At least Americans are being forced to confront immigration policies; better late than never.
Too much abuse of asylum claims, the H1B program being used to replace American talent with indentured foreign workers, and giant ag firms [particularly slaughterhouses] being allowed to skate on labor code violations with illegal immigrant employees, has become untenable.
And perhaps it's long past time we reexamine the administrative burdens imposed on employers [particularly small to midsize farmers] who wish to use legal guest workers seasonally. We used to have a system that worked; now everyone is angry, but nobody has practical solutions.
In fact, googling "hidden costs in guest worker program" reveals a litany of problems in various aspects of foreign labor being described over the past quarter century. This is one of those very complex challenges like healthcare, which are only debated publicly in simplistic hot takes.
I feel bad for my former liberal friends, because it's impossible to square concern for American workers, foreign neglectaroonies' economic opportunities, and union interests at the same time. It's the wobbliest three-legged stool you'll ever see.
Only time will tell if there are indeed certain jobs Americans will not do; changing geopolitical circumstances may force a reshoring of manual labor in many sectors. Despite the polarization of political views, it's economically untenable to hold the world reserve currency and also have a robust export economy, as it was after WWII. China has risen rapidly by suppressing their own currency valuation, but that's socially unsustainable, as they are discovering belatedly.
Thanks for those thoughtful comments, Chuck! I agree it's time for a formal Ag worker immigration program (similar to the "Bracero" program of decades past).
I am glad to hear you enjoy our "in-depth" reports like this one. -Stay tuned for more!
Given the difficulty the US AG interests have in recruiting US citizens as workers, I would argue that the IDEA of the Bracero program warrants reconsideration - but the history of abuses of the program outlined above also shows us what should be avoided, should it be revived in another form in the future.
Another good explanation of stuff I didn't know!
At least Americans are being forced to confront immigration policies; better late than never.
Too much abuse of asylum claims, the H1B program being used to replace American talent with indentured foreign workers, and giant ag firms [particularly slaughterhouses] being allowed to skate on labor code violations with illegal immigrant employees, has become untenable.
And perhaps it's long past time we reexamine the administrative burdens imposed on employers [particularly small to midsize farmers] who wish to use legal guest workers seasonally. We used to have a system that worked; now everyone is angry, but nobody has practical solutions.
In fact, googling "hidden costs in guest worker program" reveals a litany of problems in various aspects of foreign labor being described over the past quarter century. This is one of those very complex challenges like healthcare, which are only debated publicly in simplistic hot takes.
I feel bad for my former liberal friends, because it's impossible to square concern for American workers, foreign neglectaroonies' economic opportunities, and union interests at the same time. It's the wobbliest three-legged stool you'll ever see.
Only time will tell if there are indeed certain jobs Americans will not do; changing geopolitical circumstances may force a reshoring of manual labor in many sectors. Despite the polarization of political views, it's economically untenable to hold the world reserve currency and also have a robust export economy, as it was after WWII. China has risen rapidly by suppressing their own currency valuation, but that's socially unsustainable, as they are discovering belatedly.
Thanks for those thoughtful comments, Chuck! I agree it's time for a formal Ag worker immigration program (similar to the "Bracero" program of decades past).
I am glad to hear you enjoy our "in-depth" reports like this one. -Stay tuned for more!
I need to read up on the Bracero program...
Here are two sources that will give you vastly different views of the "Bracero" program:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bracero_Program
https://www.unco.edu/colorado-oral-history-migratory-labor-project/pdf/Bracero_Program_PowerPoint.pdf
Given the difficulty the US AG interests have in recruiting US citizens as workers, I would argue that the IDEA of the Bracero program warrants reconsideration - but the history of abuses of the program outlined above also shows us what should be avoided, should it be revived in another form in the future.
A similar set of conflicts with tech workers in the H1B program...