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California Farm Labor Shortage 'Worst It's Been, Ever'

Farm labor is not regular work. A lot of it is seasonal iirc. So it could end up being a matter of uprooting your family etc for a few months work and then being left w/o a place to live or a job.
Not sure that it's the best move on a macro or micro level to uproot your life and family for a couple months work.

Something needs to change as the current system is not working.
But I am not sure that a migration from the cities to the farmlands for a few m,onths work is going to be a good idea for anyone involved. We'd end up with these small rural communities filled with unemployed city-folk for the other 9 months (or w/e) of the year. I suspect that these small towns and smaller cities are not equipped for that sort of an influx.

The current system is built around the migrant labor force who move from town to town following the various harvest seasons.
The current system needs to change. I agree with that.
What would many of these welfare,foodstamp and housing recipients be doing during the off season?Still on welfare,housing and foodstamps.So it won't hurt them to relocate to where there farm work is. Instead of being on full food stamps/welfare and housing assistance for 12 months a year they will be on full food stamp,welfare and housing assistance s 8-9 months a year.And a increase of population in those rural areas would entice companies to build houses and set up more businesses in those areas.
 
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Is feeding your family an incentive? Providing a roof for your kids an incentive? Being able to provide for yourself? Earning your way through life?

Your are aware that you are asking this question about welfare recipients in California? Some people are perfectly content living with just the bare minimum on government assistance.
 
So it won't hurt them to relocate to where there farm work is...
So the plan is to move a bunch of people from the City to the Country to just hang out for 9 months of the year. Sign my community up for that **** right away. What could possibly go wrong with that plan?
And a increase of population would entice companies to build houses and set up more businesses in those areas.
I am not sure that an increase in population that consists of people without steady jobs is all that enticing.
 
So far, I think the best idea has been to market the summer work to college kids from around the country. There're already some businesses who do that sort of thing--so there's a model to follow and adapt as needed.
 
Surprised that so many people are talking about this as a welfare issue rather than a worker issue. As some others have pointed out, the business model of many California fruit and vegetable growers depends on paying **** wages to migrant workers who could not earn as much in Mexico or elsewhere. They receive no Social Security benefits, insurance, etc. People that think American workers should accept the same conditions as third world laborers ought to check themselves. Hell, even the third world laborers ought to be able to do better and not be so thoroughly exploited.

Yeah, the cost of tomatoes is going to go up. I would rather pay what something actually costs on the front end rather than paying higher taxes on the back end to prop up bad, unadaptable and exploitative businesses.
 
Surprised that so many people are talking about this as a welfare issue rather than a worker issue. As some others have pointed out, the business model of many California fruit and vegetable growers depends on paying **** wages to migrant workers who could not earn as much in Mexico or elsewhere. They receive no Social Security benefits, insurance, etc. People that think American workers should accept the same conditions as third world laborers ought to check themselves. Hell, even the third world laborers ought to be able to do better and not be so thoroughly exploited.

Yeah, the cost of tomatoes is going to go up. I would rather pay what something actually costs on the front end rather than paying higher taxes on the back end to prop up bad, unadaptable and exploitative businesses.
Also agricultural labor is not subject to the same work hour restrictions, like overtime, or other various protection which most of us take for granted.

Some fundamental changes need to happen. We need a new model.
 
So the plan is to move a bunch of people from the City to the Country to just hang out for 9 months of the year.
Sign my community up for that **** right away. What could possibly go wrong with that plan?
I am not sure that an increase in population that consists of people without steady jobs is all that enticing.

Those people got to buy clothing,food and have a place to live. So that means construction jobs to build homes and businesses and people needed to work in those shops, things which many of government assistance can do.
 
Speaking as someone who has done hard outdoor work all his life I stand by my previous statement that Americans have become afraid of hard work. If you will take 9 bucks an hour to stand at a cash register in an air conditioned building but refuse to take a job where you might break a sweat out in the sun I have no respect for you. This country was built by people who were not afraid to get their hands dirty and it is going to hell care of people who ARE afraid to get their hands dirty. If you refuse work because it's too hard then you can sit out in the weather you are so afraid of and starve as far as I'm concerned.
 
