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Hekate

(90,196 posts)
17. We are now a nation of big cities and suburbs. *Very few* Americans have *ever* done farm work...
Wed Apr 22, 2020, 12:00 AM
Apr 2020

They/we simply don't know how and don't have the muscles for it either. This is especially true of stoop labor, the backbreaking jobs of growing and harvesting our fruits and vegetables.

Sure, a lot of backbreaking manual labor went in to running an American family farm in Ye Old Days, and it was taken for granted. But why do you think people left those farms by the millions when they had other opportunities? That exodus started after WWI, just about a century ago.

Since then, farms have been increasingly consolidated by agribusiness, and when they hire people they have to look for those who come from rural areas themselves and have the knowhow. Those people have to be willing, and there are plenty of places south of the border where life is so hard that even American farm labor (or chicken-packing) looks better than what they have. Sorry, it was ever thus.

I don't think the American worker is "too lazy" to do farm work. I think our workers will work hard at what they know. I don't think they are much inclined to travel far away from what they are familiar with in cities, all for the privilege of doing backbreaking work 6 days a week, and sleeping in their cars or sheds or thoroughly substandard housing, and gettng a thoroughly substandard wage.

PS: In case it's not clear, I believe immigrant farm workers are badly treated and deserve better. But refusing them entry is not the answer.

Find Enough Americans Willing To Do It ProfessorGAC Apr 2020 #1
... handmade34 Apr 2020 #2
and my reply to that is... handmade34 Apr 2020 #6
We are now a nation of big cities and suburbs. *Very few* Americans have *ever* done farm work... Hekate Apr 2020 #17
Would that include an exception for meat-packing plant workers? Quemado Apr 2020 #12
Enlist... Newest Reality Apr 2020 #3
My thoughts exactly. tazkcmo Apr 2020 #7
You got it. Newest Reality Apr 2020 #11
+1 2naSalit Apr 2020 #15
He should get his fat ass out there and pick strawberries in the sun all day. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2020 #4
He can also have ... CatMor Apr 2020 #8
he is bdamomma Apr 2020 #5
Who is willing to work Ohiogal Apr 2020 #9
eventually displaced American workers will pick the crops 0rganism Apr 2020 #10
It would be good if that came to pass, even for one season captain queeg Apr 2020 #13
He said those on temporary visas will still be able to come in jmg257 Apr 2020 #14
"Take my job, please" central scrutinizer Apr 2020 #16
Very interesting! nt Hekate Apr 2020 #18
At the same time Windy City Charlie Apr 2020 #19
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Trump on Immigration..Who...»Reply #17