"Americans don't want to milk cows..."

... not at the wages you pay the illegal immigrants you hire instead. That comment came from one Joe Wright, a dairy farmer in Avon Park, Florida.

See, Avon Park wanted to pass a law (similar to one proposed in Hazleton, Pa.) that fined landlords who rented to illegal immigrants and penalized businesses that hired them. The vote was very close to passing, until Councilwoman Brenda Gray (also the only black person on the Council) got "cold feet" and swung the vote against the proposal. Yes, I am questioning her motives, in case you don't get my sarcasm.

Let's be real here, people. Illegal immigrants prevent Americans from getting jobs because they provide a huge financial incentive (lower wages, since they are not subject to minimum-wage laws) to businesses. I would think that any proud American who owns a business would be proud to take a little less profit so that another fellow American can also work towards living out the American Dream.

However, in Bush's United Corporations Against Americans, Americans should be proud only to have mo' money, mo' money, and mo' money, regardless of how many Americans they hurt in acquiring that money.

I, for one, would be glad to pay more for a product when I know that product was made in America by Americans that were making a living wage. No one exists in a vacuum, no matter how much money one has. If you want society to get better, start by helping others in the society better themselves. All the rest will follow.

-R.