One Man's American Dream Slipping Away

The economic downturn and a shortage of jobs in the United States is prompting some immigrants to consider returning to their home countries. The small town of Pierson, in the southern U.S. state of Florida, depends heavily on the fern-growing industry. The Farmworkers Association of Florida, which advocates for immigrant workers, says some of the 5,000 local fernery laborers are only able to find two or three days of work a week. Steve Mort reports from Pierson on one worker contemplating the future amid cutbacks.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• fern
• florida
• fernery
• laborer
• immigrant
• economy
• labor
• job
• pierson
• farmworker
• farm
• worker
• mort
• voa
• news

[screamingmeanie]

If he's been here since 1977, why hasn't he bothered to learn the language?

[Whitelightng]

Awesome!! Back to Mexico you go...

[Z71Ranger]

Poor guy! Bet you can get some government aid.

[TheMasiker]

@screamingmeanie well your right on that part.

[screamingmeanie]

@screamingmeanie *If he can't melt in the pot, he's bad for the mold.

[screamingmeanie]

@TheMasiker Umm, I have a full time job, and I feed my family. I would think that yes, he would want to learn the language of the country he lives in. If he doesn't want to, he shouldn't have come here. I trust that your dad is a Mexican, and I believe that he should learn our language, or go home. Welcome to immigration. Learn the culture, or go home. He he can't melt in the pot, he's bad for the mold.

[TheMasiker]

I HATE THIS RACIST SHIT IF EVERY MEXICAN LEFT BACK TO MEXICO U.S ECOMONY WOULD BREAK DOWN FAST IF U.S DIDNT GET HELP FROM CHINA, OR THE 23 OTHER COUNTRYS THAT HELP IT U.S WOULD SHUT DOWN FAST.

[TheMasiker]

@screamingmeanie maybe cuz he doesant have time you try feeding your family and have a full time jobe you think that when he gets home he wants to learn english no hes gonna want to rest.. trust me my dad is a mexican too he came in 1963 and he bearly gets english he under stands the bad words tho

[lanceehansen]

He is undercutting the job market taking lower wages than the company would have been paying otherwise

There are no jobs that an american won't do ...for a fair wage!!!

[anacaro0627]

all who said bad stuff about this poor guy, maybe you should get your ass and work in the fern yourself, because I know you wouldn't last a day working there, so you should consider shuting your mouth

[JenkemBOMBS]

@badsign1980

What if he did "live of drugs"? What if he made a drug that cured HIV, or produced drugs like antibiotics?

What if he uses a extremely neurotoxic addictive drug like alcohol?

Perhaps the worst would be if he used a drug like deodorant after sweating all damn day. Yes, the deodorant you put on your armpits is a drug.

Don't be a hypocrite, you use drugs and commit crimes to. Ever decide to drive over the speed-limit?