McCain knew that immigrants outwork Americans
SAN DIEGO -- In tribute to John McCain, this Labor Day weekend I'm serving up straight talk about the American work ethic.
McCain was, of course, an early champion of comprehensive immigration reform -- including a path to earned citizenship for some undocumented immigrants.
The Arizona senator had a powerful ally on his side: reality. Protesters would get in his face and challenge his claim that illegal immigrants do jobs that American citizens wouldn't take.
Fed up, McCain at one point gave an audience a personal offer. The senator told them: "I'll offer anybody here $50 an hour if you'll go pick lettuce in Yuma ... and pick for the whole season. So, OK, sign up!" There wasn't exactly a flood of applications.
Today, in the agricultural hub of Central California, farmers tell me they're paying $30 per hour to pick tomatoes and $40 per hour to pick melons. On the coast, they're paying $60 per hour to pick avocados. They still can't find enough workers.
Is this the glorious American work ethic that we're all celebrating this weekend?
Setting aside one day a year to honor the nation's workers by not working -- and instead engaging in leisure activities such as barbecuing and going to the beach -- seems bizarre. This is especially true when there is a labor shortage and more vacant jobs than there are people who are willing and able to do them.
Remember just a few years ago when people used to say there were no jobs and that no was hiring?
Look around your town. When have you ever seen so many "Help Wanted" signs? Restaurants, dry cleaners, florists, drugstores. They all need employees.
Who's going to do those jobs? Probably not your kid. The percentage of teenagers with summer jobs was this year at an all-time low.
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