"The Trump administration is promoting the idea that if it deports all the undocumented farmworkers who plant and pick our crops, the labor gaps will be filled by able-bodied adults currently sitting around the house playing video games and mooching off taxpayers for their publicly funded healthcare."

Yahoo News

Abcarian: Do you believe that deported farmworkers will b...

A plan to put able-bodied Americans on Medicaid to work in the fields was tried once before and failed miserably.

Edited July 16, 2025Jul 16 by Crnr2Crnr

Cut the freeloaders and leaches off and then direct them where to get work. Hold their hand and a swift kick in the ass at the same time....Win Win

1 hour ago, Skidooski said:

Cut the freeloaders and leaches off and then direct them where to get work. Hold their hand and a swift kick in the ass at the same time....Win Win

sounds good in theory... precisely how would a plan be executed?

from the article you clearly didn't read ...

“The mass deportations continue, but in a strategic way, and we move the workforce towards automation and 100 percent American participation,” she said during an event at U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters. “With 34 million people, able-bodied adults on Medicaid, we should be able to do that fairly quickly.”

That figure is grossly misleading, and a thinly veiled effort to vilify Medicaid — Medi-Cal in California — recipients as idle, which, overwhelmingly, they are not. The number of able-bodied Americans on Medicaid who might be able to pick our lettuce and apricots or who might be able to harvest our watermelons and strawberries is closer to 5 million, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

But whether the number is 34 million or 5 million, it's a fantasy to believe that Americans will do the jobs currently filled by migrant farmworkers.

“Not gonna happen,” said Manuel Cunha, head of the Nisei Farmers League, a grower support organization founded 54 years ago in response to the United Farm Workers labor movement.

In the 1990s, Cunha was involved in a disastrous attempt to get adults off welfare and into the California farming workforce. Growers coordinated with the state’s Employment Development Department, arrangements were made for child care and transportation. And yet, as Cunha told the U.S. Senate’s immigration subcommittee in 1999, only three people showed up to work in the fields. “There was no interest on the part of welfare individuals to work in agriculture.”

you gunna hold a gun to people's heads to pick lettuce and strawberries so they can get medical coverage?

to be clear, once again... we have a guest worker program in this country for this type of labor called H2A and farmers operating legally who properly utilize the program benefit from the program, as do the workers and their families.

Nobody really reads or watches any of your stuff Sheila

You want slaves.

1 hour ago, Skidooski said:

Nobody really reads or watches any of your stuff Sheila

yet you comment... foolishly

1 hour ago, ArcticCrusher said:

You want slaves.

no, but farmers, contractors and other Americans do.

who picks the fruits and vegetables in the 51st state?

1 minute ago, Crnr2Crnr said:

yet you comment... foolishly

no, but farmers, contractors and other Americans do.

who picks the fruits and vegetables in the 51st state?

You know that was the same line the Dems used when they wanted to make slavery illegal.

Who is gonna pick the fruits and vegs, or cotton.

1 minute ago, ArcticCrusher said:

You know that was the same line the Dems used when they wanted to make slavery illegal.

Who is gonna pick the fruits and vegs, or cotton.

who's being taken advantage of? the workers and taxpayers. who's employing people illegally?

so who picks the veggies up there?

1 minute ago, Crnr2Crnr said:

who's being taken advantage of? the workers and taxpayers. who's employing people illegally?

so who picks the veggies up there?

I have no sympathy for those who take advantage of others.

3 minutes ago, ArcticCrusher said:

I have no sympathy for those who take advantage of others.

Canada, the vegetables, who picks them?

1 hour ago, Crnr2Crnr said:

sounds good in theory... precisely how would a plan be executed?

from the article you clearly didn't read ...

“The mass deportations continue, but in a strategic way, and we move the workforce towards automation and 100 percent American participation,” she said during an event at U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters. “With 34 million people, able-bodied adults on Medicaid, we should be able to do that fairly quickly.”

That figure is grossly misleading, and a thinly veiled effort to vilify Medicaid — Medi-Cal in California — recipients as idle, which, overwhelmingly, they are not. The number of able-bodied Americans on Medicaid who might be able to pick our lettuce and apricots or who might be able to harvest our watermelons and strawberries is closer to 5 million, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

But whether the number is 34 million or 5 million, it's a fantasy to believe that Americans will do the jobs currently filled by migrant farmworkers.

