Obama administration to protect kids from working.

[r3020]

Just what we need, a bunch more lard arse kids setting home in front of their video games. No more hiring the neighbor boys to help put up square bales or to help wean and work calves. Very progressive.

snip-

Sparking outrage across the country’s rural heartland, the Obama administrationis proposing rules to curb the ability of children on farms to engage in “corn sex” for pay.

Farmers call it corn detasseling, a time-honored but physically demanding chore designed to promote cross-pollination in the field. For decades it has been a way for teens to earn extra spending money — and forge some good-natured field hand camaraderie — for a few weeks each summer.

The Obama administration is considering revisions to federal agricultural work rules that effectively would bar teens younger than 16 from engaging in a number of traditional chores for pay — including detasseling.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/5/federal-rewrite-of-labor-laws-causing-a-flap-down-/?p...

[schnurrbart]

http://kidshealth.org/teen/safety/safebasics/farm_safety.html

http://www.cumberlink.com/news/local/article_c58e5884-fe7a-11e0-91d8-001cc4c002e0.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-osha-investigating-farm-accident-that-killed-t...

http://www.pennsylvaniawrongfuldeathlawyerblog.com/2011/10/pennsylvania-teen-killed-in-farming-accid...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/15/child-labor-rules-white-house_n_927551.html

http://blog.lib.umn.edu/seexx021/3101newsfall2011/2011/10/amish-teen-dies-after-farm-accident.html

http://www.kanoski.com/Articles/Farm-Accidents-Highlight-Need-for-Proposed-Changes-to-Child-Labor-La...

Now I'm sure YOUR children are well versed in the operation of all kinds of vehicles and machinery on the farm but thousands aren't and THEY get killed and injured all the time.

[r3020]

Kids also die playing football and riding bicycles.

[dagwud]

Bart, I'm assuming you used to farm back in Illinois some time in the past.  If so did you use children under 16 years old to help on the farm?  Say baling or picking up rocks?   How about something as simple as picking apples?  All three of those jobs would now be illegal the way most farmers go about it.  Would you have wanted the government to tell you that you could not do it back then?

We are not talking about putting an 8 year old on a tractor or having a 10 year old running an auger.   I think in today's sue easily world most farmers would be careful about the age of their workers and what jobs would be appropriate for them to handle safely.

Each child is different as to how strong or mature they are but I think there are many jobs that 14 and 15 year old kids can do safely that will now be illegal if this becomes law.

[hobbyfarm2145365]

According to a 2009 study a child is killed every 3 1/2 days in ag work sites.   40 or so suffer serious injuries everyday so it is some thing to look at,    I believe it was on this site where farmers bragging how their every joung some age 5 were driving tractors etc ,  how stupid are these people.   as long as it isn't my kid it ok.

[schnurrbart]

It is obvious that no one even read the article:  Key words to look for---FOR PAY.

"The rules would not affect children working on their parents’ farms, but could affect minors who want to work for relatives or hire themselves out for temporary work during the summer. The Labor Department proposal would restrict the range of chores children could do for pay, including driving tractors, branding cattle, working above a certain height and herding livestock on horseback."

Your children can do just about anything on YOUR farm as long as they are not paid a wage.  Doing some chores on the farm and getting an allowance is not going to land anyone in jail.  To answer your question, no I never hired any kids to work on my farm.  My daughter owned several cows in FFA and she took care of them but the hard dangerous work was done by myself.  You can do what you want with your kids but mine were never deliberately put into a dangerous job.  Even then it will not be illegal if you are not paying them.

[schnurrbart]

They aren't being paid to do it though.

[hardnox604008]

Sadly, I'm not sure that is true.

As long as I can remember my family was always a lot more conservative about what kids were permitted to do than most of the neighbors. I can recall a number of unfortunate outcomes not that far from home.

Obviously there is a different legal standard for your own kids than someone else's but not sure that it is a bit different morally.

Actually, I gotta say one thing I am proud of is never having anyone seriously injured on my watch although I'll admit there is some luck in that also. For which I am thankful.

[r3020]

Bart, when my boys work for Pioneer they get paid. When you HIRE the neigbor boys to help bale hay or straw they get PAID.

[Samnospam]

The government replacing the parent has long been a goal of the progressive.