Thread: Why are Americans not taking the jobs Republicans say they want?

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - Alabama's strict new immigration law may be backfiring. Intended to force illegal workers out of jobs, it is also driving away many legal immigrant workers who work in construction and on farms doing backbreaking jobs that Americans generally won't.

While it's not clear how many of an estimated 185,000 Hispanic people in the state have fled, one estimate figured as much one-fourth of the commercial building work force had left since the law was upheld last week, said Bill Caton, president of Associated General Contractors of Alabama. Commercial construction is a more than $7 billion-a-year industry in Alabama.

Farmer Chad Smith said his family farm stands to lose up to $150,000 because there are not enough workers to pick tomatoes spoiling in the fields.

Builders have complained they can't find replacement workers and delays in projects are expected. Once the economy picks up and construction returns to normal, the impact will increase, said Russell Davis, executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Alabama.

Tough immigration law leads to Ala. exodus - CBS News

While it may be easy to argue that Mexicans take jobs from Americans it's been proven time and time again Americans do not want to feed themselves. Sure they may be able to hire a few minimally productive legal workers but that's about it. Even if they could fill every single picking job those workers would never last a year because for most people the pay is not simply worth the backache. Some farms are now becoming automated to avoid the need for paying high wages which is going to kill off more American jobs in the long run then the Mexicans ever could.

So to be able to hire US workers the farmers will be forced to raise prices which translates to a minimum of a 30% increase in food costs at the grocery store. What many don't understand is that when tomatos go up $1 a pound the grocery store must factor spoilage in their prices which means the consumer now pays $2 more per pound.

Here you go (my apologizes to the international people who cannot view this)

Mexed Out - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - 10/03/11 - Video Clip | Comedy Central

so Americans might get paid to design, engineer, build, and maintain automation equipment for the farms rather than send money off to Mexico via migrant workers. the machines will no doubt improve to the point where there is eventually less cost involved in utilizing the machines rather than illegal labor. we might eventually end up selling similar machines to farmers worldwide. I don't see a downside to this in the long run.

Originally Posted by arock

Here you go (my apologizes to the international people who cannot view this)

Mexed Out - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - 10/03/11 - Video Clip | Comedy Central

there's a lot of truth in that.
Mexico's unemployment rate is half of the USA's at the moment.

That is true to an extent. There was a protester in New York stating he would not work for minimum wage. I guess protesting pays much better.

I am sure if the immigration department was more efficient they would bring in legal migrant farm workers at a faster pace.

If I was unemployed there would be nothing that I would not consider. Years ago I took a job at Medieval Times as a food server while I was looking for work in my profession.

Originally Posted by AmateurFlix

so Americans might get paid to design, engineer, build, and maintain automation equipment for the farms

And then what?

Oh that's right nobody picks fields, builds bridges, or makes anything, cars and busses drive themselves and the working class is no more. Eventually everything is automated to the point powerful CEO's are all that's needed to run the world. Nobody will need porn, prostitutes or adult talent because machines will simulate every fantasy people have using advance VRML and CGI technology. Then virtual pimps can charge $5 for a virtual blow job or $50 to ass fuck a virtual virgin. If and when the machines break down we will of course have machines to repair the machines.

Welcome to the Matrix.

Btw most picking today is already done with machines which have to be operated by pickers who load, pack and monitor their operation. What used to require hundreds now requires a dozen or two due to automation.

More like welcome to the industrial revolution, it's been going on for quite a while now I realize that there are some types of produce which can't be picked (effectively) by hand and those who are skilled at that type of work can make much better money than most would expect. Migrants working some vineyards can pull in $250+/day if they're good.

Don't forget strawberries. Those are handpicked. Bent over all day is not much fun.

Originally Posted by GForce

Don't forget strawberries. Those are handpicked. Bent over all day is not much fun.

I bet some poor American will love that job but not to worry it will be automated soon.

Strawberry Harvesting Robot by Robotic Harvesting LLC - YouTube

Fox News sides with farmers who hire illegals and blames Americans for being lazy twats who wont break their backs for crap wages.

Alabama's Immigration Law Hurting Farmers? - Fox News Video - Fox News

Originally Posted by toker

Fox News sides with farmers who hire illegals and blames Americans for being lazy twats who wont break their backs for crap wages.

I'm confused, is Fox News now a bull shit spin cycle station or does this story now carry validity because it supports your claim?

It just shows how far off course they will go just to push a particular agenda when it's convenient. For months they have been beating the drum of illegal workers are bad we need to get them out at any expense. Now the tune has changed and we need to protect cheap illegal labor which benefits the interests of corporate America.

I guess the crackdown on illegals is hurting Monsanto's profits which would be totally unfair.