To the Budgeteer:
Within the past 15 months, the town of Branson, Mo., took on a major development regarding the construction of a new $400 million shopping complex known as Branson Landing.
Once the green light for development was given, full-page ads were run in the area newspapers requesting laborers. Though wages for the most part run considerably lower in this area, I've been told that in regards to the construction of what was to be built, the pay was good. However, few workers came knocking.
To solve matters, work crews were recruited from the West Coast -- Mexico being included. As a result, the project, though it seems nearly impossible, was completed in a year's time. Visitors who had traveled to this area a little over a year ago and had witnessed a mile-long parking lot could not believe what they were seeing 12 months later.
I've heard comments made such as, "Who is willing to work for $7 an hour?" or "Were those from Mexico working legally or illegally?"
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When this is one's defense, I see it as having little merit. Those workers who were recruited from south of the border are known to work very hard. They appear to know their trades well, are willing to put in long hours and faithfully show up for work without complaining. I also see many of them willing to share motel rooms with other workers -- sometimes a half dozen to one unit while in the area. When payday comes along, many of them send a good portion of their earnings back to Mexico to help out their family members and try to build a better life.
It seems to me that here in the United States, we've come up with somewhat of a different plan, one in which far too many young people are concerned mainly over the amount of pay they are to receive and what benefits will be available to them -- many of whom could care less if they even show up for work.
As a result of the lifestyles they themselves have created, far too many choose to live with their parents. This is why today we see many grandparents not only supporting their children, but in some cases their grandchildren.
I've run across hundreds of young people from foreign countries who are in the United States seeking an education -- most of whom strive for their master's degree. As a result, many of them end up with very high-paying jobs.
The recourse of many Americans is to say that we are being overrun by those foreigners. How do you overrun a country of people who are lying down? If we ever lose this country of ours, we've ourselves to thank for it as we've allowed it to happen.
The attitudes and work ethic of far too many young people in the United States stink -- especially when it comes to their belief that they are owed a living.
While we still boast of being the strongest and richest nation in the world, we are being held hostage by those living in caves. Are you wondering what city of ours will be their next target?
For too many years now, we as Americans have kept our heads far in the sand, assuming these problems will eventually go away.
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It's different, however, when it's us who created those problems by our failing to tend to business.
Jimmy Luhm
Branson, Mo. (formerly of Duluth)
