Ignorance and Mexicans

In the news this past week, a Kosher meatpacking plant in Iowa came under investigation for abusing child labor laws after finding several children as young as 16 and under operating heavy duty machinery, and working long hours for very little pay.

As I stated in my very first blog, I really hate when people post things about a news story on the interweb without thinking first. I read the Tribune online daily and came across this story on Tuesday, I believe. After reading the story, I went straight to the comments page and was amazed at how many ignorant racists live in this area. Despite the fact that kids were being exploited for profit, all these knuckleheads could be concerned with was the fact that "we need to deport these illegals...they're stealing the jobs from hardworking, unemployed real americans."

Let's get one thing straight here: obviously, the fat cats at the meatpacking plant don't give two shits about unemployed hardworking legal citizens. They don't hire the Mexicans because they have a soft spot in their hearts for them. They hire them to improve their bottom line. If they can get a bunch of people and their children and pay them next to nothing, that means more money for them. They don't want someone they'll have to provide benefits and real wages to. That's not friendly to their pocketbooks, despite the fact that they could in fact afford to pay people real wages. They're just greedy. Plain and simple. And to have illegal aliens in this country is the best thing in the world to them.

So why are we so upset at illegal aliens "stealing our jobs"? Would you even want to work for a company like that? Why isn't anyone angry at the greedy bastards going out of their way to employ them, if people supposedly care so much? Is it just easier to be upset at Mexicans and think that, "well, if they weren't around, the companies wouldn't be able to hire them"? Come on, look at the jobs they are working. Let's face it, were an elist country. No matter how down in the dumps someone is, they'd rather not do the jobs that we see many Mexican workers doing. I know I don't want to get up at six am and spend all day in the hot sun, cutting some rich fucker's grass. And they really shouldn't have to either.

We've got to start showing some anger towards the jerks of the world, the ones willing to employ Mexicans for low cost but unwilling to treat them like real people. We need to start showing anger towards the genius who said, "oh, you have a son? Bring him in, we'll put him to work on the bone slaw." Because I guarantee his kids ain't working for peanuts. I doubt they even work at all.

And now...an update

I still don't have a tv. I've been forced to watch my 'Family Guy' dvds on the computer or the portable dvd player. I'm not sure that I even miss television, really, since Bravo has started showing shit now. I mean, 'Jo and Slade: Date My Ex'? Really? And now I've heard that they will show a 'Real Housewives of Atlanta'. I guess they realized that their other two 'Housewives' shows were lacking, um, diversity, and so they decided to go full-on stereotypical by showcasing video hoes who just happened to marry into money. Um, no thank you. Bring back my classy Orange County ladies, Bravo!! Please! Or at least show me some Michelle Obamas. There's a fine example of a lady with money who doesn't look like she just stepped out of the club.

Moving on...

After much arguing and lobbying and watching the demise of two "treasured" co-workers, I was finally able to wrangle a promotion out of Cheap-Toys-Made-in-China-That-Contains-Lead-in-Their-Paint 'R' Us. After applying for the position of Human Resources Manager, my boss told me that, although the District Manager was going to give the job to someone with a Human Resources degree (I honestly didn't know people went to school for that), she was willing to cut a deal with me. She made me a shift manager, which is only a step or two above where I was before. The only difference is that now I get to boss teenagers around and I don't have to be bothered with shitty customers unless it is utterly necessary. By season (Christmas), I'll be a floor manager, which means I won't have to deal with customers at all' I just have to make sure my area of responsibility is on-par with corporate standards. After Christmas, if I stick around and if I do a good job in those two positions, I'll have the option to apply for a corporate job.

This may not seem impressive to most folks, since it is just retail and we all have crappy retail experiences, but I actually enjoy working there most days, even when dickhead customers yell at me. Plus, now I'm spending more time at work instead of at home, staring at a blank tv screen, wondering why the mayor had to go and break it.

Since I've been without a tv for a month, can someone fill me in on who the Jonas Brothers are? Are they important? And should I care? I'm not being sarcastic. I just get a lot of questions about them at the 'R' and I have no idea who they are.

For Labor Day Weekend, Halbastram and I ventured to the Bristol Renaissance Faire in Kenosha. It's like going to Six Flags, but with no rides and weird hippies and nerds everywhere. It costs about $40 to get inside (for the two of us) and then once you're in, the only thing left to do is spend money. Even the performers ask for money, during their show I might add. At first I thought that they were being funny, pretending to be beggars. But after the show, the guy stands at the back of the aisles with a bucket, seriously collecting monies. Um, what?? And he was encouraging upwards of $20. Anything lower would just be "ok."

The highlight of my day at the Faire was having some large wench with ginormous breasticles shove a strawberry in my mouth. It was quite erotic, indeed.

If only everyday could be like that...