Posted on 10/09/2011 1:24:37 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Alabama farmers frantically looking for workers to replace those that have fled the state in the wake of its tough new immigration law should just stop by their local prison, according to the head of Alabama’s agriculture department.
John McMillan, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, told the Montgomery Advertiser on Thursday that inmate labor through the state’s work-release program offers a short-term solution to the sudden labor shortage that has hit Alabama since enforcement of its illegal immigration law kicked in.
Some farmers have said the state’s new law has driven away Hispanic migrant farm workers — and without another potential labor source, they say produce may have to be left to rot in the fields.
“We are optimistic that by Monday, we will have some help for farmers,” McMillan said.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Actually I'm not "shilling" for any candidate. It just seems like you post the same old anti-perry crap on every thread.
Don't you have something better to do?
Who is your candidate ?
I definately think Alabama is on to something. I could also see some faith groups get involved in the process to help remake the lives of inmates. Of course, it wouldn’t be for everyone.
http://www.gci-ga.com/
Georgia Correctional Industries.
The prison system in Georgia Grows their own food, produces their own milk and eggs. GCI is a heck of an operation.
Having prisoners work in the fields is a wonderful idea. They need to earn their keep instead of taxpayers supporting them so I applaud Alabama for doing this.
Why should prisoners sit on their behinds and watch television when they can be doing productive work.
Way to go, Alabama! You are doing great!!
Since you cannot understand the deeper meaning of the
post, I’ll explain it to you. (sigh... expecting more than superficial understanding; what was I thinking)
Prison labor is essentially free labor... and no one can compete with free labor. Furthermore, now that the door have been opened, no farmer can compete with those that use the free labor, so in order to stay in business, all the Alabama farmers will have to switch. Which will lead to a shortage of prisoners. That will then tempt Alabama to increase their number of prisoners... by legislating new criminal laws.
You come across as having no problem with that. I do.
(note: I think illegal immigration is bad for farmers as it is very similar to the above situation... and the cheap labor retards the development of farming automation. That said, you don’t seem to see that prison labor is an even more extreme version of what was existing with the illegals.)
$12/hour with food and transportation included? And there are no takers in this economy?!?
That’s a pretty good deal, to be honest. As a high schooler or college student, I would’ve taken it.
(But then, I worked at a chicken farm during the summers at college)
Hey, bro, you were the first to throw out the Nazi reference. You know what that usually means with internet “arguments.” I think you’d be hard-pressed to find folks around here agitating for more criminal laws to increase the supply of inmate labor. I’m personally not sold on “supplying” inmates for private-sector labor. If they are to be utilized, let it be for such activities as roadwork, highway beautification, et al. Work that the state is responsible for.
This will be fine and dandy until one of those criminals harms someone while out. Not only that what kind of protections are in place for the farmers if one of the state prisoners gets hurt? Will there be some kind of protection put in place for these private citizens?
Go back and read the post....
I wrote non-violent prisoners.
There was a chicken plant not far from here who hired prisoners from a correctional facility, they were given the same wage as someone off the street, had to pay half back to the prison for room and board and got to keep the rest in an account for when they got out, then they had enough money to make a new start on life.
As opposed to hiring illegals who may have been violent criminals, no one knows. They could be pedaphiles for all we know. But one thing we do know, they are criminals as well - better to have an American criminal with a registered past (i.e. drugs) than an illegal who could be anything.
More people have been killed by illegals in this country than killed in Iraq and you’re worried about American prisoners??
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1793891/posts
And that’s what they should be used for.
I had hoped that you’d see in the quote where the businessman was paying the state cut-rate prices for forced prison-labor, driving the locals out of work. And see how that will be the exact same situation once prison labor is used in Alabama.
Add onto that just how easy it is for a government to criminalize more people to meet the industry demand. (what’s more extreme that declaring an entire people illegal?)
Oh, we'll find one here and there ... especially if they need some quick bucks, but they never last. 2 weeks ago we hired a man who got his first payday Friday and hasn't come out of the house for his morning ride ever since. He borrowed money from my son almost every day that he did show up.
Screw unions! Union goons are helping to occupy Wall Street and every other "occupy" center in America.
Freepers have been attacked by union reps during protests in Washington. Unions are of the left...they are politically liberal...they're at the beck and call of Democrats whenever they need thugs...and they squeeze capital. Screw 'em!
Unions suck.
Try living in China for a while on seven cents a day. Come back and tell me how bad unions are.
Unions suck.
(Did you read that unions are in solidarity with the Occupy movements across the country? You're advocating for these assholes on Free Republic. Just thought I'd let you know.)
And that has nothing to do with how cheap Mexican labor has kept some areas of agriculture from automating.
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