a grip, they have other ideas for you to think straight.

Read some books. The reading will reduce your hatred.

As for being "kind and generous" and trying "think of others who are less fortunate than you." How sweet. But it's religious talk, not secular state talk. Our constitution has no articles or amendments for "kind and generous" or "thinking of others who are less fortunate".

Taxes and spending are not about "kind and generous", or "thinking of others...".

Unless you believe that the banks and brokers and now GM need our kindness and thoughts. When did these people ever have kind or generous thoughts about you?

Anonymous said...

dont stay because of obama go the fuck home find work there you wanted change right will you got it

Anonymous said...

Blame the congress of the time. Presidents can neither raise taxes nor enact the budget. Presidents are legally required to spend money allocated by congress.

Who just allocated nearly a trillion dollars to give to our beloved banks and brokers? Who is now ready to give our money to GM?


Indeed. And which party currently has the majority in Congress? Hint: It's not the party of George W. Bush.

Anonymous said...

So, we can logically infer then that you are in favor of the U.S. Government giving Keynesian stimulus jobs to persons who are not U.S. citizens, nor legal residents?
Oh Wade.You crack em up.
Why not state what your position is, show your cards!

Here's a couple web sites that might interest you, since this one is too "white":

http://www.noi.org
http://www.nclr.org

Loser!
OK
So Ron Paul is a excellent speaker and advocates for not wasting gifts of foreign policy money to Columbia rightwing paramilitary death squads and Israel and other 6 billion dollar hand outs.Great! I agree with Paul.So why does it sound like you dont agree with Paul all the time.It upsets you that people point out bushs reckless spending for private companies and throwing money at deals for weapons for S Arabia or Israel.Your contradicting yourself Wade.Watch some recent Ron Paul videos from various sites.He doesnt favor what happened the last 8 years and counting.The far right is also friends with some of new picks such as Rahm.Wade your an AYN Rand fan like Greenspan??Wall st loves her too.You claim to be libertarian but you get upset when people point out most of the rights huge mistakes.Paul is not like the nuts from the bush cheney team regime.
Ive talked to you before Hells Gate post.

Anonymous said...

Tax man***Bush had nothing to do with your persistent erectile dysfunction problem. When people tell you to get a grip, they have other ideas for you to think straight.

Read some books. The reading will reduce your hatred.

So you really believe bush had nothing to do with the bailouts??WOW taxman.Dana perino is defending those for her pres.Yes the dems and a lot of republicans also voted for that.GO watch the Hedge fund hearings that are easily available where democrats are grilling the Wall St folks.
*WADESTER:Indeed. And which party currently has the majority in Congress? Hint: It's not the party of George W. Bush.
What happened to your liking Ron Paul wade?Defending the crooks again who can throw democrats bills in the garbage or add loopholes.Have either of you know it alls seen TV or video recently of bush defending the free market and the bailouts???GO watch boys.
Learn! It will reduce your hatred and ignorance warming your swelling angry intestines filled with bitter biased crap.

georgetheatheist said...

Ridgewoodian, Nero may have indeed played the cithara and not the fiddle.

My favorite fiddler is Frank Urbanovich of the Jimmy Sturr Polka Band. Man can he saw that bow!

Also, Bela Fleck's banjoing is nothing to be sneezed at.

What this county needs is a good Blue Grass Band.

Anonymous said...

Waaade is waaaay wrong. Waaaade is from Queens Co Canada!!

But you know, it should be interesting. Obmana, like Wade, is not what he appears to be.

Obama is not part of the American blacks like Rev Al and the Sharptones.

Should be real interting when the American blacks come up to his cosmoplitan ways.

PS Wade has advocated people that regularly appear on Rush's show, nut cases that want states rights (even to the point of sesession!)

PPS One of the definitions of 'chump' is a big piece of meat. Now Wade this is a family board so we will have to end it there.

PPPS George Atheist - if these people got wealth by manipulation, then I seen no problem in them giving it up.

georgetheatheist said...

HellGate. So quote then the Commie Lenin and not Mark the Evangelist.

Anonymous said...

*PS Wade has advocated people that regularly appear on Rush's show, nut cases that want states rights (even to the point of sesession!)

PPS One of the definitions of 'chump' is a big piece of meat. Now Wade this is a family board so we will have to end it there.
Yes exactly HG kid.He doesnt sound like a Ron Paul supporter by what he spouts at all.Maybe Wade needs o read some Paul books for the first time because hes for financial responsibility unlike cheney\bush which he gets so upset when people explain there reckless ways.Its just like reagan,bush senior and clinton favoring NAFTA that the GM ceo's loved letting them ship car factories to other countries but then not acknowledging that on the right.
Wade if quote philosophers, at least look up who your referring to.

Anonymous said...

Wade:Really? Too damn bad!

So, we can logically infer then that you are in favor of the U.S. Government giving Keynesian stimulus jobs to persons who are not U.S. citizens, nor legal residents?
OK:So you have seen the articles recently in the Wall st journal and financial papers quoting him and his love for Ayn Rand's liberating greedy gamble people have to pay when they lose from Wall st or lending institutions.Thats just the free market being its exploiting self that only serves the top 5 %.Without cheap labor,legal or not, Wall st wouldnt living up to its name such as its friend the World bank and WTO to fool you.

