AL Immigration LAW: Crop's Dying on the Vine

[THE MATRIX]

My link

ONEONTA, Ala. -- Potato farmer Keith Smith saw most of his immigrant workers leave after Alabama's tough immigration law took effect, so he hired Americans. It hasn't worked out: Most show up late, work slower than seasoned farm hands and are ready to call it a day after lunch or by midafternoon. Some quit after a single day.

In Alabama and other parts of the country, farmers must look beyond the nation's borders for labor because many Americans simply don't want the backbreaking, low-paying jobs immigrants are willing to take. Politicians who support the law say over time more unemployed Americans will fill these jobs. They insist it's too early to consider the law a failure, yet numbers from the governor's office show only nominal interest.

"I've had people calling me wanting to work," Smith said. "I haven't turned any of them down, but they're not any good. It's hard work, they just don't work like the Hispanics with experience."

Alabama passed its law in June and it was immediately challenged by the Obama administration as it has been in other states. Unlike those states' measures, Alabama's law was left largely in place while challenges played out in court, frightening Hispanics and driving many of them away.

The agriculture industry suffered the most immediate impact. Farmers said they will have to downsize or let crops die on the vine. As the season's harvest winds down, many are worried about next year.

In south Georgia, Connie Horner has heard just about every reason unemployed Americans don't want to work on her blueberry farm. It's hot, the hours are long, the pay isn't enough and it's just plain hard.

"You can't find legal workers," Horner said. "Basically they last a day or two, literally."

Horner, who runs an 8 1/2-acre organic blueberry farm, said she tried to use the government's visa program to hire foreign workers, but it was too costly and time consuming.

She plans to stop growing organically and start using a machine to pick the berries.

"I did everything I possibly could to be legal and honest and not part of the problem," Horner said. "Morally, I can't knowingly hire illegal workers."

[regeneratia]

Hire more people. Pay more.

Ifr I were the farmer, I would have the locals come and pick their own for reduced produced prices. At least so the crops don't rot.

And again I say, you cannot turn over a crop every ninety days on the same soil and still expect it to be nutritious.

Time to grow your own.

I simply have NO sympathy for Ivy league-educated corporate produce farmers.

Edited November 14, 2011 by regeneratia

[Mr_Snstr]

Derp.

"I did everything I possibly could to be legal and honest and not part of the problem," Horner said. "Morally, I can't knowingly hire illegal workers."

She then went on a long tirade explaining the finer points of her view, concluding that it can't be done morally because illegal immigrants were born without souls.

I know where I'm going in a year or two to buy land for my dream of living/running my own family farm.

[__Kratos__]

After decades of illegals working at depleted wages and benefits, the American workers in those areas that used to do the jobs have moved on. Why wouldn't they? Now that the illegals are gone it's going to be harder to find any workers to do the job regardless of pay because they don't know the jobs.

"I've had people calling me wanting to work," Smith said. "I haven't turned any of them down, but they're not any good. It's hard work, they just don't work like the Hispanics with experience."

It's the fault of everybody who's hired the illegals in the past that they have these problems today.

[THE MATRIX]

After decades of illegals working at depleted wages and benefits, the American workers in those areas that used to do the jobs have moved on. Why wouldn't they? Now that the illegals are gone it's going to be harder to find any workers to do the job regardless of pay because they don't know the jobs.

It's the fault of everybody who's hired the illegals in the past that they have these problems today.

So now it's the fault of the employer's who hire illegals? LOL!

First it's the illegals taking Americans jobs. Then when the jobs are available and they can't hack it. Now its time to blame the employers.

People can't seem to make up their minds these days.

What happen to "Once we get all the Illegals out Jobs will be available for Americans???" LMFAO!

Well Guess What Jobs are available but Americans won't take them. LOLOLOLOL!

Edited November 15, 2011 by THE MATRIX

[thatRobGuy]

So now it's the fault of the employer's who hire illegals? LOL!

That is without question the problem...

Make it easier to become a citizen. Then all you have to worry about is quality of work. Pay the most for the best work. Mexicans or any illegals aren't the problem. It's the rich businessman paying less to get more. Screw the fence and take care of the real problem.

Edited November 14, 2011 by thatRobGuy

[Mr_Snstr]

That is without question the problem...

