Some Alabama farmers cut back crops, citing illegal immigration crackdown

[Leatherneck 693]

Wonder how many Americans will go chasing after these tomato picking jobs?

First, take away those EBT cards from the very able bodied folks that have no skills to low skills playing the taxpayers for suckers, those are the folks that will go chasing those jobs. Farmers will need to pay a wage that attracts those folks, but it will never work as long as we have a welfare system for people that are physically able to work but will not work as long as they can get that EBT card.

[Leatherneck 693]

We all know the pay for these types of work is sh!tty at best, but how can illegals survive on it while Americans complain that the pay can't stretch?

Because Americans need a 52" flat screen in the living room, a 46" flat screen in the bedroom, $150.00 Air Jordans and 20 inch rims on the car.

[aaydrian 479]

First, take away those EBT cards from the very able bodied folks that have no skills to low skills playing the taxpayers for suckers, those are the folks that will go chasing those jobs. Farmers will need to pay a wage that attracts those folks, but it will never work as long as we have a welfare system for people that are physically able to work but will not work as long as they can get that EBT card.

I'm sure taking away welfare checks from physically abled persons won't make them go pick tomatoes. They are lazy and I am sure they would rather go the corner and performs questionable acts or get money quick activities - pretty much anything that doesn't require much physical locomotion.

Because Americans need a 52" flat screen in the living room, a 46" flat screen in the bedroom, $150.00 Air Jordans and 20 inch rims on the car.

Yes, yes they do.

Edited May 15, 2012 by aaydrian

[lostinblue 1,989]

I think the employers see it differently. Read the article.

Keith Dickie said he and other growers in the heart of Alabama's tomato country didn't have any choice but to reduce acreage amid fears there won't be enough workers to pick the delicate fruit.

At 7-8% unemployment there is enough labor to work in the fields if the government wanted them out working. I myself spent a summer picking vegetables. Still alive and kicking.

[Leatherneck 693]

I'm sure taking away welfare checks from physically abled persons won't make them go pick tomatoes. They are lazy and I am sure they would rather go the corner and performs questionable acts or get money quick activities - pretty much anything that doesn't require much physical locomotion.

Yes, yes they do.

Well, you do have a point there -- those criminal acts would garner more money than picking tomatoes.

[unlockingsky 94]

Well, you do have a point there -- those criminal acts would garner more money than picking tomatoes.

career criminal.. lol.. you make a whole lot of money outside. but when you are in prison, it is mandated living and easy going.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I think a lot of people in this thread may not be aware of the nuances of farming produce. Its not really about the wages, its the fact that its short seasonal work. You basically need to be a migrant worker willing to move around.

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

I think a lot of people in this thread may not be aware of the nuances of farming produce. Its not really about the wages, its the fact that its short seasonal work. You basically need to be a migrant worker willing to move around.

Exactly. That's why for the longest time, we've had exemptions for allowing migrant labor to come from outside of this country. But now, with all these new draconian, state-level laws against immigration, the environment is too hostile for these temporary workers.

This has always been an economic issue.

[mawilson 2,133]

career criminal.. lol.. you make a whole lot of money outside. but when you are in prison, it is mandated living and easy going.

Not to mention free health care!

[웃 910]

Not to mention free health care!

And free torture. I've not been to prison but to a handful of holding cells and county jail (very short stays 10 days or less). It is the most miserable place I've been to in my life.

To get in an idea....go into a small bathroom with no tv, no windows, and put a kids desk there and a rubbery/plastic mattress with an uncomfortable pillow.

Lock yourself in and three times a day you will get slop served on a wet tray (once at 5am, once at 11am, and once at 4pm which is the last meal of the day). You will be starving non-stop and all you look forward to is that next meal of slop.

You can pace back and forth, do pushups....fill your pillow case with water to use as a weight....and twiddle your thumbs...

It is pure torture! When they release you from your cage for a few hours a day you can go out into the dayroom to have conversations with a mix of crazy criminals.

Then back to your cage where you share a toilet with some disgusting crazy maniac.

Then again, this is county jail which is a lot worse than prison....Everyone in the county headed to prison is so excited and literally can't wait to get transferred for the drastically improved living conditions....Better food, more commissary options, more freedom, etc...

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I'm sure taking away welfare checks from physically abled persons won't make them go pick tomatoes. They are lazy and I am sure they would rather go the corner and performs questionable acts or get money quick activities - pretty much anything that doesn't require much physical locomotion.

Yes, yes they do.

Pay them $14-19 per hour, 2 weeks paid vacation, medical benefits, FAML, Medicare, SS, workmans comp., etc and they will work and you will pay more for tomatoes. You know all the things liberals demanded for workers to provide a decent work environment. What are we passing laws for to protect American workers only to have racists avoid the laws for corproate profit?

I am not going along with racists who simply want to exploit humans so you can buy cheap tomatoes.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Exactly. That's why for the longest time, we've had exemptions for allowing migrant labor to come from outside of this country. But now, with all these new draconian, state-level laws against immigration, the environment is too hostile for these temporary workers.

This has always been an economic issue.

Temporary migrant workers are not illegal, this is not about them

Stop deflecting. You support the abuse of humans for profit.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I think a lot of people in this thread may not be aware of the nuances of farming produce. Its not really about the wages, its the fact that its short seasonal work. You basically need to be a migrant worker willing to move around.

Or you need to pay Americans/legal workers more. I live in a state where a huge percentage of the population worls in seasonal work, the ski industry to be precise and they have NO PROBLEM filling those jobs because they pay a decent wage and benefits. Lift tickets are not cheap.

Agriculture needs to follow the rules or be out out of business for human trafficking and exploitation.

Incidentally seasonal workers, real, employed, legal seasonal workers ARE eligible for unemployment. Illegals are not. The suggestion that we NEED slaves is preposterous and insulting. We have spent over a hundred years assembling laws to protect workers and we do NOT need agriculture or construction to simply undo all our work to protect people by hiring undocumented workers and getting away with it.

We need MANDATORY e-verify and ruinous TAXES for anyone that hires illegal workers. Period. Confiscate property to offset the tax owed. You hire an illegal...you are out of business!

When THAT threat hangs over the heads of employers and one or two get nailed for it, the exploitation of humans is done. When there is no work for illegals, they will leave.

Finally we will have ended slavery...and the Dems, as they did before, will fight it all the way.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Pay them $14-19 per hour, 2 weeks paid vacation, medical benefits, FAML, Medicare, SS, workmans comp., etc and they will work and you will pay more for tomatoes. You know all the things liberals demanded for workers to provide a decent work environment. What are we passing laws for to protect American workers only to have racists avoid the laws for corproate profit?

I am not going along with racists who simply want to exploit humans so you can buy cheap tomatoes.

:thumbs: :thumbs:

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Just thought I'd point out by referring to migrant workers, I'm not necessarily referring to immigrants from outside the US. Seasons for produce are short. To work in the field as a laborer you must be migrant, i.e. nomadic for long term employment. Often, laborers will harvest one crop for a few weeks and then move to an entirely different state for the next harvest.

Therefore, you could offer very high wages and still not attract enough labor because not enough people are willing to be nomadic. I think you could argue that wages would need to be as high as 40 or even 50 dollars an hour before your average American is tempted to give up a settled lifestyle for a nomadic one.