Senior Scribe
Hmm!
By Mona Lease

Hi, all!! This could only be in my mind! But - I thought I'd share this idea with you. I was speaking to a girlfriend the other day. Our conversation turned to this:

Have you ever noticed that (by and large) - almost by some cosmic (higher-up?) design - people from other countries (cultures?) are living and working here? Before I continue on, I'll put a parameter on this..There are good people and bad people in every culture (color,sex,etc.). And another parameter is - everyone has their vices - smoking, drinking, drugs, gambling - you get the idea.

Now - to broaden the picture. From what I've personally seen - these "strangers from other places" largely work in or on chicken, hog, or turkey farms. For all of our modern machinery - someone has to get the droppings from the south end of these critters to the truck to spread it on a field. Or, it goes to a retention pond. Those are the ponds filled with water (mostly rain) to keep a source readily available to douse a fire - or keep it under control while you are waiting for the responding units to arrive. You've seen the ponds. They are the ones that are black and murky looking. And usually, there is a picnic table beside them. I don't know why the table.

Aside from moving the "deposits" - you need to deal with the animals themselves. On most of the chicken/turkey farms; the employees administer the needed shots. If you want the meat or eggs to be healthy - the animal itself needs to be healthy! This means the chickens (in this case) are taken out of their cage and "poxed" (usually under their wing) and put into another cage (so you do not repox a bird or miss one). PS - Sometimes the term "biddy hen" applies and the hen darn well does not want to come out of the cage. Some young turkeys will weigh in around 75# or more - and they need shots, too.

The above is an insight into a "day in the life" on a chicken/turkey farm. There are egg jams (hens lay eggs, they fall through the bars on the bottom of the cage and roll down a conveyor belt.) I'll spare you readers all else that can and does happen in the cages.

Some of the employees start out at a mere 6 or 7 dollars an hour. Some have never made more than that in the 10 years at the same job. (Yes, they are legal. They usually do not pay full rent in this case. And they pay heat and lights.). They make the "money" on how many hours they work. And many work 16 -18 hour days as a way of life. Some live in a mobile home on the farm. They are there to see to and fix, any emergency at any time - day or night - holiday or no.

Now to my point. The "strangers" from elsewhere work together. I have personally seen 3 or 4 young men live together. They will split rent of $500 as well as the utilities. I've seen two families - kiddies included - do this. I've seen them go together and buy a new van or other large vehicle. And they share it...drive time, etc. The first thought in my mind is - "Aren't we all supposed to be living like that - or somewhere close to it?" My second question is - "Do we worry about closing the borders to fix our "problem"? Or do we open our minds to the possibility that our much sought after answer lies in the very area we are trying so disparately to eradicate?

Remember the kiddies and our service people. Take good care of the furry and feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next time. Ever Toodles!! MONA