John;

The exploitation you speak of seems to be everywhere. You see it in this country in different forms. Often people of a specific race will exploit their own people, who may or may not be illegal aliens. My wife and I are personally aware of many such cases.

I remember reading that Chinatown in San Francisco was the most poverty stricken area of the United States. I could not believe it until I did some research. Here is one example:

1. Women worked at sewing in a room with perhaps one hundred other women – side by side. Dust was everywhere and you could not see very far. Babies in baskets were on the floor next to mothers.

2. The State of California finally intervened after years of complaints about salaries and would inspect these establishments. The women were paid minimum wage as was required by law.

3. As the women went home on Friday night, they had to pay the owner a fist full of cash for the honor of returning to work for one more week.

I could give many examples from just California. Where money and labor is involved anything goes!

Tom