Children Working On Farms As Early As Age 5. Human Rights Activists Calling For Change

[Heracles 417]

My point is this topic is, specifically, about child labor laws. Illegal immigration has nothing to do with this topic.

Actually it has a lot to do with it, as the two are interrelated to one another. Hence, Gary's thread about illegal aliens being exploited the other day.

This is slave driving at its finest.

[lostinblue 1,989]

What a stupid git. California is the agricultural epicenter of this country and has been for quite some time so many families know what it is like to live and work on a farm. If you were working at age 12 for most of the day, you weren't in school which explains why you're such a vacuous gob of #######.

Berrys ripen in July,unlike you I did not need summer school.

[Jenn! 918]

[Texanadian 10]

If a 5 year old wanted to smoke, should (s)he be able to do that too? Also, did it ever occur to you that the child does not always get to make this decision?

Smoke 'em if you got 'em.

the biggest loophole in all our federal wage and hour and worker protection laws is employers that hire illegal immigrants, including children.

why do we shake our head when "American" children are overworked and abused and ignore it when an illegal alien is exploited and abused? Racism?

when will we demand horrifically strict penalties for anyone that violates a labor law? When will we stop employers from abusing and exploiting people for personal profit? When will it NOT be acceptable to treat illegal immigrants like slaves?

We worry that someone will check their ID...HORROR!!! But we don't worry that they work 60 hours per week for $200. We don't worry that if they get injured there is no workman's comp insurance to pay their medical bills or supplement their income for their family.

These kinds of reports only focus the racism that exists, the federal protection laws for white people, and nothing but exploitation for illegals.

STOP the abuse now. Demand your legislators put a huge tax on the employment of illegals. Demand that they seize property to collect the tax. Demand they enforce the laws they pass that apply to employers!

People turn a blind eye to it because illegals chose to come here. Even in the cash under the table/low wage situation they're in, they deem it to be better than where they came from. Or else why would they stay? Why not go back? In the American's case, a standard of living is assumed due to the long chain of events that has occured over time in this country. 250 years ago, everybody was in the same situation as the illegal is in now. Just off the boat. Possibly no skills. Lack of language. Very few friends or relatives here to help. People worked long hard hours for mediocre wages. But they still thought it was a better place to live than where they came from. Over time people got paid more. Learned a trade. Networked with people to get a better job. It's a natural progression.

Is it less hypocritical to pass minimum wage laws and then look the other way while contractors hire (buy at auction) illegal aliens in Home Depot parking lots all over the country every morning for less than half minimum wage? I mean, at least let's be equal opportunity exploiters.

I agree with you.....but you're looking at it from the wrong side of the fence. It only benefits them BECAUSE they're illegal. If they were made legal today, they would lose the ability to work for low wages. Who would hire them for the current min wage?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Berrys ripen in July,unlike you I did not need summer school.

Berries are spelled with an 'ie', farmer boy.

A RUN-ON SENTENCE (sometimes called a "fused sentence") has at least two parts, either one of which can stand by itself (in other words, two independent clauses), but the two parts have been smooshed together instead of being properly connected.

It is important to realize that the length of a sentence really has nothing to do with whether a sentence is a run-on or not; being a run-on is a structural flaw that can plague even a very short sentence:

The sun is high, put on some sunblock.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

the biggest loophole in all our federal wage and hour and worker protection laws is employers that hire illegal immigrants, including children.

why do we shake our head when "American" children are overworked and abused and ignore it when an illegal alien is exploited and abused? Racism?

when will we demand horrifically strict penalties for anyone that violates a labor law? When will we stop employers from abusing and exploiting people for personal profit? When will it NOT be acceptable to treat illegal immigrants like slaves?

We worry that someone will check their ID...HORROR!!! But we don't worry that they work 60 hours per week for $200. We don't worry that if they get injured there is no workman's comp insurance to pay their medical bills or supplement their income for their family.

These kinds of reports only focus the racism that exists, the federal protection laws for white people, and nothing but exploitation for illegals.

STOP the abuse now. Demand your legislators put a huge tax on the employment of illegals. Demand that they seize property to collect the tax. Demand they enforce the laws they pass that apply to employers!

Your point, while not entirely with out merit, does not really need to be thrust into every thread. While far more clever than your 'shoot 'em crossing the border' brethren, it is getting a tad over done.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Actually it has a lot to do with it, as the two are interrelated to one another. Hence, Gary's thread about illegal aliens being exploited the other day.

This is slave driving at its finest.

Gary posts the same essential comment in every thread, no matter the OP. Redundantly. And you, having been caught being far less clever in your anti-immigrant fervor have joined the bandwagon.

I already awarded one to shooter, but I think you get one too! Congrats!

