Meanwhile, back in reality....

from McClatchy

With too few hands to pick the apples in Washington state, Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire says the farm labor shortage has prompted a crisis.

In the Wenatchee Valley east of the Cascade Mountains, apple growers have posted their help-wanted signs across the countryside. And for the first time in years, growers in the state have launched a radio campaign, offering pay of $120 to $150 a day, but there have been few takers, much to the governor's regret

"We're not getting anybody to take a bite on these jobs, so we don't have anybody to do these jobs," she said Thursday night.

While much of the talk on Capitol Hill is tough, with opponents of illegal immigration vowing to seal the borders, Gregoire said Congress should instead focus on a way to get more foreign workers to help with harvesting in her state, the nation's top producer of apples.

From El Imparcial

In Oaxaca, there are 1.3 million oaxaqueños that suffer undernourishment and hunger, a number that could increase due to the rise in the price of the basic necessities, indicated Gerald Go'mez Tort, president of the Food Bank of Oaxaca (BEAM).  "The most serious repercussions are for the most vulnerable sectors of the population and will increase major poverty and extreme hunger. Due to the increases in the prices of the main consumables - like gas and gasoline, as well as new taxes, the condition of the families in extreme poverty will be affected seriously."