Farmers Mull Replacing Illegal Workers With Robots

[mpgt]

Alright this is really bugging me today.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,295965,00.html

A few quotes from the story:
More than half of all farm workers in the country are illegal immigrants, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics.

The company is nearing completion on a new model that picks, cleans, cores and packs lettuce and other greens, chief executive Frank Maconachy said. It will likely cost between $250,000 and $400,000, he said.

"Because of the immigration issue, migrant workers are becoming a difficult entity to find," Maconachy said. "If growers have a crop that needs to be harvested and there aren't the people to do it, they'll need to find a mechanized way to do it."

I just wonder; if farmers have that much capital to invest, why can't they attract workers with better pay? I don't know what they pay, but if it's less than minimum wage, they should be ashamed of themselves, and should get some really big fines!!! If that's not the case, then Americans are just afraid to get their hands dirty. They should offer these jobs to everyone drawing unemployment. I'd love to see the results.

Why do I read the news anymore??? It always stresses me!!!!!!!

[rstynls9]

First, they should do away with unemployment altogether...second, the should do away with welfare...
That ought to free up a few people that are able bodied and milking the liberal system.

Also, how are illegal migrant workers becoming difficult to find? There are over 20 million of them in the U.S., and 500,000 more enter our lax borders every year. How would they know that half of the farm workers are illegal anyway? What makes people think they would reply to the census?

It would cost this country LESS money to give every lettuce farmer one of those machines than it does to fund all the welfare, unemployment, low-income housing programs...not to mention that none of the money those illegals make goes into our SS, and over 1/2 probably goes right over the border to their families and does no good to our economy. Then, when they injure themselves (the machine wouldn't get hurt), they use our tax money to get taken care of at the clinics and hospitals. THEN, they get licenses (some how, I don't know how...I thought these people were criminals?) and they go drink and drive, get in wrecks, kill people (like a girl I used to date), and cause our health insurance rates to increase. But for some weird reason...for some WEIRD reason...the democrats want to pass immigration laws to make it EASIER for them to come here ILLEGALLY, then KEEP them here...oh I know why...so they can vote more democrats into office in the future. 20 million and growing...that's some voter incentive now isn't it? I could keep going, but I'm tired now...it always stresses me too Joe. Sigh.

[Johnny Utah]

Originally Posted by rstynls9

First, they should do away with unemployment altogether...second, the should do away with welfare...
That ought to free up a few people that are able bodied and milking the liberal system.

Liberal system? We've been under W. for 8 years and it's a "liberal system". I cannot imagine for one second what it must be like to have to rely on welfare money. I worked in the poorest district of San Francisco for over a year, where a lot of people are on welfare, unemployment, SSI, etc, and its not a pretty site. Our country does not take care of our people who cannot work.

Now, people who fake injuries in order to collect, I agree with you.

THEN, they get licenses (some how, I don't know how...I thought these people were criminals?) and they go drink and drive, get in wrecks, kill people (like a girl I used to date), and cause our health insurance rates to increase.

Good 'ol boys in cowboy hats listening to Toby Keith kill people while driving intoxicated everyday.

But for some weird reason...for some WEIRD reason...the democrats want to pass immigration laws to make it EASIER for them to come here ILLEGALLY, then KEEP them here...oh I know why...so they can vote more democrats into office in the future. 20 million and growing...that's some voter incentive now isn't it? I could keep going, but I'm tired now...it always stresses me too Joe. Sigh.

I think the democratic goals is to provide a way for immigrants to enter our country documented and legally. Republicans seems to have forgotten a few things about Mexicans:

a) They are human beings just like us.
b) Many Mexicans do the work that Americans don't want to do. When was the last time you saw a mid 30's white man picking grapes or making burritos at Taco Bell?
c) Most of the American Southwest was Mexico. But just like most things that America wants, we took it by force. So technically, they didn't cross the boarder, the boarder crossed them.

[pythonguy21]

why cant farmers afford to pay better wages, well being that my wifes side of the family is farmers let me try to explain it although my uncle troy could explain it better if he were here.

farmers cost is out the roof, they spend hundreds of thousands on gas and diesel every year, they spend 500,000 for a combine, just for example, maintenance on machine, cost of storage facility ect ect ect. farmers dont make free money by any means. her aunt and uncle are well off but they do everything themselves. they couldnt afford to hire anyone that would take away to much off their profets so they do it themselves. farmers are not apart of americas "free trade" system they are told what they can sell their goods for and its a take it or leave it. where as the oil companies can tell you what you will pay for gas and if you dont like it you dont have to drive.

free trade is a joke.

there is so much more that could be said about this issue but thats all i can type for now. i hope it helped any.

[ilovemylizard]

Originally Posted by Johnny Utah

a) b) Many Mexicans do the work that Americans don't want to do. When was the last time you saw a mid 30's white man picking grapes or making burritos at Taco Bell?

I don't agree with this...this is one of the biggest myths that the American public has been duped into believing...

Untill recently, I lived in Long Beach, CA for 18 years...While I was just finishing high school, I tried getting many jobs that, at that point, I was more than capable of doing at age 18-19.

