Colorado Lawmaker Calls Mexican Workers 'Illiterate Peasants'

[Jeff Z.]

Probably not the nicest way to put it, but do they?

State Rep. Douglas Bruce, who has a history of provoking controversy, made the comment during debate on a bill that would allow the state to help immigrant workers get temporary federal visas. The measure is intended to ease a shortage of farm workers in the state.
"I would like to have the opportunity to state at the microphone why I don't think we need 5,000 more illiterate peasants in Colorado," Bruce said.

FOXNews.com - Colorado Lawmaker Calls Mexican Workers 'Illiterate Peasants' - Politics | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Political Spectrum

[7960]

poor choice of words, but if we whip out our thesaurus and change it to "5,000 under-educated laborers" can you say he's wrong?

[motivez]

Yeah, it's hyperbole used for effect, but he's not technically wrong.. he could have used more respectful words, whatever you want to say about the illegal immigrants who come here to work, the vast majority of them work very hard for the money they earn..

I think our immigration policy should be primarily focused on bringing the best and brightest in the sciences, etc, to the country so we can continue being a world leader in innovation, but ultimately someone has to do the "Dirty Jobs" when Mike Rowe is on vacation, so we need unskilled workers as well.

[goldenponderbob]

Shortages of farm workers in Colorado?

Well, obviously the information hasn't reached literate peasant community.

It's despressing to simply learn what this fellow thinks is not needed.

Doesn't correcting a shortage require a plan?

Has this fellow has nothing positive to offer?

Perhaps the average literate farm worker cannot earn enough to pay for rent, food, health, taxes and raise a family in his fair state?

Perhaps the problem isn't imported ititerates?

Maybe it's basic economic reality.

Is that something a state representative could do someting about?

What a coincidence shortages in Colorada of both farm workers and literate legislators?

Hmmmmmmmm

[Phantom]

Originally Posted by motivez

Yeah, it's hyperbole used for effect, but he's not technically wrong.

When did it become acceptable to stereotype a population based on where they are born? His comments might be generally true, but I don't think that makes them socially acceptable.

Say something similar about poor inner-city children and you will have several Reverends picketing your place of employment - for good reason, there are always exceptions to the general.

[motivez]

Originally Posted by Phantom

When did it become acceptable to stereotype a population based on where they are born? His comments might be generally true, but I don't think that makes them socially acceptable.

Say something similar about poor inner-city children and you will have several Reveredns picketing your place of employment.

It's talking about farm workers specifically though, who aren't known as being the most intellectually advanced crowd.. sometimes stereotypes are true..

I don't know that I'd call them illiterate, but un-edcuated / unskilled (ie: lacking a degree) would probably be true for most of them.

[7960]

The legislator from colorado was plenty literate.

It's spelled illiterate, not ititerates.

Basic economic reality is that educated people aren't picking crops on a farm.

He seemed to have something positive to offer, his opinion on whether we need more "ititerates" in their state.

It figures a democrat removed him from the microphone before he could finish his talk.

It's fairly annoying reading posts typed like this.

[7960]

Originally Posted by motivez

It's talking about farm workers specifically though, who aren't known as being the most intellectually advanced crowd.. sometimes stereotypes are true..

I don't know that I'd call them illiterate, but un-edcuated / unskilled (ie: lacking a degree) would probably be true for most of them.

He wasn't talking about farm workers......he was talking specifically about Mexican immigrant farm workers.

Of course what he said was probably rude. Someone should yell at him for it and organize a rally to vote him out in the next election.

[motivez]

I didn't click the article, just read the quote highlighted in the OP, are they coming only from Mexico or from other countries as well?

[kombayn]

We do have a problem with immigration, when you're allowing non-U.S. citizens to have a piece of the welfare, unemployment and other subsides pie, such as Social Security... It's not cool. I'm all for a guest worker program as long as they can't touch our social programs, it's not our responsibility to take care of them unless they have a proper work visa but those workers are generally making a high income wage.


My old roommate who is moving out this week into his own apartment (good for him, his g/f is moving over here to be with him) is from Hungary. He had a visitor visa and just over-stayed his welcome, but before it expired, he got a social security card (which I don't really agree with, but he needs it to work) and a driver's license. He's a hard worker, he's a bartender and a bar-back, he also saves a ton of money to send back home so he'll have a nice retirement fund for him and his family. He doesn't ask for hand-outs and he does his work. He pays his taxes and lives like a U.S. citizen. Illegals run rampant here, and they'll still work even if they can't get our benefits from the social system. Which is fine, and it'll solve a lot of problems too. Check out Arizona, they've handled that situation really well and still illegals are allowed to work as the ones who wanted hand-outs have left.

So basically, I'm in favor of a guest-worker program as long as they cannot get their hands on our social hand-outs. Tax-payers don't need to pay for that.

[TankRizzo]

I'm so sick of arguing about language while the real issues get pushed to the side.

[goldenponderbob]

I should have not proofed myself better.

I had only intended to bring out the idea that "farm worker shortages" in Colorado striuck me as as being more important than this poor fellow's characterizations regarding foreign born peasantry.

I was wondering whether there might be Americans who would spend their summer working the farmlands of Colorado, but probably couldn't afford it.

[7960]

Originally Posted by goldenponderbob

I was wondering whether there might be Americans who would spend their summer working the farmlands of Colorado, but probably couldn't afford it.

as long as there are social programs that send you a check for not working, would you rather bust your ass in a field or get nearly as much sitting on your ass at home?