The Root Cause of Our Mistreatment of Immigrants

Posted on by

This is a response to Sydney’s post “Migrant Workers Have Always Been Essential, So We Should Be Treating Them Like It” found here: https://sites.uw.edu/pols385/2020/05/19/migrant-workers-have-always-been-essential-so-we-should-be-treating-them-like-it/

While I agree with Sydney’s point that migrants have served in essential roles throughout our nation’s history, I would like to challenge the idea that the migrant workers themselves are essential to those roles. Let me be clear: I completely disagree with the notion that immigrants are “stealing our jobs.” Most Americans are unwilling to fill those positions as they currently operate, and we absolutely should not blame the immigrants for seeking a better life. But I believe that calling immigrant labor itself “essential” only serves to excuse our luxury-obsessed culture and the costs it imposes on immigrant workers.

As Sydney points out, immigrant labor is used because they are one of our most vulnerable populations so they will accept dangerous conditions at low wages. The key point there is the low wages: agricultural work is not the most dangerous job out there, but it is certainly one of the lowest paying dangerous jobs. Looking at other, more dangerous jobs like garbage collectors or construction workers, their average salaries are considerably higher than agricultural work and they subsequently have much lower undocumented immigrant participation.

Source: USDA, Pew Research Center
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/illegal-immigrants-us-jobs-economy-farm-workers-taxes/

It is not that Americans are entirely unwilling to do the work; they are simply unwilling to do the work below a certain salary. The way I see it, our agricultural industry has convinced us that immigrant labor is essential to our food system in order to keep payroll artificially deflated and dissuade investigation of poor working conditions. They are basically using slave labor to keep food prices low and profits high. 

As available undocumented labor goes down, wages must go up to attract legal citizens.

I worry that the discourse around this topic can easily become confused and subsequently counter-productive. Agricultural work is undeniably essential; without our food industry, we (along with many other parts of the world) would starve to death. And our immigrant labor force is essential in order to keep food prices low. But are low food prices essential? They are not only inessential but inherently detrimental, as argued by Michael Carolan in The Real Cost of Cheap Food. Thus, by calling immigrant labor essential in and of it itself, we perpetuate the idea that our food should be cheap and, to a certain degree, excuse the poor treatment of immigrants as a necessary evil to reach those ends.

Sydney calls on the agriculture industry to improve wages and working conditions for undocumented workers. In my opinion, this represents individualization of responsibility to a degree: it fails to address the larger systemic reasons for those wages and conditions, which include America’s love of ultra-cheap food, a difficult-to-navigate legal immigration system, and our willingness to look the other way when our industries abuse desperate populations. Solving this problem will require deep systemic changes to our immigration systems, law enforcement, the agriculture industry, and, most importantly, the way Americans relate to food. We will need to accept spending much more of our income on food, which will require far less discretionary spending: smaller houses, less luxurious vehicles, and significantly less entertainment consumption. We will need to fundamentally alter the typical American lifestyle.

Systemic thinking shows us just how complex the situation is, and reminds us that we cannot just expect the food industry to make things right on its own. We must act as consumers and citizens, as individuals and communities, as social and political entities, in order to institute the massive changes necessary to protect vulnerable immigrant communities and move towards a more ethical and sustainable food system. 

34 thoughts on “The Root Cause of Our Mistreatment of Immigrants”

  1. Wearing a luxury watch transcends fashion; it’s an expression of individuality and discernment. These timepieces become part of a person’s identity, reflecting their taste, values, and appreciation for superior craftsmanship. The allure of luxury watches persists, captivating enthusiasts with their beauty, precision, and enduring legacy.http://www.mywatcheshut.com/

    Reply ↓

  3. Omega SA is a Swiss luxury watchmaker based in Biel / Bienne, Switzerland. Founded by Louis Brandt in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1903, the company was originally known as Louis Brandt et Frère – Omega Watch & Co. In 1982, the company officially changed its name to Omega SA, which is currently a subsidiary of the Swiss group Swatch. Omega opened its museum in Biel / Bienne to the public in January 1984.http://www.mywatcheshut.com/

    Reply ↓

  4. Cartier International SNC, or simply Cartier (/ˈkɑːrtieɪ/; French: [kaʁtje]), is a French luxury goods conglomerate which designs, manufactures, distributes, and sells jewellery, leather goods and watches. Founded by Louis-François Cartier (1819–1904) in Paris in 1847,Crtier operates more than 200 stores in 125 countries, with three Temples (Historical Maisons) in London, New York, and Paris.http://www.mywatcheshut.com/

    Reply ↓

  5. Breitling SA (German pronunciation: [ˈbraɪtlɪŋ]) is a Swiss luxury watchmaker founded in 1884 in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, by Léon Breitling. The company is known for its precision-made chronometers designed for aviators and is based in Grenchen, Switzerland.http://www.mywatcheshut.com/

    Reply ↓

  6. Badges and pins have long been cherished as collectible items, often associated with events, organizations, or achievements. They serve as tangible mementos that can be proudly displayed on clothing or bags, showcasing one’s affiliations or interests. Collectors often seek out limited edition or vintage pins and badges, adding to their personal collections with great enthusiasm.http://factorypins.com/

    Reply ↓

  9. У жовтні 2024 року коледж Род-Айленда відкрив Академію https://www.facenews.ua/press/2024/527053/ навчання казино за підтримки Bally’s, що пропонує курси для дилерів настільних ігор. Це партнерство допомагає готувати фахівців для гральної індустрії та створює нові економічні можливості для регіону.

    Reply ↓

  11. Pulp fabric is produced through a hydroentanglement process where high-pressure water jets are used to bond the fibers together, resulting in a soft, absorbent, and durable material.

    Reply ↓

  21. Aw, this was a really good post. Spending some time and actual effort to produce a very good article… but what can I say… I put
    things off a whole lot and never manage to get anything done.
    plenty of fish natalielise 무료슬롯사이트

    Reply ↓

  31. è passato molto tempo da allora, ma i due istinti del successo di Rolex hublot replica non sono stati travolti dal passare del tempo, dalle nuove mode, ma hanno acquisito negli anni il lustro più ambito, il grande Timeless.

    Reply ↓

  32. Rolex ha sempre affidato al proprio centro di ricerca il compito di essere all’avanguardia nei materiali e nella tecnologia: non sorprende che nel 1985 sia stata la prima casa orologiera a scegliere per i suoi segnatempo l’acciaio 914L, audemars piguet replica un tipo di lega Special con ottima resistenza e lucentezza.

    Reply ↓

  34. Great post, I will definitely recommend this site to my friends.
    I will bookmark this site, thanks to the author for having this great post.
    Click this and have fun ➡

    제이나인 토토 갤러리
    제이나인 토토 사이트 추천
    제이나인 토토 커뮤니티
    제이나인 온 카지노
    제이나인 카지노 사이트
    https://www.j9korea.com

    Reply ↓

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *