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California farmers fear labor shortage
San Jose Mercury News ^ | 8\1\2012 | Matt O'Brien

Posted on 08/01/2012 10:28:32 AM PDT by ExxonPatrolUs

The lush rows of Bartlett pear trees appear boundless from where Pasqual Aragon stands. They make his small crew's fruit-picking mission seem impossibly daunting.

"The truth is that there's a lot of work and not enough people," said Aragon, 26, as a dozen men beside him hoisted ladders and stuffed pears into heavy pouches strapped over their shoulders.

California farmers warned for years of a future without enough skilled pickers and packers, of fruits and vegetables rotting in place. Critics accused them of crying wolf to win sympathy for relaxing labor and immigration rules.

This year, however, the evidence seems stronger that the farm workforce is shrinking.

(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: aliens; pears
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To: C19fan

My solution is simple, you want welfare? Okay.

You will recieve 1/4 of your monthly alotment right after a 40 hour work week is completed. This will continue as long as your employer verifies your attendence and poarticipation. Too much for you?

Here is option #2
Here are your coupons that are redeamable at the local goverment pantry that has cheese, canned meat, powdered milk and potatoes, rice and baby food if needed. If you are caught trading or selling the coupons you will immediately be removed from those recieving ANY government assistance.

Otherwise head south cause that’s all we are offering.


21 posted on 08/01/2012 11:26:47 AM PDT by VRWCarea51
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To: Strategerist

Are people from South LA going to live in migrant worker housing? Of course not, no matter how much you pay them.


Then they can starve.


22 posted on 08/01/2012 11:29:42 AM PDT by cableguymn (For the first time in my life. I fear my country's government.)
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To: MeganC

So what is the solution until that happens?


23 posted on 08/01/2012 11:30:35 AM PDT by stuartcr ("When silence speaks, it speaks only to those that have already decided what they want to hear.")
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To: Vigilanteman

How ould you achieve that trick?


24 posted on 08/01/2012 11:31:52 AM PDT by stuartcr ("When silence speaks, it speaks only to those that have already decided what they want to hear.")
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To: wiggen

Until that happens, what is to be done in the meantime?


25 posted on 08/01/2012 11:33:29 AM PDT by stuartcr ("When silence speaks, it speaks only to those that have already decided what they want to hear.")
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Do those asking for handouts get more than they would by picking?


26 posted on 08/01/2012 11:36:51 AM PDT by stuartcr ("When silence speaks, it speaks only to those that have already decided what they want to hear.")
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To: VRWCarea51

How would you implement those options?


27 posted on 08/01/2012 11:38:50 AM PDT by stuartcr ("When silence speaks, it speaks only to those that have already decided what they want to hear.")
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To: stuartcr

“So what is the solution until that happens?”

I won’t propose what a temporary solution is, but I will say what it isn’t and what isn’t acceptable is any amnesty for illegals or any sort of program that brings more Mexicans into the country that are allowed under current limits.

Maybe there is no temporary solution and the result will be higher food prices. There’s no downside to that given that 2/3 of Americans are overweight anyway.


28 posted on 08/01/2012 11:41:32 AM PDT by MeganC (The Cinemark theatre in Aurora, CO is a 'Gun Free Zone'. Spread the word.)
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To: cableguymn

Who would be responsible for cleaning up the bodies and taking care of the resultant diseases? What would happen if starving babies and children started showing up at all the churches and hospitals? How would you handle the media fallout from thousands of starving children?


29 posted on 08/01/2012 11:41:45 AM PDT by stuartcr ("When silence speaks, it speaks only to those that have already decided what they want to hear.")
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To: ExxonPatrolUs

Why would illegal mexicans pick crops when they can ride the obama amnesty-welfare gravy train? What? You thought all of those illegals were hard working, respectable people doing the jobs Americans wouldn’t do? The fact that they’re here illegaly should answer your question.


30 posted on 08/01/2012 11:42:20 AM PDT by factoryrat (We are the producers, the creators. Grow it, mine it, build it.)
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To: MeganC

Saying what isn’t, is pretty easy...especially from a keyboard.


