Unfortunately there is an illegal alien problem around Pittsfield the largest town in the Berkshires. It basically focuses on availability of housing. It is easier to make money renting a small house to affluent tourists. There is a lot of cheap mill worker housing in Pittsfield while there is nowhere as much cheap housing in the resort towns like Stockbridge or in Great Barrington which is where the American bussers in this anecdote probably lived.

Sam Farr held a telephone town hall on July 16 which at first seemed like a very valuable tool, to be able to directly ask our congressman a question. However, after a few questions I realized that his screeners were selecting questions which when answered, allowed the good congressman to tout his successes rather than honestly address more controversial topics.
(You can listen to the call here: http://www.farr.house.gov/images/stories/Video/july%2016%202008%20townha...)

There were no questions on immigration asked during this telephonic town hall even though I’m certain I was not the only person waiting patiently for the opportunity to ask. Although I left my question on a machine for an email response at a later time, I have not yet received my answer. My question is:

“Congressman Farr, while you acknowledge that small businesses and communities lose out to corporate mega stores who pay low wages, offer no benefits and send the profits gained out of the community, you promote, protect and encourage illegal immigrant laborers who pay no taxes, take jobs away from local small businesses such as carpenters, painters and landscape companies, then send the bulk of their money out of our communities. Clearly this is a contradictory position - would you please explain this inconsistency and why you oppose E-Verify, which would eliminate the job magnet for illegal foreign workers and once again open up whole occupations to the American workers of all ethnicities that have been shut out.”

Increasingly, from my perspective, politicians are completely out of touch with the average American – I suppose we can attribute this to your being insulated by the wealth provided through public service, which pays all of your costs; living expenses, travel expenses, global ‘fact finding’ trips, 100% of your insurance, your staff’s wages and much more. Of course you earn this taxpayer largess since you work in congress for a grand total of 151 days this year alone. Impressive. At $165,200 per year base pay, that works out to slightly over $1094.00 per day. Yes, I would say that puts you completely out of touch with the average American.

"If you're not a liberal when you're 25, you have no heart. If you're not a conservative by the time you're 35, you have no brain."

On my recent trip to Plymouth, MA I noticed the very same thing. All the hotel staff, restaurant workers and store clerks were local. There was not one immigrant that I noticed in my 5 day stay. It was so nice to talk to people who had grown up in the area, had the great local accent and who knew where the best places to eat were. After living in southern California for 22 years it was a very welcome change for me to come home to upstate New York. And now I know I can vacation in small town New England and meet people who have a long history in the region which makes for a more interesting trip.

I would like to offer a rebuttal to Steve3931 of MO, who claimed that the all American labor phenomenon in the Berkshires is viable only because "the people who live there are rich and can pay American help decent wages."

Steve: Those rich people in the Bershires could be realizing greater profits if they catered to cheap labor; why aren't they?

Also, businesses in other states such as Ohio and Wisconsin, where the illegal alien population is relatively sparse, are still making a viable profit without illegal aliens. It's clear that pure greed is in most cases the motivational factor in hiring illegal aliens.

Hope this comment is not misunderstood, but those who want cheap labor tend to forget the early part of this country. I don't believe in slavery and none of my South Carolina relatives owned a slave, but even slave labor was not cheap.
The Plantation owners, cared for their slaves, by providing them with 2 pair of shoes each year, everyday clothes made right on the plantation of durable material, paid for their health care and even some extra large plantations had a resident physician. Housing was provided for them, churches were remodeled to provide seating for the slaves and many slaves were given time off on the weekend to attend church and in their spare time grew their own gardens and were allowed to sell their garden vegetables to others in town.
It is rather unique that some of the proponents of cheap labor come from states that abhored slavery and produced the abolitionists that tried to turn a war of econmics into a war over slavery.
I guess my question would be, "Will we ever be satisfied; slavery of people or slavery of wages? It seems some just can't get it right!

Many Americans beleive we need many more immigrant workers because this nation is dominated by a socialist media and congress.

