General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Free traders will never answer this... if immigrants are needed here... [View all]nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)but the math is simple but different from what you are seeing, what is driving salaries down is not so much LEGAL immigration, but like slavery in the good ol' days ILEGAL immigration, This is why your apples and pears and peaches and lettuce are so damn cheap.
Anybody who is actually a student fo this KNOWS THIS. And there is no way American workers, no matter how desperate, will pick peaches for the wages offered in Georgia or California. Proof of concept, the problems getting the crop this year, after they scared the illegals away.
http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2012/07/26/picker-shortage-costing-yuba-farmers-as-peaches-rot/
It is not me saying this, it is the facts on the ground.
I wish they were different, but you are willing to pay $10.00 \pound? And that would meet barely, minimum. Let's not even talk of working conditions.
Also you are so worried about workers, yes AMERICAN WORKERS? What the hell are you doing to support WALMART warehouse employees. Only difference from their working conditions and yes, CHINA, are lack of guard towers and barbed wire. Ok the pay is better than China, but when you do the math, it does NOT even reach minimum wage... and working conditions are horrible.
Let's start there.