>Here are your exact words:

>The american people have choosen to have a huge distinction between poor and rich. The whole economy is build upon that fact.

Which is correct. Even to be more correct. The whole american culture is build upon that fact. This is an inmediate result of the american dream.

>And in another post:
>The US economy relies on cheap labor, and the american dream. Else it can't compete.

You seem to have a difficulty in making a distinction between:
- The US economy relies on cheap labor, and the american dream
- The US economy only relies on cheap labor, and the american dream

You're trying to put words into my mouth I have not said. It is an important pilar of the american economy.

>The portion of our economy that is based on the employment of illegal immigrants is only a small portion. Discounting them, to say that our economy relies on cheap labor is just flat wrong. If we have cheap labor, why are so many manufacturing jobs fleeing to Asia? Why are Ford and GM screaming about their manpower costs? Why did "outsourcing" become such a hot topic?

The gap is still to big. Cheap labor in the US is still way more expensive than labor in asian countries. There also are political difficulties as illegals can't work for big manufacturing companies (at least on primary proceccess, in large numbers) because that is violating the law.
For manufactoring there really is no future in the western world. We are just too expensive. It is either outsource or go bankrupt. The western world should more look into high technology (which the US is good at) and science, service and financial buisnesses.

You know what I noticed when I stepped into an american lunchroom. The price ! The food was so cheap. No in the US but in Toronto, Canada, I could get luch with tea, two toast with eggs and bacon (or sousages) and some fries for only 6 $CAD (Less than 4 euro). Up here in my village (not even a town) I'd pay at least 8 Euros. If I go out for dinner. It is the same. Up here it is at least twice as expensive. I was told that the waitresses don't earn much. They are cheap labor and have to earn a part of their salery from tips. This is not the case up here.

Try to hire a carpenter, plumber or any other craftmen. You're lucky to find one below 45 euros an hour. To build a free standing house with 600 Kubic metres on a property of 500 M2, you're lucky to get one below half a million euros up here in a VILLAGE. If you go to Amsterdam don't be surprise to pay way over a million euros (Euro/US $ = 1.20) I must admit Holland is utterly expensive, even compared to other european countries