Here's the economic reality of the crackdown on undocumented workers

We've actually already significantly reduced the number of undocumented workers entering the country from Mexico and it's wrecking havoc with the U.S. agricultural industry:

Last year, about a quarter of Biringer Farm’s strawberries and raspberries rotted in the field because it couldn’t find enough workers…

[Biringer Farm’s] travails reflect a broader struggle by U.S. fruit, vegetable and dairy farms to secure farmhands as illegal immigration from Mexico declines and a strengthened U.S. economy makes it easier for people to find less backbreaking work...

More broadly, growers say they are bearing the brunt of the federal government’s crackdown on illegal immigration, as they lack a suitable alternative workforce. U.S.-born workers unaccustomed to farm labor abandon the job after just days during harvest, farm owners say, and the supply of mostly Mexican laborers that made up for them has shrunk in recent years. That is partly due to tighter U.S. control of its southern border and a declining Mexican birthrate that has decreased the number of young workers heading to the U.S.

Overall in the U.S., the decline in workers is reducing fruit and vegetable production by 9.5%, or $3.1 billion, a year...

Wall Street Journal

Put simply the reality is: The population of undocumented immigrants is declining and at its lowest in a decade. U.S. born workers won't do the jobs. The agricultural industry is losing billions of dollars a year.

a reply to: DelMarvel

So they are 'undocumented' workers and not illegals because that would be an inconvenient fact.

The bottom line is I will pay more for food to create higher paying jobs for Americans that are here legally than support a criminal illegal alien industry that exploits workers and creates low wages.

a reply to: DelMarvel

You are right and the jobs have been offered to out of work American American Citizens- By the American Farmworkers Union- 3 people applied.

originally posted by: Metallicus
a reply to: DelMarvel

So they are 'undocumented' workers and not illegals because that would be an inconvenient fact.

The bottom line is I will pay more for food to create higher paying jobs for Americans that are here legally than support a criminal illegal alien industry that exploits workers and creates low wages.

Does the label really matter? The bottom would fall out of our econemy and you would be paying hardcore if we removed these people. Would you be thinking about labels then?

originally posted by: reldra
a reply to: DelMarvel

You are right and the jobs have been offered to out of work American American Citizens- By the American Farmworkers Union- 3 people applied.

So is the real problem Americans don't want to work?

Ooops...the answer is in the article. Spend the $3.1 billion to pay the workers a living wage. Why blame the american workers, or any worker for not wanting to work for starvation wages? Granted it is hard work...so pay a worker for hard work...these growers are brain dead or just greedy...the solution is in front of them but is it easier to let crops rot.

Sound easy...it is but the greedy bastard growers will let food rot rather than give up a dime of their profits. Good...let the food rot, no one should be exploited for the benefit of the growers.
Thank you...problem solved.
Cheers

Ooops...the answer is in the article. Spend the $3.1 billion to pay the workers a living wage. Why blame the american workers, or any worker for not wanting to work for starvation wages? Granted it is hard work...so pay a worker for hard work...these growers are brain dead or just greedy...the solution is in front of them but is it easier to let crops rot.

Sound easy...it is but the greedy bastard growers will let food rot rather than give up a dime of their profits. Good...let the food rot, no one should be exploited for the benefit of the growers.
Thank you...problem solved.
Cheers

originally posted by: Metallicus
a reply to: DelMarvel

So they are 'undocumented' workers and not illegals because that would be an inconvenient fact.

Call them what you want. Doesn't change the facts presented in the article.

originally posted by: Metallicus
The bottom line is I will pay more for food to create higher paying jobs for Americans that are here legally

Read the article. Market forces are ALREADY increasing these wages for Americans here legally and they still can't find enough employees to harvest the crops.

originally posted by: reldra
a reply to: DelMarvel

You are right and the jobs have been offered to out of work American American Citizens- By the American Farmworkers Union- 3 people applied.

Maybe if they weren't on welfare and or food stamps or unemployment compensation those menial , callus making , low paying jobs would suddenly look more attractive.

a reply to: reldra

I agree with Sergio in the video. He doesn't see me there and I am not going there. If it was the last choice, I would go. I am Gen X. I might only last 3 days, though. I have had skin cancer and I can't stay in the sun...my knees are bad... I have allergies....1st world problems all around....