What are these jobs that an "American" like myself "don't want to do"?

Supposedly it's the dozens of jobs I applied for, in the Long Beach/South bay area...And believe me I was more than willing to do the work, I needed the money...

I tried fastfood: Mcdonalds, Wendys, Popeyes, Carls Junior, Dairy Queen, Burger King, etc, etc....

Restaurant: Dennys, Mimi's, California pizza kitchen, Hoffs Hut, the list goes on....can't even remember the names of all the places I applied at...

General labor/factory/assembly/light janitorial....numerous 'unskilled labor' jobs, all over Long Beach, Torrance, Harbor city, Lomita...

The number one reason given to me, when I asked directly why I didn't get the job? Because I wouldn't be able to "communicate effectively" with the other employees...and my english would "make the other workers uncomfortable"!

The reason you don't see whites, and english speaking Americans of other races doing these supposed 'only hispanics will do them' jobs, is because the freaking managers won't hire english speaking Americans, period!

I can't tell you how hurtful and offensive it is to me, when it is implied that I, because I am a white American, am just too lazy to do these jobs...at that point in my youth, I would have jumped at the chance to pick up extra money...I was desperate for work, any work if it had been offered to me, trying to support myself, and my mother, who was terminally ill.

And I am allegedly the evil, horrible racist for bringing this reality to light...go figure...

[Johnny Utah]

Originally Posted by ilovemylizard

I don't agree with this...this is one of the biggest myths that the American public has been duped into believing...

Untill recently, I lived in Long Beach, CA for 18 years...While I was just finishing high school, I tried getting many jobs that, at that point, I was more than capable of doing at age 18-19.

What are these jobs that an "American" like myself "don't want to do"?

Supposedly it's the dozens of jobs I applied for, in the Long Beach/South bay area...And believe me I was more than willing to do the work, I needed the money...

I tried fastfood: Mcdonalds, Wendys, Popeyes, Carls Junior, Dairy Queen, Burger King, etc, etc....

Restaurant: Dennys, Mimi's, California pizza kitchen, Hoffs Hut, the list goes on....can't even remember the names of all the places I applied at...

General labor/factory/assembly/light janitorial....numerous 'unskilled labor' jobs, all over Long Beach, Torrance, Harbor city, Lomita...

The number one reason given to me, when I asked directly why I didn't get the job? Because I wouldn't be able to "communicate effectively" with the other employees...and my english would "make the other workers uncomfortable"!

Can't speak for Long Beach, but what you described is not what I experienced in San Diego.

The reason you don't see whites, and english speaking Americans of other races doing these supposed 'only hispanics will do them' jobs, is because the freaking managers won't hire english speaking Americans, period!

NOT TRUE IN MY EXPERIENCE (Lived in California my whole life)

I can't tell you how hurtful and offensive it is to me, when it is implied that I, because I am a white American, am just too lazy to do these jobs...at that point in my youth, I would have jumped at the chance to pick up extra money...I was desperate for work, any work if it had been offered to me, trying to support myself, and my mother, who was terminally ill.
And I am allegedly the evil, horrible racist for bringing this reality to light...go figure...

I'm not saying you're lazy, evil, or racists. But I don't believe you brought a reality to light. Our experiences in Southern California differ drastically.

[Kobi Baby]

All I can say is I was a poli sci major, and took government classes out the wazoo in college. If I were to go on about how I felt, honestly, my post would crash the site. Lets just say that I don't agree with, or like, illegal immigration..and have been tempted on many occasions driving by the local Home Depot to call immigration. I don't believe in free healthcare for illegal immigrants, and I don't believe in schooling for illegal immigrants. Why? Because I'm paying for it. Same reason I don't believe in paying unemployement for anyone with half a brain and a functioning body. I think if anything, our social security that we pay in every week should be reserved for the veterans of war who cannot work because they've lost their sight, or a limb, or worse. Joe Schmoe stands in line downtown and acts like he can't work, simply because he wants to go home and smoke a doobie instead of work, but Bill, who got home from Iraq two years ago after loosing both arms is still fighting the system for the money to keep a roof over his family's head. I may sound close minded, but right now, many of the people I graduated highschool with, and I was close to, are either just coming home from war, or are still there, or were killed during a tour. So maybe I'm just bitter, but its a vicious circle and the end has to begin somewhere. I say start it at the border. (Please be aware that I don't have a problem with immigration...I have a problem with ILLEGAL immigration).
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If you want to argue with me on this, please do it via PM. This isn't something I will elaborate on further on an open forum.
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KB

[Kobi Baby]

Originally Posted by Johnny Utah

Good 'ol boys in cowboy hats listening to Toby Keith kill people while driving intoxicated everyday.

Hey now....There's nothing wrong with Toby Keith..or cowboy hats
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There is something wrong with driving drunk though, no matter who you are!

[Johnny Utah]

Originally Posted by Kobi Baby

Hey now....There's nothing wrong with Toby Keith..or cowboy hats

There's always something wrong with Toby Keith.... just kidding!

I don't want to offend anybody - I actually used to be very right leaning. However, the more I learned, the more I shifted left.