Iowa Town Teeters On Edge Of Ruin

CBS News ^ | Nov. 23, 2008 | Seth Doane

[george76]

389 illegal people arrested and the company shuts down?

The town doesn''t have 389 unemployed "legal" people who needed jobs and therefore the company can still operate?

So what is it the immigrants were doing that others can't do?

ht comments

[Red Badger]

"If we don't get some help from the state or federal government, we're going to be in deep trouble financially,"

The republic has fallen....................

[bassmaner]

Boo frickin hoo. Hire that many wetbacks and reap the whirlwind.

(Of course, look for the crackdowns to end after 1/20/09).

[RetiredArmy]

NO PROBLEM - - - BAIL OUT MONEY ON THE WAY!!!! $25 billion check in the mail.

[taxcontrol]

If you play with fire ... you will get burned. And creating a situation where the town is dependent on a single firm to maintain the economic viability of the town ... and allow that firm to go on hiring illegal aliens, is most defiantly playing with fire.

[TexasCajun]

289 job openings sounds like an opportuity to me if you are unemployed and legal?

[Gay State Conservative]

So the plant had to shut down? Why? Pay US citizens $8/hr and they'll do the work.Yes,the product may have cost a little more but at least an attempt could have been made.

[NativeNewYorker]

I assume a union set the federales on a plant that refused to knuckle under. Anyone know otherwise?

[MarkeyD]

Can’t they just post an add on the Michigan craigslist or in the detroitfreepress. Of course, they would be inundated if they did that.

[nina0113]

So what is it the immigrants were doing that others can't do?

Show up for their shifts.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

You can drive through any State in the midwest or south and find ghost towns - or "bedroom communities" that have a single gas station/grocery store and a few churches. Life happens, businesses fail and towns change.

[Frantzie]

Maybe if they hired Americans then they might not be in this mess. One slaughterhouse was raided 9 months ago. They ran ads for jobs and thousands of Americans showed up looking for work. I guess paying a $1 an hour more is not worth it.

[gimme1ibertee]

"There are a lot of people in the U.S. who, frankly, wouldn't have a lot of sympathy for you," Doane reminded Rucal. "They would say you shouldn't haven't been here you were working illegally and you shouldn't be able to work here." Indeed.Now,why don't the legal citizens get up off their tails,save thier town and stop begging for government handouts!!??

[TYVets]

but not a natural disaster - rather one that's man-made.

Actions have consequences.

Help Wanted signs attract attention

[dbacks]

Kosher processed beef sells for premium prices. Therefore the company SHOULD be able to pay fair wages to people willing to move there (nice town and rural setting).

They can likely avail themselves of low priced housing due to the rapid disappearance of former owners/tenants.

I think the packing plant owners are trying to issue a PAYBACK for the affront of making them follow the law.

[Terabitten]

The town doesn''t have 389 unemployed "legal" people who needed jobs and therefore the company can still operate?

Probably not. Out of 2200 people in the town, 389 was probably most of their labor force.

Out of that 2200, let's say that 20% are children and 20% are elderly. Now you're down to 880 people. Out of that, let's say 10% choose not to work or cannot (stay at home moms, those on disability, the mentally handicapped, etc), and now you're down to 800. Now take 25% of the remainder that are either self-employed (the local baker, the plumbing and electrical contractor, the mechanic) or are in service industries supporting the plant (the delivery drivers, the restaurant owners, the teachers at the local schools), and you're down to just 580 employees, of whom at least 450 or so work at the plant. Then you take those 389 illegals away, and you're down to all supervisors and admin types, with no one left to support.

So, the plant closes down and the town dies.

I freely admit that I'm making up these percentages, but I think they're reasonable.

[bcsco]

And creating a situation where the town is dependent on a single firm to maintain the economic viability of the town ...

Not too unusual in rural areas. Many small communities are dependent on a few businesses in their local area. That's especially true when those communities are far from urban areas. Small businesses like groceries, gas stations, diners, and taverns don't have what it takes for a community to remain stable. And one would have to look at Postville's demographics to determine whether legal residents could fill the void.

[KarlInOhio]

Would there be any boo-hooing if the story had been this:

It all started on May 12, 2008, when hundreds of federal FDA inspectors raided Agriprocessors and shut down the plant for using 20% sawdust instead of beef to save money.

[B-Chan]

Quien vive por el mojado se morirá por el mojado.

[r9etb]

The town doesn''t have 389 unemployed "legal" people who needed jobs and therefore the company can still operate?

LOL! I can tell that you've never lived in a small town with a single major employer.