So far, probationers don’t cotton to farm life

How’s it going down on the farm?

The Associated Press reports:

The first batch of probationers started work last week at a farm owned by Dick Minor, president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. In the coming days, more farmers could join the program.

So far, the experiment at Minor’s farm is yielding mixed results. On the first two days, all the probationers quit by mid-afternoon, said Mendez, one of two crew leaders at Minor’s farm.

“Those guys out here weren’t out there 30 minutes and they got the bucket and just threw them in the air and say, ‘Bonk this, I ain’t with this, I can’t do this,’” said Jermond Powell, a 33-year-old probationer. “They just left, took off across the field walking.”

Mendez put the probationers to the test last Wednesday, assigning them to fill one truck and a Latino crew to a second truck. The Latinos picked six truckloads of cucumbers compared to one truckload and four bins for the probationers.

Just as an aside, Minor Brothers Farm is listed as the second largest recipient of federal farm subsidies in the state, collecting a total of $11.4 million between 2000 and 2009.

– Jay Bookman

622 comments Add your comment

RedEye

June 22nd, 2011
8:40 am

Granny Godzilla

June 22nd, 2011
8:41 am

Maybe Bernie Madoff would be interested?

Mitt Romney is unemployed too.

Newt seems to have a pretty open schedule.

Finn McCool

June 22nd, 2011
8:41 am

Comparing the two sets of workers, what were the incentives?

Finn McCool

June 22nd, 2011
8:42 am

Granny,
Newt’s finance team is looking for something to do.

mwuahahahahahaha

USinUK

June 22nd, 2011
8:42 am

hrm. so maybe the illegals are doing jobs americans don’t want to do – even probationers

@@

June 22nd, 2011
8:44 am

Separating the men from the boys (no racial slur intended).

You go, Jesus!!!!!

Peadawg

June 22nd, 2011
8:45 am

Last month from Jay: We need to punish businesses who hire illegals.

Today from Jay: More complaining about punishing businesses who hire illegals.

Yawn.

Peadawg

June 22nd, 2011
8:46 am

OFF TOPIC:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110621/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_health_overhaul_glitch
“A married couple could have an annual income of about $64,000 and still get Medicaid”
“Up to 3 million more people could qualify for Medicaid in 2014 as a result of the anomaly.”

Fantastic (sarcasm)!!!!!!!

ty webb

June 22nd, 2011
8:47 am

Jay,
Who’s arguing that Latinos shouldn’t be allowed to work on these farms? Who’s arguing that Latinos aren’t hard workers? Please tell me you got something else…aterall, it’s pretty well established that those who would rather steal than work, don’t exactly have a strong work ethic.

jt

June 22nd, 2011
8:49 am

Is Bookman advocating such working conditions?———————-

“By law, each worker must earn minimum wage, or $7.25 an hour. But there’s an incentive system. “Harvesters get a green ticket worth 50 cents every time they dump a bucket of cucumbers. If they collect more than 15 tickets an hour, they can beat minimum wage.”
.
Progressives DO have a sense of humor.
They think it is amusing to make fun of a Republican policy…at the expense of a broken down “mexican” at 35 years old.
.
Maybe if it was a gay mexican…………………………………………………

SOUTHERN ATL

June 22nd, 2011
8:50 am

Is there some type of lottery to determine which farm the probationers will work on? If not, who has the highest priority?

Penny

June 22nd, 2011
8:51 am

Please excuse the broad generalization: These latinos are a people who have NOT forgotten how to work. But Americans are not fundamentally stupid, or lazy, and they are capable of learning how to work again. We can do anything. And we can become great again. Even if it’s only at picking produce.

RB from Gwinnett

June 22nd, 2011
8:51 am

Gee, you mean the “less fortunate” won’t do the jobs the illegals are here doing?

This is EXACTLY what that restaurant owner told you too, isn’t it Jay? Yet you left that relevant part of the story out.

You keep propping up this loser class and calling them “less fortunate” while they suck this nation dry. And the liberals are paving the path for them to continue with all their hand wringing and concern for them with other people’s money.

Jay

June 22nd, 2011
8:52 am

Nobody’s being forced to work anywhere, Southern.

professional skeptic

June 22nd, 2011
8:54 am

Like I’ve said… send ol’ brother Deal down there to pick crops on the weekends. He needs the extra scratch to pay off all the millions of bad personal and business debt he brought with him to the Governor’s office. He might as well get used to it before he becomes a probationer himself.

Mr. H. Gublomey

June 22nd, 2011
8:54 am

Penny, in the words of Ross Perot _it’s about computer chips, not potato chips.” Doing low value-add task will not make any country great.

Finn McCool

June 22nd, 2011
8:54 am

you mean the “less fortunate” won’t do the jobs the illegals

Less fortunate = criminals? Huh, Dave R?

RAMBLE ON!!!

June 22nd, 2011
8:55 am

Thanks to you Liberals and 2 years of unemployment benefits, why pick cotton and make less money in 95% heat?

Peadawg

June 22nd, 2011
8:55 am

From Jay’s column earlier this month:

“The pain this is causing is real. People are going to lose their crops, and in some cases their farms. The small-town businesses that supply those farms with goods and services are going to suffer as well. For economically embattled rural Georgia, this could be a major blow.”

Seems like Jay didn’t think it through either when he kept saying we need to punish businesses who hire illegals.

poison pen

June 22nd, 2011
8:57 am

With the millions that this guy got from us taxpayers I doubt if he even cares if his cukes are picked.

professional skeptic

June 22nd, 2011
8:57 am

RB from Gwinnett
June 22nd, 2011
8:51 am

RB, I like how you left out the relevant part of Wall St. sucking this nation dry out of your rant, and how the BIg Government Conservatives are paving the way for them to continue doing it.

Fletch

June 22nd, 2011
8:58 am

11.4 million in subsidies? How about paying wages that make it worth the time and effort to do the job. Could probably include bonuses as well. Or, keep complaining that we just can’t function without an undocumented workforce.

Keep in mind that illegal aliens don’t have the same “options” as regular citizens. Hence, they will do anything you tell them to. I seem to recall a similiar workforce here in Georgia some 180 years ago that pretty much did the same thing.

Keep Up the Good Fight!

June 22nd, 2011
8:58 am

If you read the full AP article which Jay has linked to, you’ll find that the probationers have been encouraged to work (accepting that at face value) for the same wages as that purportedly paid latino workers. The more experienced latino workers know how to dress for the weather and the work. The farmers apparently are not helping their own cause by making sure that the new workers are prepared. That said, it is hard back-breaking work.

Thomas

June 22nd, 2011
9:01 am

Don’t really follow this. This appears to be a poorly executed plan. So the probationers were sent to work in a field with no apparent economic incentive and no recourse to their actions? Shocking, really shocking, that they left? I would suggest a call to Captain of Cool Hand Luke fame. anyways

Finn McCool

June 22nd, 2011
9:01 am

Yeah, Fletch, perhaps if the farm paid a decent wage with benefits, we wouldn’t be having this discussion??

BADA BING

June 22nd, 2011
9:02 am

Don’t cotton to it? That was corny Jay. The probationers are a bunch of has-beans anyway, no one is gonna work hard for peanuts. This whole issue is small potatoes . We have to find a way to squash this immigration problem, we have plowed too much time and money into it. We need to weed out the troublemakers, and cultivate a new relationship with the farm workers. If we would all stop being mule-headed, we could patch up this mess. Grow up America.

Fletch

June 22nd, 2011
9:02 am

Keep – “That said, it is hard back-breaking work.’

No argument there. But not everyone gets to have an”easy” job. If that were tha case, I’d sell my shares to my partners and get in line.

Jay

June 22nd, 2011
9:02 am

No, Peadawg, I did think it through, and it’s going pretty much as I expected.

In this and other posts, including the interview with the restaurant owner, I’m merely trying to document the consequences of that policy, because it gets us to the second part of what we have to do:

Provide a pathway to legal status.

We need to prevent employers from hiring illegal immigrants, and we need to provide those immigrants already here a way to make themselves legal. The economic reality that we need those workers, which is now being driven home, should change some minds about amnesty provisions. A lot of conservative folks in South Georgia, for example, are a lot more open to that approach than they were a few months ago, I imagine.

You haven’t seen me condemn the focus on employers. To the contrary, I’ve written that the law could have been stronger. And what we’re seeing so far is merely the impact of those parts of the law affecting the migrants themselves. The portions affecting employers will be phased in gradually.

Mr_B

June 22nd, 2011
9:03 am

Stands: From downstairs: So now progressives are gonna adopt the cons “But Obama PROMISED” drivel?

From your link: “Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced”. A majority of American citizens didn’t vote for Chu. Obama’s got to figure out how (in the face of an opposition party that has no interests other than to insure his failure) how to manage two unpopular wars, deliver of a health care mandate that was a centerpiece of his canidacy, keep the economy from going completely belly up and the rest of very long list of things that have to happen right now; and we’re going to bitch about solar panels that aren’t yet installed.

Sheeesh.

carlosgvv

June 22nd, 2011
9:03 am

So these “African-American” probationers just don’t have the work ethic of the illegals. Are we honestly supposed to be suprised by this?

TM

June 22nd, 2011
9:03 am

It’s a simple example of supply and demand. At the present wage rate the demand for workers is substantially higher than the supply. The farmer must increase his wage rate until he find the rate where the worker supply the work. The farmer then must try to pass this cost onto the consumer which would be easy if Georgia and Arizona were the only States producing cucumbers. Like Boeing the farmers will leave States that have high labor costs and move the operations to other States were the labor costs are lower in order to compete with the global market

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
9:03 am

“You keep propping up this loser class and calling them “less fortunate” while they suck this nation dry.”

One thing the “all those on welfare are losers and are ruining our nation” camp does not seem to understand is that it actually helps our economy — yes, even the private sector part of it — to help them out financially. How you say? They SPEND I would wager 100% of what they get back into the economy for things like food, clothes, utilities, etc. It’s not like they are investing it in Southern Company stock or socking it away in trust funds for their kids. If we yank these measley checks away from them, we’d still have to spend money on them either by incarcerating them when they steal things, or by scraping their bodies up off the street when they die in a cardboard box under the bridge.

Dave R.

June 22nd, 2011
9:04 am

“Less fortunate = criminals? Huh, Dave R?”

Uh, Finn? Don’t drag me into your tiff with RB, OK?

What IS it with you libs and your crush on me? ;)

poison pen

June 22nd, 2011
9:04 am

Fletch

“11.4 million in subsidies? How about paying wages that make it worth the time and effort to do the job. Could probably include bonuses as well. Or, keep complaining that we just can’t function without an undocumented workforce.”

Fletch, Good point, how much could the farmer have paid his workers if the subsidy was split up among his workers?.
The farmer would probably find another job.

RAMBLE ON!!!

June 22nd, 2011
9:05 am

“Provide a pathway to legal status”

How about getting in line like everybody else Jay?

poison pen

June 22nd, 2011
9:05 am

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
9:03 am

“You keep propping up this loser class and calling them “less fortunate” while they suck this nation dry.”

One thing the “all those on welfare are losers and are ruining our nation” camp does not seem to understand is that it actually helps our economy — yes, even the private sector part of it — to help them out financially. How you say? They SPEND I would wager 100% of what they get back into the economy for things like food, clothes, utilities, etc. It’s not like they are investing it in Southern Company stock or socking it away in trust funds for their kids. If we yank these measley checks away from them, we’d still have to spend money on them either by incarcerating them when they steal things, or by scraping their bodies up off the street when they die in a cardboard box under the bridge.

Bosch, one of the few times that I agree with you.

Peadawg

June 22nd, 2011
9:07 am

“Provide a pathway to legal status.” – There already is one. Why do we need glorified amnesty/path to legal status/shortcut/whatever you want to call it when there’s already a path in place? I suspect those who migrated here legally would be pretty pissed if a shortcut was put into place.

“You haven’t seen me condemn the focus on employers.” – No. All you’ve done is complain about what you wanted in the first place.

Fletch

June 22nd, 2011
9:07 am

Finn – “Yeah, Fletch, perhaps if the farm paid a decent wage with benefits, we wouldn’t be having this discussion??”

Not sure, I’m only speaking from experience. All of our employees at both beef outfits make pretty good money, and we provide full benefits for them. Ranch work is inherently dangerous, dirty work that invloves long hours and requires working in extreme weather (sometimes it’s 20 degrees BELOW 0). It’s just good business sense to take care of your employees.

Finn McCool

June 22nd, 2011
9:07 am

Uh, Finn? Don’t drag me into your tiff with RB, OK?

My bad, Dave.

RB, why do you equate the less fortunate with criminals?

Jay

June 22nd, 2011
9:07 am

Who said that they are all or even mostly African American, Carlos?

More importantly, what’s the relevance of it?

I mean, unless you are into categorizing and stereotyping people by race. If that’s your intent, I could see why race would be relevant. But again, we don’t know the racial breakdown of the probationers in question.

Mr_B

June 22nd, 2011
9:08 am

Jay: the pathway needs to be more than to legal status: it needs to be a pathway to entry to this country that can actually be followed legally. If you are a Mexican national it can take years to jump through all the financial and bureaucratic hoops to get a visa. Somebody whose kids are starving or the object of drug violence doesn’t have years to wait.

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
9:08 am

carlos,

Are you just assuming them to be black? No where in the article does it mention that.

poison pen

June 22nd, 2011
9:08 am

Carlosgvv, Where in the article does it say anything about Blacks?.

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
9:08 am

Dang Jay, what kind of Coke can I get ya’?

ty webb

June 22nd, 2011
9:09 am

“Provide a pathway to legal status”

What Jay really means is a “pathway to voter registration”.

@@

June 22nd, 2011
9:09 am

By law, each worker must earn minimum wage, or $7.25 an hour. But there’s an incentive system. Harvesters get a green ticket worth 50 cents every time they dump a bucket of cucumbers. If they collect more than 15 tickets an hour, they can beat minimum wage.

The Latino workers moved furiously for the extra pay.

Jose Ranye, 37, bragged he’s the best picker in Americus, the largest community near the farm. His whirling hands filled one bucket in 25 seconds. He said he dumped about 200 buckets of cucumbers before lunch, meaning he earned roughly $20 an hour.

$20.00 an hour if ‘ya hump to dump!!??!!

YOU GO, JOSE!!!!

Heck! I don’t make $20.00 an hour now. Didn’t make $20.00 an hour when I was crating apricots in California. I hate apricots…not because I worked with ‘em…they’re fuzzy little fruits.

Peadawg

June 22nd, 2011
9:09 am

What Jay really means is amnesty.

Fixed your typo, ty. :)

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
9:09 am

poison pen,

Well miracles do happen, it’s amazing to me that people just think these people will vanish.

Brosephus

June 22nd, 2011
9:09 am

And what does their race have to do with anything carlos? I don’t recall any stampede of Caucasian-Americans to the fields either. I figured it wouldn’t take long before race was interjected, and some of you so called conservatives never fail your duty to use it.

Normal

June 22nd, 2011
9:09 am

Bring ‘em all back, make them legal, and put them to work. To appease the GOP, divide them in half and make one half Democrat and one half Republicans… :D

Jay

June 22nd, 2011
9:10 am

There is no pathway, Peadawg.

And when have you heard me complain about it? Documenting its impacts does not equate to complaining.

poison pen

June 22nd, 2011
9:10 am

Jay ,After reading Carlos post, now you know why some people on here call other people stupid.

Jay

June 22nd, 2011
9:11 am

Amnesty? Yes, Peadawg. That’s what I’m saying. You’re right about that much.

kayaker 71

June 22nd, 2011
9:12 am

What exactly is a probationer?

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
9:12 am

poison pen,

“now you know why some people on here call other people stupid”

And why some call them racist.

poison pen

June 22nd, 2011
9:13 am

Brosephus

And what does their race have to do with anything carlos? I don’t recall any stampede of Caucasian-Americans to the fields either. I figured it wouldn’t take long before race was interjected, and some of you so called conservatives never fail your duty to use it.

Bro, Please don’t put Carlos into the cons pot, he rants against big business all the time, if anything he is a lib.

ty webb

June 22nd, 2011
9:13 am

Not to defend Carlos, but the same question goes to Jay. The bill is aimed at illegal immigration, yet Jay’s the one that brought “latinos” into it. Seems he’s the one who brought up the “racial breakdown” of the illegals.

poison pen

June 22nd, 2011
9:14 am

Bosch, very true.

Jay

June 22nd, 2011
9:15 am

kayaker, a probationer is someone convicted of a relatively minor crime who is put on court-supervised probation rather than be sentenced to serve actual jail time.

Keep Up the Good Fight!

June 22nd, 2011
9:16 am

K71 — A probationer is a person who has been sentenced for a legal violation to report periodically to a probation officer.

BlahBlahBlah

June 22nd, 2011
9:16 am

Determine the nationwide need for workers. If it’s 500,000 agriculture workers, issue 500,000 temporary visas. Give the workers temporary worker ID’s and a temporary worker EIN’s. Employers must withhold 15% of their pay from their check and send it to Uncle Sam and issue a W-2 at the end of the year, to make sure the workers pay taxes on their income. $100,000 fine, per occurrance, for any business that is caught paying the workers under the table to avoid the withholding rules.

Problem solved.

poison pen

June 22nd, 2011
9:18 am

A probationer can also be let out of prison and put on probation to make sure they stay within the law.

BADA BING

June 22nd, 2011
9:18 am

carlos was just playing the odds that they were black. The same way that I would say if the probationers were prisioners from rural South GA, I would bet that they are in jail for DUI and meth.

Peadawg

June 22nd, 2011
9:19 am

“There is no pathway, Peadawg.” – There’s no pathway? Really? REALLY? If there’s no pathway, then how do people from other countries become citizens currently? Is there not a process in place for them to become a citizen? Stoopid comment, Jay.

“And when have you heard me complain about it? Documenting its impacts does not equate to complaining.” – When you write 1-2 columns a week about the impacts…it sounds like complaining.

“Amnesty? Yes, Peadawg. That’s what I’m saying. You’re right about that much.” – Then why do you always sugar coat it by saying “a pathway to legal status”? We all know what you mean.

jt

June 22nd, 2011
9:20 am

Google Georgia Farm “crisis”.
..Or Dick Minor.
.
One name ……………..Dick Minor keeps coming up. And ONLY Dick Minor.Dick Minor is a political operative, a democrat and a major Tax-payer parasite(sorry for the redundancy) .Minor Dick my azzzzzzz……………..I will make an attempt to not buy his political cukes…….not unlike I did when Pilgrims chicken complained about FOLLOWING THE LAW.
.
No one else is complaining.
This is a manufactored “crisis” .(as usual, progressives are on the wrong side).
.
Let any farmer who complains……watch his produce rot in the field.This will make room for real farmers who do not need to suck on Uncle Sam’s teeeet.

poison pen

June 22nd, 2011
9:20 am

BlahBlahBlah, I have also stated this several times on this blog, it’s the only way to solve this problem.

Jay

June 22nd, 2011
9:20 am

Poison, that would be parole, not probation. Parolees tend to be convicted of more serious crimes and serve at least a portion of their sentence.

Keep Up the Good Fight!

June 22nd, 2011
9:21 am

Jay, actually they may have served some time or been incarcerated while awaiting trial which may be “time served.” Also not all have been convicted. There are plea programs where the alleged matter is such that rather than fight the matter, the jurisdiction and the alleged violator agree that if the alleged violator keeps their nose clean during probation, the charges will be dropped and no record made. A little different from a first offender.

poison pen

June 22nd, 2011
9:23 am

Heck, I think my wife has had me on probation for 47 years.

ty webb

June 22nd, 2011
9:24 am

So the illegal immigrant(slave labor) employment pool will dry up. Seems there will be a need for more ingenious farmers who can learn how to be more efficient with fewer employers or ones who can be creative in how to keep their costs down so they can afford higher wages to hire more employers…I wouldn’t hold our breath, but who knows? We may just find our next “Eli Whitney” with the passage of this bill.

Jay

June 22nd, 2011
9:24 am

According to the Federal Election Commission, Richard Minor of Americus Ga. has donated almost exclusively to Republican candidates. The exception is a $1,000 contribution to U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, a Democrat.

He isn’t, however, especially active in the political field and I see only one small donation to the current state Ag commissioner at the state level.

Truth

June 22nd, 2011
9:25 am

Why should they work when you are going to give them everything they want???????????????????????

jconservative

June 22nd, 2011
9:25 am

Unless you have pulled corn in the August sun day after day, I am not sure you are entitled to an opinion.

JohnnyReb

June 22nd, 2011
9:25 am

It’s assumed the probationers were without employment or else would not have tried field work. It is further assumed that without employment they are receiving unemployment checks or other forms of government assistance. Since they have refused to be employed, will the assistance stop? No. Therein lies the problem. A system where you will still eat without working.

blue_unicorn

June 22nd, 2011
9:25 am

How’s it going down on the (farm) mega-million dollar agri-business?

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
9:26 am

“We may just find our next “Eli Whitney” with the passage of this bill”

Eli Whitney was a fraud.

RB from Gwinnett

June 22nd, 2011
9:26 am

“The economic reality that we need those workers”

No, Jay, we have the workers to do those jobs, but we keep providing them a means to go through life without having to do the work their education (mostly HS dropouts) has afforded them. All that money going to section 8 housing, food stamps, power bill subsidies, etc, etc, etc. is enabling them to get by without having to actually work for a living.

If you really want to do a story on what’s going on with this work force, you should try employing these “less fortuate” for a few months and see what a nightmare the employer faces when trying to deal with them. I have.

Bosch, if you really think me having to work for the money some lazy do-nothing parasite has to spend is a good thing, you are a complete idiot. Do your nation a favor and stop voting.

professional skeptic

June 22nd, 2011
9:26 am

When ol’ Gub’ner Deal becomes a probationer himself, he can use his Diamond SkyMiles Status to tie a bunch of turnips to the tail end of a Delta 747, and then pop them all out of the ground pretty quick, I’d imagine, depending on the strength of the twine he uses.

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
9:27 am

“It is further assumed that without employment they are receiving unemployment checks or other forms of government assistance. ”

Nope Reb, not a sure fire assumption.

Truth

June 22nd, 2011
9:27 am

You stupid people keep falling in the same trap, YOU keep calling them illegal immigrants. They have no intention of being immigrants. They are illegal aliens!!!!!!!

Thomas

June 22nd, 2011
9:28 am

For you non (American) footballers his last name is James. The story has stuck with me for decades. F all of you who don’t believe in the great American worker and his or her desire. Especially those of you who think that only whites have work ethic.

Edgerrin didn’t have much time for drugs, anyway. If he wasn’t on the football field, he was in a watermelon patch earning money to support his family. Beginning in the summer of 1993, he made seasonal trips to southern Georgia where he worked 16-hour days in the sweltering heat loading watermelons onto trailers. His strength and stamina were legendary. Indeed, no one could “bump” watermelons better or longer than Edgerrin.

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
9:29 am

“if you really think me having to work for the money some lazy do-nothing parasite has to spend is a good thing, you are a complete idiot. ”

Well good, I’m not an idiot because I don’t think it’s a good thing, I think it’s a necessary thing though. And like I wrote, we will wind up spending money on them one way or another, so why not do it in a way that helps the economy.

And no RB, I will be voting until my cold dead fingers can no longer push the buttons. Why do you hate democracy?

Fletch

June 22nd, 2011
9:29 am

jconservative – “Unless you have pulled corn in the August sun day after day, I am not sure you are entitled to an opinion.”

I’ve branded cattle, driven herds and pounded fence post holes by hand day after day. In 100 degree weather and sub zero storms. Can I still comment? :)

@@

June 22nd, 2011
9:30 am

BlahBlahBlah:

Problem solved.

Absolutely! That’s the way it was done California during my fruit picking days.

Bottom line?

Everybody who works picking produce eventually turns brown, or eventually black…in my case. From white…to brown…to black. Back to white during the winter months. I s’pose some folks go thru the red stage.