Those people got to buy clothing,food and have a place to live. So that means construction jobs to build homes and businesses and people needed to work in those shops, things which many of government assistance can do.
We bring in the people first even though they have nowhere to live? Or do we convince businesses that it's a good idea to to invest in projects before the people get there?

And how do we convince businesses that this is the best opportunity available to them? It's not enough to merely be viable, it has to compete with w/e else the business could be doing with their money instead.

And what about the communities? It may not add to their tax base enough to make up for the increased strain on their infrastructures. And again, do we add the people first and let the infrastructure lag or do we try to convince voters to approve a tax to increase the infrastructure before the new residents are shipped in?

I can't see as I would be willing to vote for my community participating in such a thing.
 
We bring in the people first even though they have nowhere to live? Or do we convince businesses that it's a good idea to to invest in projects before the people get there?

And how do we convince businesses that this is the best opportunity available to them? It's not enough to merely be viable, it has to compete with w/e else the business could be doing with their money instead.

And what about the communities? It may not add to their tax base enough to make up for the increased strain on their infrastructures. And again, do we add the people first and let the infrastructure lag or do we try to convince voters to approve a tax to increase the infrastructure before the new residents are shipped in?

I can't see as I would be willing to vote for my community participating in such a thing.

You don't understand farm labor. You travel a circuit following the crops, you don't stay put, harvest one crop and then wait until next year to work again. The exception of course is if you get hired full time to do farm or ranch work which as a rule provides housing. If you excel you can get these jobs.
 
Wouldn't this be a good job opportunity for young people?

California youth unemployment is over 30%.

Not really. If you want some kind of career, there's really nowhere to go. "Hey I've been promoted to Senior Lettuce Picker!"
 
You don't understand farm labor. You travel a circuit following the crops, you don't stay put, harvest one crop and then wait until next year to work again. The exception of course is if you get hired full time to do farm or ranch work which as a rule provides housing. If you excel you can get these jobs.
I think I mentioned that earlier.

What my post is responding to is the suggestion that we let the unemployed just be unemployed in a municipality in the agricultural distirct for 9 months of the year when they are not working the harvest.

I live in Arkansas. We have all sorts of farming and migrant labor.
 
Not really. If you want some kind of career, there's really nowhere to go. "Hey I've been promoted to Senior Lettuce Picker!"
Well, no, not as a career. But as a way to earn some money over the summer.
The way the AK canneries do it, iirc, they cover your room and board while working you like a dog so you have nowhere and no time to spend your money. And when the season is over, you have a chunk of change to take back to the lower 48.
 
Not really. If you want some kind of career, there's really nowhere to go. "Hey I've been promoted to Senior Lettuce Picker!"

Who would you rather higher, a young man who spent the summer picking lettuce, or the one who spent it without a job? Both are otherwise equally qualified.
 
In Carters recession I picked apples, planted trees, bucked hay and harvested Christmas trees. I found something to do and I did not go on welfare or food stamps. My opinion on this is based on experience.
 
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Too silly. Too silly.

the egg puns I mean
 
Where? Where can I feed clothe and house my family for less 18k a year?

Any where. Almost any city in america you can find an apt for 600-700/mo. (7200) and you can feed your family for $200/mo (2400). That is less than 10K right there. Utilities are only going to cost you around 100/mo. We are barely over 10K a year and your family has necessities. The only real problem is they wont have the luxeries.

Not to mention you can get additional assistance for food and healthcare when you are making 18K a year to help. At least then you are trying and not just being a pathetic leech.
 
In Carters recession I picked apples, planted trees, bucked hay and harvested Christmas trees. I found something to do and I did not go on welfare or food stamps. My opinion on this is based on experience.

Apparently willingness to work and pride in provide for your family are no longer american values.
 
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