Thread: Let's blame the farmers...

This guy does not have one good thing to say about the illiterate criminals sneaking across our border, so he uses farmers as an excuse. This idiot is one sad excuse of a US resident. Notice I did not call him an American, because his writing definitely shows he is a mexican.

http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/wo/story/94842.html

RUBEN NAVARRETTE JR: Talking immigration on home turf
By Ruben Navarrette Jr.
07/25/07 05:09:27

To listen to right-wing talk radio or the fear-mongers on cable TV, you would think that the only people upset by the unraveling of immigration reform are open-border liberals or left-leaning Latino activists.

Nope. Farmers and ranchers are as conservative as they come. Yet right about now, they're angry enough to spit nails.

American agribusiness is fighting off foreign competition from Asia and Latin America, while losing workers to other industries. Someone who grows peaches in Central California might pay workers about $7 an hour, while construction firms often pay twice that.

The reason for the disparity is wrapped up in how much people are willing to pay for what they consume. A lot of Californians won't think twice about forking over a million dollars for a house, but they'll balk at the price of an apple, especially when they have the option of going to another store where the apples are cheaper because they come from China.

And given that California agribusiness generates more than $30 billion annually, the labor shortage is a concern for everyone in the state -- whether they realize it or not.

That point is not lost on the community leaders associated with the Kenneth L. Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno. The institute, named after a former state senator who cast a long shadow on local and state politics, sets out to train new leaders and find creative solutions to public policy issues.

We need both. So when the institute invited me to my hometown to participate in a forum on immigration reform, I gladly accepted.

The economy of the Central Valley hums in the summer months and then suffers a downturn in winter. It's all tied to the harvest. A grape grower has a good year, and he buys himself a new pickup truck.

The person who sold it to him then has money to afford private school tuition for his daughter. And then the school has enough money to add a new wing. And then the construction company that gets the contract to build it lures away workers from the farmer who set the whole thing in motion.

Now what is the farmer supposed to do? Think the average American college student wants to do those jobs? As one of the other forum participants put it: "Of course, no one wants their kids to become farm workers. Not even farm workers want their kids to become farm workers." Some farmers in Colorado and Idaho have turned to prison inmates to fill the void. It's a cute stunt but not a long-term solution.

So farm groups pressed Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform. They were especially interested in the Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits and Security Act of 2006, or AgJobs, which would have created a new guest-worker program and granted legal status to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants who work in agriculture.

Instead, farmers watched Republicans push racist hot buttons over how we shouldn't have to "press one for English," and how any illegal immigrant who gets legal status would go on welfare. Then they watched Democrats attack the guest-worker plan in order to pander to organized labor desperate to protect union members from having to compete with foreign laborers. Meanwhile, pundits in Washington and New York showed their ignorance. The city folk suggested that farmers use machines to pick crops, but farmers maintain that could bruise fruits and vegetables and destroy their profit margin. Try picking blueberries with a machine -- you'll wind up with puree. Do it with strawberries and, before you know it, you'll have jam.

Then there's the money. Congress' failure to pass immigration reform is especially galling since many in agriculture have forked over millions in campaign contributions to officeholders from both parties. And when farmers asked for one thing in return, they got the runaround. They also got insulted; the anti-reform lobby painted them as greedy growers hungry for more illegal immigrants to exploit.

Not true, farmers say. They want a legal work force, they insist, but Congress won't even create a tamperproof ID card so that employers can be sure that their workers are legal. They say they are running out of options. And they've already run out of patience.

They admit that as many as 90% of agricultural workers are illegal immigrants. But they wonder, just where are the Americans who are supposedly desperate to have these jobs? I bet at least some of them are trying different supermarkets, shopping around for the best price for a piece of fruit.
Ruben Navarrette Jr. is a columnist and editorial board member of the San Diego Union Tribune. His e-mail address is ruben.navarrette@uniontrib.com.

For one thing, true agricultural workers account for a very small percentage of illegal aliens - regardless of how much we always hear about 'harvesting the crops'.

Also, Canada has a very good system for obtaining seasonal workers for Mexico - it has been in place for many years.

We could have a plan for seasonal workers - - if it is really necessary.

First let's explore some mechanized way of doing it - or prison labor, or encouraging some of our young people to learn the meaning of real work.

When they speak of farmers though, they are really talking about Pilgrim's, Tyson's, the large feedlots, etc.