I find Sergio to be a really hard worker, though. He will take a job conservatives would agree millenials would avoid like the * plague. I would pay Sergio more to do work on my house, clean the kitchen floor, and give him an empty bedroom.

Sounds like many people who support the famous "Living Wage" are all in favor of keeping some groups herded in the low wage corrals.

Hmmm.

And what about H2A ?

a reply to: jjkenobi

No. The problem is that farm owners can somehow pay lower wages. The can pay by the bin or bushel or basket. Look it up.

And at the same time, they get subsidies to plant less. Michelle Bachmann knows all about that.

originally posted by: reldra

originally posted by: Metallicus
a reply to: DelMarvel

So they are 'undocumented' workers and not illegals because that would be an inconvenient fact.

The bottom line is I will pay more for food to create higher paying jobs for Americans that are here legally than support a criminal illegal alien industry that exploits workers and creates low wages.

Does the label really matter? The bottom would fall out of our econemy and you would be paying hardcore if we removed these people. Would you be thinking about labels then?

Which is why nobody ever does anything about it. Nobody wants to be the President that tanks the economy the price of food and other things skyrocket and loose the taxes those people pay just in sales tax alone. The increase in the price of food means people spend less on other things, so jobs are cut, those people need assistance which now cost the US more because food prices have risen, with those people not spending, more jobs are cut etc.

Donald Trumps know this as illegals have been vital to his business.

a reply to: DelMarvel

We need to figure out how to automate the farming industry more effectively...I would even go a step further and say we need to look at hydroponics in a controlled environment and get away from pesticides in general..keep in mind I did not think this through with all my amazing brain power but that is what just rolled off my tongue

a reply to: conspiracytheoristIAM

Nope. No US citizen that was raised here will pick fruit or vegetables for $30 a day. 10-12 hrs a day. Not gonna happen. And I don't think anyone should have to. It's just insane and the farm owners grow rich with subsidies and pay the workers crap.
It's actually disgusting.

Then people come along and complain about the 'illegals' actually doing this work that causes you to be able to buy produce you can afford.

Remove these people and believe me..kiss your produce goodbye. Especially people who buy all organic--lololol.

a reply to: Metallicus

i agree with you ....

im so confused.

originally posted by: MrSpad

originally posted by: reldra

originally posted by: Metallicus
a reply to: DelMarvel

So they are 'undocumented' workers and not illegals because that would be an inconvenient fact.

The bottom line is I will pay more for food to create higher paying jobs for Americans that are here legally than support a criminal illegal alien industry that exploits workers and creates low wages.

Does the label really matter? The bottom would fall out of our econemy and you would be paying hardcore if we removed these people. Would you be thinking about labels then?

Which is why nobody ever does anything about it. Nobody wants to be the President that tanks the economy the price of food and other things skyrocket and loose the taxes those people pay just in sales tax alone. The increase in the price of food means people spend less on other things, so jobs are cut, those people need assistance which now cost the US more because food prices have risen, with those people not spending, more jobs are cut etc.

Donald Trumps know this as illegals have been vital to his business.

You are correct, as usual. Ver low odds that many will comprehend this, though.

a reply to: reldra

it does matter. there shouldnt be any asterisks next to the word 'illegal'*

the argument of someone else does something others wouldnt which ipso facto makes it legal, wouldnt fly in any other legal aspect in a court of law.

i wouldnt be wrong to use any hyperbole to draw a parallel between an illegal immigrant and someone who commits another illegal activity because no one else would do it.

a reply to: DelMarvel

Here's another undocumented fact: we have an increased number of Americans who won't do jobs. It sounds like the perfect fit - jobs Americans won't do + Americans who won't do jobs!

originally posted by: JaMeDoIt
Ooops...the answer is in the article. Spend the $3.1 billion to pay the workers a living wage. Why blame the american workers, or any worker for not wanting to work for starvation wages? Granted it is hard work...so pay a worker for hard work...these growers are brain dead or just greedy...the solution is in front of them but is it easier to let crops rot.

Sound easy...it is but the greedy bastard growers will let food rot rather than give up a dime of their profits. Good...let the food rot, no one should be exploited for the benefit of the growers.
Thank you...problem solved.
Cheers

It is the growers and their lobbyists. And, no, we can't let the food rot. If you find a way to fix that, you should win the Nobel Prize.