GA.’s farm-labor crisis going exactly as planned (anti-illegal-immigrant law means few workers)

http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2011/06/14/ga-s-farm-labor-crisis-going-exactly-as-planned/

Jay Bookman



After enactment of House Bill 87, a law designed to drive illegal immigrants out of Georgia, state officials appear shocked to discover that HB 87 is, well, driving a lot of illegal immigrants out of Georgia.

It might almost be funny if it wasn’t so sad.

The resulting manpower shortage has forced state farmers to leave millions of dollars’ worth of blueberries, onions and other crops unharvested and rotting in the fields. It has also put state officials into something of a panic at the damage they’ve done to Georgia’s largest industry.

Barely a month ago, you might recall, Gov. Nathan Deal welcomed the TV cameras into his office as he proudly signed HB 87 into law. Two weeks later, with farmers howling, a scrambling Deal was forced to order a hasty investigation into the impact of the law he had just signed, as if all this had come as quite a surprise to him.

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That undocumented workers would work for minimum wage doing heavy physical labor in the hot sun until they were arrested and deported, to be replaced by a new "crop" of undocumented workers who then would be arrested and deported and replaced?

The only outcome they ever consider is bolstering their own power.

Now pay people here a real wage to do the work and they will do it. The old right wing meme that Americans won't do dirty jobs is B.S.

Americans will do that job if they are properly paid. The companies that own the farms just say they won't because they like illegal immigrants because they are willing to work at subsistence levels.

Step 1: Get rid of the illegal immigrants undercutting wages.
Step 2: Pay Americans a decent days pay for a decent days work and they will do it.

I for one don't mind paying a little more for produce if it means at least minimum wage, forget about a livable wage but a minimum wage is a start.

I see a revival of the old convict labor system coming

of VERY low-pay workers. Prison labor handles manufacturing, clearing house calls, electronics, etc.

Corporations own this country and everyone in it.

another snip from the article>

"The agriculture industry is the number one economic engine in Georgia and it is my sincere hope to find viable and law-abiding solutions to the current problem our farmers face,” Deal said in announcing the findings. In the meantime, Deal proposes that farmers try to hire the 2,000 unemployed criminal probationers estimated to live in southwest Georgia.

snip>

It's hard to raise prices when farms outside Georgia are benefiting from only paying subsistence wages.

All states need to crack down on companies profiting off illegal immigrant labor.

They do not understand real economics, the sources and movement of farm labor (or any labor source). They feel fear of the alien, and use it like a lash to drive their voters to the polls.

the MARKET will sort it out!

When you think that some if not most of those very same farmers voted for the Republican majority and governor, you just envision that picture of a circular firing squad!:rofl:

I realize that putting an end to neoslavery is going to be tough on agriculture and may pinch consumers a little more but it must be done.

drive the illegals out of Georgia, drive them out of the country. Employers will then be forced to hire real Americans at a livable wage..

but I'll continue using it as a noun where I see fit..

supporters of human rights.

:hi:

No one will pick cotton if we have to pay them! Cotton prices will go up! People will have to pay more for clothing! We need our cheap labor!

And to counter the sudden labor shortage, the farmers are going to be forced to pay higher wages to Americans, or witness the continued loss of crop revenue, for which they're obviously solely dependent on.

Remove illegal aliens from the equation and employers will have little choice but to raise wages and hire Americans. With unemployment currently at 9%, I'm positive there shouldn't be a problem filling the void.

Oasis