Alabama struggles to find workers to fill illegal immigrants' old positions

Mar 2009
2,751
6
Undisclosed
Farms in Alabama struggle to fill positions previously held by illegal immigrants. The refusal to acknowledge different job markets and what is at times the lack of fluidity from one to another from the "illegal immigrants are stealing our jobs" crowd is astounding.

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/nati...nyone-fill-illegal-immigrants-old-jobs/45829/
This I do know, it will be very hard to get "Americans" to work as hard for as little money. A Mexican roofing company almost put my brother-in-law out of business a few years ago. He could not compete on wages. The guy across the road from me uses 90% Mexican labor on his farm. I ask him about that a few years ago. He says he can't find anyone local to do the job for the money. HE says,"Everyone I ask to work is afraid of losing their check and food stamps". So the Mexicans show up and work hard all day and smile on payday.

I also might add not many around her could physically last all day picking things like cucumbers and tomatoes. Just could not do it.:(
 

myp

Jan 2009
5,841
50
This I do know, it will be very hard to get "Americans" to work as hard for as little money. A Mexican roofing company almost put my brother-in-law out of business a few years ago. He could not compete on wages. The guy across the road from me uses 90% Mexican labor on his farm. I ask him about that a few years ago. He says he can't find anyone local to do the job for the money. HE says,"Everyone I ask to work is afraid of losing their check and food stamps". So the Mexicans show up and work hard all day and smile on payday.

I also might add not many around her could physically last all day picking things like cucumbers and tomatoes. Just could not do it.:(

The thing is that the law of diminishing returns applies to this just as it does to everything. Blocking out the only portion of the workforce that is willing to work at certain wages (should that be true) has the same effect as the minimum wage law does- it reduces the net amount of jobs in the market.

There is also a huge social factor here- as you said many Americans just aren't used to such laborious work and probably moreso, many of them do not want to do it. And there is nothing wrong with that- they might be overqualified or feel like their time is better spent in other things.

And it is not as if these immigrants are hurting the economy here. They are producing things in the United States, for American businesses, and often for American consumers. Their cheaper wages usually result in cheaper goods. The number of jobs in an economy is not fixed and their production can even create more jobs. It really isn't a bad thing.
 
Mar 2009
2,751
6
Undisclosed
The thing is that the law of diminishing returns applies to this just as it does to everything. Blocking out the only portion of the workforce that is willing to work at certain wages (should that be true) has the same effect as the minimum wage law does- it reduces the net amount of jobs in the market.

There is also a huge social factor here- as you said many Americans just aren't used to such laborious work and probably moreso, many of them do not want to do it. And there is nothing wrong with that- they might be overqualified or feel like their time is better spent in other things.

And it is not as if these immigrants are hurting the economy here. They are producing things in the United States, for American businesses, and often for American consumers. Their cheaper wages usually result in cheaper goods. The number of jobs in an economy is not fixed and their production can even create more jobs. It really isn't a bad thing.

I think sometimes people compare apples and oranges on this subject. I have never had one of the Mexican works bother me in anyway. If I speak to them they respond and keep on working. Much different than I might encounter in certain parts of the county. There they may be loud and breaking beer bottles in the street. I guess those are trying to copy the Mexicans we see on TV or in movies. Those we could do without. But there some of us all American white guys we could also do without.:p
 
Aug 2011
758
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The thing is that the law of diminishing returns applies to this just as it does to everything. Blocking out the only portion of the workforce that is willing to work at certain wages (should that be true) has the same effect as the minimum wage law does- it reduces the net amount of jobs in the market.

More of your economics illiteracy, based on leftwing pro-illegal alien slogans. :p

In a nationwide removal of illegals, everyone wouldn't starve with the produce rotting in the fields, but rather the price offered to farm labor would rise till someone took the jobs, OR human labor would be replaced with machines, which ever was more cost efficient.
 

myp

Jan 2009
5,841
50
More of your economics illiteracy, based on leftwing pro-illegal alien slogans. :p

In a nationwide removal of illegals, everyone wouldn't starve with the produce rotting in the fields, but rather the price offered to farm labor would rise till someone took the jobs, OR human labor would be replaced with machines, which ever was more cost efficient.

