[r9etb]

Then go out of business like everyone else has to if they cannot legally produce for less than they can sell.

Oh, they'll go out of business eventually. Of course, ultimately it's probably worse for all of us when they do. Unless you think it's a good plan to rely increasingly on imported food.....

I find it unbelievable that some posters think it is fine to break the law if it means profit for certain businesses.

I'm not saying it's "fine." I'm simply describing the economic realities of the situation.

Situation ethics at it's best, and definitely not conservative.

Ah, yes. The old "you must not be a conservative" ploy. Rather amusing, actually. But if you really want to play that game ... the transactions between illegals and growers are as close to free market as you're likely to get. Willing employees accepting an agreed-upon wage, and no government interference. Seems to me that conservatives are supposed to be in favor of that sort of thing....

The fact that it's "illegal" to hire these people is really nothing more than an artificial barrier to the free-market transaction. There are good reasons to control immigration, but let's be honest about what it does in this instance.

The thing is, this whole debate over legal/illegal workers misses the point. The presence of illegals is a symptom, not the real problem. The real problem has to do with how much it costs to hire Americans, as compared to hiring non-Americans. This is the same dynamic that has sent a lot of manufacturing overseas.

In the case of agriculture, it's a matter of "insourcing" labor to work a domestic industry. The alternative is outsourcing the production of these agricultural products to places like Chile.

[HairOfTheDog]

In the case of agriculture, it's a matter of "insourcing" labor to work a domestic industry. The alternative is outsourcing the production of these agricultural products to places like Chile.

Fabulously put.

[brytlea]

But if you really want to play that game ... the transactions between illegals and growers are as close to free market as you're likely to get. Willing employees accepting an agreed-upon wage, and no government interference. Seems to me that conservatives are supposed to be in favor of that sort of thing....

No, it's not the free market when we have the welfare system we have, including medical coverage, thrown into the mix.

susie

[RFT1]

Are laws against ILLEGAL DRUGS also barriers? Why bother getting morphine from a Doctor and phramacy when an "independent" retailer can sell you heroin for 1/4 the price no questions asked?

The economic only "conservatives" who see nothing more than dollar signs have turned me off the GOP.

[pollyannaish]

Unless you think it's a good plan to rely increasingly on imported food...

And people think having to rely on foreign oil is bad. We could survive without that one.