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
9:30 am

And RB, why don’t you call poison pen an idiot too since he agreed with my comment?

josef

June 22nd, 2011
9:32 am

This is really kind of funny…and, yep, it’s panning out just about as he and anybody else who could see beyond their spiteful noses would have “predicted.” And the posts here show that slapped upside the head with the reality of unintended consequences, there’s that lot who just can’t let go of their prejudices, biases, bigotries and what have you. This is what happens when you go feel-good and quick fix…

Now, I have a question…if the Messicans and company are the ones committing all those crimes and filling up our jails…you mean the probationers weren’t latino? They’re all African Americans…eh? Sounds like a case of racial preference here to me…

Oh, @@, you leave the fuzzy little fruits out of this! ISH

kayaker 71

June 22nd, 2011
9:33 am

Let’s see….. A bunch of convicted criminals are let loose on some Democrat contributors farm on one of these really hot days to pick cucumbers. They are then compared with a bunch of Mexicans who are doing the same thing to see how productive they are. Most anyone would know that a bunch of crack dealers would rather sell their product or collect a government check than pick cucumbers. This comparison was doomed from the start. Must have had some kind of political motive. Wonder what it was?

Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)

June 22nd, 2011
9:34 am

Well, no wonder it never worked. You got to set the right work conditions—spread the word to these people on probation that each cucumber will bring 5 bucks on the black market, sort of the way crooks are able to sell copper wiring in air conditioning. I bet them cucumbers would all be gone in two hrs.

jt

June 22nd, 2011
9:35 am

“According to the Federal Election Commission, Richard Minor of Americus Ga. has donated almost exclusively to Republican candidates. The exception is a $1,000 contribution to U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, a Democrat.”

Sorry to fall into the false dichotomy. Cronys are cronys.Calling a Democrat a Republican is as silly as calling the civilian-killing Libyan war a kinetic military exercise.
.
It is still a dog.
Cronyism runs as deep as a turnip root here in Georgia.

The Pettifoggers' Pettifog

June 22nd, 2011
9:35 am

Oh goody RB is here……..again!!! Why RB you are a very faithful, (if not somewhat scary), beau. RB don’t give up hope, if you keep stalking……..ummm………faithfully following JB around it may very well pay off (it might not, but give it the old college try anyway!).

carlosgov: So these “African-American” probationers just don’t have the work ethic of the illegals. Are we honestly supposed to be suprised by this?

why do you think they’re all A.A’s there carlos? I’m waiting with bated breath for your answer.

Thomas: Shocking, really shocking, that they left? I would suggest a call to Captain of Cool Hand Luke fame

What we have here is a failure to communicate……….

BADA BING

June 22nd, 2011
9:36 am

Rotton crops, while tragic, are not a total loss. Farmers do it sometimes to fertilize and build the soil. It is an established practice. You city folks may not have heard the term, ‘plowing it under’.

Garth

June 22nd, 2011
9:36 am

I was in charge of handling field crews picking beans in the 80’s. We couldn’t get the blacks to work in the heat. Somehow they equated work with slavery and all they wanted to do was drink water and sit in the shade. At least hispanics have a work ethic–something most blacks don’t have.

josef

June 22nd, 2011
9:36 am

“jconservative – “Unless you have pulled corn in the August sun day after day, I am not sure you are entitled to an opinion.”

I’ve chopped and picked cotton and grubbed sweet potatoes…can I comment? :-)

RxDawg

June 22nd, 2011
9:38 am

And why are they allowed to quit?

“What we got here is, failure to communicate.”

You quit? Another 30 days of probabtion… see ya tomorrow.

ty webb

June 22nd, 2011
9:39 am

I’ve played a few eighteen on very hot days. Sometimes I can’t even get a tee time before noon…can I comment?

Whacks Eloquent

June 22nd, 2011
9:40 am

I still think it shows the pathetic state of our society – here we have over 10% unemployment, and then at the same time these agribusinesses are looking for thousands of workers. The American work ethic has gone to pot…we have become a nation of silver-spooners, even down to the most impoverished. They feel that this work is “beneath them”.

A few years back when I was unemployed, I would have at least tried this work. Would it have sucked? Yeah, of course. Would I have done well? Probably not. But it does pay, and pays decent. My only opportunity was to take a minimum wage job at a hardware store. Guess what? I did it! Rather than just sit at home and feel sorry for myself, I went out and did what I could. At the same time I was working a second job delivering pizzas, and a third as a vacation property inspector. Hence, I have very little sympathy for the probationers. They made stupid decisions, and should have to live with the consequences. A bit of hard work would do them some good.

1811/1801 - 0311/0317

June 22nd, 2011
9:40 am

FROM LAST NIGHT:

Dave R:

You are entitled to your opinion. “I” respect that.

That said, I saw good Marines die just so an high ranking officers could punch their “ticket” for a promotion. That’s the real world. Bad policy was wrong then and it’s wrong now.

There are Sgt. Majors, there are officers and then there is the Corps.

My allegience will always be to the Corps. If you can’t understand the difference I can’t help you.

Kind of like my allegience is to the Constitution ………. not the president or anyone else.

See my points to Jay below if you wish.

Jay
June 21st, 2011
10:24 pm

“Scout, he’s [Sgt. Major of the Mairne Corps] not doing a disservice to the Corps. He is ordering his Marines to live by the laws of the United States of America. If you have a problem with that, well … you have a problem.”

Jay:

First of all, DADT is still the law of the land so I assume you are in full support of obeying the law as is right now. Correct?

If I am not mistaken, a gay service person was discharged last week.

Second, when the law changes it is to be obeyed.

Third, one can choose to not join the Corps because of it or leave as soon as they can …………… or stay. It’s up to them.

Fourth, when the Sgt. Major says, “get over it” he has CROSSED THE LINE.

Roe vs. Wade is the law of the land but telling me to “get over it” (or not try to “change it back”) is WRONG and that is where the Sgt. Major is WRONG and where he overstepped his authority !

BTW:

I’m betting the Sgt. Major thinks USMC bootcamp should continue to be separated by sex and that women should not be in the combat arms.

Now if that’s true …………. I am sure you AGREE with his position since he is so omniscient.

P.S.

Since crossing the U.S. border without proper authority is against the law, I also assume that you believe illegal immigrants should obey our laws. Correct ?

Or do you like to pick and choose which laws are obeyed based on your political viewpoint?

P.S.

I am off for the morning but I RELISH getting back into this when I return.

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
9:41 am

jconservative, josef, and ty,

I’ve never pulled corn off the stalk, but I sure have shucked hundreds of bushels of it, and beans too — that’s about the only time I got to talk to my grandma in the summer time.

Can I comment? :)

Peadawg

June 22nd, 2011
9:41 am

““What we got here is, failure to communicate.””

This is a better link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1fHxPY3TJo

williebkind

June 22nd, 2011
9:42 am

Ok Jay let’s put probationers working in construction where I saw plenty of illegals working making $15 an hour. But that is another subject. Now let me get this straight. These probationers were people who have displayed behavior to take the easy way out or most profit for the least effort–right? Now you give them a real job and they took off. Who gave them the authority to take off? Should they go directly to jail? I bet most have child support payments. They can simply walk off the job? The is a poor effort to work people and a typical example of a liberal to promote their ideology from half-truths. I am not falling for this garbage.

The Thin Guy

June 22nd, 2011
9:42 am

Tell them if they don’t get to picking those cucumbers they’ll be locked up in a room with nothing to read but Jay Bookman’s blog.

Mighty Righty

June 22nd, 2011
9:43 am

Dave R.

June 22nd, 2011
9:04 am
“Less fortunate = criminals? Huh, Dave R?”

Uh, Finn? Don’t drag me into your tiff with RB, OK?

What IS it with you libs and your crush on me?

Brother Dave R, Libs think all conservatives look alike.

@@

June 22nd, 2011
9:44 am

“jconservative – “Unless you have pulled corn in the August sun day after day, I am not sure you are entitled to an opinion.”

I’ve picked six bushels of butter beans while in my underwear?

ty webb

June 22nd, 2011
9:44 am

“… I sure have shucked hundreds of bushels of it, and beans too — that’s about the only time I got to talk to my grandma in the summer time.”

Bosch,
yeah, me too…Brings back memories. Good times!

allman

June 22nd, 2011
9:45 am

Why I didn’t like this (and ray henry’s) article – It makes it sound like all the probationers are lazy whites. Or lazy blacks. This is hard, specialized work. I could never have done field work. Only the desperate will.
As a suggestion – they could start out with half-days (two shifts), for the new workers, unaccustomed to field labor. They could have them haul the baskets for the pickers.
This is a program that was specifically designed to fail. It is meant to send the message – we NEED the illegals, and can’t send them back.
Field work is a tough job, and a tough life. Even at ‘$20/hr’, you can’t live a full year off that, in one stable place. I understand the need for the workers, and feel sorry for them. But it must be a better life than back home for them. But we have been flooded with cheap labor. The construction workers of today have their own crews in a few years, forcing established workers out of jobs. If you lay tile, you can’t compete with people who live 10 to a room. If it’s your company – it’s gone!
In my neighborhood, near JCB, most of the billboards are non-English. The banks are now check-cashing places, or pawn shops. Is this progress???

RB from Gwinnett

June 22nd, 2011
9:45 am

“we will wind up spending money on them one way or another, ”

Why do you feel this society owes these people something? As long as people just like you keep making excuses for them and going to bat for the at the polls, they are going to keep scamming the system to skate through life sucking from the public till while you fleece the rest of us to pay for it. How about you stop caring about them with other people’s money and start caring about them with your money.

You don’t really care that much about them, do you!!!

josef

June 22nd, 2011
9:48 am

BOSCH
Shut up! :-)

BADA

You’re on a roll again…seriously, the AJC ought to hire you…we’ve been needing another Lewis Grizzard or Ludlow Porch…course the AJC doesn’t have a sense of humor and ain’t real fond of the folksy locals…

BLAH

In all seriousness…you are perfectly right…what’s so hard about doing that? Duh…

Left wing management

June 22nd, 2011
9:48 am

Mendez put the probationers to the test last Wednesday, assigning them to fill one truck and a Latino crew to a second truck. The Latinos picked six truckloads of cucumbers compared to one truckload and four bins for the probationers.

Hm. Isn’t this racial profiling? :)

Mighty Righty

June 22nd, 2011
9:49 am

What are the odds, that if illegals obtained citizenship they would quit picking crops and file for their welefare checks? I would wager we would be in the same boat we are in now. More on welefare and still no crop pickers.

williebkind

June 22nd, 2011
9:50 am

I just bagged corn, squash, peas, and okra. I will soon have tomatoes. Of course I am just southern white trash.

RedEye

June 22nd, 2011
9:51 am

President Obama signed an executive order to create the establishment of a White House Rural Council. This will effect 16% of the population.
“Though rural communities face numerous challenges, they also present enormous economic potential.”

The average age of a farmer in the US is 58. Food price inflation contiues to rise. The administration is positioning themselves to control the food resources in this country.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/06/09/executive-order-establishment-white-house-rural-council

Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)

June 22nd, 2011
9:51 am

Well, I got a better use for the trucks. Let’s just say it involves hauling and dumping at the Mexican border.

Have a good hump day everybody.

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
9:52 am

“Why do you feel this society owes these people something?”

Because they are American citizens, just like you. Again, these people will not simply disappear — we pay for them one way of another.

I’m not making excuses for them, if the world was perfect, all people would do good, have good work ethic and things would be all hunky dory. But I’m also a realist. I know there are people out there who are looking to milk the system, and there are LOTS more provisions now to stop those people than there used to be — and you’d know this if you ever checked eligibility requirements.

And, considering I pay taxes, I do care about them with my money.

jms

June 22nd, 2011
9:52 am

Maybe we should send one probationer to Mexico for each illegal immigrant. Sounds like a great trade for us.

JohnnyReb

June 22nd, 2011
9:53 am

Bosch – somebody is feeding and clothing them; buying them beer, cigarettes, etc. My money, literally, is on state/fed aid either directly or to their family.

meatcleaver

June 22nd, 2011
9:54 am

Nathan’s “DEALS”!!!!!!!!!!!!!! in affect!

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
9:54 am

josef,

:) Are you enjoying your summer? The Other Bosch is teaching summer school, but this is the last week, then we start working on our new business endeavor!!!

cosby smith

June 22nd, 2011
9:54 am

What a country we have developed….I can mooch off the government so why should I have to work to eat…perhaps we let them starve and see if their attitude changes…To all those who love Barry and the wonderful Federal Government..enjoy what you have sewn.

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
9:56 am

“My money, literally, is on state/fed aid either directly or to their family”

No Reb, it’s not. It’s not your money — it’s money you pay into the system and yes, some of that money goes towards “welfare” programs, but like I told RB, if you’d actually read more about eligibility requirements for some of the so-called “welfare” programs here in the STate, you’d see that people either have to have a job, or be in training of some kind in order to receive benefits, or be disabled.

And when those people buy food, clothes, and even cigarettes, that money goes straight back into the economy to provide additional jobs.

Matt

June 22nd, 2011
9:57 am

Why pick cucumbers when you can collect welfare and sit on your @$$?

josef

June 22nd, 2011
9:58 am

BOSCH

It’s going pretty good…got an a33 kicker project working on the other screen…no summer school for me…hope yours and the missus’ venture turns out well…

Gator Joe

June 22nd, 2011
9:58 am

Jay,
Fascinating, not to mention amusing, to watch the Right trip over themselves and their policies. I’d still be willing to bet that most of the farmers complaining about a shortage of labor, resulting from the newly enacted immigration legislation, voted for, contributed to and have farms in counties controlled by Republicans. The narrow-minded, bigoted voters who voted Republican should have nothing to complain about, since Deal and the Republicans are doing what they asked for. The only people I feel sorry in all this are the immigrants seeking a better life for themselves and their families.
P.S.
“U-Pic” might make a comeback, with farmers and bigots doing some of the picking, that is if they want GA produce to sell and consume.

Peadawg

June 22nd, 2011
10:00 am

Gator Joe @ 9:58,

Jay also asked for this. He isn’t complaining though…just pointing out the consequences.

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
10:01 am

“I can mooch off the government so why should I have to work to eat”

cosby,

You too might benefit from reading the eligibility requirements for many of the State’s welfare programs.

http://team.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHS-DFCS/menuitem.5d32235bb09bde9a50c8798dd03036a0/?vgnextoid=2bea2b48d9a4ff00VgnVCM100000bf01010aRCRD

You might want to pay special attention to the section on “lifetime limits” and “work requirements”

But by all means, if you want to remain ignorant and just bash people for no damn good reason just to make yourself feel good and blame someone for what you perceive to be a grave injustice, or to pass judgment upon people who are of no consequence to you, then by all means. It’s a free country.

Jimmy62

June 22nd, 2011
10:01 am

I don’t really know the background, but I’m assuming these are unemployed people who can’t find a job. So they are handed one, and reject it so they can go back on the dole. These are the exact kinds of people we shouldn’t spend a single penny on. If they refuse to work, then we should refuse to give them any welfare.

joe

June 22nd, 2011
10:01 am

I can just picture these “probationers.” Out of shape, fat, guts hanging over their belts, etc. Yes, its hot, but why not use this time to get yourself in shape, lose weight and take off those excess inches that double as a spare tire around your waist…Plus, where were the deputy’s with their shot guns ready to fire if they tried to escape. Oh, I guess there weren’t actual prisoners…maybe they should be the ones doing the harvesting then.

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
10:01 am

williebkind — “Who gave them the authority to take off? Should they go directly to jail? I bet most have child support payments. They can simply walk off the job? The is a poor effort to work people and a typical example of a liberal to promote their ideology from half-truths. I am not falling for this garbage.”

My understanding is that these were former prisoners on probation who were having trouble finding work after their release. AFAIK, none of them were released from prison simply to take these jobs, so I’m not sure why you think they should be sent back to jail simply for walking off the job.

deegee

June 22nd, 2011
10:02 am

The short term outcome was predictable. In a year from now I want the reporters at the AJC to analyze what this law has cost or saved the State of Georgia. It is supposed to save the State $billions in health and human services. Let’s see about that. Hall County was one of the first in Georgia to crack down on illegal immigrants. Right now their financial situation is so bad that many of their people are begging their county commissioners to raise their taxes.

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
10:02 am

“Why pick cucumbers when you can collect welfare and sit on your @$$?”

Actually Matt, you can not just sit on your ass and collect “welfare” unless you are disabled.

Here’s the link for you to so you can be more educated in these matters:

http://team.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHS-DFCS/menuitem.5d32235bb09bde9a50c8798dd03036a0/?vgnextoid=2bea2b48d9a4ff00VgnVCM100000bf01010aRCRD

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
10:03 am

Thanks josef! It’s kind of nerve racking and I’ll be working my ass off, but it’ll be fun. I’m excited.

joe

June 22nd, 2011
10:03 am

@ Matt, here here.

Uncle Jed

June 22nd, 2011
10:03 am

The Latinos picked six truckloads of cucumbers compared to one truckload and four bins for the probationers.

My vote goes to work ethic; not work ethnic. If the probationers were hard workers willing to suck it up during tough times they probbaly could have avoided probation in the first place.

Lovejones

June 22nd, 2011
10:04 am

How is this a fair comparison of work ethic? The probationers (like you or I) have no experience at doing this type of work. The laborers are used to it. I will bet anything that all of you low lifes on here downing the probationers couldn’t pick one bucket of produce in that heat. Yet still you persist with your ignorant rants.

keegor

June 22nd, 2011
10:04 am

benefits for people who pick fruit? what? do people want to do this for a career? jeez, this is a young persons game. the smart ones that get older move out of the fields and into the chicken plants, carpet mills, hospitality, etc. i will bet most of these probationers havent worked a day in their life. another solution that is a good idea in theory, but gets zero results. $20 an hour is pretty good money for someone with a 3rd grade education.

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
10:05 am

Jimmy 62,

It appears you too could benefit from the link I provided:

http://team.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHS-DFCS/menuitem.5d32235bb09bde9a50c8798dd03036a0/?vgnextoid=2bea2b48d9a4ff00VgnVCM100000bf01010aRCRD

And I’ll repeat what I wrote to cosby, as it also applies to you:

But by all means, if you want to remain ignorant and just bash people for no damn good reason just to make yourself feel good and blame someone for what you perceive to be a grave injustice, or to pass judgment upon people who are of no consequence to you, then by all means. It’s a free country.

RAY

June 22nd, 2011
10:05 am

So Garth, you know most blacks to make a statement “most blacks don’t have the work ethnic”…

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
10:05 am

Uncle Jed — “My vote goes to work ethic; not work ethnic.”

Governor Deal has defunded that there Ethnical Commission. He heard all the ethnics were leavin’ tha state, so he figgered we didn’t need no Ethnical Commission n’more.

Fletch

June 22nd, 2011
10:06 am

I’m just curious, certainly the United States is not the only Agro/Industrial nation in the world. How do the other countries get by without the benefit of the undocumented worker?

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
10:06 am

joe,

“@ Matt, here here.”

Why cheer for someone who is ignorant of facts joe? Just curious.

Don't Tread

June 22nd, 2011
10:07 am

If “they ain’t with it”, maybe they should be without eating, too. Any of these “probationers” that may be on some form of public assistance should be kicked off.

I guess they’d rather steal and deal drugs rather than work a real job. Kyle’s column today seems to cover that well.

Spell it Out

June 22nd, 2011
10:08 am

For everyone railing against any form of amnesty, or pathway to citizenship, I would like to see your elected leaders propose deportation. Of all illegals. Spell out how you would find them all (door to door searches?)and how you would send them back. Spell out the cost estimated for the plan and let the electorate vote on it.

I think once you see the costs involved, and the limited effectiveness of the plan, you might begin to rethink your position.

Uncle Jed

June 22nd, 2011
10:08 am

Why pick cucumbers when you can collect welfare and sit on your @$$?

I picked cucumbers last night before sitting on mine. No welfare check came yesterday and none are expected today. I do expect some maters soon.

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
10:08 am

Don’t Tread,

“maybe they should be without eating, too. Any of these “probationers” that may be on some form of public assistance should be kicked off.”

Maybe you should read the eligibility requirements for the various welfare programs in the State of Georgia:

http://team.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHS-DFCS/menuitem.5d32235bb09bde9a50c8798dd03036a0/?vgnextoid=2bea2b48d9a4ff00VgnVCM100000bf01010aRCRD

The Pettifoggers' Pettifog

June 22nd, 2011
10:08 am

My only opportunity was to take a minimum wage job at a hardware store. Guess what? I did it!

In the Air Conditioned Building!!! Way to GO!!! That’s some comparison — air conditioning / hot georgia sun / work ethics! You sir, are a great american!!!!!

bob leblah

June 22nd, 2011
10:10 am

I should have known this would happen. We use the worst in our society to point out that Americans won’t do these jobs. If farmers are so desperate to get crops picked, where are the advertisements for these jobs in the city. Why don’t they send trucks up to pick up people and bring them south for a couple of weeks to work? Additionally, farmers can pay living wages to do this work.

This is such non-sense that Americans won’t do this. I would, if I were out of work.

josef

June 22nd, 2011
10:10 am

FLETCH

Other developed countries with a strong agricultural base have in place programs to provide for itinerant, seasonal labor.

Uncle Jed

June 22nd, 2011
10:12 am

You sir, are a great american!!!!!

Somebody has been watching Hannity, again ;-)

getalife

June 22nd, 2011
10:14 am

They can always use free prison inmate labor.

John Birch

June 22nd, 2011
10:14 am

The Democrats under LBJ destroyed the nuclear family and the work ethic of the lower socioeconomic groups by providing them welfare checks and food stamps for doing what they would have done anyway, reproduce. Now there are millions of Americans that won’t work unless they absolutely have to. Those that don’t work, don’t eat.

Adam

June 22nd, 2011
10:15 am

OFF TOPIC: I laughed out loud for real when I read the counts of different ridiculous claims about the president, including memes/claims-that-don’t-change-anything (the 57 state thing and the teleprompter thing, for example)

I am still surprised that 57 states is only at 150, and teleprompter was at 1,074.

RB from Gwinnett

June 22nd, 2011
10:15 am

“I’m not making excuses for them,”

Yes, Bosch, you are. For the most part, these people thumbed their noses at the free education they were provided, don’t have the skills to do anything more than manual labor jobs, and refuse to do actual work, yet you think they deserve literally thousands of dollars of housing, food, medical care, social services, social security, and countless other benefits merely because they’re citizens? Where in the constitution are they promised that?

I don’t want my tax dollars perpetuating this situation that any reasonably intelligent person can see is a pathway to disaster, Bosch. Stop caring with my money.

mike

June 22nd, 2011
10:16 am

Nice to see all the usual racists interjecting their intelligent ideas into the blog. The day would not be complete without their usual input. This is a right to work state. The probationers have the right to work or not to work. So some choose not to work. So what. You folks wanted to take your state back and this is the beginning of taking it back. To be honest, blacks have already contributed enough free labor to this state. Maybe some of you other folks need to get out there and help your state in it’s time of need.

ATF

June 22nd, 2011
10:16 am

I am on a fixed income and am going to have a tough time paying for cucumbers at $2 or $3 each or tomatoes at $4 a pound. Shoot, tomatoes are already so high that I don’t buy them every week. So, I want there to be folks out there who have the skill, muscle, and endurance to pick crops. Maybe we could make it part of the “path to citizenship” that anyone who has worked 60 months or 100 months (some number) as a crop picker somewhere in the U.S. automatically qualifies for citizenship.

Soothsayer

June 22nd, 2011
10:21 am

The Pettifoggers' Pettifog

June 22nd, 2011
10:21 am

I don’t really know the background,

And yet you put your 2 cents in anyway….priceless!

but I’m assuming these are unemployed people who can’t find a job. So they are handed one, and reject it so they can go back on the dole. These are the exact kinds of people we shouldn’t spend a single penny on. If they refuse to work, then we should refuse to give them any welfare.

I’m beginning to think that the average commentator on this blog is actually deliberately clueless. It’s not hard to go to the State of Ga’s website and find information on anything (like say, WELFARE qualifications); and yet they don’t do that.

They prefer to come on this blog and say, well, say some of the most ignorant things that I’ve ever read, (and I’ve read The NY Times AND The Wall Street Journal so I know!); and with complete moral uprightness go to church on Sunday, and sing praises to some God about how they’ll never ever bear false witness against their neighbor!

If i didn’t know any better, I’d think the majority of people on this blog are deaf, dumb and blind hypocrites!!! :shock:

hayseed

June 22nd, 2011
10:22 am

Problem is, when these “currently illegal workers” become American citizens, they won’t do this kind of work, either. .just like the rest of us. I grew up on a farm, doing this kind of labor for room and board. .but I wouldn’t do it now.

