Daily Topics - Wednesday April 21 2010
By louisehartmann
Hour One - What does outing Senator Lindsey Graham have to do with immigration reform? William Gheen www.alipac.us
Hour Two - "The 5 Grossest American Fast Food Ideas" Brian Merchant www.alternet.org
Plus...Do we need more regulation in the fast food industry to save us from ourselves? Dan Gainor www.businessandmedia.org
Hour Three - Why I will Vote Republican plus....Is there are new yardstick for Greed?
Comments
#2
Mstaggerlee:
You think what I said was "neocon"? What do you think I'm hearing? All I hear is "neocon" stuff from "populists" who call themselves "progressives." I have written here before about how the local orchard owners say that cannot even get one "native" to even apply for work, and after workplace raids, their only choice is either close or allow in a new batch of workers with perhaps questionable credentials. I am sick and tired of the hypocrisy, and I think you are extremely naive about how the world works. This is all part and parcel of the myths that perpetuate hate. If you need to disabuse yourself of some of these myths, you need to check-out the SPLCenter website.
#3
I was just trying to make a point. Look at all the pub KFC is getting. Looks like it worked.
#4
One of the things Mayor Bloomberg has done right in NYC has been to have the calorie content of various food items be posted at restaurants/fast food sites that maintain a certain number of sites. It does steer me to save a couple of hundred calories by picking a similar but less caloric version of what I am interested in. Or, if none exists, I ask myself, if it is worth that many calories. -- It is amazing how many calories certain luncheon sandwiches have.
Worst food? These disgusting little white worms/eels(?) during a high school Spanish class dinner: traditional food that I forced myself to eat. The tripe was more bearable. I've never forgotten it/them -- high school is long behind me.
#5
I have written here before about how the local orchard owners say that cannot even get one "native" to even apply for work, and after workplace raids, their only choice is either close or allow in a new batch of workers with perhaps questionable credentials. - constans1
Perhaps the problem is insufficient wages and awful working conditions?
#6
Seems I can't edit by deleting my comment. Oh well
#7
@harumman, I wasn't trying to give you a hard time, I was just making an extreme example of the BigMac.
N
#8
If you vote Republican, you might be a hypocrit.
#9
Did I say "might be"?
#10
Bolivian President Blames Capitalism for Global Warming
COCHABAMBA, Bolivia - Bolivian President Evo Morales said capitalism is to blame for global warming and the accelerated deterioration of the planetary ecosystem in a speech today opening an international conference on climate change and the "rights of Mother Earth."
#11
Hypocracy is not reserved for GOPhers...
#12
Regarding disgusting food -- Check out the photos at http://thisiswhyyourefat.com/ -- Bacon like stuff, yes, but also Deep Fried Milky Ways and Pulled Pork & Mashed Potato Parfait. Argh!!!
#13
Zero G. did the article conclude with Rahm let the Blue Dogs Out? ;-)
N
#14
Had to have a decent lunch after all this. Sardines, brown rice and salad.
#15
Gates calls for ratification of Colombia free trade agreementThe stalled pact has long been supported by U.S. businesses but opposed by labor and human rights groups because of Bogota's intolerance of labor activists.April 16, 2010|By Julian E. Barnes
Reporting from Bogota, Colombia — Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates voiced support Thursday for a U.S. free trade agreement with Colombia, a treaty considered a critical reward for one of Washington's strongest allies in the region.
The proposed agreement, first signed during the George W. Bush administration, has long been supported by U.S. businesses but opposed by labor and human rights groups because of Bogota's history of harsh intolerance of labor activism.
It was reported today on KPFK that there are now 5 million internally displaced persons in Colombia.
#16
Thom,
I was a bit disappointed to hear your dismissal of either the guest's, Mr. Gainor's, or another caller's statement about BMI being incredibly problematic.
I didn't agree with anything else he said, but he is right about that. BMI is bull--crap.
To quote Keith Devlin on NPR.org, BMI "is mathematical snake oil." His article breaking down why BMI is the wrong choice of indicators of people's health is located here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106268439&sc=fb&cc=fp
Further, here is a visual representation of the above-linked article:
http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2007/09/why-bmi-is-crock-in-pictures.html
Now, I'm not saying that as a license to eat everything in sight and never exercise. I'm saying the exact opposite. I've lost more weight, eaten healthier and gotten in better shape since forgetting about BMI. I just think the scientific and medical communities, as well as public health organizations, can find a far more accurate way to represent people's health.
