May Day

Many US citizens regard International Workers' Day, also called May Day, celebrations as slightly pink (communist) if not outright red, and want nothing to do with it. In that respect, I regard the demonstrations which are taking place all across the US, as I write this, to be slightly daft, but that's just me. At least they had the good sense to not further damage their cause by waving thousands of Mexican Flags.

I realize that this is a sensitive subject, and there is a sharp division of opinion about immigration to the US, but hope I can make a few points here without offending anyone, or at least offending both sides equally.

One of my neighbors, Omar, went to Texas a few years ago, found a job in a pasta factory, and spent a lot of time and money applying for a work visa so he could stay there. He was told to return to Panama and apply through the local consulate. With all his papers properly prepared, and letters of sponsorship from the pasta factory, he came home and filed the request. At that point, not counting travel, he had spent well over a thousand dollars on his application. In time, he was called to the Consulate for an interview. After a brief interview, he was told that his application was denied because he 'didn't speak enough english' to hold the job he had already held for about two years and for which he had a job letter from the employer. When he told me the story, he was understandably upset, but happened to mention that he had a Texas driver's license and a US social security number. I casually mentioned that since he doesn't look Hispanic (he's black) he could probably walk right through one of the smaller border town checkpoints with the DL and SS card. Evidently he took me seriously, because he's now back in Texas, making pasta.

Four years ago, a couple we know left on tourist visas for the US. They bought a cheap used car and lived in it to stretch their money until both could find jobs. They took some of those jobs that no self-respecting 'Real Americans' want, and saved their money. Now they're coming home. They're bringing with them a container full of top quality goods to furnish the home they paid off and had remodeled, and enough savings that she won't have to go back to work for at least a year. They are debt free.

What was the prize these people were willing to risk deportation and possible jail time for? My neighbor started work at a bit over $8.00 an hour, which is more than minimum wage, but well below what most Americans will work for.. I think he's making about $11.00 now, still not a lot, except in comparison with what he could earn in Panama. The couple who are returning were making a lot more than minimum wage. She was cleaning houses, which if you don't know, is one of the best-kept secrets in the labor field. My daughter-in-law was earning well over $100.00 a day 10 years ago, and quit when my son packed her off to South Africa to help him save souls. Her biggest problem was finding people to help so she could expand the business. Many 'real americans' consider house work beneath their dignity. The husband was selling cars, and I'm guessing, though we haven't talked with them yet, that he specialized in selling to folks who only speak Spanish. There's GOT to be a demand for Spanish speaking car salesmen. OK, Henry get to the point. My point is that short of shooting them at the border, how can you keep out people who want to better themselves and are willing to take jobs that others don't want? Wouldn't it be much better for everyone to make it easier and less onerous for them to get work visas?

I believe the jobs most illegals take are a mix of jobs no one wants (like farm hand, maids and house cleaning) and jobs they will do on the cheap, like construction. I'd bet my last cold beer that Ford and General Motors would give their eye teeth to toss the unions and replace them with illegals. Of course, they've done that to a large extent by moving assembly plants overseas.

OK, fine, but there's 12 million of them there and they are demanding their part of the American dream, even if they don't want to include the 'American' part. What do we do with them? Frankly, I don't have an answer, or even an opinion that isn't at odds with my own opinions. On the one hand, I see what happened to Omar and fume at the injustice and stupidity of it all, and on the other I see 12 million people who refused to play by the rules and are 'de facto' lawbreakers now demanding preferential treatment. Then I think about the couple who paid off their home working jobs most folks don't want, and I understand that this is the kind of energy and determination that made the US what it is, and seems in such short supply today.

As an immigrant myself, I know how frustrating dealing with a government in a foreign language in a culture whose values are not the same as yours can be, and I understand the desire to avoid mind-numbing bureaucracy and the mind-numbed bureaucrats who populate it. So I play the 'what if?" game.

What if 150,000 foreign retirees came to Panama on tourist visas, and then simply didn't leave. (I use the figure 150,000 because that represents roughly 5% of the population of Panama, just as 12 million represents roughly 5% of the US population.) Now suppose that, because they can't find affordable medical insurance, those same retirees start going to the emergency rooms at Paitilla, San Fernando, Punta Pacifica, and Hospital Nacional expecting free treatment for broken bones, flu, and age spots. Then, on July 4th, they go on strike and for one day stop buying Geritol, SUVs and condos. They block Avenida Balboa to traffic, creating massive traffic jams, and jump on soap boxes, ranting about their 'rights' to become full citizens. What do you think? Would every Panama TV station send some Gringa with big hair out to interview aging demonstrators? Would they round up a few legal immigrants to criticize the newcomers and tell them to go back home and wait their turn? Probably not, this is, after all, Panama, not LaLaLandia.

No, I figure that Panama would fine each of them a hundred bucks or so, make them get a visa, and continue to take advantage of the contributions they make to the country. Maybe what the US really needs is a large dose of pragmatism.

The Website

Yeah, I know, I keep promising, but this time, I really DID add some new listings. Check out 'Land' and 'Homes' and there are new direct links on the home page.

Service and Assistance for Retirees Who Want to Live in Panama