Make it easier to become a citizen. Then all you have to worry about is quality of work. Pay the most for the best work. Mexicans or any illegals aren't the problem. It's the rich businessman paying less to get more. Screw the fence and take care of the real problem.

It was a working system:

We didn't want to work the feild. Or see our produce prices rise, as well as wanting to maximize our own profits.

They didn't want to be in mexico. Didn't mind toiling away in the fields for meager pay, and would have liked access to US social programs.

Sounds like we had a fairly decent understanding(not the best, but not the worse by far). All we had to do was look the other way at the very least. At the most not automatically treat them like criminals, moochers, or worse. World is built on understandings, even un-said ones.

[__Kratos__]

So now it's the fault of the employer's who hire illegals? LOL!

First it's the illegals taking Americans jobs. Then when the jobs are available and they can't hack it. Now its time to blame the employers.

People can't seem to make up their minds these days.

What happen to "Once we get all the Illegals out Jobs will be available for Americans???" LMFAO!

Well Guess What Jobs are available but Americans won't take them. LOLOLOLOL!

It's the fault of both parties. Duh? One for coming here illegally and the other employing them illegal.

The jobs are there but there's nobody skilled or willing to take them because of the decades of illegals and their employers depleting the legal job market with crappy wages and benefits. Your own article says the legal workers don't have the experience. Maybe you should read your own article?

[thatRobGuy]

I don't disagree. All I know is anybody wants to do the best for themselves or their family. If everything was reversed I would have no problem crossing a border to make things better for my family.

The only thing that has changed is perception. Everybody wants to chant USA but nobody knows where their great great grandpa came from. I say if that fella didnt wear feathers in his hat, **** lol

[Mr_Snstr]

I don't disagree. All I know is anybody wants to do the best for themselves or their family. If everything was reversed I would have no problem crossing a border to make things better for my family.

The only thing that has changed is perception. Everybody wants to chant USA but nobody knows where their great great grandpa came from. I say if that fella didnt wear feathers in his hat, **** lol

Nobody wants to admit that the only way to stop illegal immigration is (1.)to offer free(or at least easy, cheap, and accesable) citizenship. By allowing your country's production and enterprise to flourish to the point where anyone that can and will work, will immediately be welcomed with open arms and then put to work.

or (2.) make your country so undesirable that no one but the criminal, insane, criminally insane, or insanely criminal would ever bother stepping foot in it. In which case you can be sure they're guilty of something and arrest them consiense free.

[veledran]

If farm is too big to pick the produce in time, buy equipment. Equipment is too expensive? Should have had a smaller farm.

[__Kratos__]

Nobody wants to admit that the only way to stop illegal immigration is (1.)to offer free(or at least easy, cheap, and accesable) citizenship. By allowing your country's production and enterprise to flourish to the point where anyone that can and will work, will immediately be welcomed with open arms and then put to work.

or (2.) make your country so undesirable that no one but the criminal, insane, criminally insane, or insanely criminal would ever bother stepping foot in it. In which case you can be sure they're guilty of something and arrest them consiense free.

Our immigration quotas are meant to be equaled with our growth in production and being useful to our country.

If we just open the borders then the flood of unskilled workers from third world countries would just drag our country down like these illegal immigrants are doing.

[thatRobGuy]

Nobody wants to admit that the only way to stop illegal immigration is (1.)to offer free(or at least easy, cheap, and accesable) citizenship. By allowing your country's production and enterprise to flourish to the point where anyone that can and will work, will immediately be welcomed with open arms and then put to work.

or (2.) make your country so undesirable that no one but the criminal, insane, criminally insane, or insanely criminal would ever bother stepping foot in it. In which case you can be sure they're guilty of something and arrest them consiense free.

Let's be honest, how many true americans could pass the citizenship test? I mean seriously...

There shouldn't even be a test. Only a want or need.

We can bomb countries in the name of democracy and yet p*** on those people when they come here?

[thatRobGuy]

Our immigration quotas are meant to be equaled with our growth in production and being useful to our country.

If we just open the borders then the flood of unskilled workers from third world countries would just drag our country down like these illegal immigrants are doing.

So, land of the free home of the brave is just something ya say?