I agree. We visited Vermont two years ago and all the jobs, including hotel housekeeping, street work, restaurant worker positions, etc. were all filled by Americans doing jobs Americans won't do. In fact, there are no jobs American won't do if the wages were not driven down by greedy employers hiring illegals. By the way, there was a notable absence of Hispanics in Burlington, Vermont. I wonder why that is.
Vermont liberals, like all other liberals are two-faced. If they had the influx of illegal aliens siphoning off government services that Arizona has to contend with and were driving down wages in their own state, they might "get" it...but then again they might not. We are living out a post World War II novel called "Biedermann und die Brandstifter{Arsonists)," by Max Frisch, where the main character rents an attic to two shady characters, whom he suspected were no good to begin with, but whom he could not muster the courage to confront as they committed one "boundary violation" in his house after the other. Even when he saw them bringing oil drums into his house, he took no stand. Ultimately, they burned his house down. While the Novelle is speaking against those who failed to act to counter Hitler during the early stages of his rise to power, I believe that it speaks against all ineffectual responses to important societal issues - out of timidity, expediency or "political correctness." As our government continues to permit an invasion of our soil via the Mexican border and denies the negative impact illegal aliens have on our government services, hospital services and our economy generally, it sets the stage for the collapse of our economy and culture. Indeed, the Arizona Republic continues to refer to captured illegals as "suspected undocumented immigrants." Hello, is anybody home?

If the economy keeps going the way it is now this type of job is going to become increasingly important to many Americans. American workers should not have to compete with imported labor, legal or illegal.

I work two jobs due to real estate being depressed. I am a certified residential appraiser and I work in an intensive care unit 3 - 12 hour shifts a week. The hospital I work at has no illegal aliens working in any part of the hospital unlike every other business here in Las Vegas, NV. The hotels here are full of them, All of McDonalds use them, try ordering in English, you won't get the right food order! All the gardening jobs are taken by illegal aliens and 98% of construction jobs. The list goes on, and on. Senator Reid does nothing because I think the hotels fund his campaigns. By the way, there are literally thousands of homeless individuals and families living here in the Las Vegas area that could use jobs and can't get them because of the illegal aliens working for less than minimum wages here and because they do not have an address to put down on an application. Look again to our law makers who have failed us on the greatest levels of all, our right to work and feed, house and clothe our families.

I find it so outrageous that anyone would say that there is any job an american will not do. I was raised in NC and during the summer, kids picked cucumbers, tobacco, cotton or what ever crop they could to earn money for school. We were taught that any job was a good job. We were paid minimum wage and thought we were lucky to have a job. In high school I worked at a local grocery store after school and then I babysat for a lady at night, all to have my own money. When my daughter started highschool I told her time to get a job, if you want your own money. She applied for so many jobs but could not find one for over a year. Wonder how many illegals got those jobs? When she graduated from high school she wanted to move back to NC so that she could afford to live on her own and go to college. Of course she did not qualify for in state tuition but any illegal immigrant could. She had to find a job and live in NC for a year before she could go to college without it costing a arm and a leg. She was willing to do any job but again it took forever for her to find a job, she was willing to accept minimum wage by the way. Wonder who got all those jobs she applied for.

Roy thank you so much for standing up for the American people. We need to make a change whether congress thinks we do or not.

Hola Roy

Thanks for your heartening report. Having resided in Berkshire County '65-'82, I've retained some connection since.

It is possible that the key word here is "visible"; a friend has been able to hire an illegal to clean her house, etc., without difficulty.

The county seat, Pittsfield, has been resistant to business development, and drove a large manufacturing segment of GE out thru relentless enviroharrasment.

My sense of the county is that it has turned more socialist than the remainder of the P. R. of Mexichusetts - if that's possible. The local Berkshire Eagle is far left. Sorprisa!

One factor that may defacto minimize hoards of illegal pickpockets in Berkshire County: Section 8 housing certs are looted by residents of the Springfield area, alerted to the issuance and queued at the Pittsfield office early.

Keep up the great work,
B.~

Roy,
You hit the nail on the head! I currently have 2 teenagers (16 & 17) and niether one has been able to find a part time job here in South Florida.

OMG Now I get it! The greedy ultra rich bosses believe that if you create a job- with no benefits- it must be filled, because they created it, and because no average American (Except a kid living with his/her family and having medical etc from them) must be filled.
A big part of the problem we all should recognize is CAFTA, NAFTA and all the other bogus trade agreements they've created to help our greedy corporations become even greedier multi national corporations!
After they've wiped out jobs in central and south America they are drooling at the prospects of these poor people coming here to now work and live like slaves to further enhance their greedy life styles.

