Why won't Americans do the "Jobs Americans won't Do?

[JoeB131]

You seem to think that I believe prisoners should be forced to work in the fields.

I don't.

I think they should make it voluntary and possibly incentivize it with reduced sentences, pay, or other benefits.

Sorry to discourage you from painting me as the image in your head, Joey.

That's kind of stupid.

First, reduced sentences... are you saying they should get time off their sentences because they made other people richer? "Gee, I was going to cheat some undocumented immigrants, but I can get this slave labor from the prison."

This is where the 13th Amendment was kind of screwy. Instead of outlawing slavery, full stop, they allowed a loophole that prisoners could still be forced to do slave labor. This resulted in Debt Peonages after the Civil War, up until it was outlawed in 1942, because it looked bad when we were bitching at Germany and Japan about forced labor camps.

It still survives to this day in the Prison-Industrial Complex. Or do you think it's a coincidence that blacks make up only 12% of the US population, but 38% of the prison population?

 

[Chuz Life]

That's kind of stupid.

First, reduced sentences... are you saying they should get time off their sentences because they made other people richer? "Gee, I was going to cheat some undocumented immigrants, but I can get this slave labor from the prison."

This is where the 13th Amendment was kind of screwy. Instead of outlawing slavery, full stop, they allowed a loophole that prisoners could still be forced to do slave labor. This resulted in Debt Peonages after the Civil War, up until it was outlawed in 1942, because it looked bad when we were bitching at Germany and Japan about forced labor camps.

It still survives to this day in the Prison-Industrial Complex. Or do you think it's a coincidence that blacks make up only 12% of the US population, but 38% of the prison population?

As if prisoners don't already get reduced sentences for good behavior and the like, already.

 

[JoeB131]

As if prisoners don't already get reduced sentences for good behavior and the like, already.

good behavior isn't working as a slave... this is what you want.

Good behavior is proving that after you get out, you aren't likely to reoffend. Which is silly, given how having even a minor conviction on your record makes you unemployable.

 

[Chuz Life]

good behavior isn't working as a slave... this is what you want.

Good behavior is proving that after you get out, you aren't likely to reoffend. Which is silly, given how having even a minor conviction on your record makes you unemployable.

Yeah, I should ignore the "trustees" that I worked alongside of, when I was working on the communications systems and cameras at the prisons I was dispatched to.

Cause Ol Joe on the internet thinks he knows better.

 

[JoeB131]

Yeah, I should ignore the "trustees" that I worked alongside of, when I was working on the communications systems and cameras at the prisons I was dispatched to.

Cause Ol Joe on the internet thinks he knows better.

So did you track these "Trustees" when they got out? How many of them were back in a few years later?

The Prison Industrial Complex is a racket, mostly designed to keep people of color down.

 

[initforme]

I would be opposed to prisoners working the fields. Thats just a cheapskate thinking of getting away with forced labor. Pay people to work, dont look for shortcuts. If nobody applies then the job goes away or more pay is given to attract an employee.

 

[The Sage of Main Street]

Thank you for your input Methusaleh, I mean Comrade!

The Right Wing Is Right for the Wrong Reasons

So workers in Communist countries are highly paid? Actually, a lot of anti-Communism, such as the American and European ruling classes' support for Hitler, was based on fear that Marxism would really do that.

 

[The Sage of Main Street]

Nope. But keep backing the ceo.

But if the CEO couldn't take the money out of his employees' pay, he wouldn't be able to afford to buy a $40,000 car for his 16-year-old son

 

[The Sage of Main Street]

I would be opposed to prisoners working the fields. Thats just a cheapskate thinking of getting away with forced labor. Pay people to work, dont look for shortcuts. If nobody applies then the job goes away or more pay is given to attract an employee.

Back in long-lost Great America, convicts were expected to pay their debt to society

 

[MarathonMike]

Nope, Americans won't do those jobs because they are considered beneath them. I wouldn't want to clean toilets or pick lettuce for a living. I'd probably suck at it, anyway.

The younger generations want to be Social Media influencers or find work from home jobs. Very, very few could cut it working on a farm or construction site. Ask any farmer or construction supervisor and they'll say the same thing.

