So why will immigrants do it, if it's too crappy of jobs for Americans? Because they come from worse. Because they have the physical toughness that Americans mostly don't any longer. Because this is their best chance to improve their family's situation and their own.
Great post. One thing I disagree with though is the part about Americans' "physical toughness". I think its just about the pay/benefits. Americans are plenty strong/tough enough to perform farm labour. I think that Americans would do farm labour en-masse if the job paid enough to make it worth their while. But as you've pointed out, it can't. That's why Americans don't want the job.
Americans do plenty of crappy, dirty, dangerous, strenuous jobs... its just that they get paid more to do them. Anyone who has worked in fast food knows its a pretty crappy, dirty, demeaning job. Its relatively easy/simple, and not too physically demanding, but its still crappy. Same for retail. Retail isn't dirty, or necessarily dangerous, or all that strenuous for most positions, the exception being inventory, where you are doing dock/shelving/stocking work, but in any case retail is still a pretty crappy job. I've done both and they both suck. The difference is that people working in retail or fast food get paid more than farm workers.
Another example is that lots of Americans work in construction and landscaping/snow removal. With those jobs, they aren't just dirty, they are also dangerous, and physically demanding, especially if you are working outdoors in extreme heat/cold, with machinery, cutting trees, using power tools, climbing things like scaffolds or trees, etc. You also have to deal with stinging/biting insects, vermin and animals. But again, the difference is that the pay is better than farm labour. Again, I've done both and they both suck, but you get paid more than farm labour. That's why plenty of people do it.
One last example I know you will appreciate is package handling and delivery driving. I've done both of those jobs and they are very physically demanding, tough jobs and they can also be pretty dangerous. I've seen guys get crushed and injured by package avalanches in the belly of the trailer. Working on the unloading side of the dock is tough, but the loading side is insane. Especially during the holidays. The pace is bananas and the physical demands are brutal. I would leave my shift every night drenched from head to toe in sweat. Loading trailers had physical demands comparable to being a competitive athlete. But again, the pay is better than retail or fast food and way better than farm labour, so people are willing to deal with the physical demands of the job.
Same thing for delivery driver. That job is tough and very physical, since you are lifting packages all day and walking up and down stairs, driveways, hallways all day, jumping in and out of the truck all day etc. Also, it can be pretty dangerous out there on the road, especially with a job where you need to make all your stops to finish your route. You have to drive pretty fast, and cut some corners, use shortcuts, etc. Lots of close calls and minor accidents doing that job. You also have to deal with dogs, which can also be dangerous. However, once again, the pay is better, so you can find plenty of folks to do the job.
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