[luckytxn 2,263]

As many have posted and I agree it is wrong to HIRE young children to work. I also was one of those that grew up on a family farm that had many chores before school to perform and then after. The weekends were all about chores but we were allowed to go have some fun and explore with other kids if our chores were done. As we got older it was a given we would get jobs like newspaper delivering or helping the older folks with mowing, etc.

It was a relief that we moved to the city by the time I was 10. There was no more getting up at 5 and doing chores. We did get an allowance to do small chores and stuff. I did get my delivery job by age 12 and a job bussing tables by 13 and even worked at my fathers bar doing things. I could never imagine not working and pulling my own weight. In fact everyone I knew in the city also had chores around the house and found small jobs to do to get some money. It was how we all were raised to be. Nothing was handed to us ever and we all earned everything we got. Of course the main goal of all us was to set a portion aside to buy our car we wanted when we were old enough and we did. This also enabled us all to get better jobs. It also meant we were expected to now start saving for our college education which most of us did. I had to work and go to school to get through college.

It is a far cry from what I see nowadays where kids get everything handed to them. Even one Nephew wrecked 3 cars by racing and other Nieces and Nephews seemed to not appreciate what they have and never cared for their gifts like I and my friends did when we had to bust our rump to get these same things. Also the main things I see different now from then is that we also saved for rainy days and never expected anyone to hand us anything.

[Heracles 417]

Gary posts the same essential comment in every thread, no matter the OP. Redundantly. And you, having been caught being far less clever in your anti-immigrant fervor have joined the bandwagon.

I already awarded one to shooter, but I think you get one too! Congrats!

Like I expected more than the labels or rhetorical posts from you.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

You do know the history of child labour laws now don't you Paul?

Yeah... all those kids working in the fields are there because they "want to work".

What a crock of #######.

[Danno 1,228]

Berries are spelled with an 'ie', farmer boy.

A RUN-ON SENTENCE (sometimes called a "fused sentence") has at least two parts, either one of which can stand by itself (in other words, two independent clauses), but the two parts have been smooshed together instead of being properly connected.

It is important to realize that the length of a sentence really has nothing to do with whether a sentence is a run-on or not; being a run-on is a structural flaw that can plague even a very short sentence:

The sun is high, put on some sunblock.

Can give us the definition of "Smooshed", I'm not even sure that word is in the dictionary to spell-check it.

[Peikko 1,575]

Child labour laws were put in place to stop kids from earning a bit of pocket money in their free time? What a bunch of faeces that is.

Edited May 9, 2010 by Madame Cleo

[Danno 1,228]

What this story failed to produce was.. the great harm that all this horrid child labor has produced, maybe we have some personal testimonies right here at VJ?

Without a mountain of evidence that children are being worked to the bone or kept from school to shovel the neighbors driveway I will trust parents to be the guardian of their childs health over some lobbying group which is fast running out of Causes to funds raise on.

I suppose since the Dawn of man, children have "worked" in the field, in the shops and on the waters at the youngest of ages..... why is it in the last few decades we believe a childs time is better spent watching "90210" reruns or surfing the web?

It would be comical if the "child obesity" lobby and the "Stop child labor" lobby both were waiting in the hallway of Congress to testify and what a telling picture their signs would make.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

What this story failed to produce was.. the great harm that all this horrid child labor has produced, maybe we have some personal testimonies right here at VJ?

Without a mountain of evidence that children are being worked to the bone or kept from school to shovel the neighbors driveway I will trust parents to be the guardian of their childs health over some lobbying group which is fast running out of Causes to funds raise on.

I suppose since the Dawn of man, children have "worked" in the field, in the shops and on the waters at the youngest of ages..... why is it in the last few decades we believe a childs time is better spent watching "90210" reruns or surfing the web?

It would be comical if the "child obesity" lobby and the "Stop child labor" lobby both were waiting in the hallway of Congress to testify and what a telling picture their signs would make.

I'm sure if you're really interested you could take it upon yourself to do a bit of wider reading...

There's more to a given subject than a single article posted on a message board. Why do you want to be spoon-fed?

[Peikko 1,575]

What this story failed to produce was.. the great harm that all this horrid child labor has produced, maybe we have some personal testimonies right here at VJ?

Without a mountain of evidence that children are being worked to the bone or kept from school to shovel the neighbors driveway I will trust parents to be the guardian of their childs health over some lobbying group which is fast running out of Causes to funds raise on.

I suppose since the Dawn of man, children have "worked" in the field, in the shops and on the waters at the youngest of ages..... why is it in the last few decades we believe a childs time is better spent watching "90210" reruns or surfing the web?

It would be comical if the "child obesity" lobby and the "Stop child labor" lobby both were waiting in the hallway of Congress to testify and what a telling picture their signs would make.

Try reading up on child labour law history Danno, that might help you out a bit. Seriously, no one is trying to stop kids from helping out on the farm, earning a bit of pocket money or encouraging kids to lead a healthy lifestyle.