Can't find any 'illegal' immigrants to pick your crops, just make the convicts do it.

This article highlights the extreme degree that capital and its enforcer, the state, will take to obtain cheap labor. If they lose access to one social group that lacks political rights (illegal immigrants) and therefore can be easily intimidated, controlled and forced into degrading, inhumane and unjust working conditions state-capital jumps all over the next subservient, controlled population that lacks political rights – prisoners. Yes, Colorado passes a strict illegal immigration bill, causing all the “illegal’s” to flee the state. Guess what happens, the crops go bad because they do not have anybody to pick them. So what is the solution, have the Department of Corrections set up a program where the prisoners pick the crops for 60 CENTS A DAY. Yep, 60 cents a day, now if that does display how exploitative the working conditions are for migrant farm workers I do not know could.

But guess what, the cost to pay the prisoners and the guards to watch them supposedly will cost more than paying the “illegal’s” how pathetic and disgusting is that.

"Prisoners who are a low security risk may choose to work in the fields, earning 60 cents a day. They also are eligible for small bonuses. The inmates will be watched by prison guards, who will be paid by the farms. The cost is subject to negotiation, but farmers say they expect to pay more for the inmate labor and its associated costs than for their traditional workers."

If capital decided to pay workers who performed these jobs living wages than you would have a lot more people lining up to perform them. When you pay someone less than ONE DOLLAR A DAY and a Taco Bell taco costs 80 CENTS, the job will only be taken by lose lacking any better alternative, the marginalized and exploited individuals at the bottom of the social hierarchy, a population that capital is dependent upon.


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-inmates1mar01,0,7469220.story?page=2&coll=la-home-headlines