Oh, you've got it slightly wrong...

i do?

Where are you from, jay

Netherlands

ah, got it

So, in the United States, we've got labor laws.

Minimum wage is $7.25/h

but, you see, that only applies to... LEGAL employees....

yes

when they do the whole 'terk muh jerb' meme

they're referring to illegal immigrants who come in, accept less than minimum wage for work, and live 8 people to a room in a house somewhere

occasionally, they might make a decent amount from under-the-table work

yes

I'm not so sure they generally collect wellfare

some might find a way

technically, everyone pays taxes at the store.

well true on that part

but i meant like the under the table work

If theres no illegals to do those jobs, the people who need them done will either have to do it themselves, or pay someone legally

and that would allow someone to start a business to fulfill those jobs again

But, I mean, after the hurricane that hit Texas, I tried to find work installing drywall.

I couldn't find work, because I wasn't willing to accept $5/h for that work.

not when they could hire a crew to do a whole house in an afternoon at that rate.

exactly

and my liberal progressive friend was trying to make it sound like I should count myself lucky that they're here.

yeah, fuck that.

but thats one of those free market principles

If the job needs doing and theres not enough people willing to accept "Wage A"

The power lies with those in need of <Group>

If theres too much work needed to be done, the power lies with the workers, cuz they can demand more money

If theres too much workers, the power lies with the employer who can just say, i'll pay the one that demands the least

so for minimum wage people, its very beneficial to get rid of illegal workers

^ ^ ^ absolutely

Either abolish illegal immigrants

or abolish minimum wage

one or the other. You can't have both exist.

And our minimum wage, for the most part, dictates the price of goods

exactly

so neither should exist

I'd be okay with that, too.

i mean, the idea of higher minimum wages shound nice

but employers that need to pay more wages won't take it out of their own salaries, they'll charge the consumer

I lived in DC.

like a store would just up its prices

19/h there

was the equivalent of 12/h elsewhere

not TOO bad

but not great.

also, more like 10/h elsewhere