“Not gonna happen,” said Manuel Cunha, head of the Nisei Farmers League, a grower support organization founded 54 years ago in response to the United Farm Workers labor movement.

In the 1990s, Cunha was involved in a disastrous attempt to get adults off welfare and into the California farming workforce. Growers coordinated with the state’s Employment Development Department, arrangements were made for child care and transportation. And yet, as Cunha told the U.S. Senate’s immigration subcommittee in 1999, only three people showed up to work in the fields. “There was no interest on the part of welfare individuals to work in agriculture.”

you gunna hold a gun to people's heads to pick lettuce and strawberries so they can get medical coverage?

to be clear, once again... we have a guest worker program in this country for this type of labor called H2A and farmers operating legally who properly utilize the program benefit from the program, as do the workers and their families.

7 million work age men not in the workforce and not counted in unemployment numbers. Time for the welfare faucet to be cut off to able bodied people in this country.

Approximately 7 million prime-age men (25-54) in the U.S. are neither working nor looking for work, a significant number that has sparked concern and discussion about the state of the American labor force, according to recent reports. This "missing men" phenomenon is a complex issue with various contributing factors, including health issues, changing social norms, and economic shifts. 

1 minute ago, Highmark said:

7 million work age men not in the workforce and not counted in unemployment numbers. Time for the welfare faucet to be cut off to able bodied people in this country.

Approximately 7 million prime-age men (25-54) in the U.S. are neither working nor looking for work, a significant number that has sparked concern and discussion about the state of the American labor force, according to recent reports. This "missing men" phenomenon is a complex issue with various contributing factors, including health issues, changing social norms, and economic shifts. 

you can throw out all the numbers and statistics you care to and it won't amount to a pile of shit

how are you going to make them do these jobs if they either can afford not to or aren't on the public trough? how many of these people actually live in agricultural areas to do these jobs? how many would you want working on your farm or wiring you house?

you and I both know H2A works, it's the cheats and those skirting the law that are the problem

The thread title says it all.

3 minutes ago, Crnr2Crnr said:

you can throw out all the numbers and statistics you care to and it won't amount to a pile of shit

how are you going to make them do these jobs if they either can afford not to or aren't on the public trough? how many of these people actually live in agricultural areas to do these jobs? how many would you want working on your farm or wiring you house?

you and I both know H2A works, it's the cheats and those skirting the law that are the problem

I have no problem with H2A....Ask yourself why these huge farms aren't using it? Simple they pocket the savings. Illegals make on average 42% less than legal workers. Time to start hauling those that hire illegals off to jail and have huge fines.

You are kidding yourself if you think those poorly paid illegals aren't a burden on US taxpayers.

I do think many abled bodied men if cut from the welfare tit will re-enter the workforce. 7 million isn't exactly a small number. You make them because they will starve or become homeless if they don't work. The fact that welfare entitlements are costing this country over a trillion dollars a year is insanity.

Imagine cut that and military in half and boom....balanced budget without raising taxes. Honestly if you made 3.5 million work and pay some taxes vs leaching off the system the economy would surge ahead as would tax revenues.

Nobody will ever claim there wouldn't be some short term pain but we absolutely have to make serious changes in this country when it comes to letting people live off others.

Edited July 16, 2025Jul 16 by Highmark

7 minutes ago, Highmark said:

I have no problem with H2A....Ask yourself why these huge farms aren't using it? Simple they pocket the savings. Illegals make on average 42% less than legal workers. Time to start hauling those that hire illegals off to jail and have huge fines.

You are kidding yourself if you think those poorly paid illegals aren't a burden on US taxpayers.

I do think many abled bodied men if cut from the welfare tit will re-enter the workforce. 7 million isn't exactly a small number. You make them because they will starve or become homeless if they don't work. The fact that welfare entitlements are costing this country over a trillion dollars a year is insanity.

Imagine cut that and military in half and boom....balanced budget without raising taxes. Honestly if you made 3.5 million work and pay some taxes vs leaching off the system the economy would surge ahead as would tax revenues.