The USA has destroyed its very best work force, and that is our teenagers. I use to be one of them many years ago. In 1968 at the age of 13 I bought a new 175 motorcycle with governers on the intakes, because I was to young to have such a powerfull bike. In 1971 at the age of 16 I bought a like new 1969 Ford Mustang that still had the new car smell, and in 1973 at the age of 18 I bought the very best 1972 Ford truck that could be found. We call them "kids", and "children", but I use to be one of them--and the teenagers of the USA are the greatest work force on the face of this earth.

How was I able to buy such items as a teenager? I worked for hillbilly farmers--those folks who would pay for my true labor. Those folks who gave me the best pay I have ever known, and those folks who actually "Loved Me". My home phone buzzed with activity as these folks asked for my help, and they paid me well for my energy as a young person. Plenty of food, plenty of drinks, plenty of Love from the families, plenty of pay. My Dad and Mom also supported me and helped me along this path.

As time passed, the local plumbers and electricians were calling my home. And as a young man, do you think that your sewer problems would stop me in any way? NO!! There was not a job on this earth that I would not do--and again I was paid very well by these local folks I worked for. I was as if I were a Son to them, and given plenty of food, drink, respect, honor, pay, and LOVE!!! Shall we have traded this for illegal immigration and the idea of international? The result is what we have now--pure hogwash!!! Will we ever return to the days of decency--well as long as I live I am never going to give up trying.

At this time I'd like to say in Kentucky, the illegal alien situation isn't scary, yet.
Russellville did get some of the illegals run out of Tn. and Ga.
The sad thing is they live in 2/3 room shacks and no panes in windows, porches falling down, etc.; simply disgusting houses but in the back, side and front yards are $30,000 trucks, sometimes as many as 3 per house.
Comments anyone??

Great blog - my son, who is 17, can not find a job either (for the second summer in a row). One other side effect: when I was a teen (way back in the 80s) I worked at McDonalds, Wendys and Arbys during high school and college, and the management was concerned with cleanliness - which tanslated into a work ethic and clean stores. I lived in Central and South America for 8 years, and when I look at the restrooms, restaurants and public areas in the US lately, I feel as though I am in Latin America again. The general level of customer service and concern for hygiene, etc. has greatly deteriorated. It is impractical to think that thousands of illegal immigrants arrive daily with the customs, respect for the law, and values of the average American citizen. While I speak fluent Spanish, I often opt not to, especially when someone's English is terrible - they really need to practice their English much more than I need to practice my Spanish!

I really wish our politicians would get a clue - I feel as though we are on the tracks waving our arms as the train is about to derail, and no one is paying attention.

I find it interesting that the people making this argument about how Americans don't want these jobs justify their views. They claim to be humane, when in fact their viewpoint basically endorses paying illegals sub-minimum wages. These people live in poverty... and this is *humane*? I don't know about you, but I would call that slavery! Why are we encouraging businesses and individuals to avoid all the taxes they need to pay? Why do they get a pass to hire these people when it robs money out of all of our pockets?

I believe in the law, and people need to follow it. If we don't enforce the laws, no-one will. I dearly wish these liberal "supporters" of illegal immigration would think about what they are really supporting.... slavery.

I would like to thank Roy Beck for all that he is doing. The Berkshires, Americans do these jobs article showed quite a few things.
It shows that the nations elitist don't have to shop,work, or play with immigrants legal or illegal. They are not impacted by people that are not acclimated to the laws,lanquage or way of life of the legal immigrants that make up this country. They don't have to dodge throngs of anchor babies at the market or be told that their childs school can no longer afford extra curricular activity due to rising costs of educating the high influx of immigrants. You can bet when they go out to eat it won't be someone they can't understand serving them. Most of all, I am sure they don't have legal or illegal immigrants living in their nieghborhood with no regard nor understand of their city codes and laws.
I have lived between Rhode Island and North Carolina since I was a child. My mothers parents were both immigrants, Canada and Ireland. They payed their way they learned our lanquage respected our laws payed thier taxes and became Americans. There were a lot of Portuguese immigrants in Rhode Island when I was growing up. They also did as my grandparents did, they became Americans. Not Irish American not Canadian American not Portuguese American. They flew the American flag. They worked the mills the roads and restaurants as Americans. They didn't drain our education systems with illegal non tax paying families. They held legitimate, sponsored, tax paying jobs. They didn't rely on social services to give them a leg up they did it themselves to be American.
When I divorced and became a single mother with no college education I didn't get a leg up. I held onto and cherished one of those jobs Americans won't do. I worked 70 hrs a week with taxes deducted and minimum wage. I watched the industry change as the local high school kids disappeared and immigrants took their place for more money . Yes I said more money!!! Those kids didn't get their money tax free under the table like their replacements. I don't believe the communities that are frequented by the elite have to worry about non english speaking service industry workers. I just wish I could afford to live in that America.

