Looks like our new immigration law is working (real estate, mortgage)

[billl]

Originally Posted by DennyCrane

Could it be because those same industries that rely so much on cheap immigrant labor also donate heavily to Republicans?

So you must think the farmers downstate don't have anything to worry about, right? The republicans have passed what the NY Times calls "one of the toughest immigration laws in the country", but .... uhhh ..... the republicans didn't really mean it? It's all just for show? If that's true, then just what is it we are discussing in this thread?


"For all their rhetoric and immigrant-bashing, I didn’t believe that Georgia legislators would go as far as they have in trying to criminalize substantial sectors of the state economy." --Jay Bookman, AJC

"Will tough new Georgia immigration law keep visitors away?" --Laura Bly, USA Today

"Signs point to an exodus in Vidalia onion country. Fliers on a Mexican storefront advertise free transportation for workers willing to pick jalapenos and banana peppers in Florida and blueberries in the Carolinas. Buying an outbound bus ticket now requires reservations....With the ink barely dry on Georgia’s law, among the toughest in the country..." --Associated Press via Washington Times

Sounds like more than lip service to me.

[Atlantadubstep]

Well prices are going to rise or we will have to import and loose jobs here. Congratulations to all the " we need to attack the employers" and "they are taking all the jobs" types.

[staywarm2]

Why don't we let prisoners (min. security--not murderers) pick those vidalia onions. They could be paid much less than illegal immigrants and it would keep them occupied.

Or we could insist people on welfare to work at some of the jobs the illegals take.

[MovedfromFL]

I doubt the farm workers are getting overtime pay or worker's comp. coverage either. (and they can't speak up about it for obvious reasons) There is also the issue of pesticide exposure and poisoning.

I wonder how this crackdown will impact business like the large chicken processors in Northeast GA? Towns around that area can be up to 30% hispanic due to thousands of jobs at the plants (and there sure isn't a supply of local young adults to fill that gap)

Here in FL, our Governor ran promising to crack down on illegals. Of course, in the end, lawmakers did nothing, not even the e-verify law. They claimed it was "too complicated" and "we ran out of time". More like the Chamber of Commerce and big donors spoke loud and clear. Meanwhile, Joe 6P voter bought the sales pitch hook, line, and sinker and put Scott into office.

I predict some kind of backpeddle in GA pretty soon. Follow the money as always.

[MisterNY]

Originally Posted by staywarm2

Why don't we let prisoners (min. security--not murderers) pick those vidalia onions. They could be paid much less than illegal immigrants and it would keep them occupied.

Or we could insist people on welfare to work at some of the jobs the illegals take.

Those are good ideas. That makes sense.

Fmr Mayor Guiliani in NY did something similar (IIRC, it was a welfare work program, but for some reason it backfired with the unionized workers who did the same thing). Since GA is a right to work state, it may work out.

[MisterNY]

Originally Posted by MovedfromFL

I doubt the farm workers are getting overtime pay or worker's comp. coverage either. (and they can't speak up about it for obvious reasons) There is also the issue of pesticide exposure and poisoning.

I wonder how this crackdown will impact business like the large chicken processors in Northeast GA? Towns around that area can be up to 30% hispanic due to thousands of jobs at the plants (and there sure isn't a supply of local young adults to fill that gap)

Here in FL, our Governor ran promising to crack down on illegals. Of course, in the end, lawmakers did nothing, not even the e-verify law. They claimed it was "too complicated" and "we ran out of time". More like the Chamber of Commerce and big donors spoke loud and clear. Meanwhile, Joe 6P voter bought the sales pitch hook, line, and sinker and put Scott into office.

I predict some kind of backpeddle in GA pretty soon. Follow the money as always.

Rick Scott is as dumb as they come. Florida got the shaft when they elected that douche bag. Let them reap what they sow.

[brownhornet]

Originally Posted by MisterNY

Why hasn't it happened? People seem to resort to just about everything else before looking for "Migrant Work" on farms. Unemployment has been high for the last 2 years, and I dont see anyone jumping for farming gigs. Seemingly most will look for any and everything else, and if all else fails, they still dont go for the job on the farm. To them, it's just "So not worth it".

Low skilled Americans wont do it. At most, you may have some young students whose parents want them to learn the value of a buck and hard work that will do temporarily. But trust me, these kids will hit the books because there is no fun in picking onions or peaches.

Exactly. Its not like the recession just started yesterday. People arent going to do these jobs.

[AcidSnake]

The other side of the issue is the practice of crop-dumping. This practice forces poor farmers in third-world nations like Mexico out of business, which in turn drives them to leave the farming business and emigrate illegally to the United States.

But for whatever reason no one wants to address this particular situation.

Originally Posted by DennyCrane

They pay it lip service because they know they have a bunch of voters who also hate Hispanics. You see this on the national level as well. On one side of their mouth, they'll talk about beefing up border security. But on the other side, they're doing nothing about employers who hire illegals. It's a perfect example of trying to give the appearance of solving a problem but not actually addressing the root cause. Building a giant wall or adding more troops at the border isn't going to help. If you really want to keep illegals from coming here, go after the people who hire them. But notice how Republicans don't seem to want to do that. Gee, could it be because those same industries that rely so much on cheap immigrant labor also donate heavily to Republicans?

[Lagwagon113]

So I thought I'd weigh in one more time. I know I was spewing the free market stuff earlier. At the same time I'm not one of these (in a south park voice) "they took our jobs" people. If an industry relies on illegal labor then something is wrong. Obviously GA is at a disadvantage because they are not on a level playing field with the rest of the US. However, the problem still remains that an industry is dependent on illegal labor and also the immigration process is overly difficult. I don't know what the solution is. I'm not sure GA's solution is correct but neither is allowing people to disregard our laws. I mean I'd love nothing more than to roll up a fat doobie and take a stroll down the street but that's illegal. Either all laws are respected or none are. So some sort of reasonable solution needs to be worked out that benefits everyone.

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by Atlantadubstep

All things would be included if there was really a free market. That means a disaster like the subprime bubble would never had happened in the first place, meaning unemployment insurance if it was a option would likely not be needed like it is now.

How would a really free market have prevented the subprime mess? Arguably, it was the free market that caused it...