Politico published a sob story about farmers who are upset with Donald Trump because if illegal aliens are deported, who will remain to pick the lettuce?

California contractor Carlos Castañeda... fear Trump's talk about erecting a "big beautiful wall" at the border and deporting millions could make it nearly impossible to find the guest workers they need — workers who would obtain legal status under most comprehensive reform bills.

"There are growers out there screaming for labor," said Castañeda, a farm labor contractor in San Luis Obispo County in central California. "The people who are coming in are doing the work that not a single American would like to do."

Not a single American!  Not one!  Those lazy American bastards!  Hey, this guy sounds a little like Jeb Bush, doesn't he?

Many say they will do everything in their power to educate the public about why Trump’s positions jeopardize their livelihoods — and the nation’s access to fresh fruit and vegetables.

Please educate us!  If we lose illegals, tell us of the small children who will wander the empty vegetable aisles of supermarkets with tears in their eyes as hard-eyed mothers herd them to the candy aisle.

The candidate’s inflammatory talk, especially his vow to deport 11 million immigrants in the country illegally, poses a serious threat to U.S. farmers struggling to get their crops to market, said Frank Muller, who grows tomatoes, peppers, almonds and walnuts on his California farm.

Enforcing immigration laws is "inflammatory."  I wonder what other laws Mr. Muller feels are inflammatory...

"My farm would shut down today if you removed my ... workforce,' Muller said. "You hear all these disparaging remarks about immigrants, but these guys are the hardest-working, most dedicated people ... I've ever seen in my life."

I like how Muller delicately refers to the people working for him as his "workforce" and "immigrants."  I hope if he has children that none have been gunned down or run over by his dedicated workforce.

The fact is that all the farmers cited in this story, far from being sympathetic figures, are breaking the law by employing illegal aliens.  In fact, not only are they breaking the law, but they have developed a sense of entitlement about it, and they act aggrieved when a candidate talks about enforcing the law, in much the same way that bank robbers might talk disparagingly about a candidate who promises to station policemen outside banks.

These farmers (and of course Politico) want you to believe that without illegal aliens, there would be no more vegetables.  (Actually, too many illegal aliens, like the San Francisco Embarcadero shooter who thought he was shooting sea lions, probably are vegetables.)  The actual truth is that there are plenty of Americans who would work on farms if farmers would pay higher prices.  Farmers may claim they can't afford to pay higher prices, because then they couldn't compete against other farms that do use illegal aliens.  But if all farms were prohibited from using illegal labor, then all would be on even ground and could compete against each other.

These farmers are whining because they are used to paying sub-minimum wage to illegal aliens beneath the table, and probably avoiding paying Medicare and Social Security taxes as well.  The risk of having to pay the same wages as every other business terrifies them.  They would be forced to deal with a workforce they can't exploit.

It is amazing how a bunch of lawbreaking crony capitalists are portrayed so favorably by the media.  Their argument that "no one will pick the lettuce" if we once again become a nation of laws is laughable.

This article was produced by NewsMachete.com, the conservative news site.