31 posted on 08/01/2012 11:43:22 AM PDT by stuartcr ("When silence speaks, it speaks only to those that have already decided what they want to hear.")
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To: factoryrat

What about all those from previous administrations? Those illegals have been here long before O was elected. How many presidential nominees have ever addressed this problem once they started to really campaign?


32 posted on 08/01/2012 11:47:12 AM PDT by stuartcr ("When silence speaks, it speaks only to those that have already decided what they want to hear.")
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To: stuartcr

I have no idea how much they get. I never saw anyone giving them anything, although I saw the same people with the sme signs 6 weeks apart! Several years ago in Washington State they did a study of pan handlers who hung out a Pike Place Market. One gal turned nearly $100,000 income. She parked a baby on the sidewalk with her.

But, it was between 101 and 113 degrees on some of the days where these folks were standing in the median with signs that said everything from “Help — funeral” to “Mom and I are just trying to make it”.


33 posted on 08/01/2012 11:49:34 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic (ABO)
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To: stuartcr

Somehow, if you cut off the welfare.. but open up jobs for the same people..

They will find a way to survive.


34 posted on 08/01/2012 11:59:01 AM PDT by cableguymn (For the first time in my life. I fear my country's government.)
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To: ExxonPatrolUs

A simple change could end this right now. Right now, unemployment is being extended. So why not require approved agricultural work during the harvest season to continue to get unemployment?


35 posted on 08/01/2012 12:00:37 PM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy
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To: stuartcr

Were they? Doesn’t matter how long they’ve been here, they’re still here illegaly. Eisenhower was the last President to put his foot down regarding illegal immagration. Every President since has rolled over and caved in to mexico. Too much money going around importing slave labor to stop it now.


36 posted on 08/01/2012 12:07:49 PM PDT by factoryrat (We are the producers, the creators. Grow it, mine it, build it.)
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To: stuartcr

Well, we hired Polish immigrants this year and said no to the Mexicans. Turned out to be a great decision, too, because the Polish guys do five times the work of the Mexicans with the added benefit that they know how to use toilets.


37 posted on 08/01/2012 12:13:03 PM PDT by MeganC (The Cinemark theatre in Aurora, CO is a 'Gun Free Zone'. Spread the word.)
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To: stuartcr
Even FDR's alphabet soup programs (WPA, CCC, etc.) had the requirement that you had to at least show up for work to get a government check. My Dad worked with some of these people building trails in National Parks and clearing undergrowth in the National Forests back in the 1930's. The local kids from those states worked hard and earned their paychecks. The imports, not so much, but at least they worked. Getting even half a day's work for a full day's pay is better than paying for nothing (or worse)!

You don't have to bus people in from South LA to pick fruit. Put them to work cleaning up vacant lots, abandoned buildings, delivering meals on wheels to the elderly, etc.

Just look at the unemployment rates in cities near the fruit orchards, Modesto, Bakersfield, etc. Plenty of able bodies available to do this work, just not enough willing to do it. That will only change if you make it a requirement to keep getting the government check.

Importing more illegals isn't going to solve the problem. Again, California is about 60% more crowded than Mexico. It may be a temporary fix, but just how long do you think it will take them to figure out they can get a government check doing something a lot easier than picking fruit? Or doing nothing at all?

I'd be all in favor of giving one work permit for seasonal agricultural work in exchange for every deportation of each illegal living on the public dime. You'd get muy mucho illegals either self-deporting or taking the agricultural work faster than you could say ICE!

38 posted on 08/01/2012 12:13:49 PM PDT by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: factoryrat

Then I guess it won’t stop until the money that’s going around stops. How would that happen since we haven’t elected anyone since Ike that will put their foot down?

I don’t think anyone will elect someone that says they want to stop the money that’s going around.


39 posted on 08/01/2012 12:38:42 PM PDT by stuartcr ("When silence speaks, it speaks only to those that have already decided what they want to hear.")
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To: MeganC

Good for you


40 posted on 08/01/2012 12:45:59 PM PDT by stuartcr ("When silence speaks, it speaks only to those that have already decided what they want to hear.")
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