Migrants Indispensable to (Maine) State's Economy

Portland Press Herald ^ | September 22, 2002 | Edward D. Murphy

[Tancred]

I don't quite understand all this. When I was growing up in Maine in the 1980s, most of my high-school friends spent time raking the blueberry fields or else had part-time jobs in the summer or after school. And while the unemployment rate has been very low in Southern Maine, it's also been much higher in the other parts of Maine, where all the farms are. So these guys can afford to pay for the housing and transportation costs (overseas, no less!) for these migrant workers, yet can't seem to pay a high enough wage to attract local labor? As for Fernando Carpio's last complaint, well.........

[SpaceBar]

I am confused by the use of the word "migrant" used to designate what used to be termed an "illegal alien". More PC speech no doubt.

[quebecois]

Funny...Maine did perfectly well for a couple of centuries without massive third world immigration. Now its "indispensable".

[Leisler]

"...The average American worker will not take that job,"

Bull!

The "average American worker" has a full time job, a house and a family. These jobs are for average American NON-workers. But with welfare, why would these lazy, tax supported, spawn breeding scum work at all? Hence, the working class is taxed to support the non-working class.

[Tancred]

In this particular story, most of the people here are actual migrant workers, only here on a temporary basis. For once, it's not a case of PC cover-up, although this story admittedly has the usual liberal hand-wringer bias.

[abclily]

Migrant refers to moving from one place to another. It does not mean illegal.

[sarcasm]

I spend some time each year on the coast of Maine - no sign of "migrant" workers in any of the stores or restaurants. Maybe they pay a decent wage.

[FITZ]

Maine did perfectly well for a couple of centuries without massive third world immigration

Before a massive government welfare program it wasn't that difficult to find low-skilled workers. Now those people lay around and watch soap operas all day or are in prisons. Immigration will very likely help bring down our Socialist government because the taxpayers can't provide all the services especially when massive lay-offs and foreclosures are eliminating many of the taxpayers.

[philetus]

My mom worked in the Cal. canneries and was glad to have the job.So were a lot of other moms and dads.

[FITZ]

When we were kids we picked blueberries and there were some Southern families who were migrant workers working there every summer.

[Grut]

Migrant workers aren't 'part time', they're full time workers who work at different places in succession. Local Mainers would be only part time, which is why blueberry raking is not so attractive to them. Plus, of course, there are some lazy buggers amongst the inhabitants of the Pine Tree State.

[nanny]

"In this particular story, most of the people here are actual migrant workers, only here on a temporary basis. For once, it's not a case of PC cover-up, although this story admittedly has the usual liberal hand-wringer bias."

Yes, migrant worker doesn't necessarily mean illegal workers, but I fear in America today, it usually does.

But I am still wondering who was doing this work before these workers. Yes, some people do lay around and draw welfare - but perhaps they were working at these jobs before the illegals came. I have seen that happen. No, they can pay these people less, have no taxes to pay, no bookkeeping, no medical expense, no worker's comp. With the taxpayers picking up all those pesky little incidentals.

[Billy_bob_bob]

"No, they can pay these people less, have no taxes to pay, no bookkeeping, no medical expense, no worker's comp. With the taxpayers picking up all those pesky little incidentals."

Ahhhh. First you see, then you begin to understand. You have come far in your journey, Grasshopper.

[nanny]

"Ahhhh. First you see, then you begin to understand. You have come far in your journey, Grasshopper."

Oh, Billybob, I got it a long time ago, just say it every chance I get in the hopes someone else will give it some thought.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"The first is migrant workers, who follow the "Eastern Stream" of work each year. The stream starts in January and February in Florida, where the migrants pick tomatoes and grapefruit, then flows up the coast through tobacco fields in North Carolina, the high-bush blueberries in New Jersey and then into Maine for blueberries. Some migrants stay in the state until fall, picking apples and making wreaths, Perez-Febles said."

"Then the workers, most of whom are either U.S. citizens or here legally, head back to Florida to repeat the route the following year."

These are the same people who did these jobs before.

Migrants.

The true problem here, is the need of some people to turn any conversation that remotely includes the words "immigrant" or even "migrant" into a rant about illegals.

Read the article, it plainly tells you that these people are, by and large, here legally.

One last thing, a number of those migrant workers are US citizens, and that has always been the case.

[DBtoo]

Maine just wouldn't be able to survive without these migrants?! What a load of BS!! The Powers that Be are making sure no region of the US gets to escape it's share of "migrants". What a horrible piece of propaganda! The poor citizens of Maine.

[FITZ]

A van crash two weeks ago, which killed 14 men from Honduras and Guatemala, provided a tragic window into role of migrant and foreign workers in Maine.

You're right but the article kind of confused the issue somewhat by referring to illegals when it was probably about legal and citizen migrants.

[ozone1]

All of this is just a ploy to justify moving the somali's to Maine from Atlanta, some day, one of their generations will eventually be productive citizens, just not in my lifetime. Until then I have to pay for them. In Maine currently there is 1 taxpayer for every 1 nontaxpayer.

Maine has become the liberal's great social experiment.
The problem is the payers into the system are all leaving and what is left is the takers. What other state collects more in cigarette taxes than corporate income tax?

[Luis Gonzalez]

You mind telling me where it says anything about these men being here illegaly?

Or did you just make it up?

[nanny]

"Read the article, it plainly tells you that these people are, by and large, here legally."

Now, Luis, the newspaper said they were all legal and I believe it, by george.

When someone posts something to which someone else doesn't agree, some are always willing to jump on them and think they are ignorant. Just because I person doesn't agree with you, does not mean they are ignorant of facts.

I will stand by my statement that in the past they probably were not necessarily illegal - but now I believe the majority are. Just because they migrate from place to place doesn't mean they are legal and just because a news article says they are all legal, also does not make it so.