You can't replace all farm jobs with machines yet. Especially with credit markets the way they are, the money would be tough to find, but for some fruits it still isn't viable because of how delicate they are.

As for labor- sure prices would rise, but you would have fewer people hired and less productivity overall. You would effectively cut out the lower end of the market and you would lose that productivity that the people working for cheap wages bring. It is essentially the same situation as the minimum wage, except instead of legal mandate it is the law of diminishing returns and a social minimum wage dictating the cut-off.
 
Aug 2011
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You can't replace all farm jobs with machines yet. Especially with credit markets the way they are, the money would be tough to find, but for some fruits it still isn't viable because of how delicate they are.

Uh, until you present credentials in farm mechanization technology, I'll just assume you don't know what you're talking about. :p It's more like with a black market in illegal labor, there's no NEED to develope the machines, so they haven't been developed.

As for labor- sure prices would rise, but you would have fewer people hired and less productivity overall.

Nonsense - sufficient people would be hired, but at a higher wage. But fewer workers doesn't necessarily mean lower productivity. In the non-agriculture area, since obama got elected, company profits have gone up while unemployment remains high. Why? Because of the uncertainty of the nut case in the white house, companies have skeleton crews and work them harder. Result - INCREASED productivity with fewer workers!

You would effectively cut out the lower end of the market and you would lose that productivity that the people working for cheap wages bring.

The illegal farm labor brings only low prices. Consumers are benefitting in the same way they would if they buy stolen property from a thief - they get low prices while supporting criminal behavior of the "producer".
 
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myp

Jan 2009
5,841
50
-Nonsense - sufficient people would be hired, but at a higher wage. But fewer workers doesn't necessarily mean lower productivity. In the non-agriculture area, since obama got elected, company profits have gone up while unemployment remains high. Why? Because of the uncertainty of the nut case in the white house, companies have skeleton crews and work them harder. Result - INCREASED productivity with fewer workers!
You do not understand diminishing marginal returns. I suppose you think the minimum wage law does not increase unemployment or reduce net production too?

The illegal farm labor brings only low prices. Consumers are benefitting in the same way they would if they buy stolen property from a thief - they get low prices while supporting criminal behavior of the "producer".

Yea, but illegal labor is a victimless crime, theft is not.
 
Aug 2011
448
0
California
Farms in Alabama struggle to fill positions previously held by illegal immigrants. The refusal to acknowledge different job markets and what is at times the lack of fluidity from one to another from the "illegal immigrants are stealing our jobs" crowd is astounding.

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/nati...nyone-fill-illegal-immigrants-old-jobs/45829/

Well, if the unemployed are too good for those jobs then screw them. I remember picking fruit as a youngster for some extra money. If I can do it so can they. In fact, I'd say that anyone who refuses work should have their unemployment cut off.
 

myp

Jan 2009
5,841
50
Well, if the unemployed are too good for those jobs then screw them. I remember picking fruit as a youngster for some extra money. If I can do it so can they. In fact, I'd say that anyone who refuses work should have their unemployment cut off.

Well that's just silly. There are different circumstances and different social preferences. If you were unemployed and were offered a job to sell drugs or prostitute yourself or something else you find morally or socially questionable, would you do it?

What about if you aren't strong enough for a certain job. How are you supposed to do it? And yes, there are plenty unemployed who can't handle these jobs.
 
Aug 2011
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You do not understand diminishing marginal returns. I suppose you think the minimum wage law does not increase unemployment or reduce net production too?

I don't have comment on every irrelevency you drag into the discussion. :rolleyes:



Yea, but illegal labor is a victimless crime, theft is not.