As we members of NumbersUSA know, many politicians fail to ask or answer the basic question. Who was doing this type of work before the illegals invaded our labor markets? Answer: American citzens......My daughter was the only member of her teenage friend group to have a job last summer. She was a qualified lifeguard at the neighborhood pool, a job non-english speakers cannot have. Her friends had no jobs because all of the entry level and summer-type jobs had been taken by illegals. How can we train our children to work, obey supervisors, manage paychecks and gain experience if there are no jobs for them at the entry level?

Don

Perhaps if the same congressmen and women that tell us Americans won't do these jobs would stop giving handouts in the form of foodstamps and welfare then MORE Americans WOULD apply for these jobs. Instead it's far more effective to claim to be displaced from work by some contrived or imagined circumstance and collect a government check. If stopping the jobs magnet of illegal immigration was hand in hand with stopping the welfare magnet for citizens our problems would be solved overnight. If, however, some congressmen and women get their ways, and the illegals become eligible for more entitlement programs, there will be far less working illegal immigrants, and far longer welfare lines.

This report comes as no surprise to me. There's no shortage of willing workers. There is a shortage of thinking people in DC who listen to well-funded interests whose object is to hire illegals at substandard wages.

Even before the housing bubble burst, I saw, in my employment in commercial insurance, many small contractors being forced to cut back on personnel because of competition from illegals and those who hire them.

What's even more aggravating is seeing young or inexperienced Americans not even being considered for entry level jobs because they're required to speak the language of these interlopers.

There's no other country in the world that would accept such nonsense. Why should we? The only reason is that these elitists in Congress want to legalize their underpaid nannies and satisfy a new generation of immigrants (they hope) who refuse to assimilate.

If you travel to the Adirondacks, that great vast wilderness in upstate New York, you will also find these jobs to be taken by native born Americans. In both the Berkshires and the Adirondacks both, there is a strong proud tradition of self reliance and hard work

Here on the Alabama Gulf Coast Eastern Europeans are recruited to work in the beach businesses. They are housed together and given transportation. I cannot imagine why someone doesn't recruit Americans from places where jobs are scarce and give them the same treatment. The season lasts from April to October. This unfortunately does not coincide with summer break for American students, but surely there are young people eager for work experience in a pleasant environment who would come if only recruited here in our country.

I have been out of work since Dec. 20, 2007 and would be more than happy to do any of those jobs they say Americans won't do. Even though I am currently working on a Masters of Divinity I am not too proud to scrub a toilet or do any other job as long as it does not compromise my Christian convictions.

I also have a teenage son who will be a senior this year and he has not been able to find a job. Why is it so hard for Americans wanting to work to find a job; yet when I drive by a construction site almost nine out of ten of the workers are Hispanic?

I do not own my house but as I watch the news I often wonder how many more Americans are going to have to lose their homes before they realize the drain that illegal immigration is putting on our economy. Here in North Carolina almost everyday there is news of another place laying off workers or closing. Yet how are we to find jobs when illegal immigration is so out of control in our state? And if people cannot find jobs they cannot pay for their homes or anything else.

Great Blog!!
I've seen a dramatic shift in Utah. In the 90's mostly white, english speaking American kids were busing tables, serving the fast food, etc. Now those jobs are predominantly occupied by hispanics. Naturally people want to work with who they identify with and are comfortable with, I have heard many times that it's hard to take those jobs and be the only english speaking person on the job. It's a terrible trend that continues to worsen in a state that has experienced a 300% increase in hispanics (not all of them illegal, but one has to wonder).