Anonymous said...

Greenspan praised Ayn Rand. So you have seen the articles recently in the Wall st journal and financial papers quoting Greenspan and his love for Ayn Rand's liberating greedy gamble people have to pay when they lose from Wall st or lending institutions.

Anonymous said...

Good luck Jose!

Obama is a Harvard man and there will be no freebie handouts for illegals
in a troubled economy.

Better to believe in Santa Claus...ha, ha, ha.

Anonymous said...

taxpayer said...
"Unless you believe that the banks and brokers and now GM need our kindness and thoughts. When did these people ever have kind or generous thoughts about you?"

Wasn't thinking of those greedy, self-serving bastards. The banks and the auto industry deserve to go under. Now we are going to pay for all of their bad decisions and greed. And to think bonuses are STILL on the table for a majority of Wall Street workers after all of this. They'll have the nerve to say "They worked really hard all year and they deserve it". That's a laugh as if other people in other lines of work don't "work hard". But I realize not helping out these institutions hurts us all in the end. These industries haven't shown kindness or generosity to anyone which is precisely why I have no sympathy. Showing generosity to those earning minimum wage, single moms, elderly, people who are ill, in other words people who need it was who I was referring to.

Anonymous said...

Since when was it acceptable to FORCE people to be generous? I work 70 hour weeks. I went to college and graduated with 6 fiqure debt to pay off. These were choices i made in life to get ahead. Why should I now turn over a portion of my check to some cow who poped out 3 kids, dropped out of HS and works 30 hours a week at Wal Mart? What is fair about that? Why are hard work punished and lazyness and poor decisions rewarded?

Anonymous said...

"Why are hard work punished and lazyness and poor decisions rewarded?"

Poor decisions and laziness should never be rewarded but sometimes people find themselves in circumstances that are unavoidable. Sometimes people drop out of school to help support their families. You can't generalize and say they are all lazy. Sometimes grandparents find themselves raising their grandkids. What should they do? Throw them out the street? Many families find themselves under financial strain whether they asked for it or not. Right now there are millions of people with no health insurance. This is okay by you? People become sick and blow threw their savings and lose their homes. The elderly on fixed incomes can barely even buy their meds. As a wealthy nation isn't this a disgrace?

Anonymous said...

Circumstances that are unavoidable?

Like having a baby after having unprotected sex at 16? Or perhaps you mean dropping out of school. Sorry, I don't shed a tear for them. The bible says If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

georgetheatheist said...

If you can send billions and billions of dollars on foreign aid, why not turn that dough around and turn it into domestic aid?

Anonymous said...

The bible says If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat
-----------------
Yep !
Funny how both the Pope and Catholic wants a huge piece of these freeloaders.
They all need to GTF outta here !

I gave a like speech in Mattituck yesterday !

MY LESSON ON THANKSGIVING
Every year around this time, schoolchildren are taught about that wonderful day when Pilgrims and Native Americans shared the fruits of the harvest. "Isn't sharing wonderful?" say these teachers.

Most teachers are unqualified, liberal educated and all miss the point of Thanksgiving.

Because of sharing, the first Thanksgiving in 1623 almost didn't happen. ALL ALMOST STARVED TO DEATH OR WERE MURDERED OVER FOOD !!.

When the Pilgrims first settled the Plymouth Colony, they organized their farm economy along "communal lines" like social programs today.

The goal was to share everything equally, work and produce.
"A chicken in Every pot"
----Yeah right !

Nearly ALL were dead or murdered in 12 months.

Why? When people can get the same return with a small amount of effort as with a large amount, most people will choose to make little effort.

Plymouth settlers faked illness rather than work for a common property. Some even stole, despite their Puritan convictions.

All ended up eating rats, dogs, horses and cats. This went on for two years.

Governor Bradford wrote in his diary. “The colonists began we better assign every family a parcel of land." If they starve its there own dam fault.
The drunks and good for nothings starved to death
The people of Plymouth moved from socialism to private farming. The results were dramatic. It made all hands useful.
Because of the change the first Thanksgiving COULD BE HELD in November 1623.

Why ?
Private is a direct connect effort to reward creating an incentive for people to produce far more. When people know that their future is safe, invest and keep it nice.

But when they fear they will be deprived or can live on freebee's they turn shoddy, tweedy then at last desperate when the free ride runs out.

That's the untold truth of Thanksgiving.

-Joe

Anonymous said...

Wow, Joe, it almost sounds like you were there to witness the "first Thanksgiving." Your mastery of history is equalled only by your command of the English language.

Anonymous said...

Baaa.......

People always use spelling and grammar to dismiss what somebody has to say. ---And if that dont work scream racist ehh ?

It doesnt change the facts !
What Governor Bradfords books as well as many of the original colonists settlers diarys are all lies ?

Most professors and PC correct board of Ed cant stomach it or any truth !