California Farmers Backed Trump, but Now Fear Losing Field Workers

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Feb 12, 2017, 4:35 AM UTC

jlgaddis wrote: post #12

To me, this kinda sounds like the "realizations" after Brexit where all people these voted (in favor) and then, shortly afterwards, were basically like "Oh shit! What did we do!?". For someone to be surprised -- today -- at President Trump's actions and attitudes regarding foreigners, well, I suppose they must have been asleep in the days preceding the election.

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Feb 12, 2017, 4:40 AM UTC

ftlio wrote: post #20

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think they work for less than minimum wage, nor do they hire them explicitly as illegal workers (instead, they turn a blind eye when their documentation doesn't line up). How many Americans dream of doing farm work? We have some of the best farmland in the world, but our workforce has mainly moved up the tech chain to more skilled and hence more valuable labor. It is a contradiction.

Yeah I think all of the subsidies are justified by the whole 'non starving populus' externalities even if it isn't an optimal solution.

Post by rhizome » Sun, Feb 12, 2017, 4:42 AM UTC

Mikeb85 wrote: post #21

guitarbill wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry, I edited the parent comment for brevity and changed it a bit. But my question is still who would pay for those wage raises? The people who buy the products? How do you think they'd react if fruit/vegetables were twice the price overnight? Would they say "yeah, that seems fair" or "fuck it, let's allow immigration"? Do they even earn enough money themselves to have the liberty to make that decision, if food was…

> But my question is still who would pay for those wage raises? The people who buy the products? Yes, exactly. > How do you think they'd react if fruit/vegetables were twice the price overnight? If you weren't artificially suppressing wages through illegal immigration, the working class would have more money, the labour market would be at a better equilibrium and everyone would have money to buy food even at the slig…

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Feb 12, 2017, 4:44 AM UTC

analbeads wrote: post #19

jlgaddis wrote: post #12

To me, this kinda sounds like the "realizations" after Brexit where all people these voted (in favor) and then, shortly afterwards, were basically like "Oh shit! What did we do!?". For someone to be surprised -- today -- at President Trump's actions and attitudes regarding foreigners, well, I suppose they must have been asleep in the days preceding the election.

It's blatant fake news trying to spread a narrative of regret to undermine confidence in the presidency. They did the exact same thing after Brexit. To elaborate, when they aren't completely making things up or using actors pretending to be ordinary citizens, they decide what narrative they want to spin beforehand ("farmers regret voting for Trump because they will lose their illegal immigrant labor"), ask as many pe…

Post by jelliclesfarm » Sun, Feb 12, 2017, 4:48 AM UTC

guitarbill wrote: post #13

Mikeb85 wrote: post #5

They're idiots if they thought Trump wouldn't follow through on his pledge to deport illegal workers. However, it should be noted that protectionism will also help American farmers, as produce from Mexico will become more expensive. Should also add, allowing illegal immigrants to work benefits no one. Not American workers, not Mexican workers, no one. By bypassing labour laws and minimum wages, it allows for exploita…

> Should also add, allowing illegal immigrants to work benefits no one. Not American workers, not Mexican workers, no one. By bypassing labour laws and minimum wages, it allows for exploitation and also drives wages down. That's may or may not be true, and could be a combination of a) there aren't enough people around who would do the job even with minimum wage, e.g. depending on how attractive welfare is and b) it's…