The smaller pool of working age people can't pay for all the pensions, health care, etc. for all these old people.
That's the theory, anyway.
The other wrinkle is that native born people, whether it's in Europe or in California, are not willing to go out into the fields to pick grapes, or artichokes or whatever. They're also not willing to work in sweatshops in subhuman conditions.
Again, that's the argument.
There's a reason why manufacturer's associations and big agriculture are against limits on immigration.
and that is a big mistake,
in Europe Bananas are cheaper than apples,
so why a European should gather apples?
we speak about poverty and hunger, but we also take other continents fruits/food cheaper than we should gather our own,
so why to work at the fields?
that is the game of multi-national corporations,
kiwi is sold 20-27 Ecents at field and in market reach 2-4 E per kilo
that is also a big mistake of states policy, which cann't take care good handdle of working power,
for example gathering all year and not 2-3-6 months,
so why to produce an iphone in US when I earn more by importing it from China and sell it x100 the cost?
why to produce -gather-sell aplles, when at supermarkets imported bannanas are so cheap?
I live in an area which is called peach heaven, the only area that could 'run' with California with peach production
at 80's competition was so strong that hit many times #1 at global standards,
at 2010 has the same price and all deserted, imported peach with not even half the quality costs less than half the total price of producing and gathering,
even cooperations start importing coffee and frozen peach juice to make juice, cause a cup of coffee or green tea advertised at TV sells,
but not a fresh squized peach juice, cause the profit is not the same,
kiwi's here are rotten in the fields, we consume quantities, but how much you can sell?
go to a journey undertown, kiwi juice is selled 1,5-2,5 E, and CAFE trademark same price,
IN WEST WE DO NOT SAY LETS GO TO A REFRESHMENT SHOP AND DRINK SOME JUICE,
WE SAY LETS GO TO COFFEE SHOP AND DRINK TEA,
EU put limits in sugar production, cause white sugar is toxic as claimed, and rich at callories
5 big factories that had thousands workers closed at 80's in order Greece enter EU
but considers coffee and tea a healthy product!!!
stevia and aspartame which have heavy effect at kidneas where promoted even by advertising
on the other hand a good understand the problem is at US Dixie,
who is in charche there? farmers or bankers and agro-pharmacy corporations?