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
10:22 am

“For the most part, these people thumbed their noses at the free education they were provided, don’t have the skills to do anything more than manual labor jobs, and refuse to do actual work”

Who the hell gave you the right to speak for all the people who receive some assistance, and where did you receive such omnipotent powers?

And it’s very pretentious of you to think that all money paid in the welfare system is YOUR money. Money that is somehow being taken from YOU personally. It is not all about YOU RB, we do not get to decide where our tax money goes, we do that at the polls, and I have NEVER heard of any candidate wanting to totally do away with welfare programs.

How many welfare reform or welfare do away with bills came up during 2000-2006 when the GOP had complete control and the ability to do such?

As a society, we decided long ago to develop safety nets for those who need them, are they abused by some? Yes, are there provisions in place to help with this? Yes, a LOT more than there used to be.

But by all means, if you want to remain ignorant and just bash people for no damn good reason just to make yourself feel good and blame someone for what you perceive to be a grave injustice, or to pass judgment upon people who are of no consequence to you, then by all means. It’s a free country.

And here’s the link for you too so you can stop being so ignorant about these matters:

http://team.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHS-DFCS/menuitem.5d32235bb09bde9a50c8798dd03036a0/?vgnextoid=2bea2b48d9a4ff00VgnVCM100000bf01010aRCRD

Adam

June 22nd, 2011
10:23 am

ty webb: What Jay really means is a “pathway to voter registration”.

Ah, the truth comes out. Cons want to keep illegal immigrants illegal because otherwise they would be able to vote!

Why don’t you just pass a ridiculous voter ID law instead.

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
10:24 am

Pettifoggers Pettifog,

And hell, I’ve posted it like six times already, all they have to do is freaking read!

The Pettifoggers' Pettifog

June 22nd, 2011
10:24 am

uh oh, RB is now stalking Bosch!! Do you find Bosch MORE attractive than JB or are you just interested in men who aren’t interested in you? You devil you!

RedEye

June 22nd, 2011
10:25 am

“To be honest, blacks have already contributed enough free labor to this state.”

Really, when did that take place?

Uncle Jed

June 22nd, 2011
10:26 am

I believe some reference to working for one’s sustenance can be found in Genesis, maybe 3:19.

But for those with no use for scripture, isn’t is just common sense that if one is able, one should work to provide for one’s self and family? When did it become okay to survive off your neighbor’s labor just because you didn’t particularly like the job available to you at the moment?

getalife

June 22nd, 2011
10:26 am

They can always reverse child labor laws like that con in Maine and use the kids as slaves.

con utopia.

dorae

June 22nd, 2011
10:26 am

As with any job there is a learning curve. It sounds like the farmer’s union wants the probationers to fail. They complain that no one wants the jobs that illegals have been doing. When the probationers were hired by the farmers were they given any advice on how to handle the heat? It takes a little time to learn the tricks of the trade. One needs loose clothing, gloves, hats etc. If you were raised in urban America you may not know how to handle this type of work. How to bend and lift so that you don’t damage your back. The wage sounds right, after all how much schooling or training does it take to pick produce? But, at the same time some training is needed in order to be effective. I think the farmers need to move out of their comfort zone and think outside the box. This season may be difficult but if they were hiring legals all along than they wouldn’t be in this pickle. It isn’t like they woke up one morning and realized hey my cucmbers need to be picked. I remember my cousins in north alabama, in the day, telling me they were let out of school during the potatoe picking season and were able to earn wages on temp jobs.
I think these are jobs which people would like to take but they don’t know how to get the jobs or what is needed to do the jobs. A little bit of thinking and marketing could get the farmers pickers to do the work. Instead of complaining that there isn’t anyone out there to do the work put a team together and find legals to do the work.

poison pen

June 22nd, 2011
10:26 am

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
9:54 am

josef,

“Are you enjoying your summer? The Other Bosch is teaching summer school, but this is the last week, then we start working on our new business endeavor!!!”

Bosch, There’s a rumor that they are looking for cuke pickers in Georgia, sorry, couldn’t help that.

RB from Gwinnett

June 22nd, 2011
10:26 am

“Who the hell gave you the right to speak for all the people who receive some assistance, and where did you receive such omnipotent powers?”

I paid for that right, Bosch. I pay for it every day I go to work so these lazy good for nothing parasites can walk off the job and go scam the system out of more tax dollars.

lynnie gal

June 22nd, 2011
10:27 am

Well, isn’t that convenient. Georgia will use prison labor to pick crops after the “war on drugs” puts ‘em in prison for smoking marijuana or something equally ridiculous. Sounds fishy…maybe a renaissance of a type of slavery?

The Pettifoggers' Pettifog

June 22nd, 2011
10:27 am

Bosch: And hell, I’ve posted it like six times already, all they have to do is freaking read!

To read is to understand. To understand is to learn. There’s your problem right there.

Perhaps if you could draw pictures, or probably say something like “The Great Saint Ronald Of Reagan….” then slip an informative link in there and actually TRICK them into reading, maybe that would work.

But then again, perhaps you should stick to the pictures.

Old Boy

June 22nd, 2011
10:29 am

Dangit, I agree with Jay on this issue. That stinks. The problem isn’t that illegal immigrants are stealing jobs; they are doing jobs that even the lowest of the low in American (unemployed ex-convicts on probation) won’t do. The problem is that there is no way to make them share the burden by taxing their earnings. An easier route to citizenship is one method to solve this problem. People don’t come over here to sit on their tail and leech off the system (we already have plenty of people here to do that). They come over here for opportunity. Get them citizenship; that’s how our country became great in the first place.
Of course, a national sales tax to replace the income tax would do the job more effectively, but that will sadly never happen.

Brosephus

June 22nd, 2011
10:29 am

Truth
June 22nd, 2011
9:27 am
You stupid people keep falling in the same trap, YOU keep calling them illegal immigrants. They have no intention of being immigrants. They are illegal aliens!!!!!!!

Maybe you should actually read the Immigration and Nationality Act and understand what it says before calling somebody stupid. According to the law, any alien seeking admission into the US is considered to be an intended immigrant until proven otherwise. People who cross the border illegally are considered as entering without inspection ad they have not been inspected by immigration officers. Therefore, they are still considered intended immigrants until they prove otherwise.

When you use the term “illegal”, there are many different ways that immigrants and non-immigrants can become “illegal”. Maybe you’re the stupid one who needs to study something before making assinine statements.

A bunch of convicted criminals are let loose on some Democrat contributors farm on one of these really hot days to pick cucumbers. They are then compared with a bunch of Mexicans who are doing the same thing to see how productive they are. Most anyone would know that a bunch of crack dealers would rather sell their product or collect a government check than pick cucumbers. This comparison was doomed from the start.

And the shark jumping continues……

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
10:29 am

RB, @ 10:26

Now it’s painfully obvious you are being willfully ignorant. I know it’s hard to admit you are wrong when the facts showing your willingness to be ignorant and wrong are put right there in front of you.

Adam

June 22nd, 2011
10:29 am

RB: For the most part, these people thumbed their noses at the free education they were provided, don’t have the skills to do anything more than manual labor jobs, and refuse to do actual work

Proof please

The Pettifoggers' Pettifog

June 22nd, 2011
10:30 am

I paid for that right, Bosch. I pay for it every day I go to work so these lazy good for nothing parasites can walk off the job and go scam the system out of more tax dollars.

RB works!!! How can he possibly work when he’s on this blog up to 15 hours per day stalking JB into submission (he likes dominance/submission games — I read it on a bathroom wall).

RB says he works for a living!!! HAHAHAHA!!!! Oh yeah, and I bet he also says he’s handsome, rich, and has all his teeth too!!! :lol:

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
10:32 am

“I pay for it every day I go to work so these lazy good for nothing parasites can walk off the job and go scam the system out of more tax dollars.”

And yet, RB has never expressed his outrage at those who get subsidies — which, dollar for dollar, is so much more.

Adam

June 22nd, 2011
10:32 am

Pettifogger’s Pettifog: I am reasonably sure it’s mostly a lack of effort required to click a link. I wonder sometimes what the health of people who can’t even do THAT is.

Fletch

June 22nd, 2011
10:33 am

josef – “Other developed countries with a strong agricultural base have in place programs to provide for itinerant, seasonal labor.’

Precisely! As I posted earlier, we pay our people pretty well, and we cover 100% of their medical benefits. I personally think that anyone who works in Agriculture, be it farming ranching, picking , herding, etc… should have a full medical program provided by the employer as well as Workers Compensation. I’m not advocating “forced” coverage, but outdoor work is considerably more risky than sitting in the office. As such, employers who engage in Agri businesses, should be more than willing to take care of their employees.

Uncle Jed

June 22nd, 2011
10:33 am

ATF

June 22nd, 2011
10:16 am
I am on a fixed income and am going to have a tough time paying for cucumbers at $2 or $3 each or tomatoes at $4 a pound. Shoot, tomatoes are already so high that I don’t buy them every week.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Those sound like “out of season” prices. Locally those items come to market in such volume that you should be able to do much better at a farmer’s market, than at the supermarket during this time of year.

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
10:34 am

Adam @ 10:32

It’s called willful ignorance and some kind of mental disorder where they can not have their ideas of beliefs challenged because then they have to come up with someone else to blame for what they consider such grave injustices — and it pisses them off.

Adam

June 22nd, 2011
10:34 am

Bosch: And yet, RB has never expressed his outrage at those who get subsidies — which, dollar for dollar, is so much more.

“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it!” – Upton Sinclair

poison pen

June 22nd, 2011
10:34 am

getalife

They can always reverse child labor laws like that con in Maine and use the kids as slaves.

con utopia.

Getalife, Which one would that be? I looked into Main and the people that I read about honestly seem like Libs. In fact most of these states have people who have done that and they all seem to be libs.

You know, the type that don’t work and scam the system of everything.

Grant

June 22nd, 2011
10:35 am

I like the way you just had to work cotton in the title.

pj

June 22nd, 2011
10:36 am

Bada Bing: “…no one is gonna work hard for peanuts. ” Lots of Americans do it every day, all day. That’s what happens when minimum wage stays the same for eight years, while everything else gets more expensive.

Peter

June 22nd, 2011
10:38 am

Well the farmers got a lousy “Deal”…….the Republican’s screw things up constantly……maybe the Republican’s will go out and work the fields like an immigrant does.

In the mean time the Republican’s will give away free money to the farmers as well !

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
10:38 am

RB,

Here, I’ll make it simple for you, now you don’t even have to freaking click on the link:

Lifetime Limits: Receipt of cash assistance is limited to 48 months in a lifetime. The limit may be extended if it is determined that an extension is justified due to certain hardships, including domestic violence and physical or mental incapacity.

Work Requirement: All adult recipients have a work requirement, and are required to participate in work activities and training for at least 30 hours weekly. These work activities help recipients gain the experience needed to find a job and become self-sufficient.

But I encourage you to do so as you’ll find much more information about each program. Those particular requirements are for TANF money, which is generally the “welfare” folks like you are always so enraged about and genralize about.

poison pen

June 22nd, 2011
10:38 am

Adam

RB: For the most part, these people thumbed their noses at the free education they were provided, don’t have the skills to do anything more than manual labor jobs, and refuse to do actual work

Proof please

Adam, the proof is probably because they are on probation and don’t have a job.

Adam

June 22nd, 2011
10:38 am

Kids should work at a younger age because otherwise they are socialist freeloaders and don’t appreciate the value of a dollar. Am I right, cons?

Oh, how about making them do all the work to clean the house while you sit on your butt watching TV, and they get an allowance for it! Capitalism at work, right cons?

6 strong

June 22nd, 2011
10:39 am

Maybe its just me but I dont’t see how you can compare workers that have been picking fruit and vegetables to people that have been doing it for less then a week. There is no way in the world that the people on probation was ever going to beat professional pickers. JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT WHEN PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO COMPARE APPLES TO ORANGES.

Adam

June 22nd, 2011
10:39 am

poison: RB is referring to people on welfare, not people on probation. I want proof that they, for the most part:

1) thumbed their noses at the free education they were provided
2) don’t have the skills to do anything more than manual labor jobs, and
3) refuse to do actual work

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
10:41 am

“There is no way in the world that the people on probation was ever going to beat professional pickers”

Well, that’s rather presumptuous too considering some may be on probation for “picking” a particular crop of illegal foilage. Maybe if you could ge high on okra, we wouldn’t be having this problem.

poison pen

June 22nd, 2011
10:42 am

Peter

“Well the farmers got a lousy “Deal”…….the Republican’s screw things up constantly……maybe the Republican’s will go out and work the fields like an immigrant does.”
In the mean time the Republican’s will give away free money to the farmers as well !

Peter, Just to clue you in, A Democrat has been President for a couple of years now and he is still giving away money. The money isn’t free either it comes from our hard earned tax dollars, something the libs can’t understand. DUH!

ty webb

June 22nd, 2011
10:43 am

adam,
yeah, those ridiculous voter id laws…just stick to calling people racist and blaming Fox news…that’s really all you have, and you’re really good at it.

poison pen

June 22nd, 2011
10:44 am

Adam, I stand corrected.

Uncle Jed

June 22nd, 2011
10:44 am

Here we find ourselves “dillydickin” about cucumbers and slavery, when our focus should be elsewhere. I’m telling you, folks, there is a whole world of news/opinion beyond this pinata party…

…From the moment the Obama administration came into office, there have been no net increases in full-time jobs, only in part-time jobs. This is contrary to all previous recessions. Employers are not recalling the workers they laid off from full-time employment.

The real job losses are greater than the estimate of 7.5 million. They are closer to 10.5 million, as 3 million people have stopped looking for work. Equally troublesome is the lower labor participation rate; some 5 million jobs have vanished from manufacturing, long America’s greatest strength. Just think: Total payrolls today amount to 131 million, but this figure is lower than it was at the beginning of the year 2000, even though our population has grown by nearly 30 million….

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/mzuckerman/articles/2011/06/20/why-the-jobs-situation-is-worse-than-it-looks

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
10:45 am

poison,

“A Democrat has been President for a couple of years now and he is still giving away money. ”

I’m not sure if the “giving away money” is still true (I’m assuming you were referring to the stimulus), however, the GOP governors were certainly eager to get it!

poison pen

June 22nd, 2011
10:45 am

Bosch, that was funny. Okra!

Tom

June 22nd, 2011
10:46 am

At $7.50 per hour it is ridiculous, I probably would just go through the motions too. Let’s see how motivated they would be at $12-13 per hour? Those farm owners must be making a fortune using slave wages on the workers( Illegal or not)! I am a retired independent conservative and I don’t like the way the workers are being treated!

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
10:46 am

poison,

There have been times when after eating the delicacy known as fried okra, I have been a little high. :)

God Bless America.....and no one else

June 22nd, 2011
10:47 am

Maybe their work ethic is why they are probationers n the first place…….

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
10:47 am

Tom,

“I am a retired independent conservative and I don’t like the way the workers are being treated!”

I think that has more to do with you having some semblance of humanity in your soul than you being a retired independent conservative.

Uncle Jed

June 22nd, 2011
10:48 am

poison pen

June 22nd, 2011
10:48 am

Uncle Jed, We know all of that but Jay won’t write about it. He would rather write about

Deal

Global Warming

Illegals, oops! undocumented people

did I mention Global Warming?

Deal

and any Repub.

Granny Godzilla

June 22nd, 2011
10:49 am

I read this:

“But for those with no use for scripture, isn’t is just common sense that if one is able, one should work to provide for one’s self and family? When did it become okay to survive off your neighbor’s labor just because you didn’t particularly like the job available to you at the moment?”

And I thought of Fukushima….then of our own possible problems at the Fort Calhoun plant….

Are those jobs that would be acceptable to walk away from?

Soccer mom

June 22nd, 2011
10:49 am

Looks like the probationers aint down with hard work. No surprise there.

Ad Naseum

June 22nd, 2011
10:50 am

Sounds like these farmers are digging their heels into their drought ridden soil – they don’t want this to work. Even the media seems to be cherry-picking (pun intended) waht they put into these stories.

Illegal aliens have been putting on this type of Academy Award winning performance for years, and it seems their PR folks and worshipping audience are cheering them on to the bitter end! ;)

The Pettifoggers' Pettifog

June 22nd, 2011
10:52 am

Adam: I am reasonably sure it’s mostly a lack of effort required to click a link. I wonder sometimes what the health of people who can’t even do THAT is.

You have to trick them into learning!!! Here’s how I propose we do it:

We offer them something they can’t refuse like a link to a “Free Ronald Reagan Autographed Diaper!!” and when they click on it they get another link that says “If You Think Ann Coulter Is HOT then click here for REPUBLICAN WOMEN GONE WILD!!” After they click that link they come upon the link for something substantial like, “The GAO Report”.

Now they’re not going to like reading the GAO report and they’re going to know they’ve been tricked, this is when you have the pop ups appear on the screen.

First Pop Up: “click here if you hate Obama”! (Takes them to the President’s Web Page)

Second Pop Up: “Click here if you think Obama is a Fascist!!” (takes them to a Webster’s page where the word “fascist” is defined for them — secretly they are learning…)

Third Pop Up: “Click Here For Karl Rove’s Defense Fund!!” (Links them to a page of all Karl Rove’s underhanded criminal acts AND as a bonus shows them some information on Slick Dick Cheney).

Fourth (and final pop up): Click here to EXIT this crap!!! (Links them to a Democratic FUND RAISER website!!).

You see, in the world of the terminally ignorant, sometimes you have to TRICK them into learning something for their own good!!

Just as Brer Rabbit once said: “Roast me! Hang me! Do whatever you please,” said Brer Rabbit. “Only please, Brer Fox, PLEASE don’t throw me into the briar patch.”

Be Warned all you who practice wilful ignorance – The Briar Patch AWAITS!!!!

muwhahahahahaha!

poison pen

June 22nd, 2011
10:52 am

Bosch, I was referring to subsidies, as Peter was trying to say that only Repubs gave away free money.

Soccer mom

June 22nd, 2011
10:53 am

Soccer mom 1
Thugs 0

Anyone see the video today of the soccer mom at a Walmart who jumped on the car hood of 3 thugs who went into a Walmart, grabbed some beer, and just walked out with it? The soccer mom said she was just sick and tired of crap like this. The 3 thugs later got pulled over and arrested by the cops.

BADA BING

June 22nd, 2011
10:53 am

(pun intended and called for) You are comparing apples and oranges J. Criminals won’t work? Trash in > Trash out. Americans will work in hot, dirty conditions. The churches send missionaries, all ages, to C America and S America to build churches, hospitals, and schools. Hotter than S GA, dirty and squalid, insect infested, and diseased. They do it for FREE. The farmers aren’t going to get work out of scum.

6 strong

June 22nd, 2011
10:53 am

@Bosch Really! How lets use some common sense. U are not time when picking what your hinting around at and plus if I remember correctly those kinds of fields are big in Mexico!

Uncle Jed

June 22nd, 2011
10:54 am

Are those jobs that would be acceptable to walk away from?

Yep; on your way to the cucumber or cotton fields until a better opportunity presented itself.

BigW

June 22nd, 2011
10:54 am

There is such a thing as a special migrant farm worker visa. It’s basically a permit for non citizens to work farms legally. Why aren’t these farmers taking advantage of this program? If they are avoiding it now and have avoided it in the past in favor of hiring illegal workers just to avoid the small expense assoiciated with the program, then I find it hard to feel sorry for them.

josef

June 22nd, 2011
10:54 am

So, just who are these illegal aliens? Some would maintain it’s anybody who can’d produce a pureblood CDIB card…anybody here got one?

Editor

June 22nd, 2011
10:54 am

“Jobs that Americans won’t do” translates to “Jobs that entitled and liberal Americans won’t do”

Uncle Jed

June 22nd, 2011
10:56 am

Bye for now. Off to earn some money so the probationers can eat.

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
10:57 am

So the only thing I got out of the article this was written about is that I could make as much as $20 an hour picking cucumbers in South Georgia. Roughly. Kinda makes me want to go to South Georgia on the weekends and pick cucumbers. Or anything else that I would get incentives for picking faster. Hmmm…wonder if they’ll let groups of people drive down on the weekends and help with the harvest?

Adam

June 22nd, 2011
10:58 am

ty webb: just stick to calling people racist and blaming Fox news

Now where did I say that?

Whacks Eloquent

June 22nd, 2011
10:58 am

My proposal:

I have given this one some thought and figured I’d throw it out there. It is based on current situations, not on pending or legally challenged legislation (i.e. no GA immigration law, no Obamacare, etc.)

Instead of path to citizenship, offer an increased “path to work visa”, specifically to appeal to this group of workers who does not mind doing the work that lazy Americans will not. In order to alleviate the burden on taxpayers, all employers will now take these newly-visa’d workers and will be forced to provide basic medical insurance for them. They will also be required to work full tax compliance, and the workers will pay income tax. Workers are allowed to get valid licenses, but do not get to vote. Minimum wage laws are waived for non-US citizens, so that it provides incentive for workers to work toward that goal, and also allows companies to continue to survive despite having to provide health care. Commission of any crime, other than having previously entered the country illegally, will invalidate the work visa and lead to deportation.

This is not blanket amnesty, nor a free ticket, but it is strict enough to only keep the illegal immigrants who are serious about working (a vast majority) but hopefully will get rid of the thugs (relatively few but very destructive). Hopefully it would help us make inroads in the drug wars as well.

Jay

June 22nd, 2011
10:59 am

“Jobs that Americans won’t do” translates to “Jobs that entitled and liberal Americans won’t do”

Right, Editor. So where do conservative Americans line up to do this work? Are you standing in that line?

6 strong

June 22nd, 2011
11:02 am

Why is that farmers can not pay more then $7.25? Why not pay at least $10? From what everyone is saying working on a farm is hard work plus with this hot a** heat feeling like its in hundred they should get paid more then what they are.

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
11:02 am

Oh, wait, I guess that isn’t the only thing I got out of the article. The other is that people that were arrested, and convicted for crimes aren’t willing to work hard. Who would have ever thought that criminals, many of whom were probably in jail for burglary, theft and things like that wouldn’t have a strong work ethic? I know this has been said before, but come on, really? They’re criminals probably because they are too lazy to do the work in the first place.

getalife

June 22nd, 2011
11:02 am

I got it it.

Go to the farms and pick your own for cheap prices.

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
11:03 am

Pettifogger,

I like it! Let’s proceed.

jlo

June 22nd, 2011
11:03 am

@Carlos, you are the only person bringing race into an issue that is about crops. Go back to where you came from.

The problem is that farmers like Minor have used our money to profit for years. They perfer illegals because they can pay them $50 a day or less plus the .50 a bucket and pocket millions. Minor and his gang of theives need to up the pay, let’s say $10 an hour. That is not a good scrapping off the top of his 11.4 million subsidy.

Brosephus

June 22nd, 2011
11:03 am

Bosch

Can I have that link dedicated to me? I don’t wanna feel left out.

:)

The Pettifoggers' Pettifog

June 22nd, 2011
11:03 am

Bosch: RB, Here, I’ll make it simple for you, now you don’t even have to freaking click on the link:

You forgot the pictures!!!! He won’t even READ it now! This is how you should’ve done it:

RB, Here, I’ll [Reagan, Reagan, Reagan], now you don’t have to [Reagan is KING, Reagan is KING] freaking link:

John Ellison

June 22nd, 2011
11:03 am

We can make the illegals legal with a simple guest worker program.

Dave R.

June 22nd, 2011
11:05 am

Oh, Oh. josef is chummin’ for fresh sheets . . . :D

BADA BING

June 22nd, 2011
11:05 am

An ATL bank had a shortage of tellers and loan officers. They brought in a busload of migrant farm workers to fill in. The experiment went nowhere, as the migrants soon grew tired of ‘crunching numbers’. One American teller was able to assist 10 customers, while the migrants could only process 1 or 2. The migrants were not able to add fast enough, and were not trained on complicated equipment, like a handheld, solar powered calculator. (For you greenies, did I mention it was solar powered?). They all walked off in disgust and were later found at a 7-11 eating 3 day old burritos. You just can’t find good help these days.