Illegal aliens commit all kinds of crimes with victims! You keep wanting to scope the illegal alien invasion down to just economic effects, ignoring all the other horrendous effects. Your claim is also preposterous - the victims are the millions of american workers who would otherwise be employed except for the agricultural criminal enterprises.
 

myp

Jan 2009
5,841
50
I don't have comment on every irrelevency you drag into the discussion. :rolleyes:
That is not irrelevant. Too bad you know sooo little about the issue that you can't put it together. I am guessing because you don't even know what "diminishing marginal returns" means. And you show no openness to logically or respectfully discuss the issue so I won't bother defining it.

Illegal aliens commit all kinds of crimes with victims! You keep wanting to scope the illegal alien invasion down to just economic effects, ignoring all the other horrendous effects. Your claim is also preposterous - the victims are the millions of american workers who would otherwise be employed except for the agricultural criminal enterprises.

What horrendous effects? Give some examples. Economically, it is already strongly suggested that the number of jobs doesn't decline so Americans ARE NOT losing jobs.
 
Feb 2011
299
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Canada
I don't have comment on every irrelevency you drag into the discussion. :rolleyes:





Illegal aliens commit all kinds of crimes with victims! You keep wanting to scope the illegal alien invasion down to just economic effects, ignoring all the other horrendous effects. Your claim is also preposterous - the victims are the millions of american workers who would otherwise be employed except for the agricultural criminal enterprises.

the victims are the millions of american workers who would otherwise be employed except for the agricultural criminal enterprises.

FINALLY, someone who gets it!!! About bloody time. NO way this guy is a left-wing commie-pinko libtard.
 
Aug 2011
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What horrendous effects? Give some examples. Economically, it is already strongly suggested that the number of jobs doesn't decline so Americans ARE NOT losing jobs.

Your memory is fading with age, huh? :rolleyes: Go back and look at my last 20 or so posts on the subject.
 

myp

Jan 2009
5,841
50
Your memory is fading with age, huh? :rolleyes: Go back and look at my last 20 or so posts on the subject.
They don't destroy American jobs- that is strongly supported in research. Economically, you have no argument- that has been settled, so I am asking for a political argument since you seem to think it isn't accounted for in the economics. The only other thing that you might be referring to here is your crime argument which is not inherent to illegal immigration. Even then, economically, it is calculable and has been. It's okay if you realize you are wrong, we are all sometimes (you more often than most though :p).

And I know you didn't post an actual answer here because you DO NOT HAVE ONE. The opportunity cost of actually answering my question was very low and nearly negligible compared to the stupid question about memory you asked me. That suggests you really don't have anything.
 
Aug 2011
448
0
California
Well, if the unemployed are too good for those jobs then screw them. I remember picking fruit as a youngster for some extra money. If I can do it so can they. In fact, I'd say that anyone who refuses work should have their unemployment cut off.

Well that's just silly. There are different circumstances and different social preferences...........

Don't give me that crap. If you are out of work you go take a job, even if it isan't your dream job. If a job is there for someone and they turn it down then they need to shut their pie hole.
 

myp

Jan 2009
5,841
50
Don't give me that crap. If you are out of work you go take a job, even if it isan't your dream job. If a job is there for someone and they turn it down then they need to shut their pie hole.

What if they can't physically do it?

And you still didn't answer my question about whether you would even do that- would you sell drugs or prostitute yourself? What about something that goes against your religion?

Either way, at the end of the day it does not matter- no one cares that you think they are lazy, especially not them. If they are not willing to do it, the farms can still benefit from additional workers. And that is where illegal immigrants can come in.
 
Oct 2011
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0
Lets get Illegals from Europe who will blend in easy ...

Farms in Alabama struggle to fill positions previously held by illegal immigrants. The refusal to acknowledge different job markets and what is at times the lack of fluidity from one to another from the "illegal immigrants are stealing our jobs" crowd is astounding.

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/nati...nyone-fill-illegal-immigrants-old-jobs/45829/

Lets get Illegals from Europe who will blend in easy and no body will be against them. That way anger will not be directed on Mexicans.
 
Feb 2011
299
0
Canada
Lets get Illegals from Europe who will blend in easy and no body will be against them. That way anger will not be directed on Mexicans.

What Europeans would be 'illegal'? Why would they wish to come here? Our respective countries are mini-UNs on their own.
 
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