$18 an hour for seasonal farm work (insurance, how much, unemployment)

[davidt1]

I was at the DMV last week. Saw on the monitors ads for seasonal farm work at $18 an hour. Maybe the new $15 minimum wage isn't that high after all.

[Ruth4Truth]

Sounds like the price of asparagus, strawberries, etc. will be going up.

[gizmo980]

In what city/county? Around here, I think $15/hr for minimum wage is just that - the MINIMUM on which one can live, and that's still no gonna get you your own place (roommates only). Sad but true!

[evening sun]

a local apple orchard has been advertising also, says many of the migrant workers have not returned. I did not see the wage listed/

[GSR13]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Sounds like the price of asparagus, strawberries, etc. will be going up.

Which is on the whole a good thing, since it is a result of higher-paying jobs going to American citizens rather than underpaid illegals.

We're going to see higher prices on most consumer goods once the Trade War with China swings into full effect. . And longer-lasting consumer goods too

[LuvSouthOC]

Originally Posted by GSR13

Which is on the whole a good thing, since it is a result of higher-paying jobs going to American citizens rather than underpaid illegals.

We're going to see higher prices on most consumer goods once the Trade War with China swings into full effect. . And longer-lasting consumer goods too

^^This!

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Then the news will once again be all about inflation - where costs keep going up to compensate for the higher wages and costs of creating products in the U.S., which causes higher prices on consumer goods...and then the wages can't keep up with the cost of goods because of inflation....and the wheels go round and round...and the painted ponies go up and down...

It won't be better. It will be more expensive. Wages won't keep up with the costs.

And there will be no such thing as dollar stores anymore.

History will simply repeat itself. I'm old enough to have seen it. Those who aren't as old as me will soon see. You never get cheap prices if labor isn't also cheap.

[slo1318]

Originally Posted by davidt1

I was at the DMV last week. Saw on the monitors ads for seasonal farm work at $18 an hour. Maybe the new $15 minimum wage isn't that high after all.

Not at all. Its simple supply and demand. California has fresh fruit harvest all year round now, they cant get enough people.errrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[GSR13]

Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe

Then the news will once again be all about inflation - where costs keep going up to compensate for the higher wages and costs of creating products in the U.S., which causes higher prices on consumer goods...and then the wages can't keep up with the cost of goods because of inflation....and the wheels go round and round...and the painted ponies go up and down...

It won't be better. It will be more expensive. Wages won't keep up with the costs.

And there will be no such thing as dollar stores anymore.

History will simply repeat itself. I'm old enough to have seen it. Those who aren't as old as me will soon see. You never get cheap prices if labor isn't also cheap.

There's no such thing as a lack of a tradeoff when it comes to economics. The bottom line is that you have less workers competing for the same number of jobs.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Originally Posted by GSR13

There's no such thing as a lack of a tradeoff when it comes to economics. The bottom line is that you have less workers competing for the same number of jobs.

If only it was so simple.

Let's pretend that all of a sudden, the only items that can be sold in the US, must also be made in the U.S.

Now, how much do you think your Nikes will cost? How much will Nike have to pay a U.S. worker, who will probably unionize, to do what the workers they had in, say, Thailand? Workers who, in the U.S. will demand 8 hour days, 40 hour work weeks, and overtime and healthcare, etc., etc.? And for whom the government will require workers comp and unemployment insurance be paid for by Nike?

Let Trump destroy NAFTA and let's just see how much better things get for U.S. workers. Hey, maybe they'll get a nice factory job with Nike, and their union will negotiate $25/hour for them!

Then, they will get to go buy groceries that are now hundreds of more dollars per month, and buy clothes for their kids that now cost hundreds more dollars than they used to, on and on.

The trade-off is not just about demand for jobs.

If you think avocados are expensive now, just wait until they're only coming from California again in-season, with no migrant labor.

Honestly, I hope it happens just so those who talk about how simple it will all be - will eventually shut up after going into shock when they learn the true meaning of inflation.