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
11:05 am

6 strong – I imagine after crops start being destroyed because of the lack of workers they might start paying more. But why should they pay more if they’re obviously not getting the work for it? They give incentives where the more/faster you work, the more you earn. Seems perfectly fair to me. In the article it said the workers were able to add to earn more than $7.25 an hour simply by picking 15 buckets an hour. Then it said that some picked as few as 20 the entire day. So they got $7.25 an hour for doing what was essentially an hour twenty minutes of work for the entire day. What is the farmer’s incentive to pay them more without receiving more work?

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
11:06 am

Bro,

But you don’t jump to ignorant conclusions and make broad based statements and judge people who are of no consequence to you in a vain attempt to place blame on what they consider grave injustices!!! OR do you?

Fletch

June 22nd, 2011
11:06 am

getalife – “Go to the farms and pick your own for cheap prices.”

It’s funny that you mention that. I grew up in Northern Utah, and every summer the family would drive to Bear Lake to pick raspberries. Basically, the farmers would charge you for however much you picked. Since raspberries are a summer crop, they always had plenty of people to harvest it. People would come from different states just to “experience” the raspberry harvest. I remember meeting a couple from Germany one year who thought it was the coolest thing ever.

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
11:08 am

Fletch – I grew up on a small farm in NW GA that had some raspberries on it. My parents used that as punishment for my sister and I. Along with weeding them, and picking and weeding the blueberries.

Adam

June 22nd, 2011
11:09 am

I want to see an article that debunks the oil drilling “de facto” moratorium nonsense.

Jay: Failing that, just how many times has moratorium been mentioned in posts?

getalife

June 22nd, 2011
11:09 am

Fletch,

I stole the idea from California.

I saw it there too.

The Pettifoggers' Pettifog

June 22nd, 2011
11:09 am

6Deep: @Bosch Really! How lets use some common sense. U are not time when picking what your hinting around at and plus if I remember correctly those kinds of fields are big in Mexico!

Please transcribe and/or translate. Thanks!

BADA BING

June 22nd, 2011
11:11 am

Why don’t we arrest all the illegal immigrants, and put them in jail. Let them out on probation, and…………………….do you see where I am going with this?

Brosephus

June 22nd, 2011
11:13 am

Bosch

That’s not my style. I’m usually one to go with the OMFG… or, like yesterday, my two newest favorite posters that I found online.

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
11:13 am

Fletch — “People would come from different states just to “experience” the raspberry harvest. I remember meeting a couple from Germany one year who thought it was the coolest thing ever.”

German folks really dig social outdoor activities like volksmarches and that sort of thing. I can totally see how they’d be interested in a pick-your-own farm and its produce.

The Pettifoggers' Pettifog

June 22nd, 2011
11:14 am

Why don’t we arrest all the illegal immigrants, and put them in jail. Let them out on probation, and…………………….do you see where I am going with this?

BRILLIANT!!! You sir are a Real American!! You don’t see color, you only see money!

Paid for by the I Want To Be An American Too, campaign for better Americans.

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
11:16 am

Bro,

Yeah, me too, fer rizzle.

josef

June 22nd, 2011
11:16 am

Just to stir the pot here…
Some of our more “astute” posters like to cite the cost of ESOL and how they’re costing our little native speakers…those classes actually should be in the best interest of teaching “our” little ones to read and write…most ESOL programs are “pull out.” That means that the limited English speakers leave to room and go with the specialized teacher during the language arts bloc. The more that are pulled out, the fewer natives left in the mainstream classroom for instruction and the lower the teacher-student ratio. Thus, the more one-on-one time available for “our” kids.

Now, if they aren’t learning to read and write, it’s certainly not the fault of “those people.” If the scores for the “natives” keep falling, then it might just be the fault of “us people” and not “those people.” Reckon?

6 strong

June 22nd, 2011
11:17 am

@(ir)Ratonal $7.25 is no money to out picking in 100 degree weather no matter what anyone says. This work as all have said is hard as he**. Farms are making good money off the sweat of the ppl that are out there picking everyday. Maybe if they should paid more then maybe they would attract harder, better and determined workers.

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
11:17 am

Or Bro, you know like reading stuff and things like that instead of just making stereotypical generalized comments about things.

stands for decibels

June 22nd, 2011
11:17 am

late to this, but is anyone flashing back to the old Folger’s Chrystals commercials?

as in, “We’ve secretly replaced Latino immigrants with born-and-bred Georgia probationers…”

Jeremy

June 22nd, 2011
11:18 am

Granny/Ms. Tucker- how are you today?

Fletch

June 22nd, 2011
11:19 am

Joe Mama – “German folks really dig social outdoor activities like volksmarches and that sort of thing. I can totally see how they’d be interested in a pick-your-own farm and its produce.”

So true, the Germans are a very industrious people as well. I remember them telling me what an ingenius idea they thought it was on the farmers part to have workers come and actually pay him for the privilige of harvesting his crop. Plus, he didn’t have to spend much money to get the crop to market, because the market came to him.

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
11:19 am

josef,

Now, why on Earth tell our wingnut friends stuff like that? I mean, come on, I’ve already forced them to see the error of their ways in regards to welfare programs, you are gonna make their heads asplode and THAT’S on you buddy.

Kamchak

June 22nd, 2011
11:19 am

late to this, but is anyone flashing back to the old Folger’s Chrystals commercials?

No, but I certainly am now.

yuzeyurbrane

June 22nd, 2011
11:19 am

From another AJC story, I understand Hispanic laborers had gloves and probationers did not which, if you know cucumbers, makes a big difference considering their prickly spiney plant. And the workers were paid about 48 cents a bucket!! Seems like grower could have sprung for some gloves for temp workers if he is so worried about getting crop up quickly and is unwilling to pay living wage.

6 strong

June 22nd, 2011
11:21 am

@The Pettifoggers’ Pettifog go back and read his comment then I will.

IJustCant

June 22nd, 2011
11:21 am

Americans don’t know what they are asking for like always, currently they don’t experience any backlash on this. BUT as soon as produce and produce prices sky rocket then they will cry to the government how bad they have it.

Just like everybody that had their house foreclosed on, it serve them right and their punishment is right as well, you shouldn’t have bought a house you couldn’t afford, you knew that when you made that purchase, you knew that when you looked at the house that it was out of your price range, you read the contract. So don’t cry about it.

Also Nathan Deal would have never made it in the office if his voters wouldn’t have looked the other way. How can one unethical thing condemn another? Just wait and see what we will happen to Georgia in the long run. The South is already marked as racist, redneck, KKK, country. Just because you you don’t believe or you don’t deny it doesn’t mean it isn’t so. Majority of people of north make jokes about southerners still owning slaves, well soon it will be true.

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
11:22 am

6 strong – If you read the article, you only make that little if you don’t pick very quickly. If each bucket of cucumbers is worth $0.50 to the farmer, and they have to pay me $7.25 an hour to pick these buckets, I have to pick 14.5 buckets of cucumbers an hour to earn that $7.25 an hour. Anything over that 14.5 buckets raises my wage. Seems that the harder I work, the more I get paid. Is that not fair because it creates a wage difference between me and the guy that sits on his bucket most of the time and doesn’t pick as much or what? Why should the farmer be forced to pay his workers more than they are worth to him?

Georgian

June 22nd, 2011
11:22 am

Good job Governor Deal. Thanks for wrecking our number one industry for our state…

Kamchak

June 22nd, 2011
11:23 am

6 strong

June 22nd, 2011
11:23 am

@yuzeyurbrane I agree. Some people would never think to bring gloves if they have never done this type of work before. And the farmers should have extra gloves if they wont the work done without losing money as they keep cryig about.

BADA BING

June 22nd, 2011
11:23 am

Why don’t we swap Mexico, tit-for-tat, some migrant workers for GA criminals?

dorae

June 22nd, 2011
11:24 am

I usually review the ajc on line daily. I haven’t seen any articles or ads of farmers looking for workers. Normally if an employer needs employees they advertise for workers. How does one apply for the jobs on the farms. All I see is articles on how the crops are going to waste. It sounds like a lot of complaints but no solutions.

USinUK

June 22nd, 2011
11:25 am

Hi Kam – it looks like your boys in blue have a new manager!

USinUK

June 22nd, 2011
11:26 am

if Bosch is still around and hasn’t checked out for Cheesy Shrimp Grits(TM), this is for him:

http://deathstarpr.blogspot.com/2011/06/open-letter-to-time-magazine-re-darth.html?spref=fb&m=1

“Are you suggesting that Darth Vader was evil because he helped Emperor Palpatine kill all of the Jedi? That’s not evil. That’s just being really, really good at your job. That’s bringing balance to the Force, my glossy printed friend.”

Kamchak

June 22nd, 2011
11:27 am

USinUK

Hadn’t heard that yet — be right back!

BADA BING

June 22nd, 2011
11:28 am

Is it true that some migrants are tweeting pics of their cucumbers back to girlfriends in Mexico?

LMAO

June 22nd, 2011
11:28 am

“Good job Governor Deal. Thanks for wrecking our number one industry for our state…”

Illegal aliens are now an industry? Out of the mouths of liberals! ;)

USinUK

June 22nd, 2011
11:29 am

6 strong

June 22nd, 2011
11:30 am

@(ir)Rational I think ur missing the point I’m making. I can not see anyone that is coming straight off the street with no experience with picking fruits and vegs being able to keep up with someone that has been doing this kind of work for yrs. And for someone to think that this can happen is crazy. And once again $7.25 is nothing. There is nothing wrong with working hard, but working for almost nothing is another story.

poison pen

June 22nd, 2011
11:31 am

In Michigan there are many pick your own farms, such as, Cherries, Apples,Blueberries and Strawberries.

ByteMe

June 22nd, 2011
11:31 am

dorae: I usually review the ajc on line daily. I haven’t seen any articles or ads of farmers looking for workers.

The bulk of Georgia farmland is below Macon. No reason for them to advertise in Atlanta.

stands for decibels

June 22nd, 2011
11:31 am

Uncle Jed, We know all of that but Jay won’t write about it.

other than all those times he has actually written about the rotten employment situation in the USA. like, oh, about 22 hours ago.

ByteMe

June 22nd, 2011
11:31 am

Palin quit her bus tour when it was only half-over.

My goodness the jokes just write themselves with her.

Editor

June 22nd, 2011
11:32 am

Most Americans know what they are asking for like always, currently they don’t experience any backlash on this. BUT as soon as produce and produce prices sky rocket then Liberals will cry to the government how bad they have it.

stands for decibels

June 22nd, 2011
11:32 am

And I guess this latest post is about the rotten employment situation in the USA as well.

But you’re right, guys. Jay just won’t touch that there topic with a ten-foot cucumber.

USinUK

June 22nd, 2011
11:33 am

poison – 11:31 – are you suggesting that people have to drive out to PYO farms to buy their 5-a-day?

poison pen

June 22nd, 2011
11:33 am

6 Strong, The AJC printed an article a few weeks ago about Georgia farmers paying their workers $12.00 an hour.

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
11:33 am

yuzeyerbrane — “Seems like grower could have sprung for some gloves for temp workers if he is so worried about getting crop up quickly and is unwilling to pay living wage.”

Plus, he should have done it because if the workers bought their *own* gloves, then they would own the means of production and that would be teh soshulizum.

And we can’t have THAT.

Whacks Eloquent

June 22nd, 2011
11:33 am

6 strong,

That is minimum wage. And it is enough for the illegal immigrants who come and have no benefits. You can argue they pay no income taxes either, but in the end neither will someone who makes minimum wage, they will get it all back.

What is broken is the American work ethic, plain and simple. It is a symptom of over-entitlement. Some of us are still willing to step up and do what we don’t want to, if that is what is needed (as I mentioned in an earlier post), but those of us willing to do that are a shrinking number, as evidenced by the lack of field workers in south Georgia.

williebkind

June 22nd, 2011
11:34 am

As Jay stated a “pathway to citizenship”! Jay if you want them to have citizenship then have all of them come out of the closet. I can not think of anything more dear to your liberal heart. I mean criminals are not as important as homosexuals to your agenda. So combine them. Tell all illegals to declare themselves homosexuals. They would be citizens overnight. Then you could move onto the next agenda.

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
11:35 am

Wait – Kam, you’re a Chelsea fan? I knew there was a reason besides your politics that we couldn’t get along.

6 strong

June 22nd, 2011
11:35 am

@poison pen thats more like it!

poison pen

June 22nd, 2011
11:36 am

USinUK, I’m saying that in Mich, during the season for a perticular crop, a lot of farmers open their fields so people can pick their own produce.

I know it’s hard to believe but they really do have supermarkets there also.

Brosephus

June 22nd, 2011
11:36 am

Bosch

You know me… Gimme a link or book and I’m off to the races.

Kamchak

June 22nd, 2011
11:37 am

USinUK

Whew!

My concern was that “the special one” was returning to The Bridge.

Don’t know if this youngster will survive the trigger finger of Blues owner RA.

dorae

June 22nd, 2011
11:37 am

byteme -
I would think that if the farmers can’t get workers from south georgia they would advertise anywhere they can. Again, if there is work out there and people know how to obtain the work then the farmer may find the help they need if they let the potential employee know where to sign up. Afterall, the migrant workers don’t all live in south georgia.

poison pen

June 22nd, 2011
11:37 am

6Strong, I agree, Who would want to work that hard for $7 or $8 bucks an hour.

Mighty Righty

June 22nd, 2011
11:38 am

We have always in my life time had migrant workers, many of whom were Mexicans. I grew up in San Diego. Green card workers entered the country every day from Tiajuana and returned to Mexico the same day. Farms located too far from the border for one day trips hired legal workers who had temporary visas. The program worked then and it would work now. Today’s problems are caused by liberal nut cases looking for votes by opening the borders, by promoting weak law enforcement, and a federal government that would rather sue states than help them with a federal caused problem. This problem is not caused by Arizona or Georgia or any number of other states. It is caused by a ignorant or stupid administration that would rather fish for votes than protect the sovereignty of this nation. I say, get rid of the incompetent fools in Washington, and enforce the existing immigration laws and this illegal flood of illegals will soon end.

josef

June 22nd, 2011
11:39 am

Okay…
I’m unemployed and have three kids and an unemployed wife…I want to work and am in pretty good physical shape…I live here in Atlanta…I’ll take that job…where do I sleep? Where do I eat? At $7.50 an hour (or even if I am able to get to that $15-$20 “good money” level due to my industriousness and dedication to hard work) figure how much it’s going to cost to keep my family here in Atlanta off welfare and pay for my own rent and board down there, too…

Well…?

Kamchak

June 22nd, 2011
11:39 am

Wait – Kam, you’re a Chelsea fan? I knew there was a reason besides your politics that we couldn’t get along.

Yep.

Lemme guess, you’re a Man. U. fan, right?

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
11:39 am

6 strong – I think you’re missing the point, why should I pay you more than you’re worth to me to do the job I’ve hired you to do? It isn’t my responsibility as your employer to provide you with everything you need from the gloves you should wear to the bed you sleep in and the roof over your head, it is your responsibility. If you can’t do that off the wage I provide at minimum, then either learn to work harder or find another job. Simple as that.

ByteMe

June 22nd, 2011
11:39 am

I would think that if the farmers can’t get workers from south georgia they would advertise anywhere they can

You are incorrect. You advertise for $100K jobs in far-away places and offer incentives for people to move, like moving expenses and so on. You don’t advertise very far for jobs that only pay $12.00/hr. It just doesn’t make sense to spend the money recruiting people who likely can’t afford to move to your location.

Unless, of course, you want your onions to cost $10/lb in the stores. Most people don’t, since we know we can get the same onions for $2/lb from Honduras.

USinUK

June 22nd, 2011
11:39 am

poison – so, folks who live nowhere near a farm should have to schlep god-only-knows how many miles out to a PYO to buy their fruit and veg.

yeah. that’ll work.

6 strong

June 22nd, 2011
11:41 am

@Whacks Eloquent “That is minimum wage”. No matter if $7.25 is minimum wage or not it is still nothing. If you have a family, rent, light, gas, water and food bill MINIMUM WAGE IS NOTHING no matter what the job is!!!!!

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
11:41 am

Watch yourself Kam, that just might cause a fight, I’m a Gooner (Arsenal fan for those of you that don’t know). Also, I’m a big fan of Barcelona, but only because Messi plays there – I have a man crush on him because he is so awesome.

USinUK

June 22nd, 2011
11:41 am

Kam – first – sorry, didn’t think I was “outing” you – thought everyone knew you were a Chelsea fan.

secondly – WOOF! heck, with that guy at the helm, I’ll become a fan!! (is it warm in here??)

Darwin

June 22nd, 2011
11:41 am

The result will be higher food prices. Which is why we have the illegals here in the first place (see history books on slavery). So, let’s just suck it up and pay the higher food prices. The positive is all those “free” benefits that the right wing claims the illegals are getting from us taxpayers. What? You don’t get something for nothing do you?

josef

June 22nd, 2011
11:42 am

Question…
Where did Jay say anything about “pathway to CITIZENSHIP?” Did I miss that?

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
11:42 am

6 strong – Minimum wage is what the government has decided you can live off of. Are you saying the government is wrong? And if I have a family to provide for, I’ll find a way, even if I can only earn minimum wage, and I bet the farmers wouldn’t object to hiring the wives/baby mommas of these guys if they wanted to work too.

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
11:42 am

josef — “At $7.50 an hour (or even if I am able to get to that $15-$20 “good money” level due to my industriousness and dedication to hard work) figure how much it’s going to cost to keep my family here in Atlanta off welfare and pay for my own rent and board down there, too…”

“Well…?”

That’s been pointed out several times, but the ‘take them off welfare and make them harvest crops’ crowd doesn’t care. Most of them don’t seem to have any grasp of what’s actually involved in being a long-term harvest worker; they just see the magic word JOB and all their higher thought processes shut down.

The Pettifoggers' Pettifog

June 22nd, 2011
11:43 am

What is broken is the American work ethic

Is anyone else sick of hearing that crap ^^^ too? Americans work longer hours than anyone else in the world, (besides the Chineese), per capita for LESS wages, vacation time, AND Holidays!! One-third of our entire paycheck goes toward Medical/Dental/Vision “Benefits”; while the rest of the world, (Even China), have FREE healthcare!

But our work ethics sucks? Whaddaya want us to do — PAY employers to work for them? Jeesh!

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
11:43 am

USinUK – I’ve only recently joined the blog, so I didn’t know he was a Chelsea fan.

BADA BING

June 22nd, 2011
11:44 am

HMMM, these same criminals wouldn’t do construction, or yards, dig ditches, bag groceries, or any other kind of work either. Maybe we need a better class of criminals.

USinUK

June 22nd, 2011
11:46 am

(ir)Rational … “a” Chelsea fan???

no, Kam is THE Chelsea fan.

:-)

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
11:46 am

Bada — “Maybe we need a better class of criminals.”

May I recommend some Wall Street investment bankers?

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
11:46 am

BADA – That could be the problem. Then again, expecting the criminals to do an honest day’s work at anything could be the problem too.

Bluto

June 22nd, 2011
11:47 am

I love how they left out the Labors had gloves yet the probationers did not have any. And that he cucumbers have thorns on their vines. Way to hide the facts. I wonder if they have a record of how many labors quite on the first day? Yeah do not let those facts get in the way of a good story.

USinUK

June 22nd, 2011
11:47 am

“But our work ethics sucks? Whaddaya want us to do — PAY employers to work for them?”

well, going by the attitudes I’ve seen displayed in this blog, it wouldn’t surprise me if there were a number of people here who said “YES, DAMMIT! and you should be GLAD to pay our overlords for the privelege!”

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
11:47 am

USinUK – everybody needs one, and I guess if you join him on the dark side, they’ll have two. ;)

deegee

June 22nd, 2011
11:47 am

Where does it end? Farmers should buy gloves for their workers if they want them to be productive? The workers are walking away from the work because it’s hot and they’re tired. Now what is the farmer supposed to do with a few dozen pairs of used, sweaty, stinky gloves?

I remember talking to a contractor about the difference between working with a group of Latino bricklayers vs. a group of Anglo bricklayers. The Latino bricklayers showed up for work every morning at 7:00am ready to go to work. The Anglos would show up around 9:00 and then send someone out to get them some breakfast.

BADA BING

June 22nd, 2011
11:48 am

josef…… I am moved my your life story. Do you need a couple bucks? I would be glad to help out old friend. Didn’t know you were married, I am confused.

Kamchak

June 22nd, 2011
11:49 am

(ir)Rational

I can live with that. It’s them red devils and Liverpuddlians that have the most issues with. I too am a Barça fan, and I saw them play Man. U. at the then brand new facility in Philly in 2001. Got to see Ronaldinho play.

Awesome.

Mighty Righty

June 22nd, 2011
11:49 am

Editor

June 22nd, 2011
11:32 am
Most Americans know what they are asking for like always, currently they don’t experience any backlash on this. BUT as soon as produce and produce prices sky rocket then Liberals will cry to the government how bad they have it.

And the dummy’s in government will implement a food subsidy program, hire 100,000 new federal workers and claim a tax increase will be needed to fund the unfortunates new benefit. And the liberals on this post will hail the generosity of government. It’s another ground hog day program.

USinUK

June 22nd, 2011
11:49 am

(ir)Rational – I haven’t really formed an allegiance, yet. my next-door-neighbors are Georgies, so I root for Sunderland because I like my neighbors!

6 strong

June 22nd, 2011
11:50 am

(ir)Rational yes i’m saying they are wrong. Everything is going up except pay. And yes ur right about doing what u have to do to take care of ur family. I use to work 2 jobs and one of them was with the government and the other was just for extra money to make sure my kids had what I felt they needed. I had no problem with doing that for my family. But for someone to say that $7.25 is enough to support themselves with a family is crazy no matter if the government or someeone else is saying it ITS NO MONEY!!

USinUK

June 22nd, 2011
11:50 am

(ir)Rational – but, until the hooker scandal a few months ago, I really liked Crouch (Tottenham) – so, like I said, no solid ties, yet.

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
11:51 am

deegee – The farmers should probably also feed, clothe, provide shelter for, provide a car for, set up a movie theater every night for entertainment, provide beer and cigarettes, and healthcare for the workers and their families. Oh, and then not expect them to work more than two hours a day. That’ll make the libs happy.

USinUK

June 22nd, 2011
11:51 am

6 stong – good gravy – who on earth said that $7.25 /hour is enough to support themselves and a family?

The Pettifoggers' Pettifog

June 22nd, 2011
11:52 am

josef@ 11:39 – If “some” people on this blog won’t even READ links with informative information, you honestly think they’re gonna waste their wee little brain cells to do Math?!? HA!

“I got no time for the jibba-jabba. I pity the fool who jibba jabbas!” — Mr. T

USinUK

June 22nd, 2011
11:52 am

(ir)Rational – 11:51 – hyperbolate much?

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
11:52 am

Mighty Righty — “BUT as soon as produce and produce prices sky rocket then Liberals will cry to the government how bad they have it.”

Kind of like how business pees and moans about how bad they collectively have it whenever the minimum wage goes up.

Even though there’s no empirical evidence that minimum wage increases do any harm whatsoever to employment.

Laurie

June 22nd, 2011
11:53 am

If you don’t give the probationors a choice, they will continue to work the fields, become better prepared to deal with prickly vines and an overbearing sun. To compare their output to what immigrants produced during the first day or week is not reasonable. Revisit the issue in a couple months and then we can really see how they did.

josef

June 22nd, 2011
11:53 am

BADA

:-)

Ain’t I just pee-tee-ful?

Not married, just living in sin until we can repeal DOMA! And believe me, that was hypothetical…I won’t even consider getting off my sorry, low-down, goood-for-nothing high-white a33 and go mow the yard…much less go below the gnat line and pick cucumbers…

Kamchak

June 22nd, 2011
11:54 am

USinUK

It’s only “outing” if I’m ashamed of being a fan of The Blue Lions.

6 strong

June 22nd, 2011
11:55 am

@USinUK lol read some of (ir)Rational post directed toward me.

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
11:55 am

Kam – I tried to get tickets to the December 26 game a few years ago, and work that in as part of my honeymoon. I almost ended the marriage before it even started.

USinUK – so sad, you would think that living across the pond like you do, you would be able to pick a team and follow them religiously. It has to be easier for you than it is for me living in NW Atlanta.