Further, it fosters the exclusive focus on individuals' personal eating habits rather than turning a critical eye to conventional, chemical-based and factory farming, genetically modified organisms and big agri-business' stranglehold on the supply of food.
#17
@Nels,
No it mostly decried the fact that members of the progressive caucus, namely Lynn Woolsey, Henry Waxman, John Conyers, were supporting Harman over Winograd.
#18
Robert S:
Again, as I said here several times before, these issues go way back. They were addressed in Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath," in Edward R. Murrow's documentary "Harvest of Shame," as well as by the United Farm Workers Union founded by Cesar Chavez. People never made any money in these migratory jobs; they were subsistance level at best. The agribusinesses, as I am forced to mention again, have to compete with cheap imported produce, particularly from Asia, just like almost every industry in this country has to. Again I have to tell the story of how at a community meeting, one anti-immigrant bigot told a farmer that he would be willing to pick vegetables all day in the hot sun--for $30-an-hour. He was obviously not making a serious proposal, but offering an excuse as to why he wouldn't do this work.
#19
If NAFTA were revoked, I would really begin to feel optimistic about our future.
#20
@Zero G, and Mark K. your conversation reminds me of a old joke:
A man goes up to an attractive woman and asks would she sleep with him for a million dollars? She says sure she would. Then the man replies, would she sleep with him for a dollar? Indignant she says "What kind of woman do you think I am?" The man replies, "well we've already established that, I'm just trying to negotiate the price now."
(Sorry for the vulgarity ladies, just fits their conversation.)
N
#21
Yeah, Thom, you think merely by turning back NAFTA will bring back middle class jobs? Now who is being naive about the world here? You are employing just another empty talking point.
#22
Constans1, that sounds like an argument against free-trade agreements. But since you mentioned Steinbeck, certainly the migration of Americans to California during the dust bowl era, shows that there is nothing about the work itself that Americans wouldn't do, given reasonable wages/conditions. We have seen in my lifetime, the demise of most family farms. Back when I was in grade school, the urban/rural population was supposed to be about 50/50 at least according to the textbooks.
#23
Zero G was "talking" to me? I wasn't paying attention. I wouldn't have mattered anyways. I live in a different world than he--or most of you--live in. Maybe you just don't want to know what kind of world that is.
#24
Nels,
Prostitution is only another form of wage labor.
#25
@Mark K. aka constans1, Robert S. is aka Zero G. and you have been addressing him directly.
#26
"I am known by many names" - Theodore Bikel in Zappa's 200 Motels
#27
Robert S.
Oh, jesus. During WWII, when there was a shortage of workers, the U.S. instituted the bracero program, which brought in Mexicans to work the fields. When the soldiers came back, with their GI Bill, they thought there was a better life for themselves, and there was. High-paying middle class jobs exploded soon after the war. Although the bracero program ended, there was no great rush to fill those jobs by the natives. Some growers were forced to use indigents and drunks for the work, but they proved incapable of sustained work. Even Hippies looking to get back to nature were employed, but naturally they got bored with the work. Eventually, growers were forced to allow undocumented workers to do what they needed done.
#28
@herBreckness: are you related to Tex. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison? She's the original "Breck Girl" according to Molly Ivins. :D
#29
I export natural gas all the time.
#30
@Maxrot: We know.
#31
Oh Jesus -
There are two to three million farmworkers in the United States. Nearly 80 % are male, and most are younger than 31 years of age. Most farmworkers are married and/or have children, but most live apart from their immediate family members as a function of their employment.
While the federal government has estimated that the average annual income of farmworkers is a mere $11,000 , that estimate is actually quite high because it includes higher paid workers, such as crewleaders. A scholar studying farmworkers has said:
"Seasonal farmworkers are the poorest laborers in the United States, earning an average of $6500 per year. Farmworkers who migrate are poorer than settled seasonal laborers, with migrants earning $5,000 per year. The most vulnerable migrant workers, such as those laboring for farm labor contractors in eastern states, earn annual wages as low as $3500."
Piece-rate workers are generally paid by the bucket—in tomatoes, as little as 40 to 45 cents per bucket (a bucket is 32 pounds of tomatoes). At that rate, farmworkers have to pick around two tons of produce (125 buckets) to earn 50 dollars. The piece rate wages paid to tomato workers have not changed significantly in more than twenty years. In addition, workers reported that there is wide uniformity in the wages paid by tomato growers.