Yes so have illegal immigrants to do the work! But they also depress the wages to $7 a hour (off the books) and bring in there once abolished diseases with them and are making thousands of Americans sick!!! Farms are one hell of a racket to with the government subsidies to be more profitable so the farmer doesn't go out of business! So hiring illegals only puts more monies into his pocket inside of hiring temp American workers or high school/college students!!! Construction, fast food, and many other service industries are hiring illegals and depressing the wages for high school/college students to get jobs and they end up dropping out because they can't afford living on min wage! On the middle tier they import workers from India, China, Singapore, Hungry, German, Ireland, etc, with the H1-B program and hit middle Americas jobs which hinder our chance for the "American Dream"!!!

SECURE AND DEPORT!!!

I just sent this email to Navarrette.

Dear Mr. Navarrette,

Ordinarily, I wouldn’t respond to the ranting of an opinion writer, but I am getting really tired of people like you feeling sorry for everyone except the American people, who are really the ones who have been left out of this debate on illegal immigration. Unfortunately, all we hear is sob stories about how farmers can’t get enough workers, or how families are torn apart by employment raids or how illegal aliens have to live in the shadows.

Why is it that no one ever writes about the 25 American lives we lose every day at the hands of illegal aliens. I’m sure the two nuns who were brutally raped, then murdered by a day laborer (Violent Crimes Institute) weren’t thinking about the price of oranges. And the parents of the little kids who are continually being kidnapped, then sexually assaulted and often murdered by these criminals, are not worrying about whether big business lobbyists are getting their money’s worth by bribing Congress, and I don’t think the entire family of four who just got wiped out by a drunk illegal alien driver was worried that Idaho is using prison inmates to help pick potatoes.

Mr. Navarrette, as an American, I would think you would be more concerned about the impact that the masses of illegal aliens flooding our country is having, not only to our fading culture, but to the American citizens’ quality of life with the overcrowded schools, the cost to our medical system and our bulging prisons, and yes, even the cost to our system with benefits being paid to illegal aliens. And those are only the highlights.

Why is it that when people like you run out of tangible arguments you reach for the race card. Believe it or not, the majority of the American citizens are not racists as you'd like your readers to believe, but warm-hearted, giving people who are struggling to hang to the American dream for their children, and are fighting to stop this government from giving their country away. I suggest you take the time and look at the flip side of this issue, then maybe you could better spend your time writing about the true victims in this issue . . . the American people.

Nice email "tinybobidaho". Thats how I feel about his "article". How Americans are being ignored and went we are slain by the hands of the illegal criminals main stream media doesn't air it! And they like that race card they all pull as we are using the term illegal immigrants is a racist term??? I guess an illegal drug dealer is disparaging a noble profession as well!!! Bring me to the hiring halls for illegal aliens lets open a drug hall, a ladies of the night hall, a murders hall, this sounds silly now doesn't it??? You get the picture on where I'm going with this!!! But what does La Raza sound like??? Hmmmm the race ok thats not like the supreme race that the Nazis tried to create so who's the Nazis now???


ILLEGAL IS ILLEGAL ITS NOT A RACE!!!

Originally Posted by tinybobidaho

I just sent this email to Navarrette.

Excellent email tinybobidaho! Not that he'll listen but point well made.

Originally Posted by tinybobidaho

I just sent this email to Navarrette.

Dear Mr. Navarrette,

Ordinarily, I wouldn’t respond to the ranting of an opinion writer, but I am getting really tired of people like you feeling sorry for everyone except the American people, who are really the ones who have been left out of this debate on illegal immigration. Unfortunately, all we hear is sob stories about how farmers can’t get enough workers, or how families are torn apart by employment raids or how illegal aliens have to live in the shadows.

Why is it that no one ever writes about the 25 American lives we lose every day at the hands of illegal aliens. I’m sure the two nuns who were brutally raped, then murdered by a day laborer (Violent Crimes Institute) weren’t thinking about the price of oranges. And the parents of the little kids who are continually being kidnapped, then sexually assaulted and often murdered by these criminals, are not worrying about whether big business lobbyists are getting their money’s worth by bribing Congress, and I don’t think the entire family of four who just got wiped out by a drunk illegal alien driver was worried that Idaho is using prison inmates to help pick potatoes.

Mr. Navarrette, as an American, I would think you would be more concerned about the impact that the masses of illegal aliens flooding our country is having, not only to our fading culture, but to the American citizens’ quality of life with the overcrowded schools, the cost to our medical system and our bulging prisons, and yes, even the cost to our system with benefits being paid to illegal aliens. And those are only the highlights.

Why is it that when people like you run out of tangible arguments you reach for the race card. Believe it or not, the majority of the American citizens are not racists as you'd like your readers to believe, but warm-hearted, giving people who are struggling to hang to the American dream for their children, and are fighting to stop this government from giving their country away. I suggest you take the time and look at the flip side of this issue, then maybe you could better spend your time writing about the true victims in this issue . . . the American people.

Bravo!!!

nntrixie wrote:

We could have a plan for seasonal workers - - if it is really necessary.

