Thread: NYT editorial-Farms & Immigrants

May 16, 2009
Editorial
Farms and Immigrants
The immigration system, broken in a thousand places, needs a multitude of fixes, from the borders to the workplace to the status of would-be Americans waiting in limbo overseas and toiling in shadows here. A new bill called AgJobs, introduced in the House and Senate, addresses some of those problems. It seeks to relieve chronic farm labor shortages while protecting rights and opportunities for immigrant workers.

The legislation, which has bipartisan support, is the result of years of negotiations between growers and workers’ advocates. Growers and workers are tied together, but their interests are highly prone to collision, as anyone who remembers the California farmworker strikes of the 1970s knows.

Because it’s hard to find Americans willing to endure the heat, cold and misery of stooping in the fields — or the low wages — growers overwhelmingly use undocumented workers. An estimated 75 percent or more of the agricultural work force is here illegally. This is bad for everybody. Undocumented workers are easy prey for exploitation and unable to assert their rights. Growers constantly complain about labor shortages and are vulnerable to disruptive immigration raids.

The bill helps to bolster labor rights, while also making it easier for growers to hire more temporary immigrant workers — after advertising and recruiting for Americans. Most critical, it includes a path to legal status and eventual citizenship for undocumented workers if they have clean records and pay fines and back taxes.

In a climate of seemingly permanent stalemate and rancor over immigration, a bill that has the support of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the advocacy group Farmworker Justice obviously has something going for it.

It’s a model compromise, mixing pro-business pragmatism with a commitment to protecting workers — future Americans — who do some of the country’s most vital yet difficult jobs. Whether AgJobs is enacted on its own or, more likely, folded into a larger immigration bill, it deserves a place at the table of comprehensive reform.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/16/op...html?th&emc=th

The holes in this story are big enough to fly a jumbo jet through them!

"Immigrants" don't want to work on those farms either. Here's how it works: Illegals come and take those jobs ONLY until a better job comes along (aka construction, landscaping, service work aka higher pay). The "farmer" then needs MORE "workers". It's a vicious cycle, which harms everyone but the farmer and the illegal workers.

What the farmer needs to do is mechanize his operation OR increase wages to make up for the crappiness of the jobs. But that would cut into their profit, eh? Tough noogies, why should taxpayers be forced to subsidize their labor force? Remember, most "farms" nowadays are owned by corporations, not mom-and-dads.

There is NO excuse for hiring illegal aliens. How many "farms" hire convicts?

Nuevo York Times, owned by Mexican Carlos Slim. Nuf said.

The United States ALREADY HAS a legal Guest Worker Program for Temporary Workers in Agriculture!

Under the H-2A Visas Program ("Temporary Workers in Agriculture"), U.S. planter/growers are able to legally bring to the United States as many temporary foreign workers as they require each year as long as they abide by the provisions of the program.

U.S. farmers have told us that this program has too many restrictions and is too expensive. Thus, they have asked that the U.S. Congress modify the program to make it more expedient for them to use. However, U.S. poliicians refuse to do this, pressing instead for "amnesty" for illegal workers who should not be there and their families!

Canada has a legal program called the "Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWA)" which they evidently have used for decades to the satisfaction of both Canadian farmers and the workers themselves. Under the Canadian program, the Canadian government contracts directly with the foreign government, and the foreign government itself recruits the individual workers who will participate in the program each year. As in the United States, the primary supplier of foreign farm labor to Canada is Mexico; however, there it is arranged between the two governments and is required to be legal.

I suggest non-violent IA criminals who are serving jail or prison time be recruited to do farm work for a reduced sentence and quicker deportation.

Saves Taxpayer Money and helps pay for their incarceration.

A WIN WIN situation.

Absolute common sense, USP! These guys get to hang out in a/c watching TV and being fed 3 squares a day, something they have not earned. They need to give back to this society, rather than continually taking from it.

What do these idiots think will happen if these illegals get amnesty??? They will expect the same wages as American workers!!!!! Liberalism really is a mental disorder!!!!!!!!!!!!!