People who say that, or the dumb thing you’re saying, really don’t understand the issue.
I went to a vegetable processing plant in a northern state. I am going to keep it vague for obvious reasons. Namely, I don’t want Trump Gestapo to go all Unconstitutional on them. But think somewhere in Idaho, Montana or the Dakotas.
So when I went to this plant, in the ass end of nowhere. this is a HUGE place that has several thousand employees. As we walk around, I noticed that a LOT of the signage is in both Spanish and Hindi. So I asked the guy working there about it.
“So this guy shows up one day looking for a job. He barely speaks any English but he is willing to work and all his paperwork checks out, and we’re really desperate for warm bodies so I give him a try.
And he works his ass off. He does any job I give him without argument or complaint, he works any shift I let him come in for and never takes time off.
After he had been there for a while, I found out his son was playing in the Little League playoffs and I asked him if he didn’t want to take time off to go watch and he says ‘That’s my wife’s job. I make the money, She takes care of the kids.’
Then after a few years, His cousin shows up looking for a job. What am I going to do, say no?”
There are tons of people of dubious legal status working all sorts of jobs. Some of them are likely making more than a lot of legal Americans because, even for the undocumented, working in a meat processing plant pays better than working at McDonalds.
So, just to be clear, you’re saying that the ‘illegal aliens’are being underpaid?
Well, let’s look at this situation.
On average, ‘illegal aliens’ are being paid $7 an hour to pick crops in scorching heat, usually with a 12 hour day. Overtime pay is not a thing. So, $84 for a 12 hour day. They work 6 day weeks, so just about $500 a week.
So, if farmers need a 12 hour day to get the crops in, let’s see what that would cost.
Now a kid working at McDonalds is making, on average, more than twice that an hour, about $16 an hoUr , FOR FLIPPING BURGERS. Conservatively. Some are making $20 an hour.
So, we want to entice him to work much harder and much longer.
What do you think it would take? $30 an hour? I don’t think so. Maybe $40?
That is, of course, for 8 hours. But the farmer needs 12 hours of labor to bring in the crops.
So, let’s say you can find some kids willing to do it for $40 an hour. I don’t think you will, but I’ll play along. So those 8 hours will cost the farmer $320.
Now those last 4 hours, he gets time and a half. So that’s another $240.
So, we’re up to $560 FOR ONE DAYS WORK. About $3300 for a 6 day week.
But wait, there’s more! 401K contributions, sick leave, vacation, health care etc.
All things they get at Mickey D’s, so they will expect them here also.
Let’s add another $150 a week, although that wouldn’t begin to cover it, but I’m feeling generous today
So, about $3,450 a week for a teenager, who, I guarantee you, isn’t going to do half the job those ‘illegal aliens’ do..
So, being conservative in my estimate, the cost to the farmer to bring in his crops is now SEVEN TIMES AS MUCH AS WHEN THE ‘ILLEGAL ALIENS’ DID IT.
Do you think you would be happy with a $6 tomato? $11 for a head of lettuce? Because that is where that ends up.
I wouldn’t be.
You would think conservatives would understand that.
Sadly, a few people do not understand the gist of this post. While 2800 have, 3 have somehow decided that I am a horrible human being that wants to enslave people. Not sure what school you go to to get that conclusion, but I’m tired of explaining it.