[Mr_Snstr]

Let's be honest, how many true americans could pass the citizenship test? I mean seriously...

There shouldn't even be a test. Only a want or need.

We can bomb countries in the name of democracy and yet p*** on those people when they come here?

I agree with "only a want or need" and I would add "means" as well(as in you have to at least show up, don't expect a free plane ticket). As long as your country is more desirable than another, you will have immigrants.<-period

No amount of border patrols, walls, coastal ships or bureaucratic red tape is going to stop that. Exploitation and ill will can and will be tolerated up to the point that it is still better to be here, than where they came from. Trying to put a stop to it is useless. It's better to turn resources on how to make use and integrate an immigrant population, rather than stopping them, or getting rid of them.

Don't underestimate the power of human ingenuity, and don't support a system that pits you against it, when you can create a system uses it to work in everyone's favor.

Edited November 15, 2011 by Mr_Snstr

[Mr_Snstr]

Our immigration quotas are meant to be equaled with our growth in production and being useful to our country.

If we just open the borders then the flood of unskilled workers from third world countries would just drag our country down like these illegal immigrants are doing.

Let me get this straight Kratos. Ex porn star looking to better herself reading to school children is ok. Immigrant from a poor country looking to better themselves working and toiling in meager paying jobs is dragging the country down and not ok?

That constant annoying hum you're feeling is called cognitive dissonance. It shouldn't be a big problem. But eventually you should deal with it.

Ex Porn star reads to kids

At least I'm consistent in my disapproval. I'm only saying it can't be stopped, and to make the best of it.

[Travelling Man]

The whole situation sucks - because if we pay a minimum wage to LEGAL workers, a head of lettuce will cost $6 each - and the FIRST people to complain will be the Liberals about how we are destroying the lower class with the horrid cost of basic food.

Of course, if we went after the businesses - and just fined them $100,000 each for EVERY illegal alien they have working, after a business or two is seized for failure (or inability) to pay, then people would fall in line.

(Edited because I kant spel)

Edited November 15, 2011 by Travelling Man

[__Kratos__]

Let me get this straight Kratos. Ex porn star looking to better herself reading to school children is ok. Immigrant from a poor country looking to better themselves working and toiling in meager paying jobs is dragging the country down and not ok?

That constant annoying hum you're feeling is called cognitive dissonance. It shouldn't be a big problem. But eventually you should deal with it.

Ex Porn star reads to kids

At least I'm consistent in my disapproval. I'm only saying it can't be stopped, and to make the best of it.

Yes, because using what you're saying nobody is getting hurt or screwed over. On the other hand this illegal immigrant is here leeching off America and hurting Americans but at the same time also being used as cheap slave labor.

The world isn't black and white, how dare I think over my opinions rather then painting everybody with the same brush regardless of situations and other details.

[make me believe]

Let me get this straight Kratos. Ex porn star looking to better herself reading to school children is ok. Immigrant from a poor country looking to better themselves working and toiling in meager paying jobs is dragging the country down and not ok?

The problem is that most take advantage of being here and have large, brooding families, which forces local taxpayers to pay for their children's education, medical care, free school lunches, food stamps, and much, much more. They end up taking more out of the system than they put into it.

Rural communities across America have been completely swamped by this wave of special needs children from Mexico. They drag the rest of the English-speaking student population down with them, and divert resources from other "targeted" groups like blacks. That is why, even though they make heads of lettuce cheaper at the grocer, they end up costing Americans a lot more in the long run, because of their use and increasing abuse of taxpayer-funded services.

It will be interesting to see what happens when this current glut of anchor babies grows up and has to find meaningful employment. Chances are there will be fewer low skilled jobs in the future than there is now.

.

Edited November 15, 2011 by make me believe

[The Silver Thong]

Let me get this straight Kratos. Ex porn star looking to better herself reading to school children is ok. Immigrant from a poor country looking to better themselves working and toiling in meager paying jobs is dragging the country down and not ok?

That constant annoying hum you're feeling is called cognitive dissonance. It shouldn't be a big problem. But eventually you should deal with it.

Ex Porn star reads to kids

At least I'm consistent in my disapproval. I'm only saying it can't be stopped, and to make the best of it.

