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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
The conservative in me thinks addressing this issue (deporting them) [b]would lead to higher wages and better benefits in the ag sector, which attracts more domestic workers to work in ag.[/b] It also would increase investment in mechanization and automation. There will be a time of higher costs increased food prices but when things settle, they should stabilize.

However, on a broader level, I find this entire situation absurd. The United States has become far too reliant on migrant labor, having half of the agricultural workforce undocumented. We need to ask ourselves why this is the case. It ain’t because this is "work Americans won't do". It's entirely because, for over 40 years, corporations have been allowed to exploit cheap imported labor, keeping wages for these jobs disgustingly low sometimes even below the federal minimum wage.

There are plenty of Americans who would be willing to do this work, but not for $12 an hour under the sweltering sun of Texas. Offer $30 an hour plus benefits to harvest lettuce, and you would see plenty of people lining up for those jobs. The problem lies in the fact that neither Democrats nor Republicans have taken meaningful action for decades. BOTH sides have allowed "big ag" to exploit these workers, paying pennies per box harvested perpetuating this cycle of exploitation, and doing so in such a way that if it were to ever dare end, suddenly panic, omg, our foods gonna rot and we're all gonna die of starvation because we cant afford food! They have caught you in this line of thinking, so they will always get their cheap, exploitive labor.

In my opinion, the widespread abuse of migrant labor over the past four decades is a shameful stain on this country. But, just like iPhones and Nike shoes, most people turn a blind eye to the unethical labor practices behind the products they want, so long as the price is low. Just look at OPs post: concerns about "rotting crops" and "skyrocketing prices", and not a single care about the exploitation of these workers. This has been ignored for decades and now that there's a policy threatens to send them home, we just get all up in arms because we might have to pay more.

It’s almost like saying that an economy can’t survive without illegal & low or no cost labor to farm the land.  You know who else used that argument????

The Confederacy during the Civil War.   Let that sink in.
[/quote]

Native born Americans are not up to working in the fields and slaughterhouses, no matter how much you pay. And the more you pay the workers, the higher food prices are, so catch-22. Yes, in Adam Smith's world, the conservative view you express is accurate, but that isn't reality in the USA in 2025.[/quote]

Okay, sure, but then you need to be very honest about what you and the anti-ICE protesters are actually protesting for. You need to open about how you are protesting for and on behalf of BigAg. Otherwise, you are just a liar and a hypocrite.

Let us be clear: You are protesting to keep poor, vulnerable immigrants working in 110 degree heat for twelve hour days. You are protesting for child labor in slaughterhouses. You are protesting for working conditions that would horrify Upton Sinclair.

This is what you and the other anti-ICE protestors want. And that’s why there isn’t a lot of support for the protesters: because this is repulsive. [/quote]

Why are you targeting migrants when they didn’t cause this problem? What about the businesses? What about consumers? What about state and local governments?

Let’s face it, you only care about migrants working in the sun because you’re racist and/or it fits your narrative.

Otherwise you would be voting for leaders who actually wanted to address these issues and solve problems. Has Trump said anything about raising wages for white farm workers? Has he said anything other than deporting people? [b]We have a 4% unemployment rate…where are are these magical US workers? [/b][/quote]

Are you familiar with the workforce participation rate? It seems not.  4% unemployement doesn't mean 96% of eligible americans are employed. Its more like 62% of working age adults are employed.  That is a sizable number of people who could be employed in various trades and other jobs where migrants are working.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/191734/us-civilian-labor-force-participation-rate-since-1990/

I'm all for fining/jailing those that knowing exploit illegal immigrants.[/quote]

Ok, then start with Donald Trump and work your way through every Fortune 500 company, Fortune 1000 company and just about every farm in the country.[/quote]

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