 

[initforme]

Back in long-lost Great America, convicts were expected to pay their debt to society

No more. Thats wrong. Pay and pay well to do that work. That kind of thinking is called being a cheapskate. Something for nothing is not acceptable.

 

[initforme]

The younger generations want to be Social Media influencers or find work from home jobs. Very, very few could cut it working on a farm or construction site. Ask any farmer or construction supervisor and they'll say the same thing.

Then pay more and they will. Pretend to pay people pretend to work.

 

[JoeB131]

The younger generations want to be Social Media influencers or find work from home jobs. Very, very few could cut it working on a farm or construction site. Ask any farmer or construction supervisor and they'll say the same thing.

So let's import people who are HAPPY to do those jobs. Everyone wins. The work gets done, the people want to do it get paid.

I'm just not seeing the problem here.

 

[MarathonMike]

So let's import people who are HAPPY to do those jobs. Everyone wins. The work gets done, the people want to do it get paid.

I'm just not seeing the problem here.

If "import" means Legally Immigrate I agree. Rubber stamping whoever shows up at the border is national insanity.

 

[JoeB131]

If "import" means Legally Immigrate I agree. Rubber stamping whoever shows up at the border is national insanity.

I agree.

But since we already have millions of people here, deporting them just isn't an option.

The logical thing to do would be to vet them, send back the bad actors, move the quality people in.

This insanity of deporting green card holders who have been here for 40 years for minor offenses is just insane.

 

[MarathonMike]

I agree.

But since we already have millions of people here, deporting them just isn't an option.

The logical thing to do would be to vet them, send back the bad actors, move the quality people in.

This insanity of deporting green card holders who have been here for 40 years for minor offenses is just insane.

Trump has already said he is not going to hurt the farmers, so mass deportation is going to be more selective as it should be.

 

[Chuz Life]

So did you track these "Trustees" when they got out? How many of them were back in a few years later?

The Prison Industrial Complex is a racket, mostly designed to keep people of color down.

The ones I recall were white. . . . so. . .

 

[JoeB131]

Trump has already said he is not going to hurt the farmers, so mass deportation is going to be more selective as it should be.

Wait, hold on now. if the illegals working on the farms are breaking our laws, shouldn't we be enforcing the law?

I mean, sweet evil Jesus, man, be consistent in your position.

The reality is, when you create a situation where you can be sent to Alligator Alcatraz or CECOT, you aren't going to work on a farm. You are going to go into hiding or maybe go home.

WHich brings you this.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/06/us/oregon-cherry-harvest-immigrant-worker-shortage

and this

ICE raids on US farms leaves crops rotting

Worker detentions and fears of federal agents have cut workforces on farms across the country.

www.newsweek.com

and this

Farmers are facing a fork on Trump's immigration highway. So what's next?

Across the country, Trump’s immigration raids have roiled farms and farming communities – with cases of worker shortages and fears of unpicked crops.

www.usatoday.com

 

[MarathonMike]

Wait, hold on now. if the illegals working on the farms are breaking our laws, shouldn't we be enforcing the law?

I mean, sweet evil Jesus, man, be consistent in your position.

The reality is, when you create a situation where you can be sent to Alligator Alcatraz or CECOT, you aren't going to work on a farm. You are going to go into hiding or maybe go home.

WHich brings you this.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/06/us/oregon-cherry-harvest-immigrant-worker-shortage

and this

ICE raids on US farms leaves crops rotting

Worker detentions and fears of federal agents have cut workforces on farms across the country.

www.newsweek.com

and this

Farmers are facing a fork on Trump's immigration highway. So what's next?

Across the country, Trump’s immigration raids have roiled farms and farming communities – with cases of worker shortages and fears of unpicked crops.

www.usatoday.com

I have been very consistent about my posts on the need for migrant farm workers and construction workers. Many of them are here on legit work visas. If they are not, then sort them out, deport the ones who have committed crimes and get work visas for the rest.

 

[JoeB131]

I have been very consistent about my posts on the need for migrant farm workers and construction workers. Many of them are here on legit work visas. If they are not, then sort them out, deport the ones who have committed crimes and get work visas for the rest.

That's not consistent at all.

Either you think there should be zero tolerance for undocumented workers.

Or you think we should treat it like the minor offense it is.

But you can't say, "Well, we won't tolerate gardners and nannies, but we will tolerate tomato pickers. "