Author Topic: Cheap tomatoes  (Read 581 times)

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Offline Brett

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Cheap tomatoes
« on: May 30, 2006, 01:05:52 PM »
Consider cheap tomatoes!
>>
>>This email is from a retired friend whose wife is a teacher in the
> Riverside, CA area, and has been for many, many years.  The attached is
> first hand knowledge...
>>
>>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>
>>As you all listen to the news about the student protests over illegal
> immigration there are some things that you should be aware of.
>>
>>As most of you know my wife is in charge of the
> English-as-a-second-language department at large southern California high
> school, which is designated a Title 1 school, meaning that its students
> average lower socio-economic and income levels.  Most of the schools you
> are
> hearing about, South Gate High, Bell Gardens, Huntington Park, etc.where
> these students are protesting, are also Title 1 schools.
>>
>>My wife tells me that 100% of the students in her school and other Title 1
> schools are on the free breakfast, free lunch program.  When I say free
> breakfast I'm not talking a glass of milk and roll . . .  but a full
> breakfast and cereal bar with fruits and juices that would make a Marriott
> proud.  The waste of this food is monumental, with trays and trays of it
> being dumped in the trash uneaten.
>>
>>She estimates that well over 50% of these students are obese or at least
> moderately overweight.  About 75% or more DO have cell phones.
>>
>>The school also provides day care centers for the unwed teenage pregnant
> girls (some as young as 13) so they can attend class without the
> inconvenience of having to arrange for baby-sitters or having family watch
> their kids.
>>
>>She was ordered to spend $700,000 on her department or risk losing funding
> for the upcoming year even though there was little need for anything; her
> budget was already substantial.  She ended up buying new computers for
> their
> computer learning center; half of which, one month later, have been carved
> with graffiti by the appreciative students who obviously feel humbled and
> grateful to have a free education in America.
>>
>>She has had to intervene several times for young and substitute teachers
> whose classes consist of many illegal immigrant students here in the
> country
> less then 3 months who raised so much hell with the female teachers,
> calling
> them Putaswhoresand throwing things that the teachers were in tears.
>>
>>Free medical, free education, free food, day care etc., etc., etc.  Is it
> any wonder they feel entitled to not only be in this country but to demand
> rights, privileges and entitlements?
>>
>>To my conservative friends: I hope you're really proud of how George W.
> Bush has helped to sell-out this country with his pro-illegal policy.  I
> voted for him too, but on this issue he is a disaster.
>>
>>To my bleeding-heart liberal friends who want to point out how much these
> illegal immigrants contribute to our society because they LIKE their
> gardener and housekeeper and they like to pay less for tomatoes:
>>spend some time in the real world of illegal immigration and see the TRUE
> costs.  Higher insurance, Medical facilities closing, higher medical
> costs,
> more crime, lower standards of education in our schools, overcrowding, new
> diseases etc., etc., etc.  For me, I'll pay more for tomatoes.
>>
>>We need to wake up.  The guest worker program will be a disaster because
>>we
> won't have the guts to enforce it.
>>Does anyone in their right mind really think they will leave and return
> voluntarily?
>>
>>There are many hardworking Hispanic/American citizens that contribute to
> our country and many that I consider my true friends.  We should encourage
> and accept those Hispanics who have done it the right and legal way.
>>
>>It does, however, have everything to do with culture:
>>A third-world culture that does not value education, that accepts children
> getting pregnant and dropping out of school by 15 and that refuses to
> assimilate ... and an American culture that has become so weak and
> politically correct that we don't have the will to do anything about it.
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Offline Questor

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Cheap tomatoes
« Reply #1 on: May 30, 2006, 03:12:10 PM »
Here's an example of what can happen when technology replaces illegal immigration: I live in Minnesota (a cold state with a short summer), and we have locally grown tomatoes year-round. They are raised in hothouses in Owatonna, MN and they are far, far better than the mealy crap tomatoes we used to get that were picked by migrant Florida and California migrant farm workers.  Cost is about the same.  Similar things are possible with other produce.  

Many experts in farming are able to argue persuasively that the low cost of migrant labor reduces the incentive to improve farming and distribution of produce.  We see things like the tomato example above, and the broadening of the organic, locally grown, produce market as examples of importance.
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Offline Brett

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Cheap tomatoes
« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2006, 03:25:40 PM »
I agree Questor.  We have found ways to eliminate assembly line workers, bank tellers, telephone operators, etc. threw technology so why not the 'need' for migrant farm workers.
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Offline DWTim

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« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2006, 04:11:22 PM »
...and eliminate entitlements. You wouldn't believe the nonsense that has gone on with the free and reduced lunch program. I've heard similar stories about the kids dumping perfectly good food in the trash from teachers who've been around for a while. You know why? They eat nothing but junkfood at home! Don't tell me that people can't afford $2 a day to feed their kids. If those were my kids, I'd sell off anything that wasn't bolted down so they could eat.

Offline Brett

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« Reply #4 on: May 31, 2006, 12:45:25 AM »
Quote from: DWTim
... If those were my kids, I'd sell off anything that wasn't bolted down so they could eat.


Yep, and you and I would do whatever job(s) we had to to for whatever money we could get to feed our families as well.  Unfortunately not everyone takes responsibility for the children that they bring into this world.
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Offline Questor

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« Reply #5 on: May 31, 2006, 04:38:10 AM »
Brett:

We're the stupid ones, then. In this country there is no poverty, and obesity is an affliction of the poor. We should be on the dole just like all the geniuses that milk the system for what it's worth.
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Offline Questor

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« Reply #6 on: May 31, 2006, 01:50:08 PM »
By the way, Iceland grows all it's own bananas and is Europe's top banana producing country. No migrants working there either.
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Offline ironglow

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« Reply #7 on: June 20, 2006, 01:14:40 PM »
Exactly why the "nanny state" is the wrong way to go..

  As these "entitled" students grow to working age...should we expect these young people who for the most part, have never been taught hard work, honor or values...will be willing to go to work and work hard at an entry level job; just so they can bring home LESS GOODIES that what was given to them for FREE..all their lives ?

  The nanny state has created a horde of perpetual parasites..
If you don't want the truth, don't ask me.  If you want something sugar coated...go eat a donut !  (anon)