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Today's Poll: Should it be easier for foreign farm workers to enter to the U.S.?

By Howard B. Owens
Cory Hawley

It should be easier for US citizens to get up off their butts and work these jobs. Why we allow foreign people to come in and work to do jobs we can do here while people sit on welfare is beyond me. There are people who need assistance, but there are many who just need a kick in the ass.

Sep 25, 2014, 2:27pm Permalink
John Roach

They are already here. It would be nice to know who they are. Give limited work permits so they can come, work, and then go home. They can come back the next year.

Yea, it would nice if we had welfare reform, but right now we do not.

Sep 25, 2014, 2:50pm Permalink
Cory Hawley

Limited work permits are only good if the person who has one follows the rules. Look how easy it was for those Afghan soldiers in training to just go where they want. It's a big country and easy to slip away. Microchip them like a cat or dog, and when there day is up and they haven't checked in to leave the country, look 'em up. Or better yet, make people on public assistance/welfare who are required to look for work while they are receiving benefits work these jobs.
"Shoulda Woulda coulda"?? The question starts with the word "Should"
I'm not saying crops don't go to waste, but farmers are not wasteful people, and if needed they help each other out to make sure their crop, or most of it is harvested.

Sep 25, 2014, 9:18pm Permalink
Phil Ricci

Great article!

I completely agree with it! That said it doesn't shock me that so many vote no. The average person is uneducated on the actual facts, rather are willing to just listen to rhetoric.

I've worked with many immigrants in Orleans County from both Mexico and Jamaica. These gentlemen were some of the hardest working people I have ever seen. They worked 14 hour days, followed our laws, paid our taxes, and didn't collect a dime of services. Meanwhile, there were tons of local born and bred Americans that I met that sat at home, collecting every service they could, not even being able to hold a job at Walmart down the road.

This broad brush that I see on this topic is laughable. Not every immigrant that comes into our country is an illiterate criminal looking for welfare like the ignorant will have you think. Just like every person that live in a trailer park isn't a lazy waste that lives on the dole.

We are a nation of laws, yes, but we are also a nation of individuals with a multitude of cultural and life experiences. How great of a nation would be if we were all the same?

Sep 26, 2014, 10:27am Permalink

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