Nobody will ever claim there wouldn't be some short term pain but we absolutely have to make serious changes in this country when it comes to letting people live off others.

we've previously established that we both agree H2A works and harsh punishment should come to those employing them. I'm in favor of seizing their property and auctioning it off as well.

try pointing out at anytime where I said I support people being here illegally or them taking advantage of the taxpayers. you won't.

I don't disagree with the 7M... how many would you be willing to hire, train and deal with where you work... next week?

as the article pointed out, much of this sounds good in theory... but in practical application it's likely an entirely different reality

It's really sad that it is the fault of the bar for serving minors, but it is not the fault of the employers hiring illegals. Fix that, police it, and much of the problem will go away. You will see the H2A get rapidly updated but that is the real cure versus the bandaid we are again applying.

1 minute ago, Crnr2Crnr said:

we've previously established that we both agree H2A works and harsh punishment should come to those employing them. I'm in favor of seizing their property and auctioning it off as well.

try pointing out at anytime where I said I support people being here illegally or them taking advantage of the taxpayers. you won't.

I don't disagree with the 7M... how many would you be willing to hire, train and deal with where you work... next week?

as the article pointed out, much of this sounds good in theory... but in practical application it's likely an entirely different reality

As many as I needed to fill positions. Would it be somehow less difficult to hire, train and deal with illegals who don't speak English?

Even if it partially worked it would be worth it because the status quo isn't.

Edited July 16, 2025Jul 16 by Highmark

1 hour ago, Highmark said:

As many as I needed to fill positions. Would it be somehow less difficult to hire, train and deal with illegals who don't speak English?

Even if it partially worked it would be worth it because the status quo isn't.

got a 'help wanted' sign hanging out front yet?

what % of those 7M would make it more than one day picking fruits and vegetables?

also 🙄, from the article...

Farm work requires skill and physical tenacity that comes from years of experience. You don’t just plop someone into a peach orchard and tell them to go prune a tree. Or let them loose on a strawberry field and expect them to come back the next day. In 2013, my colleague Hector Becerra decided to experience farm labor for himself, and arranged to spend a day picking strawberries in Santa Maria.

The experience sounded, frankly, hellish. He worked alongside three dozen Mexican migrants “bent at an almost 90-degree angle, using two hands to pack strawberries into plastic containers that they pushed along on ungainly one-wheeled carts.”

He could not keep up with the other pickers, and by lunchtime, Hector wrote, he was sore and exhausted. He lasted little more than seven hours, and then “surrendered.”

Many of California's thousands of migrant farmworkers have been here for decades. They cannot easily be replaced. “They are skilled laborers and their families are part of our small rural communities,” Cunha told me. “My farmers deserve a workforce that can do the job. Provide them with a work authorization card.”

sound fun?

4 hours ago, Crnr2Crnr said:

sound fun?

No more or less fun than any other physical outdoors job..

The guy in that story wouldn't have lasted on a concrete crew, as a pipeliner, or most any other either physical labor.

But had he tried for more than a few hours, he would have gotten used to it, and by the end of the week, been able to do it, just like anyone else.

54 minutes ago, krom said:

No more or less fun than any other physical outdoors job..

The guy in that story wouldn't have lasted on a concrete crew, as a pipeliner, or most any other either physical labor.

But had he tried for more than a few hours, he would have gotten used to it, and by the end of the week, been able to do it, just like anyone else.

how long do you think either of us would last doing it... now?

50 minutes ago, Crnr2Crnr said:

how long do you think either of us would last doing it... now?

highschool or college age the hardest part would be not getting bored..

It would be far easier and more comfortable than stacking bales in a haymow, or moving pallets of concrete mix one bag at a time on my shoulder

19 hours ago, Crnr2Crnr said:

got a 'help wanted' sign hanging out front yet?

what % of those 7M would make it more than one day picking fruits and vegetables?

also 🙄, from the article...

Farm work requires skill and physical tenacity that comes from years of experience. You don’t just plop someone into a peach orchard and tell them to go prune a tree. Or let them loose on a strawberry field and expect them to come back the next day. In 2013, my colleague Hector Becerra decided to experience farm labor for himself, and arranged to spend a day picking strawberries in Santa Maria.

