Shorthanded (Migrant farmworkers)

Houston Press ^ | December 7, 2006 | Todd Spivak

[Kimberly GG]

"Our need for cheap labor no more justified slavery than it now does illegals. Both are just plain wrong."

Wrong, and illegal. Perhaps what needs to happen is for the American people to file a class action RICO suit against the federal government. At least we now have concrete evidence that they are using the Federal Reserve to 'encourage' immigration for fiancial gain.

Wonder if it would be a way to delay the passage of CIR?

[kcvl]

An article today on FR relates to San Francisco's woes over its homeless/jobless population.

Why work when you can get more for doing nothing?! If you are hungry enough you will work!

[traumer]

I agree with you.... but are you prepared to pay $3 for a head a lettuce ?

[Kimberly GG]

Just asking a question, one I might also ask you?

[kcvl]

I agree with you.... but are you prepared to pay $3 for a head a lettuce ?

That is just a crock. And yes, if that is what it costs, if I wanted lettuce bad enough, I would pay $3 for it. I pay $1 for a bottle of water (and it's otherwise free).

[Dog Gone]

Pardon me, but please point out where I made an excuse for illegal behavior on this thread. Once you do that, we can discuss it.

[bordergal]

Funny how this poor farmer can't use the EXISTING H2 Visa program to get fieldworkers.

[bordergal]

15% of the cost of produce is from labor.

I can look up the paper citation if you wish.

[RFT1]

Enough of that STUPID arguement. The $X a head for lettuce arguement is pure BS. One only has to crunch simple numbers to understand this. If a worker who is paid $5 hr cuts 100 heads of lettuce per hour, the cost of labor per head amounts to 5 cents. Pay $20 hr and the cost rises to 20 cents, big whoop.

In any event, cheap food is no arguement for either breaking the law, nor does it justify trashing American society.

[grjr21]

Who's to do the jobs that Americas illegal aliens won't do.


Agriculture was the first but once other industries found it cheaper to hire illegals over Americans the cat was out of the bag.
If Carnes wants to know why his workforce dropped by 40 % it's because the illegals he once hired are now making much more in construction and other jobs all around the country.

IMHO if we increased penalties for hiring illegals to a point that no one would dare hire a one they would all pack there bags and go home no need to deport them or to build an expensive fence

[grayforkbeard]

they will stoop quite well when they get hungry enough.

[txdoda]

Funny how this poor farmer can't use the EXISTING H2 Visa program to get fieldworkers.

How 'bout these farmers simply PAYING enough to employ those aready out of work in Uvalde ??

http://www.uvaldetx.com/CITYbusiness.html

"The unemployment rate in Uvalde County is approximately 7.1-10%."

(seems like I just read the US unemployment rate was only at 4.5%)

[kcvl]

Shut off the welfare checks, food stamps, free medical, subsidized housing, and the stupid "unearned income tax credit" which add up to at least a $30k income per year and they will be lining up to pick crops.

Exactly!

[VeniVidiVici]

When Thiel's green and yellow zucchinis reach the desirable size, about six to eight inches, he has 48 hours to get them out of the ground. Otherwise, nobody wants them because they've grown too large. "On the third day it's a loser," he says.

I love zucchini and have never heard this before. Am I missing out on something?

[Texas Eagle]

I ain't buying no cole slaw from Taco Bell that's for damn sure.

[pollyannaish]

You know what would work better than a fence? Getting our collective butts down there and filling the jobs. Any takers?

[Texas Eagle]

"Americans absolutely will not do this type of work," says Thiel, a commercial vegetable farmer for 35 years based in Lubbock and the state's largest grower of fresh-market squash.

How much you paying them thar illegals Mr. Thiel?

How's about you use some of that taxpayer subsidies you pick from our pockets and use it to pay a wage that Americans WILL work for.

[ozarkgirl]

I'm very proud of our Southern neighbors not giving in to the temptation of illegal workers because now, you also, have that temptation. Especially with your governor who's basically given you the "OK" to hire illegals. Thanks for still being an American. I hope you live long and prosper. :) Mostly I hope you prosper.

Not to get on my soapbox but it's so unfair, you employ American's and have to compete with others who don't. Not a fair playing field.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***why are you making excuses for illegal conduct Ruy? ***

I'm not. I'm just showing what happened in the early 1960's when California stopped the Bracero program and tried to get it's own indigent population to work. They absolutly would not. the state had to get a quickie Bracero program back up and running before the crops rotted.

[buck61]

I agree, but pay them a decent wage.

I am 63 yrs. old and, farmers have been going broke all of my life. I was raised on a farm and, it's not an easy job but my father always made money, even during the depression.