That's why so many jobs are being outsourced isn't it? The free global economy. You don't think we should try to protect against that?

How many people actually care where their food comes from? Here in California there is an awareness. Some of us want only local food, to support the local farmers and so that we don't contribute to greenhouse gases by buying food from far away that has to be trucked in.

But most people don't even think twice when they go to the grocery store. They don't look at where the food comes from.

I believe the minimum wage should be raised more often than every ten years (it's been that long!) and that growers should be arrested for paying under minimum wage.

No I don't. If you want to protect from it then by all means, buy American. Once again, it isn't the job of the Government to protect the economy, history shows that government interference is terrible. If you want to keep jobs in America then I suggest looking into tax overhaul/reform. Yet I have no doubt that falls on deaf ears.

And yet you support the idea of using a pernament underclass to pick your fruit? Yet I don't see how the illegal alien is subject to a minimum wage, or should I ask what part of illegal do you have a problem with?

Get real, Sam! Do you honestly believe that illegals are being paid minimum wage? They're not getting it in my area for roofing, debris cleanup, house gutting, etc. They're being paid in cash, though, so it evens out since they pay no taxes. Oh wait! That means they're stealing from us and to top it off, they're sending their money back to Mexico!

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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WOO HOO, What a Ride!"

Many of us care. I won't buy the California strawberries in my grocery store because I can get ripe Louisiana strawberries at the local farmer's market (and they taste better). Same with other local fruits and vegetables.

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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WOO HOO, What a Ride!"

What jobs are those?

How do you know that the people you worked with were Americans?

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Do you have a solution to this issue?

Why is it that some Americans have to be 'in competiton' with others to feel good about themselves.

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My underlines are links -- Please Click

Pay fair wages.

Who's in competition and with whom?

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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WOO HOO, What a Ride!"

True, but difficult questions often require difficult answers. Lefties, and sometimes even righties, are too concerned with what's nice or appearing compassionate and thus eliminate all actual solutions from consideration, leaving only inappropriate responses as options.

You want cold-hearted - Extend one of the ideas here. Illegals have no rights, including no protections under the law. Whatsoever. We won't even have to round them up because they'll leave if they can. That's one possible solution. Not a good one, granted, but a solution. So you don't like my solution? Fine - Put forth a better Solution. (not just a Response)


If you include the draconian gov't agnecy(s) needed for enforcement of fair wages, that works. American produce prices skyrocket and are then undercut by imports, possibly including canned/frozen. Farmers go out of business, as do some factories, and there are no longer enough low-end jobs available to maintain the number of illegals we have now. Illegals go home since the US is no longer a promised land for labor. That is a solution, tho I don't know that it's much if any better than mine overall.

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Today's forecast: Government corruption.

Tomorrow's forecast: 100% chance of more 'politics as usual'

Maybe it's finally time to vote Libertarian

SO have I,, but the real problem is one that I have never ever seen addressed. Hold on to your hats folks, but the real problem is Greedy middlemen

THEY are the real reason that prices rise out of proportion to real worth. but Sticking to Fruit.

Nowdays, an apple costs about thirty cents, (depending upon where you live.) These are not accurate figures, but used as an example only. because it is this way in every supply job in this country.

A picker gets paid a penny per apple, the owner gets paid three cents. (Profit, part of that extra two cents.) the purchaser processes them for 2 Cents. at this point the apple cost 5 cents, but the processer charges 10 cents. to the wholesaler who will charge 15 to twenty cents to the grocer, who then charges thirty cents. To the customer.

Now, if the picker gets an extra penny (doubling his wages), by the time it gets to the Customer, it will now cost 40 or 45 cents for the apple. No more cost to the in-beteeeners except for that penny, and maybe slightly in interest payments. or slightly lower profit percentages.(NOTE: not actual profit, that remains the same --just percentages.) but that won't stop them from charging more, ---right on up the line.

If the in-betweeners would be a little more flexible in their thinking, that extra penny paid to the picker could be reflected in the final cost by adding two or three cents to the cost of each instead of tenfold.

Thus OWNERS could AFFORD to pay more to thir workers.

And what would paying fair wages do? Would you raise your kids to be cherry pickers?

It's the way in which you belittle Mexicans as if you're better than they are. You're not.

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Any talk on immigration comes to the same thing. This has been a problem for years that was ignored, and it took years to develop into the problem it is. So how can anyone realistically expect an overnight fix? It will take years to fix this, decades, who knows, centuries, and a long the way a lot of fruit will rot, literally and figurtively.

If you want to let the market sort it out, then let the person who's willing to do it for the lowest wage do the job.
Excellent point. I've been wondering all day, since posting this last night, why people have NO problem with outsourcing but seem to be viciously opposed to "insourcing".
And yet you support the idea of using a permanent underclass to make your shoes and bluejeans?

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"Jesus said: I have cast fire upon the world, and behold I guard it until it is ablaze."
Gospel of Thomas

I would prefer taking away the tax credit that companies get for outsourcing. How about you?