We do, it's called the H-2A program.

H-2A Labor Certification Process
for Employers applying for Nonimmigrant Aliens
to perform Temporary Or Seasonal Work in Agriculture
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: This program allows agriculture employers wishing to employ foreign agricultural workers on a temporary or seasonal basis to file a Labor Certification Application directly with the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration's National Processing Center located in Chicago, Illinois.

REGULATIONS: Immigration and Nationality Act as amended by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Department of Labor regulations at 20 CFR, Part 655, Subpart B.

WHO MAY APPLY: An agriculture employer who anticipates a shortage of U.S. workers to perform agriculture labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature may file an application requesting temporary alien agricultural labor certification.

VALIDITY PERIOD: Temporary means agricultural employment performed (usually on a one time occurrence) for a limited time period of not more than ten (10) months when the employer can show that the need for the alien worker(s) is truly temporary. Seasonal means agriculture employment performed at certain seasons of the year.

CONDITIONS TO BE SATISFIED: The following specific conditions must be met by an employer who files an application for temporary alien labor certification pursuant to H-2A regulations:

Recruitment: The employer must agree to engage in independent positive recruitment of U.S. workers. This means an active effort, including newspaper and radio advertising in the areas of expected labor supply and placing a job order with the nearest local office of the Texas Workforce Commission.

Wage Rate: The wage or rate of pay must be the same for U.S. workers and H-2A workers. The hourly rate must also be at least as high as the applicable Adverse Effect Wage Rate, Federal or State minimum wage or the applicable prevailing hourly wage rate, whichever is higher. If the worker is paid on a piece rate basis and the piece rate does not result in an hourly piece rate earning during the period at least equal to the amount the worker would have earned had the worker been paid at the hourly rate, then the worker's pay must be supplemented to the equivalent hourly level.

Housing: The employer must provide free housing to all workers who are not reasonably able to return to their residences the same day. Such housing must be inspected and approved according to standards established by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Meals: The employer must provide either three meals a day to each worker or furnish free and convenient cooking and kitchen facilities for workers to prepare their own meals. If meals are provided, then the employer may charge each worker a certain amount per day for the three meals.

Transportation: The employer is responsible for the following type of transportation of workers: (1) After the worker has completed fifty percent of the work contract period, the employer must reimburse the worker the cost of transportation and subsistence from the place of recruitment to the place of work, if such costs were borne by the worker. (2) The employer must provide free transportation between the employer's housing and the worksite for any worker who is provided housing. (3) Upon completion of the work contract, the employer must pay reasonable costs of the worker's subsistence and return transportation cost to foreign workers or provide transportation. The employer must advance such costs or provide transportation to U.S. workers as well.

Worker's Compensation Insurance: The employer must provide either Worker's Compensation Insurance, or insurance coverage equivalent to Worker's Compensation Insurance, for all workers. Proof of insurance must be provided before certification is granted.

Tools and Supplies: The employer must provide, at no cost to the worker, all tools and supplies necessary to carry out the work, unless it is common practice in the area and occupation for the worker to provide certain items.

Three-fourths Guarantee: The employer must guarantee to offer each worker employment for at least three-fourths of the workdays in the work contract period and any extensions. If the employer affords less employment, then the employer must pay the amount that the worker would have earned had the worker been employed the guaranteed number of days.

Fifty Percent Rule: The employer must agree to hire any qualified and eligible U.S. worker who applies for a job until fifty percent of the period, or the work contract, has elapsed.

Labor Dispute: The employer must assure that the job opportunity for which H-2A certification is being requested is not vacant because the former occupant is on strike or is being locked out in the course of a labor dispute.

WHERE TO APPLY:

U.S. Department of Labor
Employment and Training Administration
Chicago National Processing Center
844 North Rush Street, 12th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Telephone Number: (312)-886-8000
Fax: (312) 886-1688

http://www.twc.state.tx.us/svcs/alc/h2a.html

The farmers don't like the H-2A program because providing a place to live, transportation, insurance, etc. cuts into their profits! In other words, H-2A's aren't considered "cheap labor." The farmers want American taxpayers to subsidize labor costs for their workforce.

Farming is probably the most federally subsidized profession in America. Our government has spoiled the big farm owners through crop susidies. The farmers have grown accustomed to subsidy and are eager to have the taxpayers susidize their labor too.

You may find this very interesting:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01591.html

1. Hire legal workers.
2. If not #1 then have prisoners do your work.
3. Label all produce and meat by country of origin.

I would HAPPILY pay additional cents to purchase American produce or meat rather than imports. Just label it, you dumbasses.

Thanks, everyone. I was just sitting here wondering if I'll get a return letter.