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
11:56 am

USinUK – 11:52 – maybe.

The Pettifoggers' Pettifog

June 22nd, 2011
11:57 am

USinUK: well, going by the attitudes I’ve seen displayed in this blog, it wouldn’t surprise me if there were a number of people here who said “YES, DAMMIT! and you should be GLAD to pay our overlords for the privelege!”

HA! :lol:

getalife

June 22nd, 2011
11:58 am

Of course, it is the raise on the minimum wage’s fault :)

AmVet

June 22nd, 2011
11:59 am

A quick scan reveals the usual right wing lunacy – blacks are lazy, minimum wage is wrecking the economy and our government is the source of all of our problems.

Yep, another day in the parallel reality…

Mighty Righty

June 22nd, 2011
12:00 pm

Obama Gets 30% of Americans Certain to Support Re-Election in Economy Poll

More bad news for the Bamster!

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
12:00 pm

AmVet – I haven’t seen all that? Some of it yes, but I haven’t seen anyone say that minimum wage is ruining the economy, except those that are arguing that it isn’t enough.

Probation Farm Worker

June 22nd, 2011
12:00 pm

I inherited this mess form the previous administration. It going to take time to undo all the damage done by the workers before me.

USinUK

June 22nd, 2011
12:00 pm

Kam – 11:54 – I stand corrected ;-)

(ir)rational – I’d rather go outside and play / do something than sit and watch pretty much any sport.

willie lynch

June 22nd, 2011
12:01 pm

I have an idea. Lets just set up some internment camps for the 11 or so million immigrants, then we can implement a re-education system so we can indoctrinate the alien mass thus bringing them further into the American mainstream.

Realistically you’re never going to remove that number of people from the country without a progam that allows wholesale round ups akin to the violation of the Japanese here during WWII.

These states who have put these laws on the books are no doubt voicing the concerns of some of it’s citizens but this approach is sorely misplaced. There will have to be some sort of amnesty given to keep the people from hiding and moving from place to place in order to avoid the laws.

getalife

June 22nd, 2011
12:01 pm

“but I haven’t seen anyone say that minimum wage is ruining the economy, ”

That is lil lib’s thingie.

Who Said That?

June 22nd, 2011
12:03 pm

AmVet

June 22nd, 2011
11:59 am

blacks are lazy

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
12:03 pm

USinUK – good point. However, I do enjoy watching sports, so it is kind of a toss up with me. Now, let me go outside to shoot, and then the dilemma isn’t so strong. I’ll pick shooting any day of the week.

Who Said That?

June 22nd, 2011
12:04 pm

willie lynch

June 22nd, 2011
12:01 pm

There will have to be some sort of amnesty given

AmVet

June 22nd, 2011
12:04 pm

My bad (ir).

Though that nonsense is proffered here with great regularity, it apparently hasn’t been suggested this morning.

But the white bigots/mystery meats (see that brilliant 12:03) have certainly crawled out of their cesspools today, huh?

Logic 05

June 22nd, 2011
12:06 pm

According to Jay and Granny we should open the borders and provide free health care for the world, housing for everyone and of course jobs. No mention of how to pay for all of the give away programs.

stands for decibels

June 22nd, 2011
12:06 pm

More bad news for the Bamster!

Hey guys, if you’re going to copy/paste the same Sludge Report headline, don’t forget to add “SHOCK POLL” to it.

And you might mention if it’s got one of those sigh-reens going next to it as well.

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
12:07 pm

That’s why I didn’t mention that part. I saw plenty in the early part of the comments that were suggesting that it was because blacks were lazy. I’m suggesting that it is because criminals are lazy, and arguing that is why they became criminals in the first place.

AmVet

June 22nd, 2011
12:07 pm

“According to Jay and Granny we should open the borders and provide free health care for the world, housing for everyone and of course jobs. No mention of how to pay for all of the give away programs.”

Gotta love those far right wing, bald face liars.

And bloggers whose moniker is a joke…

stands for decibels

June 22nd, 2011
12:07 pm

Off topic, but does the fact that I’ve seen links to some story about a “Casey Anthony trial” on my news.google page for what seems like a month now, but never gave a crap and thus never clicked it, make me a bad person?

6 strong

June 22nd, 2011
12:08 pm

Who Said That? There is always a fool in here that gets off the point and says something that is full of sh**.

WOODSTOCK MIKE

June 22nd, 2011
12:09 pm

Is there a difference between sending jobs overseas and filling jobs with illegals? I thought Democrats were opposed to sending jobs overseas? Now, they complain that we should let illegals work here?

Hmmmm…..

AmVet

June 22nd, 2011
12:09 pm

Then I would generally agree with you, (ir).

Witt the caveat that you are referring to low-grade street criminals only, not white-collar criminals…

josef

June 22nd, 2011
12:10 pm

SFD
I’m avoiding that one myself…have we really become such a nation of ghouls?

Kamchak

June 22nd, 2011
12:10 pm

Now, they complain that we should let illegals work here?

Not intended to be a factual statement.

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
12:10 pm

stands – No, I think it is fine. Especially considering how sick it is that criminals are turned into celebrities so much here.

WOODSTOCK – You’re making too much sense, expect to get attacked for that.

Doggone/GA

June 22nd, 2011
12:11 pm

“Now, they complain that we should let illegals work here?”

Nope, we just want to know how much you are willing to accept in tax increases to cover the costs of finding, trying, processing and deporting them all?

getalife

June 22nd, 2011
12:11 pm

No workers is anti business, anti capitalist and horrible for the economy.

The gop should be called out on their position.

AmVet

June 22nd, 2011
12:11 pm

“Now, they complain that we should let illegals work here?”

The always nebulous “they”.

Would you be so kind as to show where “they” said this, mike?

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
12:12 pm

willie lynch — “Realistically you’re never going to remove that number of people from the country without a progam that allows wholesale round ups akin to the violation of the Japanese here during WWII.”

Please don’t give them any ideas.

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
12:12 pm

AmVet – nah, the white collar ones are generally just stupid in that they got caught. Or greedy because they thought they could get one more big score before they skipped town. That doesn’t preclude the street criminals from being stupid, because they typically are in my experience, I’m just saying.

Who Said That?

June 22nd, 2011
12:12 pm

There is always a fool in here that gets off the point and says something that is full of sh**.”

You mean … Kamchak, AmVet, deegee (unemployed liberals that are available to pick ____ ! )

WOODSTOCK MIKE

June 22nd, 2011
12:13 pm

@Am Vet

Can you answer a simple question? Do you think illegals should be able to work here?

Adam

June 22nd, 2011
12:13 pm

Man finds his way to free healthcare

Now, if only this were provided to all people AHEAD of time.

josef

June 22nd, 2011
12:14 pm

w. lynch
@ 12:01

Well, we know the math and language arts scores ain’t the best…!

getalife

June 22nd, 2011
12:14 pm

“akin to the violation of the Japanese here during WWII.”

And the na zis

Kamchak

June 22nd, 2011
12:14 pm

Nope, we just want to know how much you are willing to accept in tax increases to cover the costs of finding, trying, processing and deporting them all?

I keep asking this question of the round ‘em up and ship ‘em backers: How much are you willing to spend — on a per head basis — to accomplish this task?

So far the only answer I have received is “however much it takes.”

Adam

June 22nd, 2011
12:15 pm

Making illegal aliens who are already here into legal immigrants without deporting them first is a good idea. The only reason to oppose such an idea is misinformation about the population in question, usually advanced first by bigots and perpetuated by either more bigots or simply clueless, mindless, dittohead individuals.

stands for decibels

June 22nd, 2011
12:15 pm

have we really become such a nation of ghouls?

I literally have no idea of what the trial’s even about. I guess there’s a murder involved, given that the latest screaming headline mentions human decomposition in a trunk.

I always suspect that the reason that certain crime stories become national is because of the attractiveness and/or wealth of someone involved.

If the perp and victim are poor and/or ugly, it’s not really important.

Paulo977

June 22nd, 2011
12:15 pm

Normal

“Normal

June 22nd, 2011
9:09 am
“Bring ‘em all back, make them legal, and put them to work” Of course …we are all one on this planet!! Taking most of us forever to figure this out!!

WOODSTOCK MIKE

June 22nd, 2011
12:16 pm

@AmVet

My point is very simple, what is the difference between sending jobs overseas to foreigners and having illegal foreigners working jobs here in the USA?

XYZ

June 22nd, 2011
12:16 pm

“Off topic, but does the fact that I’ve seen links to some story about a “Casey Anthony trial” on my news.google page for what seems like a month now, but never gave a crap and thus never clicked it, make me a bad person?”

Yes, because you care more about illegal aliens and their “rights” than a dead US citizen!

Kamchak

June 22nd, 2011
12:16 pm

You mean … Kamchak, AmVet, deegee (unemployed liberals that are available to pick ____ ! )

I’ve got my own garden to tend, mystery meat sport.

AmVet

June 22nd, 2011
12:16 pm

“Do you think illegals should be able to work here?”

Of course not.

Why would you even ask me such a nonsensical question?

So now it’s your turn to answer a simple question.

2nd request – Would you be so kind as to show where “they” said this, mike?

Jack

June 22nd, 2011
12:16 pm

Carlos, I think you hit a nerve.

josef

June 22nd, 2011
12:17 pm

W. Lynch, Joe Mama, getalife

Paging Andy Jackson…

willie lynch

June 22nd, 2011
12:17 pm

WOODSTOCK MIKE

June 22nd, 2011
12:09 pm

If we send jobs overseas are those people shopping with American merchants and paying taxes on their purchases, paying utility bills? Yeah there’s big difference in jobs that go overseas and those that are taken here by immigrants. Wow!

USinUK

June 22nd, 2011
12:17 pm

“I keep asking this question of the round ‘em up and ship ‘em backers: How much are you willing to spend — on a per head basis — to accomplish this task?

So far the only answer I have received is “however much it takes.””

good grief. sounds a lot like their plans to balance the budget, too

USinUK

June 22nd, 2011
12:18 pm

“If we send jobs overseas are those people shopping with American merchants and paying taxes on their purchases, paying utility bills?”

that doesn’t make even a tiny bit of sense.

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
12:19 pm

MIKE — “what is the difference between sending jobs overseas to foreigners and having illegal foreigners working jobs here in the USA?”

You could pass legislation that regularizes the status of the US-employed illegals and have them pay taxes, consequently, the US would receive revenue from that, whereas the US won’t receive any individual or corporate tax revenue when American jobs go overseas.

Pretty simple thing, actually.

BeeJay

June 22nd, 2011
12:19 pm

Once again, a brilliant AJC editorialist earning a dollar by copying and pasting from another source.

Doggone/GA

June 22nd, 2011
12:21 pm

“So far the only answer I have received is “however much it takes.”

Until it comes time to actually raise those taxes, then it’s “Taxed Enough Already”

Paulo977

June 22nd, 2011
12:21 pm

Adam
@12:13 pm

OMG , has it really come to this? Wish I could sky-write this! When will it ever pierce our thick skulls that we need NHC?

USinUK

June 22nd, 2011
12:21 pm

it’s a blog. get over yourself.

USinUK

June 22nd, 2011
12:22 pm

Doggone – WELL SAID!

AmVet

June 22nd, 2011
12:22 pm

(ir), exactly.

I’m sure lots of criminals – both street and white-collar – were damn hard workers before they turned to the dark side.

BUT, this entire topic is exactly as I predicted days ago.

No matter if it is probationers or dumb mystery meat bloggers in the suburbs, I said they wouldn’t last one day in those fields.

I know of what I speak. (And now that I’m an older dog, I too wouldn’t last very long.)

But I know first hand what it is like to bust your ass day in and day out in a farming community. And that’s why I know that soft city-slickers who think they are above manual labor couldn’t pull their excess weight if their lives depended on it…

JEFF

June 22nd, 2011
12:22 pm

If we legalize all the migrant workers and make them eligible for social programs, over time we’ll make them too sorry to work too

WOODSTOCK MIKE

June 22nd, 2011
12:22 pm

@willie lynch

Really, haha, I guess that’s one way to look at it… I was talking more about the fact that with unemployment numbers the way they are it would be nice to have these jobs available to Americans. And this article showing that criminals don’t work very hard is a joke… I think we can all agree that criminals for the most part don’t have a great work ethic…

Your point of them spending money within our economy is a good one though, I wasn’t thinking about that…

Doggone/GA

June 22nd, 2011
12:24 pm

“that doesn’t make even a tiny bit of sense”

Actually, it does…it was just poorly worded. What’s he’s saying is that the jobs that go overseas takes the spending with it. The spending that would be done HERE if the jobs were here. And the the illegal immigrants working here spend their money HERE.

USinUK

June 22nd, 2011
12:26 pm

Doggone – wow. you’re much better at divination than I am – i didn’t get that message at all!

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
12:26 pm

AmVet – I know what you mean. I spent summers working for my grandparents and parents picking fruits and veggies, and mowing and baling hay, and other not so fun tasks such as that when I was a kid. Gave me great incentive to go to college and get a degree so I wouldn’t have to do that when it came time to support myself and my family. I don’t particularly want to, but I had to, I would be on my way to Americus or somewhere else in that part of the state looking for work. But I agree, most of the people I know up here wouldn’t last 15 minutes in that line of work.

WOODSTOCK MIKE

June 22nd, 2011
12:26 pm

@Joe Mama

Good point, that income needs to be taxed somehow…

AmVet

June 22nd, 2011
12:27 pm

As Gomer used to say, “Surprise, surprise, surprise!!”

Mike is great at asking questions, but not answering any.

I’m pretty sure I know where this is headed…

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
12:28 pm

Doggone – why do you assume that the illegals do their spending here. Maybe on the bare necessities, but all the immigrants I’ve ever dealt with typically send as much of their paycheck as humanly possible back to their families wherever they came from. Therefore, removing the spending from here.

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
12:28 pm

JEFF — “If we legalize all the migrant workers and make them eligible for social programs, over time we’ll make them too sorry to work too”

I didn’t say “legalize.” I said “regularize.”

You could regularize their status to “Guest Workers” who have to pay taxes on their income, but who aren’t entitled to vote or stay here forever. Or to unemployment benefits and the like.

I wouldn’t have a problem with educating their kids on our dime, though; if they were working and paying taxes, it seems to me that keeping their kids in school five days a week would keep them off the streets and out of trouble.

willie lynch

June 22nd, 2011
12:28 pm

USinUK

June 22nd, 2011
12:18 pm

Well how many of the people who are answering the phone in a call center for American Express over in India walked into a Quick Trip here in Georgia and bought anything today? Again Wow!

stands for decibels

June 22nd, 2011
12:29 pm

Yes, because you care more about illegal aliens and their “rights” than a dead US citizen!

By my estimation, any given year there are going to be approximately 14 thousand US citizens who’ll be murdered. Am I supposed to care about the other 13,999 folks who’ve been dispatched as well as this one atop my news.google stack, or is it ok to ignore those?

Just wondering.

Chris

June 22nd, 2011
12:29 pm

Fletch…As soon as you agree to pay $4 per tomato and $6 per cucumber, we’ll get right on paying sharecroppers higher wages. You DO realize don’t you when the Cost of Doing Business (labor expense) go up SO DO the PRICES!

josef

June 22nd, 2011
12:30 pm

(ir)Rational
@ 12:29

Moving their assets offshore, eh?

Funkstar

June 22nd, 2011
12:30 pm

One important element in this story is that the Probationers are convicted criminals who have had some of their jail time probated and allowed by the communities to walk freely among us if they can be productive and stay out of trouble. They can and may at their request, be returned to the jail cell, where I understand, they have no freedom, do no work and are paid no minimum wage. The Probationers also pay a hefty monthly fee to the Probation Office for their valuable guidance and recommendation to the Probate Court that moderates the assimilation of these still-under-sentence convicted criminals.
I understand this is an experiment, and these Probationers are not on a prison work farm in shackles or under armed guard. They have agreed to get out of jail early and work on a farm for pay. If they do not like that arrangement, they are free to say “Bonk this” throw their buckets away and stroll back home to wait for that prison bus to pull up, if that’s their choice. Many of the Probationers are not well-suited to any honest work, much less cucumber picking. They will eventually return community and their previous criminal occupation. Our State’s Ag Industry needs the ability to hire any and all willing and qualified workers.

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
12:31 pm

ir(Rational) — “mowing and baling hay, and other not so fun tasks”

Agreed. Of all the crap jobs on my granddaddy’s farm, the August hay mowing & baling had to be the WORST. Going up on the hill to fix barb wire fence during christmas break was pretty bad, too, but I’d have to say the hay job edges it out for sheer misery.

AmVet

June 22nd, 2011
12:31 pm

(ir), I’m grew up in a tiny chicken village in Kansas. And as a teenager, shared some of those experiences you mentioned. Back-breaking, grueling work in very difficult conditions.

And though I loved the freedom of being outdoors and making my own money(!), I knew I was destined to use my brains and not my back to make my way through life.

But I respect the hell out of those people who chose, for whatever reason, to get dirty and do that tough, but honorable work…

USinUK

June 22nd, 2011
12:31 pm

willie – 12:28 – Doggone translated your post for me – I agree with your point, just didn’t understand it as it was written

Uncle Jed

June 22nd, 2011
12:32 pm

And now, back to today’s news:

Poll: 44% of Americans Worse Off Under Obama

By a 44 percent to 34 percent margin, Americans say they believe they are worse off than when President Barack Obama took office in early 2009, when the U.S. was in the depths of a recession compounded by the September 2008 financial crisis and the economy was losing as many as 820,000 jobs a month.

Higher Than Reagan

The portion of Americans who say they believe the U.S. is on the wrong track is higher than it was at any point during Ronald Reagan’s presidency, when unemployment peaked at 10.8 percent after the 1981-82 recession, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll. The ABC poll showed the wrong-track number during Reagan’s first term peaking at 57 percent in October 1982. The Bloomberg poll shows 66 percent of Americans think the U.S. is going in the wrong direction now.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-22/americans-worse-now-than-when-obama-inaugurated-by-44-34-margin-in-poll.html

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
12:33 pm

Funkstar, I believe you have probation and parole mixed up.

It’s my understanding that these probationers were out of jail *already* and were looking for honest work. Declining the job would not mean an automatic trip back to jail, as taking the job wasn’t a condition of release (as I understand the situation).

Kamchak

June 22nd, 2011
12:33 pm

You DO realize don’t you when the Cost of Doing Business (labor expense) go up SO DO the PRICES!

What’s painfully obvious to me is that you don’t understand IF NO ONE BUYS THIS PERISHABLE PRODUCE, AT SUCH A HIGH PRICE ALL THAT’S LEFT IS ROTTEN FOOD.

Don't Tread

June 22nd, 2011
12:34 pm

“offenders can turn down jobs they consider unsuitable” Time to take away that option.
Yeah, sorry, picking cucumbers isn’t quite as profitable as picking pot leaves, now is it?

“None of the probationers could keep pace. Pay records showed the best filled only 134 buckets a day, and some as little as 20. They lingered at the water cooler behind the truck, sat on overturned red buckets for smoke breaks and stopped working to take cell phone calls. They also griped that the Latinos received more tickets per bucket than they did, an accusation that appeared unfounded.”

Give them a job and they want to goof off all day and still get paid. Great work ethic there. I guess that’s why they committed crimes to begin with. Work just gets in the way of the pimpin’ lifestyle, doesn’t it?

Doggone/GA

June 22nd, 2011
12:34 pm

“Doggone – why do you assume that the illegals do their spending here”

It wasn’t me who said that, I was explaining someone else’s point…BUT, they do spend at least SOME of their money here. Jobs that go offshore take ALL of the workers spending offshort…which was the point of the original post not made by me.

WOODSTOCK MIKE

June 22nd, 2011
12:34 pm

@AmVet

“They” is anyone who thinks that illegals should be allowed to continue working in the USA without going through the correct processes. I know that hispanics have an extremely good work ethic, so would most people that are trying to provide for their families, however, that doesn’t mean they should continue to be paid without any taxation and utilize all the great things America has to offer without paying their fair share. Do you agree?

Adam

June 22nd, 2011
12:35 pm

Paulo977: Yes I am afraid it has come to that. There is free health care, if you go to jail. I am just marveling at how smart he was in his execution of his plan. I hope more people do it to bring attention to the problem, but only if they do it as intelligently as him. Of course, I am sure the right’s response will be to simply close down jails or defund jails or something… Let’s see how politically tenable THAT prospect is.

AmVet

June 22nd, 2011
12:35 pm

Joe Mama, yep, nothing like a 120 pound teenager up in a hayloft when it’s 105 degrees outside, and bending over an opening in the floor with a hook or two, grabbing a 60 – 70 lb. bale and then stacking it up along a wall.

When I worked the wheat harvest at the local elevator, I’d go home after 17 hour days and cough up black phlegm (I know, TMI!)

But I knew it wasn’t gonna last and so, for me, it was not so bad…

WOODSTOCK MIKE, third and final request to answer my simple question.

i speak the truth US

June 22nd, 2011
12:36 pm

Deal should lead by example and work 2 weeks in South GA (80 hours total)

ken

June 22nd, 2011
12:36 pm

How many of my dollars went to the UAW ?????????????

Doggone/GA

June 22nd, 2011
12:36 pm

“You DO realize don’t you when the Cost of Doing Business (labor expense) go up SO DO the PRICES!”

Not neccessarily. The producer could choose to pay his workers more money and take less in profit, in order to keep from increasing his prices.

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
12:36 pm

Joe Mama – I don’t know, bailing hay in August wasn’t so bad, to me it was the first few times in May and June that were the worst. By August I was used to it again. Of course, since I was doing it for my dad and got the same allowance whether I bailed hay or cleaned the house, I was very happy when the neighbor decided he needed the hay and started paying my dad for the right to cut and bail it on our property. That was one of the best days of my life.

Another of my favorites was splitting wood until my arms and back were so tired it became dangerous to lift the ax for fear of hitting myself instead of the log.

AmVet

June 22nd, 2011
12:37 pm

Please ignore anything I post since I am currently being held in a metal facility.

Adam

June 22nd, 2011
12:37 pm

WOODSTOCK MIKE

“They” is anyone who thinks that illegals should be allowed to continue working in the USA without going through the correctED processes

FYT

Kamchak

June 22nd, 2011
12:38 pm

…however, that doesn’t mean they should continue to be paid without any taxation and utilize all the great things America has to offer without paying their fair share.

:roll:

I have worked in the construction biz for over thirty years, and this has been a non-issue up until recently.

Why haven’t you expressed your poutrage before?

Adam

June 22nd, 2011
12:38 pm

AmVet: Are you being forced to mine the metal or to mold it? :D

RR

June 22nd, 2011
12:39 pm

Jay, we already have “a pathway to legal status.” It starts with not breaking the law by entering the country illegally.

Kamchak

June 22nd, 2011
12:39 pm

Tick…tick…tick….

1811/1801 - 0311/0317

June 22nd, 2011
12:39 pm

WELL DUH !

SHOCK POLL: ONLY 3 in 10 WILL VOTE FOR OBAMA…
66% say US headed in ‘wrong direction’…
Egyptians prefer Osama to Obama — 21% to 12%…

josef

June 22nd, 2011
12:39 pm

Okay…
That d*mnable Alabama law says school workers have to report suspected “illegals.” The other day in the lounge one of the newer teachers asked, “how are WE supposed to identify them.” One of the old timers said, “it’s easy. They’re the ones who come to school on time in clean clothes, their homework done and who say yes ma’am and no ma’am and follow the rules to the T…under orders from home not to draw attention…”

Doggone/GA

June 22nd, 2011
12:40 pm

“AmVet: Are you being forced to mine the metal or to mold it”

Gotta be molding, you don’t mine metal!

Wonder...

June 22nd, 2011
12:40 pm

Attention AmVet,

Is Granny your mama?

AmVet

June 22nd, 2011
12:41 pm

Mike, just read your 12:34.

OK, just checking!

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
12:41 pm

Doggone – last I checked, you do. Or are gold, silver, copper, and other things of that nature not metals?

