http://www.midwest-populistamerica.com/articles/the-pc-rampage-and-its-consequences-for-public-dialog/ Making America Safe for Democracy Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:05:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 http://www.midwest-populistamerica.com/articles/the-pc-rampage-and-its-consequences-for-public-dialog/#comment-968 Sun, 18 Feb 2007 17:31:51 +0000 http://www.midwest-populistamerica.com/articles/the-pc-rampage-and-its-consequences-for-public-dialog/#comment-968 I would like to thank Russell Cole for his insightful and even handed commentary. Having lived in Southern California for 35 years, I can directly address some of the issues Mr. Cole has brought up. The influx of both legal and "illegal/undocumented" low skill workers into Southern California has most definitely depressed wages for other lmedium-low skill workers. Twenty years ago many trades, such as drywall work, were done by native born Americans living middle class lifestyles (owned a house, etc.) Today, almost all that work is done by recent immigrants at wages barely above the California minimum. As Mr. Cole has alluded to, this has created stress in race relations between African Americans and Latinos. Many African Americans are moving to other parts of California or even to the South. Cities, such as Compton, thought of in popular culture as African American, are now actually over 50% Latino. Meanwhile the "educated class" (such as myself) prospers, with rising wages and inane home values. The "wage gap" is bigger than ever. I could go on, but its time to go. John Johnston John Johnston I would like to thank Russell Cole for his insightful and even handed commentary. Having lived in Southern California for 35 years, I can directly address some of the issues Mr. Cole has brought up.
The influx of both legal and “illegal/undocumented” low skill workers into Southern California has most definitely depressed wages for other lmedium-low skill workers. Twenty years ago many trades, such as drywall work, were done by native born Americans living middle class lifestyles (owned a house, etc.) Today, almost all that work is done by recent immigrants at wages barely above the California minimum.
As Mr. Cole has alluded to, this has created stress in race relations between African Americans and Latinos. Many African Americans are moving to other parts of California or even to the South. Cities, such as Compton, thought of in popular culture as African American, are now actually over 50% Latino. Meanwhile the “educated class” (such as myself) prospers, with rising wages and inane home values. The “wage gap” is bigger than ever.
I could go on, but its time to go.
John Johnston
John Johnston

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