Yeah but we still have to explain why. Home come they are more productive?

Do they have different, more powerful genes. Did they go to cherry picking academy as children? Have longer arms?

They seem to be more productive even living in school buses and pretty terrible conditions!

Of course I am being sarcastic here to illustrate a point. They are productive because they are scared. Put a gun to anyone's head, and they'll be very productive. Threaten their children with starvation back home, and you'd be surprised how early they'll rise and bike through the snow or rain to their job.

The other side of the coin is ugly too. Are the immigrant workers more productive because somehow American workers looking for these jobs are un-productive as a group. That is a tough topic to discuss without getting into dangerous waters. The article brings those comments up from employers' perspective.

Suppose that were true. Would you expect anyone to get away with saying so publicly?

You're also neglecting the possibility of cultural factors.

> Threaten their children with starvation back home, and you'd be surprised how early they'll rise and bike through the snow or rain to their job.

This is also true. Many of these guest workers need the jobs more than Americans (where public assistance will at least keep them from starvation) do. But in that case isn't it more ethical that the jobs go to those who need them most?

See this VICE piece on illegal immigrant labor. Based on interviews they imply they work harder.

I'd guess if it were true, it's because poorer people are more modest, more humble, and take less for granted than American born poor people.

i'm sure it happens, but its not the common case... its certainly not organised on the scale that people make out. it would be very difficult to make that sort of thing happen whilst making it in the best interest of everyone involved to not expose it for their own gain... it would tear itself apart from the inside or get caught out very quickly.

Wait, did I say that? Did you respond to the wrong comment?

that and its context very heavily implies that this is the case, otherwise it explains nothing.

You should probably stop outsourcing production for the cloaks that you hide your racism under. They're getting quite thin.

i've met plenty of fine individual americans, but they are vastly outnumbered by people that leave me gobsmacked by various of stupidity, laziness and poor ethics.

I would never tell a person that happened to be large for their size that they were fat, but I would not be honest if I were to imagine America does not have a food standards problem with consequences. Quality diet is not exclusively for the rich but then it is in certain parts of America.

The rest of the world does not have that corn-based sugar that American food is laced with. Fix the public health epidemic manifested in obesity and the elephant in the room goes.

Oh, I don't think that's true at all. While the USA does have an increasing obesity problem, so does everywhere else in the developed world. And the UK has a similar problem, not to mention Mexico. Even countries like the Philippines, which until recently had a good diet based on fish and rice, is now experiencing public health issues because of obesity and hypertension. Last time I was in the Philippines it was unbelievable how much Coca-Cola and soft drinks I saw being consumed. Way more than back here at home. And Coke has the place covered in advertising.