Bill Orvis White

June 22nd, 2011
12:41 pm

Liberal Jay just wants the probationers to fail — note the words “mixed results.” Some of the societal violators are doing well and others are failing. The criminals who are failing need to be goosed a little bit into working. After all, these violators probably haven’t held a real job in years due to the Euro-socialistic policies that even infected Georgia. With a little perserverance, all of these criminals could do cotton picking jobs. Why not? Socialist-Democrat fools would love to see the honorable Gov. Nathan Deal fail at something that carries so much common sense with the rightful idea.
God Bless,
Bill

Adam

June 22nd, 2011
12:42 pm

josef: One of the old timers said, “it’s easy. They’re the ones who come to school on time in clean clothes, their homework done and who say yes ma’am and no ma’am and follow the rules to the T…under orders from home not to draw attention…”

Jeez so we have to get rid of the good students because of this nonsense? Yeah, THAT makes sense…

Doggone/GA

June 22nd, 2011
12:42 pm

“Doggone – last I checked, you do. Or are gold, silver, copper, and other things of that nature not metals?”

They are, but you have to mine the ORE and EXTRACT the metal. The metal doesn’t come out of the mine ready to use.

Kamchak

June 22nd, 2011
12:42 pm

Doggone – last I checked, you do.

Actually it’s ore that is mined.

1811/1801 - 0311/0317

June 22nd, 2011
12:42 pm

HEADLINE: “Man Shot, Killed at U.S.-Mexico Border”

GOOD ! A rock is a weapon and can cause “serious bodily injury” or death which justifies firing one’s service weapon. That’s one illegal immigrant we won’t have to worry about anymore.

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Man-Shot-Killed-at-US-Mexico-Border-124347629.html?dr

i speak the truth US

June 22nd, 2011
12:43 pm

I feel sad for the children caught up in the middle.

My parents came here illegally almost 30 years ago. I grew up in this state and have done very well for myself. I am 25 years old, own a house, make very good $ and serviced my country.

If this law had passed 25-30 years ago, my life would have probably been different.

Adam

June 22nd, 2011
12:44 pm

Metal Institution. Mine ore, extract or mold metal. Technicality! What a way to start a debate eh?

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
12:44 pm

ir(Rational) — “Joe Mama – I don’t know, bailing hay in August wasn’t so bad, to me it was the first few times in May and June that were the worst.”

Fortunately, we were down here and Granddaddy was up in Ohio, so we were usually only there for the tail end of the June cutting and all of the August one. And I think he cut alfalfa in the fall after we were gone.

Doggone/GA

June 22nd, 2011
12:45 pm

Kamchak – I spent my childhood living on the ridge above one of the biggest steel mills in the world. It stretched, literally, for miles down the river. In it’s heyday it took in raw ore and one end, and shipped out finished steel at the other. My understanding is that it was one of the few steel operations that did that.

Get Real

June 22nd, 2011
12:45 pm

Fiirst off, most of these low lifes on probation don’t want to work. They had rather rob, steal or commit crimes and that’s why they are on probation. I’m sure it’s hard to pick vegetables with their pants down to their knees anyway!

They should pack up all the prisioners in the jails and have armed guards transport them and make them pick the crops. They money the farmer would normally pay should go to the Department of Corrections to build more jails to house, clothe and feed them, i.e. make them earn their keep!

Maybe they would think twice before ever committing a crime again and maybe if they knew the consequences for commiting the crime they would think twice before they committed it! There are already plenty of legal immigrants here already that could do these jobs but our elustrious government has already corrupted them by the free give-a-ways and they don’t actually have to work!

WOODSTOCK MIKE

June 22nd, 2011
12:45 pm

@Kamchak

Do you think it’s fair for illegals to reap the benefits of America without paying into the system?

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
12:45 pm

Okay fine, you win. I was wrong – ABOUT THE METAL. Don’t go taking that out of context. I admit no wrong to anything else.

AmVet

June 22nd, 2011
12:46 pm

Kam, looks like it’s children’s hour for some of the seniorile delinquents who escaped from Ms. Tucker’s.

And as I didn’t even read it, I missed that fourth grade spelling mistake! Thanks, Adam for allowing me the chance to go back and laugh at mystery meat’s stunning intellect some more.

LOL…

As for numbnuts “observation”, all I can say is that I’ve driven past the Colorado School of Mines a couple of times…

josef

June 22nd, 2011
12:46 pm

speak the truth…

Testify!

1811/1801 - 0311/0317

June 22nd, 2011
12:46 pm

America’s New Racists
by Walter E. Williams

Our Moral Dilemma

The late South African economist William Hutt, in his 1964 book, The Economics of the Colour Bar, said that one of the supreme tragedies of the human condition is that those who have been the victims of injustices and oppression “can often be observed to be inflicting not dissimilar injustices upon other races.”

Born in 1936, I’ve lived through some of our openly racist history, which has included racist insults, beatings and lynchings. Tuskegee Institute records show that between the years 1880 and 1951, 3,437 blacks and 1,293 whites were lynched. I recall my cousin’s and my being chased out of Fishtown and Grays Ferry, two predominantly Irish Philadelphia neighborhoods, in the 1940s, not stopping until we reached a predominantly black North or South Philly neighborhood.

Today all that has changed. Most racist assaults are committed by blacks. What’s worse is there’re blacks, still alive, who lived through the times of lynching, Jim Crow laws and open racism who remain silent in the face of it.

Last year, four black Skidmore College students yelled racial slurs while they beat up a white man because he was dining with a black man. Skidmore College’s first response was to offer counseling to one of the black students charged with the crime. In 2009, a black Columbia University professor assaulted a white woman during a heated argument about race relations. According to interviews and court records obtained and reported by Denver’s ABC affiliate (12/4/2009), black gangs roamed downtown Denver verbally venting their hatred for white victims before assaulting and robbing them during a four-month crime wave. Earlier this year, two black girls beat a white girl at a McDonald’s, and the victim suffered a seizure. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel ordered an emergency shutdown of the beaches in Chicago because mobs of blacks were terrorizing families. According to the NBC affiliate there (6/8/2011), a gang of black teens stormed a city bus, attacked white victims and ran off with their belongings.

Racist black attacks are not only against whites but also against Asians. In San Francisco, five blacks beat an 83-year-old Chinese man to death. They threw a 57-year-old woman off a train platform. Two black Oakland teenagers assaulted a 59-year-old Chinese man; the punching knocked him to the ground, killing him. At Philly’s South Philadelphia High School, Asian students report that black students routinely pelt them with food and beat, punch and kick them in school hallways and bathrooms as they hurl racial epithets such as “Hey, Chinese!” and “Yo, Dragon Ball!” The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund charged the School District of Philadelphia with “deliberate indifference” toward black victimization of Asian students.

In many of these brutal attacks, the news media make no mention of the race of the perpetrators. If it were white racist gangs randomly attacking blacks, the mainstream media would have no hesitation reporting the race of the perps. Editors for the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, and the Chicago Tribune admitted to deliberately censoring information about black crime for political reasons. Chicago Tribune Editor Gerould Kern recently said that the paper’s reason for censorship was to “guard against subjecting an entire group of people to suspicion.”

These racist attacks can, at least in part, be attributed to the black elite, who have a vested interest in racial paranoia. And that includes a president who has spent years aligned with people who have promoted racial grievance and polarization and appointed an attorney general who’s accused us of being “a nation of cowards” on matters of race and has refused to prosecute black thugs who gathered at a Philadelphia voting site in blatant violation of federal voter intimidation laws. Tragically, black youngsters – who are seething with resentments, refusing to accept educational and other opportunities unknown to blacks yesteryear – will turn out to be the larger victims in the long run.

Black silence in the face of black racism has to be one of the biggest betrayals of the civil rights struggle that included black and white Americans.

June 21, 2011

Walter E. Williams is the John M. Olin distinguished professor of economics at George Mason University, and a nationally syndicated columnist. To find out more about Walter E. Williams and read features by other Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page.

Uncle Jed

June 22nd, 2011
12:46 pm

Doggone – last I checked, you do.

Actually it’s ore that is mined.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Some gold comes out in a state that requires no smelting…them thar nuggets

Doggone/GA

June 22nd, 2011
12:46 pm

“Do you think it’s fair for illegals to reap the benefits of America without paying into the system?”

They don’t reap ALL the benefits, and they DO pay into a lot of the system.

1811/1801 - 0311/0317

June 22nd, 2011
12:47 pm

josef:

Serious Question:

In the O.T. there are a lot of rules and regulations set up for the priesthood, the Temple, sacrrifices, special feast days, etc., etc.

Do you personally believe these were of God or man made?

Uncle Jed

June 22nd, 2011
12:47 pm

For the record: there are some real gems in the mental ward

Doggone/GA

June 22nd, 2011
12:48 pm

“Some gold comes out in a state that requires no smelting…them thar nuggets”

In small amounts, sure…but even then, it’s not – strictly speaking – done by mining, as most people think of mining.

Kamchak

June 22nd, 2011
12:49 pm

Do you think it’s fair for illegals to reap the benefits of America without paying into the system?

No.

Do you think it’s fair, that 25 years after St. Ronnie of thee Ray-gun’s amnesty program exacerbated a growing problem it is only now that your Victoria’s Secret thong is atwist?

Uncle Jed

June 22nd, 2011
12:49 pm

Pearls of wisdom are found here daily

(ir)Rational

June 22nd, 2011
12:49 pm

Joe Mama – yeah, I wasn’t so lucky. My grandparents are 5 minutes from my parents, so I had two pastures that I got to cut several times a summer.

I have a friend, who I personally believe to be crazy, that currently teaches AG ED in South GA, that dreams of spending a summer before he goes to grad school driving a combine across the Mid-West working the harvest. Apparently, you can make good money doing this, but I still think he is crazy. But we need people like him doing the work, and I hope that he gets to do it one summer.

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
12:49 pm

Mr. White — “the honorable Gov. Nathan Deal”

I knew it. Bill Orvis White is a troll.

We’ve been had. :D

willie lynch

June 22nd, 2011
12:51 pm

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
12:33 pm

Some probationers could be sent back to jail if it was determined they had violated their probation in some way. Normally they would just pay a fine and costs associated with probation visits.

AmVet

June 22nd, 2011
12:52 pm

Some interesting (or not) tidbits:

On this date in 1808, Zebulon Pike summitted the now famous peak named for him. (As I just mentioned Colorado.)

And in 1979, this was the day that disco officially died, (Yeah!)

Uncle Jed

June 22nd, 2011
12:52 pm

Cucumbers; cotton; slavery; picking pot leaves; metal; mental; ore; smelting; and now thongs.

This is definitely the place to be if to be counted among the informed.
++++++++++++++++++++++
Lunch date has arrived. Later.

[...] Bookman: Probationers don’t cotton to farm life [...]

WOODSTOCK MIKE

June 22nd, 2011
12:53 pm

“They don’t reap ALL the benefits, and they DO pay into a lot of the system.”

Really?? Haven’t heard something like that before, heck, why should I continue to pay my taxes??

josef

June 22nd, 2011
12:54 pm

Scout
Speaking as a kohan and levite? :-)

Finn McCool

June 22nd, 2011
12:55 pm

Better Batteries Will Save the World
Too bad they’re impossible to make.

http://www.slate.com/id/2297125/

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
12:57 pm

Mike, seriously — how would you feel about a guest worker program where farmers could get the labor they wanted and workers had to pay taxes, but didn’t get unemployment benefits or the right to vote? Could you go for something like that?

How about if participation in the guest worker program offered you an accelerated path to citizenship? Would that be something you’d see as fair?

WOODSTOCK MIKE

June 22nd, 2011
1:00 pm

@Joe Mama

That sounds fair to me, these bozos in Washington can’t get their act together, seems like something could be worked out but it never is…

deegee

June 22nd, 2011
1:01 pm

Would any of you like to speculate on what you would be doing now if your great grandparents were told that they could come to the US, work for three years and then they would have to go back to Europe and solve their famine problem themselves?

Thulsa Doom

June 22nd, 2011
1:08 pm

Jay

June 22nd, 2011
9:07 am

Who said that they are all or even mostly African American, Carlos?

More importantly, what’s the relevance of it?

I mean, unless you are into categorizing and stereotyping people by race. If that’s your intent, I could see why race would be relevant. But again, we don’t know the racial breakdown of the probationers in question.- Jay

Jay,

If its only a handful of probationers then we wouldn’t know the race of them and as you point out does it really matter? But I wouldn’t be too hard on Carlos for stereotyping the probationers as being black. If probationers are largely representative of the prison population in general then its a good bet that the majority of these lazy arses are indeed black. That’s just common sense. But then again who really cares? A lazy arse is a lazy arse is a lazy arse white or black.

Kamchak

June 22nd, 2011
1:09 pm

Looks like MIKEY-POO is great at ignoring questions that he doesn’t want to answer.

Not that I expected any different….

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
1:10 pm

Mike, it also seems to me like there’s a solution in here somewhere.

I think the conservative objections to guest workers are as follows:
Y’all ain’t payin taxes
Y’all are suckin’ on taxpayer-paid benefits
Y’all broke the law to come here

I also think the liberal objections to the situation are as follows:
The workers didn’t create the problem; they just want to work
They do already pay sales and some other taxes
They ought to at least be treated fairly; don’t let employers take advantage of them

I don’t think there’s any liberal imperative to turn illegal immigrants into citizens (though I’m not opposed to helping them make that happen); I think that most lefties, like myself, just don’t want to see them persecuted for trying to work and improve their family’s situation.

My wife is Hispanic, and she says y’all conservatives are wasting a golden opportunity to attract Latinos into the GOP; most of them are religious, family-oriented and down-to-earth folks who could easily be persuaded to join up with y’all, if y’all would just stop pointing the finger and screaming at them.

1811/1801 - 0311/0317

June 22nd, 2011
1:10 pm

josef:

Sure ………. straight answer. Don’t hold back.

BADA BING

June 22nd, 2011
1:12 pm

michelle’s Farm Workout and Fashion Guide
South Ga Edition
Always work in sleeveless overalls, show off those toned, tanned, bare arms
When hoeing, reach and pull, reach and pull, good for firming the butt
Prisioners, lose the orange jumpsuits, it is not a good color for any complexion
A large, floppy, straw hat will give you that ‘South of the Border’ feeling
Picking lemons? then make lemonade! Hydration is important for tropical climes
A good sunscreen is important, be SPFabulous, you don’t want to look Hispanic, do you
A red bandana says a lot about you, wear it as a do-rag, a kerchef, or a dust mask. Assessorize!!

Normal

June 22nd, 2011
1:14 pm

ATTENTION OBAMA BASHERS!!!

Al Gore has joined your ranks!

Ain’t you jus’ tickled pink?
—————————–

Breaking from Newsmax.com

Gore Faults Obama on Global Warming

WASHINGTON — Former Vice President Al Gore is going where few environmentalists — and fellow Democrats — have gone before: criticizing President Barack Obama’s record on global warming.

In a 7,000-word essay for Rolling Stone magazine that will be published Friday, Gore says Obama has failed to stand up for “bold action” on global warming and has made little progress on the problem since the days of Republican President George W. Bush. Bush infuriated environmentalists for resisting mandatory controls on the pollution blamed for climate change, despite overwhelming scientific evidence that the burning of fossil fuels is responsible.

While Gore credits Obama’s political appointees with making hundreds of changes that have helped move the country “forward slightly” on the climate issue, and acknowledges Obama has been dealing with many other problems, he says the president “has simply not made the case for action.”

“President Obama has never presented to the American people the magnitude of the climate crisis,” Gore says. “He has not defended the science against the ongoing withering and dishonest attacks. Nor has he provided a presidential venue for the scientific community … to bring the reality of the science before the public.”

The comments mark a turnaround for the nation’s most prominent global warming advocate, whose work on the climate problem has earned him a Nobel Prize and was adapted into an Oscar-winning documentary.

Gore toasted Obama’s inauguration with a “green” ball. He helped the White House press the House to pass a global warming bill in 2009 that would have set the first-ever limits on the pollution blamed for global warming. It died in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Gore also advised Obama before the president participated in international climate negotiations in 2009. Obama’s last-minute appearance in Copenhagen helped salvage a nonbinding deal to reduce greenhouse gases.

In the essay, Gore calls the Copenhagen result a “rhetorical agreement” that provided cover for the administration’s inability to commit to enforceable targets for global warming pollution. Without legislation, Obama couldn’t follow through on his promises to cut emissions.

“During the final years of the Bush-Cheney administration, the rest of the world was waiting for a new president who would aggressively tackle the climate crisis, and when it became clear that there would be no real change from the Bush era, the agenda at Copenhagen changed from ‘How do we complete this historic breakthrough?’ to ‘How can we paper over this embarrassing disappointment?’ ” Gore writes, referring to the talks, where 193 nations met to draft a new global treaty to reduce greenhouse gases. The 1997 Kyoto Protocol, in which the U.S. never participated and Gore helped to broker, expires in 2012.

Gore declined an Associated Press request for an interview.

Bush pulled out of Kyoto and refused to control heat-trapping pollution even after the Supreme Court said the government had the authority to move forward forcefully on this front and federal scientists determined that increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases posed dangers to human health.

Obama, by contrast, has tightened fuel economy standards to reduce global warming pollution from automobiles, included billions of dollars for climate-friendly projects in the economic stimulus package and started controlling emissions under existing law.

As recently as April, at a Democratic fundraiser in San Francisco, Obama said he was “not finished when it comes to energy.”

Mentioning the climate deniers in Congress, Obama said, “Unless we are able to move forward in a serious way on clean energy, we’re putting our children and grandchildren at risk.”

Regardless of views such as Gore’s, environmental voters may see little choice in the 2012 election. Those in the Republican field so far either deny global warming is a man-made problem altogether or say actions to address it would harm the economy. For Obama, the biggest risk is that some environmental voters may not turn out.

In his essay, Gore notes his comments could weaken Obama at a time when he already is under attack from Republicans.

“Even writing an article like this one carries risks,” Gore says. “Opponents of the president will excerpt the criticism and strip it of context.”

Bowing to political resistance from Republicans and some in his own party, Obama abandoned an effort and a campaign pledge to enact legislation that would put the first-ever limit on greenhouse gases.

In November, after Republicans took control of the House, Obama said in a news conference there were other ways to tackle global warming that wouldn’t require new legislation.

“His election was accompanied by intense hope that many things in need of change would change,” Gore writes. “Some things have, but others have not. Climate policy, unfortunately, falls into the second category.”

© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.

Thulsa Doom

June 22nd, 2011
1:14 pm

josef@ 12:39 pm,

Just curious but is this also your experience that the Hispanic kids come to work in clean clothes, always do their homework, and are respectful of teachers?

1811/1801 - 0311/0317

June 22nd, 2011
1:16 pm

Thulsa:

Careful …………….. you’ll be called a racist.

josef

June 22nd, 2011
1:17 pm

Scout

Not to be flippant and try to answer your serious question in a more serious fashion. I am of the school of thought that got great-great-whatever grandpappy Machir his one-way ticket from Babylon to the wild woolies of the Charlemagne court. The recognition that the Levites and Kohanim are superfluous in the Diaspora, thus implies the “law” must evolve to deal with contemporary reality, laying the groundwork for the evolutionary interpretation of the tradition…

i speak the truth US

June 22nd, 2011
1:18 pm

I hate when some people on here say they would follow the steps to enter this country legally

Anyways most people come here illegally to help their family. Anyone in here would do the same.

Why wait years to come here legally when you can pay someone and be here in a couple of days? And start giving your family a better living?
Most Americans want RESULTS NOW and hate waiting and this follows the same principle.

anyways where is all the uproar of all the American companies that go overseas to hire?

willie lynch

June 22nd, 2011
1:18 pm

1811/1801 – 0311/0317

June 22nd, 2011
12:46 pm

I don’t know what it has to do with today’s topic but I’ll play.

It seems that the epidemic of Black crime which is extremely prevelant in the area of Black on Black might be the first concern of a Black man.

The fact that there are other groups caught up in the maddening ridiculousness of Black crime doesn’t suprise me at all. I find it sickening that a person can’t sit in their home without the door being kicked in or walk to their car without being accosted and most of the time we hear about these types of crimes it is young Black males who are the perpetrators.

There are many racists who don’t attack a person physically and do more lasting damage due to their ability to effect things to a greater degree and with much more subtltey. I would say the silence of the “Black intellegincia” (Walter Williams included) to speak to this is far more aggregious than anything else.

Black people must develope a sense of community among themselves again and then maybe we will show the world a better side of ourselves.

There’s no need to make excuses the Black community is broken.

Mr Right

June 22nd, 2011
1:19 pm

And why would Americans want to do hard work when they can feed a the gov. trough ?

Dave R.

June 22nd, 2011
1:20 pm

“Speaking as a kohan and levite?”

I didn’t know you were Irish! :D

And that’s COHAN, boyo!

WOODSTOCK MIKE

June 22nd, 2011
1:22 pm

@Kamchak

There is no reason to communicate with you, you are a lost cause… Sport… As you can see I have communicated with everyone that is reasonable unlike yourself.

josef

June 22nd, 2011
1:23 pm

BADA

you better be collecting and copywrighting these…! I want a first edition, autographed one!

Thulsa

That has been my in general with latino children and with “illegals” of any background…

Mr Right

June 22nd, 2011
1:24 pm

anyways where is all the uproar of all the American companies that go overseas to hire?

That might be better to take the jobs to the people that want to work than to give illegals jobs here and cause all kinds of problems.

josef

June 22nd, 2011
1:25 pm

DAVE

When somebody expressed surprize at the election of the first Jewish Lord Mayor of Dublin, he is supposed to have quipped, “Ay, ‘ave ye ne’er heerd of the Lepracohens?”

ray

June 22nd, 2011
1:27 pm

Thought all that whiny white trash was lined up to take these crap jobs when we got rid of them illegals?

Maybe the farmers could pay with meth?

WOODSTOCK MIKE

June 22nd, 2011
1:27 pm

@Joe Mama

Sorry I don’t follow, the GOP is not screaming at hispanics, that is simpy a false statement. Not wanting illegal aliens working in the country is not screaming at hispanics. This applies to all illegals. Just so happens most are hispanic. You seem to think that all hispanics are here illegally just to help their families, that is where you are greatly mistaken…

hola qué está pasando

June 22nd, 2011
1:28 pm

The guv’s social experiment? Useless Americans go toe to toe with industrious latinos. Americans lose. Ship the Americans south of the border.

Dream

June 22nd, 2011
1:29 pm

Yall said you wanted your jobs back!!!!!!!!!! In the words of the ever wise “Tag Team” WHOOP THERE IT IS!!!!!!!!!!!!! LMFAO

getalife

June 22nd, 2011
1:30 pm

Rohbarker just went off on a gop bill in the house.

Weakens patent laws and increases spending for corporate power.

Stand up fiscal cons.

Thulsa Doom

June 22nd, 2011
1:30 pm

1811/1801 – 0311/0317 ,

I call it like I see it and I don’t give a hoot what people think. Too many people afraid to talk about what is plainly obvious for fear of being called racist. I say to hell with that. And I think the black leadership in this country needs to start being held accountable for the high rate of criminality of young black men rather than blaming society. They have opportunities and civil rights protections that were unheard of to their grandparents that actually went through the Jim Crow era and actually suffered real discrimination.

Thomas Sowell has also written extensively about the incidences of black racial attacks- particularly on Asians. His explanation is that its pent up resentment and anger of the success of this other minority group.

Speaking of all this I was listening to Boortz on the radio while driving to appts this morning and he was talking about the woman who jumped on the car hood of 3 young black men who brazenly just walked in, grabbed a few 12 packs of beer, and just walked out of a Walmart today. No one was going to do anything about it, this middle aged white woman had had enough of this crap, and jumped on the car hood to stop them. They were laughing at her trying to stop them. They weren’t laughing when the cops nailed all 3 of them a few moments later. I watched the video clip of it on the news when I got home this afternoon. Too funny. Boortz called the 3 thugs “urban gentleman”.

Soothsayer

June 22nd, 2011
1:31 pm

Chinese Government Buying Up the United States

The Chinese government is using sovereign wealth funds and Chinese state-owned enterprises to buy up economic assets and huge tracts of land all over the United States. Many of our politicians hail all of this “foreign investment” as something that is “good for America”, while many others see something much more sinister going on here. In any event, this is a trend that is rapidly accelerating and that is causing great concern among patriotic Americans.

[Y]ou do things like offer massive tax breaks to Chinese state-owned companies and you actively encourage immigration from China.

