http://eracerhead.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] eracerhead.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] talkpolitics2010-07-10 11:39 am

(no subject)

Ok, so we all know illegal immigrants are taking our jobs. So if you are out of work an/or unemployed, here's your chance to take away a job from an illegal immigrant.

http://takeourjobs.org/

This is pure genius. The right should like this because it will allow all those wallowing in the generosity of unemployment to find jobs. The left should like it because it is a program of the Communist United Farm Workers Union.

So here is my question: Do you know anybody who has signed up? I would ask this group personally, but if you were a farm worker, you would not have time to read this community because you'd be working 12 hours a day without overtime and would not have wi-fi access.

[identity profile] policraticus.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 03:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Not for nothing, but do you know how many illegal immigrants have quit their jobs at my business because I don't work them 12 hours a day and insist on paying them overtime?

[identity profile] majortom-thecat.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 04:05 pm (UTC)(link)
I saw this on Colbert last night. The guy said that they'd had a total of three people sign up and then Colbert said he would take the challenge, and then I don't know what they said next because I was in the other room.

I used to pick berries when I was a kid. I picked up to 30 pounds of strawberries in an hour but there's no way I could have kept up with the professionals, especially not in a warm climate like Arizona. Where are we going to get our food from if they don't let people come and harvest it?

[identity profile] chron-job.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 04:37 pm (UTC)(link)
I think a lot of anger at "illegal immigrants taking our jobs" doesn't have any specificity... it isn't at all about "I don't have a job, because some illegal has it instead!!!"

It's more a vague presumption of class placement in the gravy train line.

[identity profile] dwer.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 05:39 pm (UTC)(link)
lol. The type of people who complain about immigrants taking american jobs aren't going to work as FARMERS...

[identity profile] lovefromgirl.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 05:59 pm (UTC)(link)
My cynical side thinks this would solve America's obesity issues, at least.

I'd take a job myself, but I'm unemployed because even an office job is daunting, physically speaking. Stupid pain and fatigue issues.

[identity profile] the-rukh.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 07:08 pm (UTC)(link)
http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/07/news/economy/farm_worker_jobs/index.htm


Some of the comments attempting to justify why they'd never do that kind of work yet immigrants are still taking their jobs are very creative.

[identity profile] mrbogey.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 07:58 pm (UTC)(link)
The hiring of workers who are ineligible for legal employment distends the job market and affects real wages across the industry.

The reason why farm pay is so low is because of the illegals. The low pay disinterests legal employees from pursuing it.

[identity profile] meus-ovatio.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 08:06 pm (UTC)(link)
I've been looking to get into an entry-level farm job.

[identity profile] the-rukh.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 08:39 pm (UTC)(link)
I can think of some other farm crops that are much more lucrative and generally require much less back-breaking work.

[identity profile] meus-ovatio.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 08:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Like money!

[identity profile] enders-shadow.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 09:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Not until Nov 3....

[identity profile] enders-shadow.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 09:11 pm (UTC)(link)
I love when I see something on the Colbert Report and I already know it's gonna work it's way into an LJ post somehow.

If Colbert goes through with it, as he said on TV he would, I'd be shocked. He'll probably do his usual shtick and make it into a segment for his show where he mock works.

And I didn't know the UFW was Commie....

[identity profile] jblaque.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
"The reason why farm pay is so low is because of the illegals. The low pay disinterests legal employees from pursuing it."

Yeah, except you missed one glaring fact. No one in this country is willing to pay $4.00 for a head of lettuce, and it's that reason alone that keeps farm wages as low as they are (and migrant workers in high demand). No different than shipping American jobs off to China so we can buy cheap imported crap at Wal-Mart, except for the fact that the labor itself is being performed here and not on foreign soil.

P.S. UFW president Arturo Rodriguez was on Colbert's program the other night, and when asked how many people had taken advantage of the job offer mentioned in the OP, his answer was "three." Now surely in this economy, one would think there would be more applicants, even at the prevailing wage.

[identity profile] enders-shadow.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 09:22 pm (UTC)(link)
What are you doing hiring illegal immigrants?
They're illegal. Or are you in favor of amnesty for them?

[identity profile] enders-shadow.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 09:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Also, their homepage is poorly designed. Well, partially at least.

Click on the "About AgJobs" and the picture that shows up on their homepage looks oddly Hitler-esque; and I'm not trying to slam them, just an honest critique.

[identity profile] policraticus.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 09:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Attempting to run a successful business.

I am in favor of expanding legal immigration, but not in favor of amnesty.

[identity profile] enders-shadow.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 10:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Curious.

[identity profile] green-man-2010.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 10:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Damned right! And lets not assume that it's only Americans who think this way.
A recent documentary on the BBC was going up to people on the unemplyment register and saying to them -
"How do you fancy working in a job for ten pounds an hour?"
The answer was an overwhelming "Yes".
then they found out that it was agricultural work. Fruit picking.
Puff and sweat involved. many applicants turned it down. The Average |Brit does not want that kinda work. Even for ten quid an hour.

[identity profile] korean-guy-01.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
United Farm Workers union


They better change their name. They're embarrassing obama & the liberals.

[identity profile] meus-ovatio.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
The "German eagle" has been around for centuries.

[identity profile] xforge.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 10:57 pm (UTC)(link)
'Cuz depressed wages *couldn't* just be because the executive officers of the corporations want another million or so in their pay envelope each year. Naw, no way that's it.

[identity profile] drcruel.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
QFT

[identity profile] mrbogey.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 11:29 pm (UTC)(link)
'Yeah, except you missed one glaring fact. No one in this country is willing to pay $4.00 for a head of lettuce'

I really doubt we'd see that. Or if we did inflation from larger wages would make it not altogether awful.

[identity profile] drcruel.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 11:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Or motel maids, meat packers or dishwashers, for that matter.

Think of it...

[identity profile] sophia-sadek.livejournal.com 2010-07-10 11:47 pm (UTC)(link)
... as like the drug dealer who favors legalization, but doesn't want his competition to be let out of prison.

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