But common sense will tell you that the activity is being (unfairly) subsidized by the rest of economy/society, arguably at a greater total cost than the savings from the cheap labor.

That $1 head of lettuce may cost $2 if the farmer had to pay market wages. But I’ll bet that lettuce really costs about $5 when you factor in the real costs.

I’m not ready to destroy America because these industries want artificially cheap labor and Hillary wants someone to clean her toilets (ugh) for minimum wage.

We used to have a packing plant in town. Smithfield bought it and closed it from Farmland Foods. Yes, Illegals do somewhat depress wages, but the unions fight that tooth and nail. The union wages were above $15/hour.

The perception that there are jobs Americans won’t do comes from the ‘Common Wisdom” that Americans won’t dig ditches or pick fruit, etc. Of course, NO ONE will do that type of job if they have a better job, either better paying or less stenuous.

The pay issue is important. I remember picking strawberries for 15 cents a quart in Green Bay back in the 60s. As a teenager between lawn mowing jobs and not having a paper route, that was a job I could get, and did.

The other side of this issue is the more people are paid, that makes higer costs for the farmer or company. If the farmer or company can’t get their costs plus enough profit to stay in business, they don’t stay in business. That is one concept the liberals just go whistling past with out addressing or recognizing it.

Furthermore, I think the “jobs Americans won’t do” is a canard. I can’t recall the exact source but earlier on as the illegal immigration debate started heating up someone made the point that there was not a single industry or job category where American citizens and/or legal residents do not make up the majority of the workforce. So clearly Americans WILL and are doing these jobs. I have little sympathy for employers who say they can’t hire enough workers. Well maybe not at $7.00 an hour with no health insurance but maybe at $9, $10 or higher with some benefits and who knows?