The following is a quote from an article on the New American website and it explains how a visa program known as EB-5 would help facilitate Project 60….

Specifically, “The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service administers an immigrant investor visa program called EB-5. The program grants foreigners permanent U.S. residency in exchange for helping create U.S. jobs.” This prong will facilitate the immigration of Chinese nationals into the United States for the purpose of establishing a Chinese industrial beachhead in Idaho, under the guise of creating U.S. jobs.

In fact, the state of Idaho is actually touting the EB-5 program on their website that promotes Project 60 .

Yes, Chinese state-owned companies would probably hire a small number of Idaho citizens. But as I have written about previously, the idea would be for ” special economic zones ” to be set up inside the United States that would be very similar to the “special economic zones” inside China.

Friends, if this doesn’t scare you, then nothing will. Is there no limit to which our scumbag politicians will stoop?

The Pettifoggers' Pettifog

June 22nd, 2011
1:32 pm

Oh my…………..it seems that the “racial righties” have come out to play. Now we get to hear Ms. T. Doom’s endless rants about “black people” and how they’re ruining society for the white man. Then we also get to hear Mrs. Numbers rants on how GOD hates the black man.

Now here comes WeeWillieWinkie, (with the blog name of WILLIE LYNCH — no doubt about his/her attitudes), talking about the Black Community — which by far their richer inhabitants “give back to” in droves — more so than any other minority community — but since the truth doesn’t sit well with racial purists then that statement will be denigrated for being truthful because anything that uplifts the “black folks” of America is nothing more, to the racial purists, than propaganda of the highest deegree!

……………alas poor, poor racial purists I knew them well.

BADA BING

June 22nd, 2011
1:32 pm

Americans are in a Catch 22. We are too fat and out of shape to pick food, and we are out of shape and fat because we eat too much food.

getalife

June 22nd, 2011
1:36 pm

The bill spends 1.1 billion to add to the deficit.

Sooth,

China can get some good deals in Greece.

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
1:36 pm

Mike — “Sorry I don’t follow, the GOP is not screaming at hispanics, that is simpy a false statement.”

A lot of Hispanics perceive that y’all are, regardless of whether you mean to do it or not.

“Not wanting illegal aliens working in the country is not screaming at hispanics.”

Making the situation out to be the workers’ fault and targeting them via legislation *is.* I’ll believe y’all aren’t persecuting Hispanics when y’all go after lawbreaking businesses with the same vigor y’all have advocated going after the illegosos with.

“This applies to all illegals. Just so happens most are hispanic. You seem to think that all hispanics are here illegally”

I neither said nor thought anything of the sort. I’m pointing out that the legislation coming from your side of the aisle seems, more often than not, to be aimed at Hispanics. I can assure you, there are plenty of Caucasian immigrants walking around.

“just to help their families, that is where you are greatly mistaken”

Okay, Mike. I’ll bite, since you are so apparently plugged into the Hispanic mindset. Tell me why most illegosos are here.

josef

June 22nd, 2011
1:38 pm

Woodstock

I would not argue with that in principle, but all you have to do is scroll back over any thread and see the fast and loose usage of Hispanic and illegals and that contention falls apart in practice…

Dave R.

June 22nd, 2011
1:38 pm

Well, since we’ve had to put up with Pettifog’s “conservatives are too stupid to understand” rantings all morning, I guess a few “racist righties” are in order just for a little balance.

Thulsa Doom

June 22nd, 2011
1:41 pm

That has been my in general with latino children and with “illegals” of any background…- Josef

That does not surprise me. When I was in college I took several courses in Latin American studies due to my fondness for the region and my favorite professor was Dr. Ramirez. I was one of his favorite students and I even taught the man how to drive since he hadn’t driven a car in years. Anyway, he got very heated one day and made a very valid point in talking about the cultural differences in Hispanic students and Anglo students. He mentioned that Hispanic kids are generally more conservative- the girls are nowhere near as sexually promiscous as our Anglo girls and their kids don’t publicly talk gratuitously about sex, use explicit profanity, etc. in the same way that Anglo kids do. In those respects there manners and sense of decency was much better. From my own personal observations as an Anglo he was absolutely right.

josef

June 22nd, 2011
1:41 pm

JOE MAMA
…seems, more often than not, to be aimed at Hispanics. I can assure you, there are plenty of Caucasian immigrants walking around…”

Ten cuidado, mijo! That Caucasian-Hispanic thingie will get you hurt if an Argentine, Costa Rican, Uruguayan or Chilean hears ya! :-)

Tundra Dude

June 22nd, 2011
1:42 pm

from AP article:
Conditions in the field are bruising, and the probationers didn’t seem to know what to expect.

Unlike the Mexican and Guatemalan workers, the probationers didn’t wear gloves to protect their hands from the small but prickly thorns on the vines and sandpaper-rough leaves.

They didn’t know what to expect……oh, darn…..somebody “forgot” to clue them in. This experiment sounds like it was designed to fail, imo. If I wanted a better success rate, think I’da told them what kind of gloves work best, and maybe shoes, also.
Considering very few live within walking distance of the fields, I’d arrange transportation and/or temp housing, maybe a company store, etc.
This appears to be an insincere effort by the Growers.

Thulsa Doom

June 22nd, 2011
1:45 pm

Pettifog,

In regards to the level of black criminality in the country today the truth is the truth. If you can’t deal with it then that’s on you- not my problem.

Truth goes through three stages. First it is derided and ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. And then it is eventually accepted as a self- evident truth. You are in the first stage.

BADA BING

June 22nd, 2011
1:46 pm

michelle’s Fun and Fabulous Farm Fitness Facts
South GA Edition Redeux
After a hard day in the fields, slice a fresh cucumber and apply to your eyelids for 15 minutes. You will be refreshed and ready for that prision riot you have planned. Take no prisioners, tonite is your nite to shine!
Be sure to take some of that fresh, dewy produce back to jail with you. Is that a zuccini in your jumpsuit, or are you just happy to see Big Leon?
A poltice made of basil leaves and tomato seeds will soothe those tired feet before your pedicure
An insect repellent is a must. Don’t swat those flies and gnats. The armed guards don’t like any sudden movements. Manners, people!

Soothsayer

June 22nd, 2011
1:47 pm

The truth is that the Chinese can’t believe how stupid we are. 30 years ago, the Chinese economy was absolutely pathetic compared to the U.S. economy. But now they have almost surpassed us.

Why?

Well, we shipped them thousands of our factories, millions of our jobs and trillions of our dollars. It is insane what we are doing.

Now the Chinese are starting to colonize us.

Would we have ever allowed the Soviets to come in and buy up our companies and buy up huge tracts of land all over the country?

Yet somehow we have become convinced that it is okay for the communist Chinese to do it.

In fact, we even allow the Chinese to make many of the key electronic parts for our most advanced weapons systems.

It even turns out that some “counterfeit electronics” from suppliers in China have gotten into some of our military hardware.

We have become dangerously dependent on China.

In fact, if our relationship with China went south, there would be a lot of weapons systems that we would suddenly not be able to get parts for.

The people that originally decided that it was a good idea for China to produce electronics for our planes and weapons systems should resign immediately.

We are allowing the Chinese to dominate us in hundreds of different ways.

As China becomes wealthier and as the United States becomes poorer, all of this is only going to accelerate.

China is going to become even more dominant in the years ahead.

Should we all start learning to speak Chinese?

http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article28808.html

The Pettifoggers' Pettifog

June 22nd, 2011
1:47 pm

Well, since we’ve had to put up with Pettifog’s “conservatives are too stupid to understand” rantings all morning, I guess a few “racist righties” are in order just for a little balance.

Well it’s better than listening to your rants about your impotence and “lack of vigor” yet AGAIN…..(yawn)

PS: I heard EXTENZE works — perhaps you should try it.

@@

June 22nd, 2011
1:51 pm

No ethnic slur intended. Dumb is dumb.

OK, so you’ve got a handgun and you’ve barricaded yourself inside a hotel room with a female hostage. What do you do next?

If you’re 36-year-old Jason Valdez, the answer is “update Facebook.”

Valdez allegedly held a woman hostage inside a Western Colony Inn in Ogden, Utah, in a 16-hour overnight standoff with SWAT teams, and managed to update his Facebook page the entire time.

“I’m currently in a stand off … kinda ugly but ready for whatever, I love u guyz and if I don’t make it out of here alive that I’m in a better place and u were all great friends….” Valdez wrote on his wall at 10:23 p.m. on June 17.

His friends and family then responded to his post, some with messages of support such as “Becareful homie much love to u…,” as well as less-supportive notes. One guy responded, “dude you’re an idiot.”

“Becareful homie much love to u…,”=lousy friend who doesn’t care

“dude you’re an idiot.”=good friend who does care

http://www.pcworld.com/article/230861/facebook_user_allegedly_takes_hostage_updates_status.html

Dave R.

June 22nd, 2011
1:53 pm

You know, Pettifog, a put-down is so much more effective when it:

A. Is based on some form of reality, and
B. Makes some kind of sense.

I suggest an extended stay at BADA BING’S Joke Emporium before trying again, son.

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
1:54 pm

Josef — “Ten cuidado, mijo! That Caucasian-Hispanic thingie will get you hurt if an Argentine, Costa Rican, Uruguayan or Chilean hears ya!”

Way ahead of you, compadre. We’re seriously considering Uruguay as a retirement destination, and my wife will be darker than 75% of the folks down there. :D

keegor

June 22nd, 2011
1:55 pm

6 strong, if you paid them $10 an hour, the crop would rot before picked. there is something called the piece rate pay system. it rewards hard work. picking veggies is hardly a skill. there are no tough decisions these workers are making. all they do is bend and scoop. if they pick alot they get paid a lot. they get rewarded for high productivity. they can surpass $10 an hour. most citizens want to be paid more money for performing at the same level or doing the same job. that just doesnt make sense at all. at my company, only the folks who generate revenue, cut costs, or find better ways to do things increase their salary.

Dave R.

June 22nd, 2011
1:55 pm

Well, @@, there’s a reason why they’re criminals and not rocket scientists! :D

But that boy is just plain dumb!

Tundra Dude

June 22nd, 2011
1:55 pm

Mr Right @1:19
And why would Americans want to do hard work when they can feed a the gov. trough ?

You’re right, Mr. Right. The biggest trough is the subsidies. In Manhattan, there’s a slew of
millionaire “farmers”, collecting Millions for not farming.

The Making of Manhattan’s Elite Welfare Farmers
http://tinyurl.com/3np4byv

The Pettifoggers' Pettifog

June 22nd, 2011
1:58 pm

Pettifog, In regards to the level of black criminality in the country today the truth is the truth. If you can’t deal with it then that’s on you- not my problem.

Mrs. Doom you are soooo interested in the truth aren’t you? If so, then why do you consistently lie about yourself on these blogs? Since i’ve been reading them you’ve been (not necessarily in the same order):

A pilot.
A teacher.
A Woman of Business.
A Learned Professor.
A Half-Wit (my personal favorite).
A Dim-Wit (my second favorite).
And a psuedo David Duke (or was that Daisy Dukes?)

Anywhooo, if truth will set you free, when will we read the truth of your miserably lonely existence? You use subterfuge to distract yourself from your abysmal, downward and backward life. You only find joy in using your “supposed” superior intellect to belittle others on this blog and you just LOVE to find fault with any and every black person you’ve ever met.

I’m wondering Mrs. Doom – is your life so dank and dark that the only joy you have is found on a blog? No. Don’t answer that. The “truth” may be too much for you right now.

Just close your eyes, click the heels on your ruby red slippers, and say over and over again, “There’s no one like Reagan…….There’s no one like Reagan”. Find your happy place.

BADA BING

June 22nd, 2011
2:00 pm

Joe Mama….you are right. When I visit Rio, I am darker than some of the locals (I am Caucasian). In Venezuela and Argentina, the girls are blonde, redheaded, and brunette, in all skin tones. If you think all Hispanics look like Mexicans, you are mistaken.

The Pettifoggers' Pettifog

June 22nd, 2011
2:01 pm

Dave R – don’t get mad at ME because you can’t satisfy your dog Fido anymore.

pj

June 22nd, 2011
2:03 pm

dorae, I don’t think farmers HAVE a comfort zone.

Finn McCool

June 22nd, 2011
2:03 pm

Well, well, well. Sarah quits again.

Now I know why the Conservatives love her…

Fletch

June 22nd, 2011
2:04 pm

Chris – “Fletch…As soon as you agree to pay $4 per tomato and $6 per cucumber, we’ll get right on paying sharecroppers higher wages. You DO realize don’t you when the Cost of Doing Business (labor expense) go up SO DO the PRICES!”

Ummm… Never said that. Sorry all, I was out doing a job that no Americans will do. i.e. Helping one of our guys dig a drainage ditch.

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
2:05 pm

Bada — “If you think all Hispanics look like Mexicans, you are mistaken.”

My Hispanic and born-in-the-USA wife frequently gets the security hassle at the airport, but my co-worker’s blonde, blue-eyed and British wife gets nary a second look.

Just ’cause they’re white don’t mean they’re from here, and just ’cause they’re not white don’t mean they’re from somewhere else.

Dave R.

June 22nd, 2011
2:06 pm

“Dave R – don’t get mad at ME because you can’t satisfy your dog Fido anymore.”

Once again, Pettifog, see the above post at 1:53.

Kamchak

June 22nd, 2011
2:07 pm

There is no reason to communicate with you, you are a lost cause…

Okay, I can accept that, but I did answer your question, sport.

josef

June 22nd, 2011
2:07 pm

BADA

If you think all Mexicans look like Mexicans, you’re mistaken!

A quick story,,,we had a family of kids once who, well, let’s just charitably say, weren’t the brightest bunch. One of our teachers, a Russian, was asking me about them and how to “break through.” I told her that the family was recently settled down migrants and that the home was illiterate. She was aghast, “but..but..they’re…” I laughed, “so white?” She kinda laughed a bit self-consciously, “well, yes.” They were. They were as blonde and blue-eyed as any Scandahoovian…but she, like the rest of us, was just not used to that pigmentation in that socio-economic class…

Thulsa Doom

June 22nd, 2011
2:10 pm

Pettifog,

And you ma’am would be a coward. So cowardly that if you have been posting on here a long time then you would have a handle we would know you by. Keep hiding though ma’am.

So I’ve blogged on here as a teacher, a businesswoman, a pilot, and a learned professor? Prevaricating again ma’am? Why yes! You certainly are. Several people on here pretty much know my job so the fact that you are lying is an easy one for all to see. Next you’ll say that I claimed to be an astronaut. Too funny.

My only joy is a blog? So says the blogger who has also blogged on here for quite a long time. Hypocrisy much?

Reagan envy too? 20 million new jobs. Yep! But at least its not Bush derangement syndrome that plagues your little mind.

BADA BING

June 22nd, 2011
2:12 pm

jiosef…. I was ‘typed’ too in Peru. My Peruvian girlfriend told me that a common entertainment was to watch Gringos dance at local clubs. You know, the white man’s disease.. When I met her family, and took them out dining and dancing, they were astonished to see me dancing (I go way back with dancing). I got the laugh when I saw their faces.

Intown

June 22nd, 2011
2:14 pm

Stupid is as stupid does. Thanks for this column today Jay. Keep skewering those nativists who would rather wreck our economy by attacking those who fuel its engine.

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
2:14 pm

Sarah Palin’s bus tour = Iquitarod

Fletch

June 22nd, 2011
2:15 pm

Intown – “Keep skewering those nativists who would rather wreck our economy by attacking those who fuel its engine.”

I guess it all depends on the engine.

The Pettifoggers' Pettifog

June 22nd, 2011
2:15 pm

oh Dave you’re so bitter. Please try the new and improved Extenze, it even comes in a drink now. Perhaps a little action can improve your mood.

Remember, Cheaper Price. Bigger B@lls.

@@

June 22nd, 2011
2:16 pm

Just close your eyes, click the heels on your ruby red slippers

I know who that ^^^ one is.

Dave R.:

Some people are addicted to drama…especially females.

I’ve got friends who will watch another friend make the same mistake over and over. They love the drama of offering their shoulder and advice. Me?

Not so much. Not only do I tell them they’re an idiot, I tell them not to send me an invitation to their next pity party.

BADA BING

June 22nd, 2011
2:17 pm

Joe Mama, married to a Latina? Good job, they are the prettiest women in the world.

josef

June 22nd, 2011
2:19 pm

BADA
That looks-like thingie…I’ve got a buddy from Costa Rica who’s got the classic “New York Jew” looks. He still sails right on through immigration along the Mexican border, no questions asked. Never fails though when he’s going through customs in Central America (outside Costa Rica) he gets pulled in for the “gringo tax!”

Dave R.

June 22nd, 2011
2:19 pm

Thulsa, I’ve figured it out. Pettifog is crazy. There is NO other explanation for the responses to me. Or anyone else for that matter. The logic is not there. The responses are not on point. And the put-downs make no sense whatsoever.

Nutty as a fruitcake.

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
2:19 pm

Bada — “Joe Mama, married to a Latina? Good job, they are the prettiest women in the world.”

You should get you one if you’re not already spoken for.

My best friend lives in Phoenix and wants one for himself; I’ve told him many times that if he can’t catch one there, he must not be trying very hard.

The Pettifoggers' Pettifog

June 22nd, 2011
2:20 pm

Mrs. Doom: My only joy is a blog?

Well that and your cats. Maybe some lube. Probably a couple of bags of cheetoes that your mom let’s you eat after you clean the bathrooms. Oh, wait! I forgot about your “Republican Pledge Pin”. Can’t leave that out.

getalife

June 22nd, 2011
2:21 pm

“Dems Accuse GOP Of Sabotaging Economy For Political Gain” AOL

Ya think?

Dave R.

June 22nd, 2011
2:22 pm

@@, as you can probably guess, I don’t suffer fools gladly either. Even in my elected official days, I just told the people what I was going to do without any sugar coating. Probably why I only served one term; voters don’t REALLY want their elected officials to tell them the truth.

1811/1801 - 0311/0317

June 22nd, 2011
2:24 pm

josef:

A man of your letters, I can’t believe you would dodge my question like that.

Either it was of God or of man. One of the two.

Why would you fail to answer that?

The Pettifoggers' Pettifog

June 22nd, 2011
2:24 pm

Dave R — at least I can still feel the “fire” in my loins when that “special time” is right! It must be awful to be so wilted and unassuming.

@@

June 22nd, 2011
2:25 pm

You should get you one if you’re not already spoken for.

My best friend lives in Phoenix and wants one for himself; I’ve told him many times that if he can’t catch one there, he must not be trying very hard.

Get you ONE!!??!! My best friend wants ONE for himself!!??!!

The Pettifoggers' Pettifog

June 22nd, 2011
2:27 pm

voters don’t REALLY want their elected officials to tell them the truth.

They like the truth, they just didn’t like YOU. I had to tell you since no one else would. Sorry.

BADA BING

June 22nd, 2011
2:28 pm

Joe Maa, had a Peruvian girlfriend for 5 years before we broke up. I find the S American women are moral and family oriented. Hard workers and love the American dream. I am treated well in Peru, did not feel welcome in Venezeula, but have no trouble overall.

getalife

June 22nd, 2011
2:29 pm

“Even in my elected official days, I just told the people what I was going to do without any sugar coating. Probably why I only served one term; voters don’t REALLY want their elected officials to tell them the truth.”

Oh, the arrogance.

Dave R.

June 22nd, 2011
2:32 pm

OK, just for a bit of balance for the libs out here who vilify Sarah Palin on a regular basis, here’s a bit of background on the whole alleged “quitting the bus tour” thing:

“While the Alaska governor hadn’t publicly announced additional stops beyond her East Coast jaunt earlier this month, Palin aides had hinted she’d take her bus tour to key primary states such as Iowa and South Carolina.”

Now again, I’m not a big Palin fan (even if she’d be better than the current disaster we have in the White House – that bar isn’t very high), but can anyone honestly make the case that a bus tour that had no announced stops following the one’s she already made has been “quit”?

Really? You’re going to hang your hats on THAT? PDS is in full force with some of you losers.

josef

June 22nd, 2011
2:33 pm

SCOUT

I wasn’t dodging. I told you as clearly as I could which tradition I fall into. You asked specifically in relation to the laws pertinent to the kohanim and levites. The interpretation is that the law is an evolutionary concept, relative to the conditions of the time and place. Now, if you’re asking me my own “beliefs” in relation to the Torah, that is something else. Do I “believe” that these come directly from G-d? No, I do not. I accept the tradition that they were “given” to Moses and can even go so far as to accept that they were “divinely inspired,” but as we have them and as they are passed down to us, they are, again my belief, the work of man…

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
2:33 pm

“Even in my elected official days, I just told the people what I was going to do without any sugar coating.”

So, you told them the days you were going to euthanize the puppies? Sorry, couldn’t resist. :)

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
2:34 pm

Seriously Dave R., you shouldn’t talk about any kind of Derangement Syndrome here.

Logical Dude

June 22nd, 2011
2:34 pm

@@ says: Get you ONE!!??!! My best friend wants ONE for himself!!??!!

Are you flabbergasted by the use of the word “ONE” instead of “hispanic woman”?

Or that they would just want “ONE”? ;)

Dave R.

June 22nd, 2011
2:35 pm

Ahhhh. I see the escapees from the Yerkes Primate Center have hooked up this afternoon.

Thulsa Doom

June 22nd, 2011
2:35 pm

Pettifog,

Good grief. If you’re going to insult me at least be funny or at least make some sense. Please refer to Dave’s post at 1:53 pm. Kinda weird that you keep mentioning extenze, lube, etc. Sounds like ya got some sexual issues to work out and hence all the lube reference. Hope ya get some help with that.

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
2:36 pm

Dave R.,

It seems you have some kind of YPC Derangement Syndrome. :)

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
2:37 pm

Dave — “OK, just for a bit of balance for the libs out here who vilify Sarah Palin on a regular basis, here’s a bit of background on the whole alleged “quitting the bus tour” thing:

Why do you need conservative “balance?” I found out about it on Free Republic. :D

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2738138/posts

“Really? You’re going to hang your hats on THAT? PDS is in full force with some of you losers.”

I will be sure to tell the folks over at Free Republic how you feel about them. Good luck getting elected again, Dave-O. (pointing, laughing) :D

Logical Dude

June 22nd, 2011
2:37 pm

Dave R: can anyone honestly make the case that a bus tour that had no announced stops following the one’s she already made has been “quit”?

Well, I was trying to figure out what Palin was quitting when someone said she quit again. If she’s not really DOING anything as an elected official, or as a salaried person, She CAN’T quit! “Quit” just isn’t the right word.

But I guess it’s fun for some to paint her with the brush. . . I don’t see the need.

Dave R.

June 22nd, 2011
2:38 pm

Bosch, when I don’t like what someone is doing, I state the FACTS behind my dislike, and do so on substantive issues I have with that person or body. That is not derangement by any stretch of the imagination.

But feel free to make false conclusions on your own if you disagree.

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
2:40 pm

Oh no Dave R., I’m down with that, but Yerkes? What have those monkeys ever done to you?

@@

June 22nd, 2011
2:41 pm

Logical Dude:

(ISH)

It was way to close to the “Come get you SOME” I so often hear.

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
2:41 pm

Logical Dude — “Or that they would just want “ONE”?”

She’d be even more upset if I had said “some.”

Adam

June 22nd, 2011
2:42 pm

Goodness. The GOP blocks jobs bills and now they block a TAX CUT that would give employERS a break in taxes. Not that I think it will particularly encourage hiring like some say, but it’s pretty odd to block a tax cut. Could it be because Obama is for this particular tax cut?

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
2:42 pm

Oh damn. Joe Mama and @@ are on some kind of magical mystery zone together.

1811/1801 - 0311/0317

June 22nd, 2011
2:43 pm

josef:

“Divinely inspired” and the “work of man” …………. I love it. Classic liberaleze ……………… :o

Finn McCool

June 22nd, 2011
2:44 pm

Speaking of Afghanistan and Iraq, boy, that strategy of the terrorists to get us to bankrupt ourselves really paid off. Frickin’ genius’

Ever seen a cat or dog chase its tail?

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
2:44 pm

Adam,

“Not that I think it will particularly encourage hiring like some say, but it’s pretty odd to block a tax cut.”

Don’t know what you are talking about with the tax cut, but someone yesterday (I think ) summed it up pretty nicely I thought, it doesn’t matter one bit if there are tax cuts, what gets people hired and business going again is people walking in the door and buying your product — in other words, DEMAND!!

Logical Dude

June 22nd, 2011
2:44 pm

@@ It was way to close to the “Come get you SOME” I so often hear

Ah, thank you for the clarification. I am unfamiliar with “Come get you SOME’ as a common phrase. I guess I’ve heard it way back a long time ago once or twice, probably in a movie or something.

josef

June 22nd, 2011
2:44 pm

BOSCH
Good! I wasn’t just seeing things….are we doing the time warp again?

Dave R.

June 22nd, 2011
2:45 pm

Joe Mama, I’m not going to spend all afternoon schooling you on the English language again, as that would be a waste of my time.

The “balance” is provided, not from the source (which, btw, may have been posted on Free Republic, but was sourced from Real Clear Politics), but an explanation behind the mistaken accusation of “quitting”.

Nor were the people on Free Republic vilifying her for “quitting” as the losers on here did.

You’re just another lib stalker to add to the many on here who creepily do so.

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
2:45 pm

Dave — “Bosch, when I don’t like what someone is doing, I state the FACTS behind my dislike, and do so on substantive issues I have with that person or body.”

Don’t even go there, pal. There’s plenty of your rantings reproduced all over the web. It doesn’t look like you were being very substantive when you were shrieking about monkeys or when you were calling people morons.

josef

June 22nd, 2011
2:48 pm

SCOUT

Yep. As classically liberal as you can get in the Western Tradition…all the way back to the first interpretations and decisions coming from the codification of the Babylonian Talmud…

Dave R.

June 22nd, 2011
2:49 pm

Bosch, I don’t know why the Yerkes Primate Center is such a focal point for me. I think it may go back to a traffic report that Capt. Herb was doing at the end of a legislative session here in Georgia, and he said something like, “When the legislature lets out later today, it’ll look like an escape from the Yerkes Primate Center”, or something to that effect.

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
2:49 pm

Dave — “Joe Mama, I’m not going to spend all afternoon schooling you on the English language again, as that would be a waste of my time.”

It certainly would be a waste of your time. I’m not going to explain the specifics of why to you, but suffice it to say that *you* simply have nothing to teach *me.*

“The “balance” is blah blah blah (snipped)”

(lifts headset) Did you say something, Dave? :D

“Nor were blah blah blah (snipped)”

(waves insect away from face)

“You’re just another lib stalker to add to the many on here who creepily do so.”

Why, Dave! How SUBSTANTIVE of you! (pointing, laughing) :D

Paulo977

June 22nd, 2011
2:50 pm

i speak the
truth US

“anyways where is all the uproar of all the American companies that go overseas to hire?”

……followed by, Did all Americans who went abroad during the years have legal entries?

TnGelding

June 22nd, 2011
2:51 pm

The rich get riicher. I’m afraid we’ve become spoiled by modern living. We’e failed in passing on our work ethic to our children and grandchildren. Maybe Natahn and his office personnel could use some good, hard labor?

Dave R.

June 22nd, 2011
2:51 pm

Joe Mama, understand one thing – there is no way I would ever consider you a “pal”.

Bosch

June 22nd, 2011
2:52 pm

Dave R.,

I knew a couple of research folks there back in a former life, many moons ago. I’ve always like the word “Yerkes” for some reason, it would make a good high scoring Scrabble word. OR maybe not, it just looks like it would, weird.

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
2:52 pm

Dave, what you think really doesn’t matter to me.

Now stop stalking me, please. :D

Tundra Dude

June 22nd, 2011
2:53 pm

Chris – “Fletch…As soon as you agree to pay $4 per tomato and $6 per cucumber, we’ll get right on paying sharecroppers higher wages. You DO realize don’t you when the Cost of Doing Business (labor expense) go up SO DO the PRICES!”

Chris: Pray tell, from whenceforth cometh these figures…???
An average-sized cuke weighs about 8 oz. The picker (in NC, a couple yrs ago) gets about 3 cents. The retail price is about 50 cents each.

The pickers in So. Florida fought for years to get up to 77 cents per 32# bucket.

Penny Foolish

By ERIC SCHLOSSER New York Times November 29, 2007

For 10 to 12 hours a day, they pick tomatoes by hand, earning a piece-rate of about 45 cents for every 32-pound bucket. During a typical day each migrant picks, carries and unloads two tons of tomatoes.
(snipped)
Last April, McDonald’s agreed to a similar arrangement, increasing the wages of its tomato pickers to about 77 cents per bucket

Finn McCool

June 22nd, 2011
2:54 pm

what gets people hired and business going again is people walking in the door and buying your product — in other words, DEMAND!!

And giving a tax cut to a wealthy person is more likely to wind up on Wall Street than purchasing any products. I mean, if you have a family of 4, you can’t eat more than 4 steaks a night, right?

Oh, the middle class people among us thought they might benefit from said tax cut? Ok, here’s yer $2.00, run along a play.

josef

June 22nd, 2011
2:54 pm

BOSCH

Nope. No Scrabble. A proper noun. Take it off and forfeit your turn…

On the other hand, I was able to open one night with “equinox”!

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
2:54 pm

Tundra Dude, is that from the study you mentioned a few days ago? If you do manage to lay your hands on it, I would really be interested in reading it in detail.

1811/1801 - 0311/0317

June 22nd, 2011
2:55 pm

josef:

“Yep. As classically liberal as you can get in the Western Tradition”

Yep ………… translation:

If I don’t like what it says ……………. it’s man made.

If I like what it says ……………………. it’s divinely inspired.

WHAT A DEAL !

1811/1801 - 0311/0317

June 22nd, 2011
2:56 pm

Headline: “Gore: Obama has failed on global warming”

Well, there you go. It there anyone out there who is not dissing Obama ?

Thulsa Doom

June 22nd, 2011
2:56 pm

Dave R.,

You stealing my fan club members? Get your own!

Dave R.

June 22nd, 2011
2:57 pm

Scout, I wouldn’t go bashing josef for dodging questions from you, as you pretty much dodged everything I posted to you this morning on the previous blog.

Just sayin’!

Dave R.

June 22nd, 2011
2:59 pm

I give them all to you, Thulsa! :D

Free and clear!

Zedd

June 22nd, 2011
3:00 pm

How many more sob stories are the AJC and local news media going to come up with to try and and change Georgian’s minds on HB-87? How much more must we endure? This what the majority of Georgians demanded and illegal is illegal.

Tundra Dude

June 22nd, 2011
3:00 pm

Joe Mama@2:14

Sarah Palin’s bus tour = Iquitarod

LOL!! Good Wun!

Not to worry, she’ll land on her feet, somewhere.
With her 8th-grade writing skills, she can always get hired at her alma mater, what was it…(?)
Idaho School of Trucking…??

1811/1801 - 0311/0317

June 22nd, 2011
3:01 pm

Does anyone know if there is a contest yet to design the Iraq/Afghnaistan Wall for the D.C. mall?

Maybe the Commander in Chiffon will announce it tonight ?

josef

June 22nd, 2011
3:01 pm

SCOUT
Torah…man made, divinely inspired
Talmud…man made, not so divinely inspired

we can take this up later if you like…right now got an errand to take care of….

Dave R.

June 22nd, 2011
3:03 pm

Ahhhh. More fun with Congressional miscreants. And what a surprise, it’s another Democrat!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20110622/us_ac/8681891_alcee_hastings_sexual_harassment_charge_another_distraction_for_congress

“If the House Democrats thought they were finally out of the woods with the resignation of Anthony Weiner, it appears they have thought wrong. The latest congressman to be involved in a sex scandal is Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla.”

I guess when you’re impeached for bribery as a judge and still get elected to the House for 18 years, you pretty much think you’re above the law.

Yoo-Hoo!

June 22nd, 2011
3:05 pm

Where are the probationers who tire of picking cucumbers? Or the migrants who may or may not be illegal? Or even Gov. Deal’s idea of law and order on the farm? This blog has disintegrated into anonymous and bored name-calling.

RedEye

June 22nd, 2011
3:08 pm

Shibdaddy

June 22nd, 2011
3:12 pm

“Don’t cotton to farm life”? Very racsist!!!!!! That;s what you wants to see ain’t it. Us pickinng cotton. Limosine liebrals are evil!

Steve

June 22nd, 2011
3:14 pm

Hmmm, a new employee working in a job they have never done before has a hard time adjusting on the first day. How odd.
I worked with the maintenance crew on a golf course during my summer breaks from school. The first week was always the worst. After that, my body acclimated to the conditions. It was still oppressively hot outside, but my body was able to adapt to it.

Kamchak

June 22nd, 2011
3:15 pm

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
2:52 pm

Dave, what you think really doesn’t matter to me.

Now stop stalking me, please.

As I recall, on more than one occasion he threatened promised to never address you again.

WOODSTOCK MIKE

June 22nd, 2011
3:17 pm

**NEWS FLASH**

Obama is announcing that 5,000-10,000 US troops are coming home by 2012 from the war in Afghanistan. Now, all we have is another 100K troops to go…

That’s what I call “bringing them home”!!!

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thulsa Doom

June 22nd, 2011
3:18 pm

Hastings actually came to Congress with an ethical cloud hanging over him, having been removed from the bench for conspiring to take a bribe.

What the hell is it with DemoncRAT voters that they continually elect crooks? Seriously? Guys like Kwame Coleman, Marion Barry, Alcee Hastings, Charley Rangel. Good grief. They know these guys are dirty and they just keep re-electing them. Its bewildering.

Dave R.

June 22nd, 2011
3:19 pm

And ANOTHER stalker adds to the mix. This one is even more useless than the orhers!

Kamchak

June 22nd, 2011
3:19 pm

**NEWS FLASH**

Kinda late to the party with that one, Jay’s already started a thread.

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
3:20 pm

RedEye — “Only 3 in 10 will vote for Obama in next election.”

Do you people even read the stuff you post? From the same article:

“In the poll, 49 percent of respondents said they’re worried about Republicans gaining control of the White House and Congress and following through on pledges to slash funding for benefit programs like Medicare and Medicaid, outnumbering the 40 percent who said they are concerned about another term for Obama and a continuation of current spending policies. Among independents, 47 percent said they are worried about a Republican takeover compared with 37 percent who are concerned about maintaining the status quo.”

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
3:24 pm

Kamchak — “As I recall, on more than one occasion he threatened promised to never address you again.”

Three times, I think. And *he* posted at *me* initially this afternoon, yet he’s accusing me of stalking him.

TruthBe

June 22nd, 2011
3:25 pm

That’s because the probationers are low life LAZY good for nothing people. Isn’t that right Jay. One reason why they are “probationers” is because they are so sorry and lazy that they don’t want to work. They just want us the Middle Class to give them everything. That way they don’t have to work and can lay around and get high and vote for scum like Obama. Granny your remarks about people like Rommey and Newt having no jobs and should work on these farms is stupid. Both men are millionaries . Maybe you Granny should think about working at these farms because after all your family has history and experience doing this kind of work. Right!

WOODSTOCK MIKE

June 22nd, 2011
3:25 pm

@Kamchak

heading there now….

1811/1801 - 0311/0317

June 22nd, 2011
3:25 pm

Dave R:1811/1801 – 0311/0317
June 22nd, 2011
9:40 am

FROM LAST NIGHT:

Dave R:

You are entitled to your opinion. “I” respect that.

That said, I saw good Marines die just so an high ranking officers could punch their “ticket” for a promotion. That’s the real world. Bad policy was wrong then and it’s wrong now.

There are Sgt. Majors, there are officers and then there is the Corps.

My allegience will always be to the Corps. If you can’t understand the difference I can’t help you.

Kind of like my allegience is to the Constitution ………. not the president or anyone else.

See my points to Jay below if you wish.

Jay
June 21st, 2011
10:24 pm

“Scout, he’s [Sgt. Major of the Mairne Corps] not doing a disservice to the Corps. He is ordering his Marines to live by the laws of the United States of America. If you have a problem with that, well … you have a problem.”

Jay:

First of all, DADT is still the law of the land so I assume you are in full support of obeying the law as is right now. Correct?

If I am not mistaken, a gay service person was discharged last week.

Second, when the law changes it is to be obeyed.

Third, one can choose to not join the Corps because of it or leave as soon as they can …………… or stay. It’s up to them.

Fourth, when the Sgt. Major says, “get over it” he has CROSSED THE LINE.

Roe vs. Wade is the law of the land but telling me to “get over it” (or not try to “change it back”) is WRONG and that is where the Sgt. Major is WRONG and where he overstepped his authority !

BTW:

I’m betting the Sgt. Major thinks USMC bootcamp should continue to be separated by sex and that women should not be in the combat arms.

Now if that’s true …………. I am sure you AGREE with his position since he is so omniscient.

P.S.

Since crossing the U.S. border without proper authority is against the law, I also assume that you believe illegal immigrants should obey our laws. Correct ?

Or do you like to pick and choose which laws are obeyed based on your political viewpoint?

Thulsa Doom

June 22nd, 2011
3:27 pm

Truthbe nailed it.

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
3:31 pm

Blanket assertions and claims are foolishly made, and only agreed with by fools.

TruthBe

June 22nd, 2011
3:35 pm

Thulsa Doom, Thank you.

Hillbilly D

June 22nd, 2011
3:35 pm

I’m late to the party but I have a few observations. Most everything in life is about money and this is no different. Mr. Minor is a large farmer and he has an interest in protecting his cheap source of labor. I’d be curious to hear what some small farmers have to say on the subject. I’d be interested to know if any of these pickers, Latino or otherwise, have to pay a share to the crew boss for getting hired, do they have to pay any kind of housing, do they stay on the farm, do they have to pay any sort of grocery fee?

There is sort of an apples and oranges comparison between small farmers and large farmers. It’s like comparing Sam Drucker’s store to Walmart or the corner cafe to McDonalds.

My guess is Mr Minor is very happy with the status quo as far as labor costs go.

Brosephus

June 22nd, 2011
3:36 pm

And I think the black leadership in this country needs to start being held accountable for the high rate of criminality of young black men rather than blaming society. They have opportunities and civil rights protections that were unheard of to their grandparents that actually went through the Jim Crow era and actually suffered real discrimination.

Complete BULLSH*T!!! And I mean it in the most sincere manner.

I know you’re being honest with your opinion and all, but there is no such monster as “Black leadership.” Even if there was such a thing, how can they be held responsible for the actions of others? I’m always hearing that Whites that are alive today are not responsible for their ancestors who owned slaves, but you’re gonna hold somebody accountable for another dumbass person’s criminal behavior? Gimme a break dude!! :roll:

If you really wanna know the truth, the whole Civil Rights and equality movement was a dismal failure. The Civil Rights Movement shifted racism from being open, and only pushed it behind closed doors. Blacks have been resentful of Whites for as long as Whites have tried to hold power over them. When you want to talk about economic integration, that was also a dismal failure. Whites allowed Blacks to frequent their businesses once discrimination was outlawed, but in return, Black businesses were hurt because Whites still refused to do business or frequent Black owned businesses.

Maybe if you actually sat down and studied what really went on in the communities and not just the textbook stuff, you’d understand why there’s so much resentment in the “hood”. I’m not saying that it’s right, because after a while, I think the past needs to be the past. However, some people have a harder time forgiving than others do.

TruthBe

June 22nd, 2011
3:37 pm

Your right Obama is always making “blanket Assertions”. Isn’t that true Joe Mama.

Joe Mama

June 22nd, 2011
3:41 pm

TruthBe — “Your right Obama is always making “blanket Assertions”. Isn’t that true Joe Mama.”

Well, *you* certainly were.

TruthBe

June 22nd, 2011
3:49 pm

Brosephus, Sounds like you haven’t forgave the past. Dude I believe that some of your statement is the truth and we need to talk and debate somemore. If you can put away your “Black Chip on your Shoulder”. I would appreciate discussing this matter more with you all. The Black leadership does have some responsible with problems in the Black Communities.

Adam

June 22nd, 2011
3:51 pm

Who is “the Black leadership” TruthBe?

Brosephus

June 22nd, 2011
3:56 pm

TruthBe

Sounds more like you need to put your order in here.

http://www.murine.com/ears.htm

I have no chip on my shoulder, as I made peace with the status quo here a long time ago. There is no such monster as “The Black Leadership”. Once you get that through that wax clog and into your cerebellum, there’s room for you at the discussion table with the grownups. As long as you think or insist that there is come kind of leadership group, you’re more of the problem than the answer.

TruthBe

June 22nd, 2011
4:04 pm

Adam, Why that’s the proclaimed black civil rights pioneers like Lewis, Jacksons, Sharp, Rev.Wright, King Family, Young, Black Preachers, Educators, Teachers, Black Business People ( examples: Oprah, Johnson Family ), Politicans, Media, Black Mayors, and President Obama. Just a example of a small few.

Adam

June 22nd, 2011
4:07 pm

TruthBe: To suggest that all of those figures have done what you suggested (placed blame rather than trying to correct and lift up their communities) is absurd.

TruthBe

June 22nd, 2011
4:09 pm

Broesphus, Where’s the Obama ordered civility?

TruthBe

June 22nd, 2011
4:13 pm

Adam, Why don’t you listen and read what they have said. And I didn’t sugguest they were all at fault but they speak alot for the “Black Community. If I wanted to suggest something bad I would have mention Eric Holder and his partners in crime the New Black Panthers.

Brosephus

June 22nd, 2011
4:14 pm

Where’s the Obama ordered civility?

The only orders I have to obey from Obama comes down through my chain of command. What makes you think I’m not being civil now? I’m simply trying to get the point across that there is no Black Leadership. If it’s not work-related, I don’t follow orders from anyone. There’s no leadership group that tells me how to support my family. People from all walks of life can make suggestions, but the final decision rests upon my shoulders, and my shoulders only.

Mighty Righty

June 22nd, 2011
4:19 pm

Bush pulled out of Kyoto and refused to control heat-trapping pollution even after the Supreme Court said the government had the authority to move forward forcefully on this front and federal scientists determined that increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases posed dangers to human health.

Why is it whenever the Kyoto agreement is mentioned it is made to sound like Bush killed it. The fact is Clinton was president when the U.S. Senate voted against ratification something like 99 to 0! Our Senators both Democrat and Republican realized what Al Gore was not bright enough to figure out that the treaty would have turned the U.S. into a third world economy. The Obama administration is using the EPA to effectively destroy our economy anyway.

mmm, mmm, mmm, Barack the Liar Obama - BEND OVER, Here comes the CHANGE!

June 22nd, 2011
4:22 pm

Maybe they would stay OUT of jail if they had to work.

Adam

June 22nd, 2011
4:38 pm

TruthBe: You said this:

And I think the black leadership in this country needs to start being held accountable for the high rate of criminality of young black men rather than blaming society.

You assume they blame society, clearly indicating that this is all they do. This is not true. There are many attempts made to lift up their communities and get away from crime.

That is the suggestion I was referring to.

ODDOWL

June 22nd, 2011
4:46 pm

These extreme right wing rascally, Republicans are ignorant, hardheaded cutthroat capitalists. I guess they thought or felt that lazy arse American men would actually go out into the fields and pick fruits and vegetables ??? These shiftless American men are shysters who trick hard working Women into taking care of them. Many unemployed American men are fat, out of shape and soft. If they work in the fields for any length of time, The farms of Georgia will become heart attack central. If the Native born field workers are stricken with a major organ failure, lets hope that he’s near a large city with a trauma center because there’re none in the rural areas. We the idiots in the state of Georgia voted down the trauma center tax. Georgia farmers must force Gov. Deal, no deal and the tea party Republican controlled state Legislature to repeal the anti-immigration law and invite the Latino farm workers back and give them a hefty wage increase. Mexican workers do twice as much work as American workers for half the pay. Republicans embrace the merit system for rich white men but not for non-rich Americans. Proof… Non-rich American workers increased productivity by 80% over the last 30 years but salaries only increased by $2.00 an hour. Rich Americans increased their wealth by over 250% in the same time period.

[...] Minor’s farm was the second-largest recipient of federal farm subsidies in Georgia, receiving $11.4 million between 2000 and 2009, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. [...]

[...] Minor’s farm was the second-largest recipient of federal farm subsidies in Georgia, receiving $11.4 million between 2000 and 2009, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. [...]

TruthBe

June 22nd, 2011
4:56 pm

ODDOWL, Liberal Lazy Corrupt Democrats are dishonest and have no morals. And by the way liberals are too lazy and stupid to work at all. They want the over taxed middle class to give it to them. You know tax and spend.

Mr Right

June 22nd, 2011
5:00 pm

My guess is Mr Minor is very happy with the status quo as far as labor costs go.

I am friends with the Minor brothers who own Minor farms as I am with the owner of a huge dairy farm. They just want good dependable help which is just about impossible to find locally.

Mr Right

June 22nd, 2011
5:04 pm

ODDOWL

June 22nd, 2011
4:46 pm
What a incoherent rant!

BigHuey

June 22nd, 2011
5:11 pm

Please somebody running for President support bring back the Poll Tax.

debbie

June 22nd, 2011
5:29 pm

I guess the old cliche that mexicans are lazy and blacks steal isn’t totally accurate. It looks like the blacks are the lazy ones! Who does the stealing then?

TruthBe

June 22nd, 2011
6:05 pm

debbie, Career corrupt liberal spend and tax democrats, old fart republicans, and greedy no morals wallstreet thugs like Obama’s master George Soros. That’s who steals.

bman

June 22nd, 2011
7:23 pm

they quit in 30 minutes? no wait…they quit during the first 2 days? lol….

Radney

June 22nd, 2011
9:23 pm

This is the thing about the Spanish. Unless they are 3rd or 4th generation, they will work hard with their hand out for more work. There needs to be a way to let them know they are good decent people. If I were an employer, I would only hire them. God Bless Them.

vuduchld

June 22nd, 2011
10:40 pm

Ok, so why is this news? Anyone with a lick of common sense knows that that probationers would rather cook meth in the suburbs than pick cotton in South Jawja. You pilgrims never cease to amaze me with your stupidity.

Gandalf the Wise

June 23rd, 2011
1:10 am

Let me see, people on probation are on parole, because they are hard workers? NO because they are to lazy to seek real employment. Big suprise!
Send all them illegals back home, we don’t need or want them here!

Gandalf the Wise

June 23rd, 2011
1:12 am

I bet most of thse paroles are democratics! Any takers? Democratic Party, the party that held down the south for over 90 years. Repubican Party, that party that ended slavery! Which do you prefer?

Gandalf the Wise

June 23rd, 2011
1:22 am

Organization of the Islamic Conference has 57 member states and 3 states that are referred to as observer states. Barry is a red blooded american? Or is this stuff that he learnt in Muslim School with his sL*t mother’s 2nd muslim husband?

Misonist

June 23rd, 2011
9:06 am

more lazy american workers, who would rather have free govt handouts? what else is new??

jskdn

June 23rd, 2011
12:35 pm

Who could have guessed that many of those who have been in prison might have character flaws that would make them less-than-stellar workers? But the work habits of society’s dregs don’t entitle employers to hire illegal immigrants.

Latina & Legal

June 23rd, 2011
1:34 pm

Same reason corporations are outsourcing American jobs—-they can get more (work) for less (salary).

dj

June 23rd, 2011
5:20 pm

Where was the whip? That would have kept the parolees from leaving.

bookthief

June 24th, 2011
4:06 am

Just read about your troubles in our local paper. Man – glad we’ve got a Gov. that understands Ag business. You guys are in a world of self made hurt.

NJ

June 24th, 2011
4:05 pm

It’s fun to watch Republicans try what has already been tried and failed throughout history. Its the nature of Conservatives to lack the ability to come up with new, ideas. That’s called ‘Progress”.

They will of course make many excuses for this idea not working, they will blame it on liberals, progressives and immigrants, everything except the fact that a bad idea that has never worked will not work no matter how many times you try it.

The states that already have dealt with this went through the same thing. Local farmers either went out of business, or they moved their businesses out of state. In the southwest, the local farmers simply found it was less expensive to rent farm land in Mexico and hire the workers on the other side of the border.

When your entire food source ends up being outsourced, you might as well pack it in and become part of another country. No nation has survived long when it has to import it’s food.