Posted on 10/09/2011 1:24:37 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Alabama farmers frantically looking for workers to replace those that have fled the state in the wake of its tough new immigration law should just stop by their local prison, according to the head of Alabama’s agriculture department.
John McMillan, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, told the Montgomery Advertiser on Thursday that inmate labor through the state’s work-release program offers a short-term solution to the sudden labor shortage that has hit Alabama since enforcement of its illegal immigration law kicked in.
Some farmers have said the state’s new law has driven away Hispanic migrant farm workers — and without another potential labor source, they say produce may have to be left to rot in the fields.
“We are optimistic that by Monday, we will have some help for farmers,” McMillan said.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
End all welfare, adjust the wages to market levels and there will be plenty of people to work.
We use work release people where I work. They are not slaves and they aren’t even really “inmates”. They are in transition from prison to release. They don’t have to work but will go back to prison to serve the rest of their time if they don’t. They are paid market rates for their labor.
Into the 70s Michigan Southern Prison supplied itself with food as well as a few of the county jails in this part of the state. I’m sure that wasn’t all they did. I know they also sold bread and other baked goods they made there.
I have no problem with your plan if all prisoners pay for their clothing, food and rent.
One wonders what industry or industries in Texas are demanding the Guv keep that same spigot open.
That’s easy. Construction. And any other business that involves hard, hot, dirty, cold, outside work.
it’s hard to believe that someone by this time has not come up with mechanical pickers to replace the illegal labor force that flows across the border each year. Mechanical pickers would be more cost-effective, safer for the food supply and faster.
True, but any farmer signing up for this better multiply his manpower needs by three or four. Otherwise, he won't get his harvest in on time.
During WWII, my grandfather (and many other farmers) hired German POWs from the nearby army camp to do field work.
Labor was short because all the local men were in uniform.
The Germans loved it. Much better than being on Hitler’s front lines.
The Perry bashers on here are not going to change their minds no matter how many facts you put in front of them. Having any kind of discussion with them is futile. Your doing a great job getting the facts out about Perry, but those who would rather see Romney elected or Obama re-elected are going to spin the facts to suit their agenda.
Ha! for instance, Perry bashers have decided that in-state tuition is a free education. So I should get my money back, I just put my daughter through 4 years of college here!
I’d try my hand at outside.
All you have to do is offer inmates a way to make extra cash for when they are released: the money they make is put into a trust.
Then you start a program to educate inmates into farm management so that when they get out: they can get hired, or start their own farm.
People, we can turn a negative into a positive. Innovate.
If there’s not enough prison labor to meet the farmer’s needs, maybe Alabama could pass a law making currently legal activity illegal. That way more people could be imprisoned... adding more people to help pick the crops without pay.
Reminds me of a scene I show in a movie once.
(And for the record, I don’t really care one way or the other about Alabama’s immigration law. I, however, think Alabama’s statement to their farmers regarding the use of prison labor to be very dangerous.)
?????: The standard SS rate for Jewish skilled labor is seven marks a day, five for unskilled and women. This is what you pay the Reich Economic Office, the Jews themselves receive nothing. Poles you pay wages. Generally, they get a little more. Are you listening? … The Jewish worker’s salary – you pay it directly to the SS, not to the worker. He gets nothing.
?????????: But it’s less. It’s less than what I would pay a Pole … that’s the point I’m trying to make. Poles cost more. Why should I hire Poles?
Are you a farmer?
And when the supply runs low, the government can make more by passing more and more restrictive laws.
How about working in the fields, pick up trash, clean the parks, etc. to get your Medicaid / welfare check? I know, it’s soooo cold hearted to expect people to work for their free money...
I wonder when the Democratic Party will tell the unemployed — no more money for your unemployment checks but I have some work for you?
I have long been an advocate for putting non-violent inmates to work. Take half to pay for their room and board and the other half is theirs.
It encourages them to make a living and earn money for their own benefit.
Also, when they get out of prison, they have enough money to buy a car, pay rent, whatever until they are able to get their life back on track.
Currently they get out, have no money and a gap in their resumes that will be difficult to overcome so they go back to the life they had before, they really have no choice.
Are you saying you're a farmer and can't survive without ILLEGAL labor? I see you're on FR quite a bit, wouldn't your time be better spent helping on the farm? LOL
There are LEGAL programs where you can hire out of country labor, ever tried checking into those?
No I am not a farmer but I understand farming.
Maybe you should ask farmers before you go telling them that they must use criminals for their workers.
The Feds have royally screwed this up.
Do you believe all people who work in farming are illegals?
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