Republicans are rolling back child labor laws. But they’ve always been weak on farms.
  • VexCatalyst@lemmy.fmhy.mlEnglish
    6·
    1 year ago

    Once upon a time, long before you were born, most food was grown by children on what were called “family farms” owned by the family. Youngsters as young as 4 even….

    Ok, Ok, I’ll set the Staff of Sarcasm down now, but seriously, a lot of folks on both sides of this are suffering from significant cognitive dissonance.

    • nzodd@beehaw.orgEnglish
      4·
      1 year ago

      Supporting child abuse is never a good look. And these massive industrial farms are the furthest thing from traditional “family farms” as you can get. Would you force your kids to work in the mines because “once upon a time” that was considered OK? How horrible.

    • phikshun@lemmy.fmhy.mlEnglish
      4·
      1 year ago

      I get your point, but I think the image you have in your head of rustic countryside life, hard work and an honest living isn’t the reality these child slaves are part of.

      Seems a bit less terrible when you inherit the farm at some point, for one. Second, one would assume that parents would take steps to prioritize their child’s health and safety and wow do they not do that on industrial farms. And third, can’t be an honest living if you’re not actually being paid, you know, a living.

      I don’t think both sides are experiencing cognitive dissonance. In practice, they both appear to be working against the interests of the working class.

      • VexCatalyst@lemmy.fmhy.mlEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        I’ve a lot of images in my head on this topic. Some fine, others…… not so much. And far darker then my instance would permit to speak on.

        I think what I have a problem with most is the actions by both sides in the US, to force one size fits all solutions onto cultures in the US that don’t always share similar values on the subject.

        I don’t know. The actions and policies of both the Republicans and Democrats tends to leave sour tastes in my mouth. The cities are not the suburbs, are not the farm lands, are not the outback. Not to mention differences in faiths.

  • psudo@beehaw.orgEnglish
    3·
    1 year ago

    Possibly even younger when you take into account that most undocumented labor doesn’t follow any of the other laws either.

  • Fizz@lemmy.nzEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    If it’s a 12 year old from the farmers family I have no problem with it