Migrant farmworkers are very poor, and they receive very few social benefits. Less than 1 % of farmworkers receive general assistance welfare, and only 2% receive Social Security benefits.
Farmworkers have long periods of unemployment, and most do not receive any form of pay, including unemployment compensation, during those periods. Crop workers are employed in the U.S. an average of 34 1/2 weeks (66%) of the year.
By the time a migrant farmworker child is 12 years old, he or she may work in the fields between 16-18 hours per week, leaving little time for school work.
Farmworker Health and Safety
Agriculture is consistently rated as one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. Farmworkers suffer from the highest rate of toxic chemical injuries and skin disorders of any workers in the country. The children of migrant farmworkers have higher rates of pesticide exposure, malnutrition, and dental disease than the general population. Children of migrant farmworkers are also less likely to be immunized against disease.
#32
Those bacon wrapped wonders do lots to improve my production rate too. ;-)
#33
@Zero G., and all those farm workers are only Mexican, even in Appalachia?
#34
Rober S:
Alright, so where did you copy-and-paste that from? Obviously, you miss the point of it: Why would the "natives" take those jobs? And why would immigrants take those jobs? And again you ignore the micro and macro economics of it all. I have already told you the hypocritical excuses as to why "real" Americans who make outrageous demands won't do the work. It's unfun work--to some people. Most Mexicans who work in these jobs have done farm work their entire lives, unlike the indolent "natives" who probably need the excercise. And let's not forget that the low-income, no benefits description that you posted can be applied to most industrial park jobs that the natives do work in.
#35
Nels,
Back in 1975 I spent a few weeks on a one cow, hippie farm in rural Virginia...I didn't see any Mexicans. The Blue Ridge Mountains covered in snow were beautiful though.
#36
What farmwork in Appalachia? Haven't you heard? Appalachia is coal mining country.
#37
Yeah, I know fascism. Mexican is the Jew in this country.
#38
Aww Zero G. how nice of you to provide me such cool links, I feel bad that I didn't get you anything now. Can't wait to wade into the Chomsky link.
N
#39
This has to be at least ONE of the most disgusting foods commercially available:
http://www.boingboing.net/200809101238.jpg
LOL!
#40
Nels,
Zero G. DOES have wonderful links. He's amazing sometimes...
#41
Quark, only sometimes?
#42
Mark,
You could have clicked on the link to see that that came from the Southern Poverty Law Center, and specifically dealt with the Immokalee workers who were trying to organize for a wage hike, many had been working in near slave conditions.
Ignore the macro and micro? Me? When I spend all this time talking about how US foreign/trade policies drive the Global Corporate agenda?
#43
Nels,
Well, I didn't want you to think (as Stephanie Miller puts it) that you weren't BOTH pretty! LOL!
#44
QUAAARRRK, quick where can I get one of 'dem Sundae's, until now I've never known how incomplete my life was.
#45
Nels,
Some things we are better off only guessing at...
#46
awww Quark, you're making me blush ;-)
#47
Robert S:
The problem is that you are trying to use that article to make your "point." Let's face it: you don't really care about the conditions that Mexican laborers work in--even the ones who are legal. You want them out of those jobs--all of them. They are all the same. This is antithetical to the agenda of the SPLCenter.
#48
Nels,
I think I'm getting in over my head. Maybe I should just ...
Darn, I was going to say something perfectly nice, but couldn't because I realized it could be taken two ways.
'Time to get out while the getting's good! 'Take care, have a nice evening. 'See you tomorrow. 'Bye!
#49
Seriously Quark I need one of 'dose Sundaes to eat while I sit with my gun and Minuteman friends on the border just waiting to shoot those dang families coming over hear.
Gawd how I hate those Candjuns (no offense to Rick), remember Blame Canada!
N
#50
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project
ASAP helps create and expand local food markets that will preserve our agricultural heritage, give everyone access to fresh, healthy food, and keep our farmers farming. Our mission is to collaboratively create and expand regional community based and integrated food systems that are locally owned and controlled, environmentally sound, economically viable, and health-promoting.
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Back in the day before I drifted into more traditionally Kosher practices, I would sample a wide range of more adventurous dishes including:
I love trying stuff.