Chinese Labor and American Immigration
Rumor has it the end of cheap labor is coming to China. I really doubt that is true, but at least it is looking better for some Chinese workers in terms of receiving something similar to fair wages.
We know that corporations are always ahead of the game when it comes to figuring out where to go when labor strengthens beyond their comfort zone. What will most likely happen in China is that we will see some internal migration to fill vacant jobs and some companies will move inland to continue exploiting poor people. China will probably attract foreign immigrants to fill low wage jobs as well. Some companies will most likely leave and settle elsewhere, so they don’t have to pay fair wages. China’s government is taking these matters seriously – viewing the country’s wealth disparity as a bad thing. Even if the country’s infrastructure is not yet ready to handle all of its internal issues, it is reaching out to rural areas and looking for ways to progress. Read more
The March for America
The big March for America happened on March 21 in Washington D.C. where thousands of people from all around the nation gathered and marched to ask the U.S. government for immigration reform.
Working as a volunteer in the days before the big march, I held several conversations with people who were getting ready to travel to Washington D.C. It was amazing to listen to how people organized themselves in their own communities, even when they encountered many difficulties and barriers. Families got together to rent vans or find other transportation, single mothers pooled their resources for babysitting , students formed traveling groups, and hundreds of workers waited for paychecks in order to pay their way to the Capitol.
The necessity of immigration reform is something that can’t be ignored any longer. Millions of immigrant workers want to buy homes, new vehicles or start businesses that would help the country get out of the bad economic situation. Read more
Eating with a Conscience
Ever since I moved to the US I have really enjoyed going out to eat with my family and friends. I’ve been to many unique, fine and also hole-in-the-wall restaurants. In the past year however I cut down on how much I eat out and I’m becoming more conscience of my food purchases. It’s really hard since I live in a small town and my choices are limited. When I travel and have more options, I try to look for locally owned establishments or places that are recommended to me. Often, I make an effort to ask the wait staff if they know where the food comes from. If I know that the meat comes from a place that mistreats worker, then I do not order meat. As my friend says, “it’s hard to eat when you have a conscience.”
Just last week I was in New York at a gathering of food industry organizers and workers, including representatives and workers from the meat industry. Meat packing jobs are mostly held by immigrant, refugees and workers of color, who still face many challenges such as discrimination and low wages. The same issues are faced by restaurant and field workers across America who pick our fruits and vegetables. The goal in bringing together workers from all across the food chain was to protect and promote worker place safety, fair wages and promote justice, so that we can continue to improve the safety and quality of our food. Read more
It’s Morning in America Again
I love those mornings!
You know the type of morning I’m talking about. The kind of morning when you wake up early and you have the whole day ahead of you. The sun is slowly rising in the east and your calendar is clear. You don’t have to work, your bills are paid (or at least up to date), there’s food in the fridge and no one gets to dictate what the day will hold for you. You can sit and quietly read the paper, take in the guilty pleasure of early morning TV, or surf the net without a care in the world.
Maybe you surprise the kids and take them to the park. Maybe you spend the time fishing, enjoying the quiet of the river. It’s not what you do that matters, but rather that the day is yours. These mornings are like a breath of fresh air that chase away the tension and stress of life. You savor the day, and at night when you close your eyes you know that it will be the memory of this day that will sustain you through the hard times. Read more
Isolation Bad, Globalization Good
I don’t think isolationism should influence American foreign policy and here’s why:
The rise of isolationist foreign policies is in response to globalization. And Why?
When our American economy competes globally, so does our individual income. In result, how much we make per hour or each year competes with the standard amount of money people make in various countries.
So, if we can agree our cost of living is higher than developing countries, than we can also agree the amount of money we make is also higher.
Therefore, if we compete within global markets, our individual wages and economic standards of living will decline.
So, is this a good read more
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