The way some folks are reacting to this, you’d think they’re being forced to change their dollars to pesos so they can buy pizza.
I just don’t get it…
Ah, there’s where the confusion is coming in. Apparently, there is a considerable number of people who believe either a) illegal aliens working in the US are paid in pesos rather than dollars, or b) the very first thing an illegal alien wants to do after making the trek up from the border is to order a pizza. I find either scenario a bit far-fetched, frankly.
A local (Houston) right-wing talk show host is partly to blame for this nonsense, IMO. He spent at least two days last week drumming up the hate for Pizza Patron, and a lot of his callers appeared to have bought into it. Amonst this yo-yo’s many specious arguments, he claimed that Pizza Patron was helping prevent immigrants from assimilating (he actually claimed that to be able to pay in pesos means that immigrants avoid having to learn how the US monetary system works), that Pizza Patron were “gouging” customers by posting an exchange rate slightly above market rates, and that by accepting pesos IN ADDITION to dollars, they were saying they didn’t want the business of non-hispanics. What a freakin’ maroon.
That’s a common practice. I’ve been to American stores that accept Canadian currency, and Canadian stores that accept American currency. And in all cases (IME) the exchange rate has been higher than at currency exchange places (which themselves sell currency for more than they buy it for). It’s just the way business work. Think of it as a convenience fee.
Very few bigots that hate Canadian/Canada in the US. Lots of bigots that hate Hispanics / Mexico in the US.
Right, in any event, I wouldn’t consider it “gouging” unless they were charging, say, a 30% commission on the exchange, and even then, no one is obligated to pay in pesos anyway. Complete non-issue.
The stereotypical Mexican on their sign reminds me of Dick Tracy, for some reason. I think it’s the hat.
You seem mistaken about the legal tender laws. What they have to say, in simplest terms, is that bona fide American currency may not be refused in payment of a debt.
Not that it must be accepted in a retail transaction. Not that it’s the only legal form of exchange. Just that it may not be refused when tendered as attempted payment of a debt.
A quite different section of Federal law prohibits the minting of coins or the creation of paper currency by private individuals or state agencies in competition with the Federal currency system – though even here exceptions have been made, such as state scrip during the winter of 1932-33.
If I am running a business and opt to accept whatever suits me as valid payment for my goods or services, and the customers are willing to provide that whatever, that’s a private transaction. (Presuming that that “whatever” is itself legal – acceptance of X amount of marijuana in payment for groceries, or a streetwalker paying for her dinner on her back, would be deemed illegal. But offering and accepting Canadian or Mexican money, or Slovakian or Tajikistanian money for that matter, is not ipso facto illegal.
I heard an interview here in St. Louis with the spokesman for Pizza Patron.
As he puts it, they are a small, niche-market pizzeria, predominantly in Hispanic-heavy neighborhoods, and they made the decision purely for economic/business reasons. As he put it, many legal immigrants also cross the border on a regular basis (going home to visit relatives, etc.,), and come back to the states (legally) with pesos in their pockets.
Pizza Patron sets the exchange rate to their advantage, covering small fluctuations in the exchange rates, and the administrative fee their bank charges them for converting the pesos to dollars. Otherwise, it’s largely revenue neutral.
While I am definitely anti-illegal immigrant, I see no problem whatsoever with Pizza Patron’s business decision. Considering their competition (Pizza Hut, Dominos, etc.,), I think it is a smart move on their part to cater to their customer base.
If some of those customers are illegals, it’s an inevitable result of our porous border, and I see no reason why Pizza Patron should toss the baby with the bath water because state and federal governments cannot secure our borders.
American dollars are accepted all over México. The border towns on both sides basically HAVE to use dual currency. What’s the problem? Fucking rednecks with no brains.
Very few Canadians come here illegally. Very few Canadians who come here apply for aid and do not work. Very few Canadians come across the border to have their children to make them citizens.
But, yes, taking pesos is not a big deal. And all over Mexico dollars are accepted. Let’s keep our ire for actual, you know, crimes?
Another shit for brains bigoted cunt spouting lies. Illegal immigrants aren’t eligible for welfare. There is nothing illegal about birthing a baby in the US. Nor is there anything morally wrong with it. Immigration violations aren’t criminal for the most part; they are administrative. I really wonder about what percentage of Canadians do illegally enter and engage in commerce in the US? It might be quite similar
I wonder if you would like to withdraw either “bigoted” or “cunt” since you don’t know either thing about me. Also, I wonder if you know anything at all about how the world works. I didn’t say “welfare”; I said “aid.” There are thousands of illegal immigrants receiving aid, specifically to my knowledge free meals for their school children, right here in Southern Cal. And I am among those paying for it and resenting it. But never mind. Just talk about things you know about, idiot.
Nice one, Rufus. I knew the thread title reminded me of something, now i have to locate my old tape I recorded that song off the radio on now it’s in my ear…
And also presuming that you (the business owner) pay income or sales tax to the government for the fair market value of the service or goods in plain ol’ US money. If I accept chickens, socks or work exchange for $1000 worth of work, that $1000 is supposed to show up on my 1040 at the end of the year, right? (That’s what they taught us at massage school, anyway.)
And I personally know Canadians who do the exact same things, and they laugh because they can openly tell Americans about their situation and get them to take their side, while those same people hate Mexicans doing the same thing.
One of my Canadian friends a couple weeks ago: “The only difference between me and Mexican immigrants is that I REALLY AM taking your jobs.”
All this fervor over Mexican immigrants in recent years is simply the latest form of socially accepted racism.
OK Cisco if you know Canadians doing this then I pit them too. Because contrary to the popular opinion, those of us who oppose illegal immigration oppose it ACROSS THE BOARD, not just as a kind of hidden racism. I personally believe that our immigration policies need to be changed to make it easier to come here legally, but at the same time I think turning a blind eye to lawbreaking creates a really bad climate of thinking that we get to pick which laws we enforce. Not a good thing.
But, damnit, I am not racist for wanting to enforce the law, and wanting to ensure that our quality of life does not change to accomodate people who broke the law. But – to end the hijack – I don’t care who takes what money!!
I don’t know you so I really can’t judge whether you’re racist or not. I do in fact believe, however, that the majority of the current immigration outcry is motivated by latent racism. It is simply not directed at white people, no matter what country they’re from, and as my friend pointed out - they’re a more realistic “threat”.
I worked in a store about 1000 miles north of the US border, and we still took US dollars routinely (and let me tell you, we did gouge the hell out of you on our exchange rates compared to the Pizza Patron people). I don’t see that as being particularly unusual. Especially in a chain - once you’ve set up a procedure and designed advertising for one store to do it, the marginal cost for letting all the other ones do it is pretty minimal.
I can think of at least two friends off the top of my head who pretty much live and work unofficially in the US without the appropriate work visas, and in one case, without even admitting he’s going there for business purposes. Given that I have a very limited number of friends, I’m not sure the number is quite as small as you think it is.
Sorry, but that’s bullshit. You may not be racist, but you can’t say the same of everyone on your side of the debate. There is a wide and deep streak of racism running through the anti-immigration movement. It doesn’t taint everyone on your side, but it’s pretty damned pervasive.
Immigration opposition might not be aimed at “white people” right now in this circumstance, but it has been in the past. Immigrants from Ireland to Eastern Europe have faced violent opposition. You can’t draw conclusions from nothing more than correlation. Otherwise, people who favor gay marriage would be racist, since the vast majority of blacks oppose it.