When slavery was abolished, did people fret over who would pick their crops for free?

Question

I ask this not because I am trying to draw some equivalency between the institution of slavery and migrant farm workers.

But I hear frequently from the apologists from illegal immigration that we benefit from cheap labor. That justification is fraught with many ethical problems. First, by maintaining the status quo, it only ensures that the problems with Mexico's economy will remain and become more entrenched. I wonder who is willing to justify the continued economic and political poverty of the average Mexican in Mexico by saving a few cents on their bell peppers.

Another difficulty is this: by keeping a ready and available supply of cheap labor, it stifles innovation and advances in technology. Some on here have pointed out that the agriculture business would go bankrupt. Well, what happened after slavery was abolished? They lost the supply of cheap labor then, but the industry adapted. In fact, the inventor of the internal combustion engine started out building machines

to replace manual labor, which was considerably more expensive over time than a one-time investment in a diesel tractor. So, when the price of labor went up, the market responded with new inventions and innovations that kept costs low. Having a source of cheap labor only ensures that that innovation never takes place.

Additionally, what do the proponents of illegal immigration expect the migrants to do? Remain illegal forever? That is the only way to ensure that they will only work for cheap. Once they become citizens, they'll demand greater pay and better working conditions. Their cheap labor is entirely dependent upon their status as illegals. So how does that cheap bell pepper taste now?

Once the illegals become citizens, that will only drive up the cost of food and create a renewed demand for illegal immigrant labor.

Answer 1

We've been sold a Bill Of Goods on this whole immigration business. It's more money for mexico if we employ their people, simple as that. The law and so forth really don't concern them, it's all about money, and american taxpayers I guess are supposed to stand there and smile through the whole thing.
Well, joke's on us, I guess, our 'representation' doesn't listen to the voters and citizens, or if they do, it's with a tin ear. When we've got clinics set up in our country where OUR citizens can go and be seen for free, when our labor laws are followed and americans are being employed instead of people that have no business being inside our border to begin with, then we'll know they're on the right track. But, up until then, I think it's the right position to ask questions and discuss this thing. Every year, they drive our country further in debt, it's '16 tons' on a national scale.
Hyper-inflation of our prices, all kinds of other governmental 'fun', now this business with importing hordes of illegal immigrants,
gee, aren't YOU enjoying all of this? LOL

Immigration's a good thing. LEGAL immigration. But, what we've got NOW is a joke. Good story today in the news, some lady's 3 year old kid had his social security number stolen by an illegal immigrant. Talk about stealing candy from a baby! I think that's as good an illustrative example of the depth, breadth, and seriousness of the problem. If they'd do that to a 3-year old, it's time to start thinking about deportations, imagine what'd happen if they got YOUR credit card, etc., empty out your account without batting an eye.

This IS a law enforcement issue, and the law needs to be enforced at our borders, at our workplaces, in our cities and neighborhoods as applies to sending illegal aliens home. Help is one thing, standing there like an idiot while someone takes off in your car is something else.

Answer 2

After the Civil War, which freed all slaves, the South did not cease to exist. In fact, it is still there, today. Mexico is an extremely corrupt country, which has an almost Nazi control over its economy. I don't begrudge illegal farm labor, in fact, a lot of these people get ripped off by the greedy agricultural collectives they work for. If illegal immigration for farm work was stopped today, I am sure the agricultural industry would not end. I do believe produce prices would go up because higher wages would have to be paid to harvest the crops. I have no problem with people coming here illegally to harvest crops and make some money to support themselves and their families. However, I do have a major problem when the harvest is over and they do not go back to Mexico, and end up costing the US much more in welfare, medical care, incarceration, etc. For many years there was no problem with farm labor, now it is a big problem because they don't want to go back to Mexico. 60% of the population of Los Angeles does not speak English!!!!

Answer 3

We need the cheap labor, as does all capitalist societies. We need the very poor to make our lives easier. it has been and probably always will be that way.

As for the end of slavery. The south saw little difference in slavery and post slavery. The newly freed slaves were penniless, with no means of support. As a result the former slaves owner had to pay his former slave workers. The freed slaves needed to eat ( the former owner is no longer obliged to feed them) so they ran up credit with the land owner but he crops never seemed to cover the debt of the sharecropper/worker. So as it was slavery continued far after it was officially abolished. Again we need the Mexicans because I don't want to pay $3.00 for lettuce of paint my own house.

Answer 4

I think it's a fair point that migration takes the pressure off the Mexican goverment to initiate real reform.