Some of the farm work done by illegals right now could be done by lower skill citizens. I am willing to pay a bit more for my veggies (that I don’t grow) if we can keep out illegals and use our own people to pick the crops.Have lived in California for 38 years and during that time have seen only 2 white people in the fields - my wife and myself. First generation "illegals" work their ass off. Yesterday a group of about 12 were preparing an almond orchard for harvest. Brutally hot - 105F ish and humid as hell. Salt of the earth folks. I said hi to all of them, and not one spoke English. Second generation (nationality doesn't matter) folks have been Californicated - they want to sit on their ass and get money for nothin and their Obama phones for free. Do you really think low skilled individuals would work the farm fields?
Do you really think low skilled individuals would work the farm fields?The answer is Yes, if they need to put food on the table. With millions of people in North America filing for UI benefits at the moment, I suggest there is no justification for farms or companies to hire foreign or illegal workers. However, the situation you describe is true in some other Western countries also. As long as these Western nations continue to have an expanding welfare and immigration system, and employers continue to avoid paying minimum wage (or a fair wage) by hiring foreign workers, and as long as individuals in some western countries continue to think certain jobs are beneath them, this situation will continue to be enabled. Also, I observe that many jobs that used to be available for high school or college students are now given to adult migrants or immigrants, so students also have a hard time finding work. I've lived in a few different countries, and I've noticed a difference between Europeans and North Americans. In Italy, Germany and France for example, there are a lot of farms and vineyards and they are small and family owned, many have operated for generations, and they continue to be handed down today. Also, continental Europeans in general take pride in their work, no matter what it is. Most seem to take satisfaction at doing a great job whether they are a waiter, a construction worker, a doctor or a tax accountant. Conversely, people act as though every job is important - and it is. I've never witnessed an 'elitist' attitude of a professional toward a tradesperson or unskilled worker (although the young people all want to work with computers, which seems universal!). A community needs people at all levels, and people need to find their place in society. This seems to be more generally accepted in Europe. Perhaps if the unsustainable western welfare systems and immigration quotas can be eliminated or modified, some of these issues could change for the better in North America.....
As long as these Western nations continue to have an expanding welfare and immigration system, and employers continue to avoid paying minimum wage (or a fair wage) by hiring foreign workers, and as long as individuals in some western countries continue to think certain jobs are beneath them, this situation will continue to be enabled.Indeed. This is part of the free market as well isn't it? If you cannot get workers then up your compensation package. Maybe we need to bring back "Dirty Jobs"... :)
I was a huge fan of the show and of Mike Rowe!
@Penguin Will, I have been in similar situations.
The most important lessons that I learned during the 2008 financial crisis was that (a) there is no such thing as job security and (b) you need to keep your expenses low. In regards to (a), you may indeed be the only person at your company who knows how the flork drive works, but that won’t stop some executive who has no idea what a flork drive is from eliminating your whole department. In regards to (b), paying off debt may yield a lower return than investing in a mutual fund, but it pays dividends in restful nights.
Agree 110%! My spouse and I came from”humble” backgrounds. We worked 7 days a week, sometimes 2 jobs, paid for college and flight training ourselves, never went on vacations. One summer we went to the lake ONCE! We got to where we are now through our own hard work. No help from anyone. Or the government....
Edit: I had written a fairly lengthy response to this post, but I now realize that it's just going to be yet another argument with someone on the Internet, which is not why I joined this site, so I have removed it.
I wish I had a dollar for every time I had done the same thing. 
Will