A Brewing Storm

Letters to the Editor from the September edition of Professional Builder

Staff
September 1, 2006
Professional Builder

Illegal Immigration Hits Home

Seldom have issues at the federal level touched my heart so strongly I felt the need to speak out, calling on our federal representatives in Washington to act without delay to resolve an issue that is fast becoming a national crisis. As the son of an immigrant father, however, I am calling on Republican Senators Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning of Kentucky to join ranks with their fellow GOP Senators from Ohio to act decisively in dealing with the proposed immigration legislation proposed by President George W. Bush.

We need an immigration policy that provides the opportunity for those we have allowed to live in this country for longer than a few years to apply for citizenship and remain here throughout the process.

We need to require those individuals, identified now by some as illegal immigrants, to learn the English language, the basics of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and then test them for proficiency before they are granted citizenship just like they did my father and my aunt more than 50 years ago.

It's time we, as a nation, acknowledge we have enjoyed the fruits of the labor of those working in this country and raising a family in this country. Because of their work, we have enjoyed the benefit of cheaper housing costs. We have also enjoyed lower food costs because of their work in harvesting crops from the coasts of the Carolinas to California.

The bottom line is this: our nation has benefited from their work, and now there are those who seek to vilify them and call them criminals. Where is the compassion? Have we become a nation whose spirit has grown so cold we are unable to share this great land for which immigrants fought and died over 200 years ago?

The Republican-led Senate, often referred to by historians as the more deliberative chamber of the legislative branch, has an opportunity to right the wrongs. It's time for our nation — a nation founded by immigrants, a nation of compassionate people, a nation founded on freedom — to call on Congress to pass legislation that reflects the greatness of our nation.

Ralph A. Drees, Fort Mitchell, Ky.

Editor's note: For Mr. Drees' complete letter and others, please visit our TalkBack comments at www.probuilder.com/emergingissues-immigration.

I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the (July) Perspective. I'm 58 years old and started working for my father in residential construction when I was 15 years old, graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a B.S. in building science, and am still in love with work.

I never tire of telling people that somewhere along the way we came to associate hard work with stupidity. I believe my parent's generation somehow overlooked the dignity that was rightfully theirs as the fruits of their labor and gave too much credence to an education system I don't think they really understood. I'm thankful for the education my parents sacrificed to give me, but the education of honesty, integrity and concern for others which they taught by their actions continues to be far more valuable and I appreciate more as I grow older.

Your article was an inspiration to keep trying, and I respect the courage it takes to take a stand as you have done.

Ron Kelly, Morris Plains, N.J.

Both the editorial and Scott Sedam's ("Home Building's Perfect Storm," August) hit a real nerve.

It has been more than a generation in this country that skills that use the hands have been de-emphasized to those that supposedly just use the mind. I chose my words carefully here; most fine craftsman must use their minds constantly in addition to having the eye/hand coordination to successfully execute their thoughts.

I guess it's my parents and my generation who are most at fault. Anyone who wished to go to a "trade school" was considered by many of not making the grade and taking the path of least resistance.

Try getting your computerized car fixed today by a flunkie and see how far it gets you. The systems and diagnosis skills required by today's average auto tech are mind-boggling. Yet we still have the same warped values; people who handle money are paid higher than people that handle things. Today, the only craftspeople who are highly valued are specialists who make reproduction furniture and span into the world of arts and crafts.

As the head of training for Toll Brothers, the assurance of a competent work force is my main concern. I, unfortunately, don't have a glib or quick answer to give on how to change our national values. Without immigrant labor to do the work, I can't imagine a sudden influx of Americans to back fill.

Myles Marcovitch, Horsham, Pa.

As a leading software technology provider to residential builders, BuilderMT welcomes coverage of the technology sector, as builders recognize this downturn is time to tune-up their software systems. But the article "Shopping Software" (July) contains an error we'd like to correct for the record.

Stuart Siegel wrongly claims, "BuilderMT is good for 50 to 100 homes, but not 200 to 500." This is incorrect, and dramatically so. More than 550 production builders use BuilderMT production management software, and most of these builders are starting 300 to 800 homes per year; many do 2,500 to 3,000 homes per year, and our client Palm Harbor Homes is doing 110,000 homes per year! A small minority of our builders start fewer than 200 homes per years. In this article, the writer even quotes one of our clients, Dan Martin, with Sonrise Homes, who builds more than 200 homes per year.

Stuart Siegel has a misimpression of BuilderMT, and we hope he finds the time to learn more about our system and our expanding client base.

Tom Gebes, President, BuilderMT, Lakewood, Co.