Are you saying an illigal immigrant braking that law and those that employee such illegals are above the law and an ex porn actress a legal is breaking the law by reading to children. I see in the news all the time how people try to change there ways. I'm sure there are programs for ex-cons to work with people such as victims of the same crime they committed against the people they once victimized. The issue here is this lady is not breaking any law and it's bs that is making this an issue.

Illegls are illegal plan and simple or do you want to adhere so some laws and not others and not have a legal system regulate it. Pretty silly if you ask me and to bring a lady aka ex porn star as some example of the law being broken is silly. Your moral standard has little to do with the actual law. The law is the law and ones personal morals shall not dictate to others so pls don't.

Edited November 15, 2011 by The Silver Thong

[Mr_Snstr]

Yes, because using what you're saying nobody is getting hurt or screwed over. On the other hand this illegal immigrant is here leeching off America and hurting Americans but at the same time also being used as cheap slave labor.

The world isn't black and white, how dare I think over my opinions rather then painting everybody with the same brush regardless of situations and other details.

I hear what you're saying. But I'll reiterate initial point that stopping illegal immigration isn't logistically possible. You'll spend more on border defenses and internal enforcement than any amount of "leeched" resources or taxable revenue lost.

Open the borders. Nationalize, integrate, start trying to tax them, and enforce minimum wage. They're here or coming here anyways. Learning Spanish probably would be a bad suggestion too.

[__Kratos__]

I hear what you're saying. But I'll reiterate initial point that stopping illegal immigration isn't logistically possible. You'll spend more on border defenses and internal enforcement than any amount of "leeched" resources or taxable revenue lost.

Open the borders. Nationalize, integrate, start trying to tax them, and enforce minimum wage. They're here or coming here anyways. Learning Spanish probably would be a bad suggestion too.

Can't stop it but you can slow it down. It's already happening... There are less arrests on the borders and more people are staying in their home countries.

I'm more for not just border defenses but going after the actual business and people hiring and aiding illegals as well as closing loop holes in benefits states give out. The idea that the US can help everybody is a nice idea but it's not a reality. We already do a lot in developing countries and we could do more. Though really we've got to take care of ourselves first so we don't slip backwards.

[The Silver Thong]

I hear what you're saying. But I'll reiterate initial point that stopping illegal immigration isn't logistically possible. You'll spend more on border defenses and internal enforcement than any amount of "leeched" resources or taxable revenue lost.

Open the borders. Nationalize, integrate, start trying to tax them, and enforce minimum wage. They're here or coming here anyways. Learning Spanish probably would be a bad suggestion too.

Get the troops back in the U.S. as they have been protecting the borders ( much more then one) in two forieghn nations. Probelem solved. Not a mouse would get through with 50 thousand troops on the border and thats but a handfull. The expenss of protecting your own border is a no brainer that it would be cheaper. Pay people what there worth as slavery has been illigal for some time in the US. Why didn't you say they should learn english?

Edited November 15, 2011 by The Silver Thong

[make me believe]

But I'll reiterate initial point that stopping illegal immigration isn't logistically possible.

We have hundreds of thousands of military personnel scattered around the globe, with an especially keen eye on Israel's borders, but not one soldier with binoculars and a rifle can be found on the Mexican border.

All it would take is 10,000 or even 3,000 Marines authorized to use lethal force and you would have no border crossers whatsoever. Illegal immigration would be curtailed 99% and only the most daring drug runners would attempt to cross over.

But Fortune 500 Inc., and the big money lobby are keeping that border open. Democrats are pleased because they know it means millions more brown voters who will vote for them lock step. The whole system is unsustainable. Demographics and never ending Third-World-ification will mean the Republicans will no longer be able to protect Wall St. capitalists by 2030-2040. But by then we will be ruled by a totalitarian government anyways, a mixture of Rothschild Europeans, Zionists, and Asian plutocrats - everyone else will be a worker ant.

.

.

Edited November 15, 2011 by make me believe

[preacherman76]

If farm is too big to pick the produce in time, buy equipment. Equipment is too expensive? Should have had a smaller farm.

This is actualy a better answer then most realise. The government has litteraly bought out the small farmer, to make the industry corprate as possible. I personaly know a couple small farmers that the government pays 100,000 a year to, so they DONT grow thier crops