The experience sounded, frankly, hellish. He worked alongside three dozen Mexican migrants “bent at an almost 90-degree angle, using two hands to pack strawberries into plastic containers that they pushed along on ungainly one-wheeled carts.”

He could not keep up with the other pickers, and by lunchtime, Hector wrote, he was sore and exhausted. He lasted little more than seven hours, and then “surrendered.”

Many of California's thousands of migrant farmworkers have been here for decades. They cannot easily be replaced. “They are skilled laborers and their families are part of our small rural communities,” Cunha told me. “My farmers deserve a workforce that can do the job. Provide them with a work authorization card.”

sound fun?

Well I'd argue that picking fruits and veggies is hardly something that needs much training. Physically demanding work.....absolutely.

AGAIN....I'm not opposed to H2A visa's because they force similar pay and have other requirements like transportation and housing. These farms aren't doing this because they want to SAVE MONEY.

Personally I think its disgusting making these people come and pick our fruits and veggies and be paid shit wages. Studies show even in AG 40%+ less than legal or American workers. How many of these other farms have children working at them?

Oh no if we bring them in within current H2A requirements there might be some inflation.

I've said this all along. Lets put our nations prisoners' to work and let them work off some time to be served.

Edited July 17, 2025Jul 17 by Highmark

11 minutes ago, Highmark said:

Well I'd argue that picking fruits and veggies is hardly something that needs much training. Physically demanding work.....absolutely.

AGAIN....I'm not opposed to H2A visa's because they force similar pay and have other requirements like transportation and housing. These farms aren't doing this because they want to SAVE MONEY.

Personally I think its disgusting making these people come and pick our fruits and veggies and be paid shit wages. Studies show even in AG 40%+ less than legal or American workers. How many of these other farms have children working at them?

all valid points... and wouldn't it be smart to focus on fixing, improving and revitalizing our guest worker programs in conjunction with deporting those here illegally?

1 minute ago, Crnr2Crnr said:

all valid points... and wouldn't it be smart to focus on fixing, improving and revitalizing our guest worker programs in conjunction with deporting those here illegally?

Why does it need revitalizing? Seems to me it just needs to be done.

I don't recall seeing anything about a farm with legal H2A visa workers being raided? Do you?

I have more empathy for the worker than I do the farm owners who may loose some crops. Fuck them.

Edited July 17, 2025Jul 17 by Highmark

4 minutes ago, Highmark said:

Why does it need revitalizing? Seems to me it just needs to be done.

I don't recall seeing anything about a farm with legal H2A visa workers being raided? Do you?

I have more empathy for the worker than I do the farm owners who may loose some crops. Fuck them.

as we've discussed... bust the balls of those utilizing illegal labor, make them 'aware' there are legal paths to guest workers and their requirements to employ them. institute harsh... seriously harsh penalties for those caught employing illegal labor.

neither have I, which puts a spotlight on those farms that are being raided. where's the list of those names and guilty parties? no punishment or fines levied? wtf, right?

I have empathy for those here legally working who are scared and concerned. Illegal, not so much. we've somehow created this 'need' for cheap foreign labor and it's time to address it imo. also, if the administration showed they care about the issue they'd take a two pronged approach of deportation and strengthening the existing programs. win-win imo

24 minutes ago, Crnr2Crnr said:

as we've discussed... bust the balls of those utilizing illegal labor, make them 'aware' there are legal paths to guest workers and their requirements to employ them. institute harsh... seriously harsh penalties for those caught employing illegal labor.

neither have I, which puts a spotlight on those farms that are being raided. where's the list of those names and guilty parties? no punishment or fines levied? wtf, right?

I have empathy for those here legally working who are scared and concerned. Illegal, not so much. we've somehow created this 'need' for cheap foreign labor and it's time to address it imo. also, if the administration showed they care about the issue they'd take a two pronged approach of deportation and strengthening the existing programs. win-win imo

Make who "aware?" You don't think every single farm in California or anywhere who has hired people are unaware of the H2A program? Make the illegals aware? They don't care they just want to make some money and send a good portion of it back to their families. If they cared they wouldn't have came in illegally.

Again....how do the existing programs need strengthening or are you just throwing that in there so you have something to complain about Trump not doing something right?

Edited July 17, 2025Jul 17 by Highmark