The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Return of Winter Soldier

7.24.07 @ 12:01AM

(Page 3 of 3)

STAR SHIP DOOM
Re: Thom Bateman's letter (under ("Diseased Liberals") in Reader Mail's Nice Work If You Can't Get It:

There is nothing described by Mr. Thom Bateman and many other thoughtful commentators about the U.S. dying out with a whimper not a bang that thousands of Roman citizens would not instantly recognize as truth of real world experience. Sad to say "we" will most likely not recognize the same reality until it is far too late. More likely only when "we" are reading the history of the decline and fall of the U.S. in some future history class, ala "Star Ship Troopers," Robert Heinlein correctly read the portents way back in the 1950s. Worse, the cure for this "disease" may be worse then the disease itself, although the final outcome might turn salutary for the vast majority in time. Even behind enemy line in Seattle there is a feeling of impending doom for our democracy. Course, in Seattle they look forward to and work towards its completion...
-- Craig Sarver
Seattle, Washington

AVOCADO ARTISTS
Re: The "Labor Balance" letters in Reader Mail's Nice Work If You Can't Get It:

Re: Labor Balance and the oft suggested "take everyone off welfare and put 'em to work in the fields and orchards" -- beautiful theory and I would hate to see the produce that comes to market as a result.

My backyard in Santa Barbara adjoined a beautiful avocado grove that covered acres, lovingly harvested by Mexican labor. When I say lovingly, I use the word advisedly. As I worked in my own small garden, I observed the deftness and speed with which they handled the delicate fruit. The laborers were probably fourth generation pickers who knew what they were doing, taught by their fathers before them. Where they got the lazy "manana" label, I'll never know. They were diligent without being supervised.

I asked the owner why he never employed college students -- Santa Barbara has many schools and an unending supply of summer help. The grower said, "Because I value my trees and I value my crop." Though menial, picking most any crop requires skill and speed and care for the produce being picked.

It is a Utopian dream to believe you can take a busload of people from the unemployment office, drop them off in a field of strawberries or artichokes and your (what is it -- 4%?) unemployment problem is solved along with stopping the immigrant invasion.

These people are not paid what they are worth, but they may be the only workers on the planet who earn every cent of what they are paid. And this is going to blow your mind. I worked one year at the local hospital in Admitting -- and, wonder of wonders, avocado pickers have medical insurance!

Before the anti-illegal immigration folks rain hell on me, this is not a Pro-Illegal stance. It is simply my observation of avocado pickers over six seasons and my certain belief that you can neither train nor force third generation welfare recipients who are born to be unemployed to pick up a short handle hoe and become "stoop labor." There is a segment of society that is simply not acculturated to work. Go to New Orleans and try to recruit some of those Katrina victims. IF you can get together a crew, bring them to California and AT THE SAME WAGE, see who will keep them on for a week. See who will stay for a day. They don't call it the "Big Easy" for nothing!
-- Diane Smith
South San Francisco, California

SWEET CHARITY
Re: Julian Lizzio's letter (under "Child's Play") in Reader Mail's Freddie and the Dreamers:

Mr. Lizzio could not be expected to know my personal history, but rest assured that I am not one to disparage the power of the Internet to do real good. It was in part through the Internet that I became an adoptive father.
-- Patrick O'Hannigan
(on vacation, else I'd have responded sooner)

CUTTING STAGE
Re: Lawrence Henry's Rip Stop:

Picture this, I am old with weak hands and am trying to open the package of denture cleaner tablets. Not going to happen. I now keep scissors in my bathroom drawer.
-- Elaine Kyle

Letter to the Editor

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