{"id":4438,"date":"2025-09-03T08:04:26","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T15:04:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/?p=4438"},"modified":"2025-09-03T08:31:03","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T15:31:03","slug":"wisconsin-economy-will-be-gone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/2025\/09\/03\/wisconsin-economy-will-be-gone\/","title":{"rendered":"Examining Governor Tony Evers\u2019 statement that Wisconsin\u2019s economy \u201cwill be gone\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='dropshadowboxes-container dropshadowboxes-center ' style='width:100%;'>\r\n                            <div class='dropshadowboxes-drop-shadow dropshadowboxes-rounded-corners dropshadowboxes-inside-and-outside-shadow dropshadowboxes-lifted-both dropshadowboxes-effect-default' style='width:auto; border: 1px solid #dddddd; height:; background-color:#ffffff;    '>\r\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4439\" src=\"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Evers-Wisconsin.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"569\" srcset=\"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Evers-Wisconsin.png 750w, https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Evers-Wisconsin-300x228.png 300w, https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Evers-Wisconsin-150x114.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                        <\/div>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Gov. Tony Evers says if President Trump deports a lot of illegals from Wisconsin, then his state&#8217;s economy &#8220;will be gone.&#8221;<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/1Ex9oCLYXq\">pic.twitter.com\/1Ex9oCLYXq<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Thomas Sowell Quotes (@ThomasSowell) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ThomasSowell\/status\/1963243080783397299?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 3, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Direct Answer:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Governor Tony Evers\u2019 statement that Wisconsin\u2019s economy<span style=\"color: #000080;\"><em><strong> \u201cwill be gone\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/span> if the Trump Administration continues deporting illegal immigrants is both exaggerated and unsupported by hard economic data. While certain industries in Wisconsin do rely on immigrant labor \u2014 both legal and illegal \u2014 the idea that the state\u2019s entire economy would collapse is not backed by workforce statistics, federal data, or historical precedent.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Step-by-Step Reasoning:<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>1. Wisconsin\u2019s Workforce and Illegal Immigration Numbers<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><em>Population Reality:<\/em><\/span><\/strong><br \/>\nAccording to Pew Research and DHS data, Wisconsin has an estimated<span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong> 75,000\u201385,000 illegal immigrants,<\/strong><\/span> representing <span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>1.3% of the state\u2019s population<\/strong><\/span> and <span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>about 2.1% of the labor force<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Source: Pew Research, 2024<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>This is <span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>not a majority or even a large fraction<\/strong><\/span> of Wisconsin\u2019s workforce, which totals roughly <span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>3.1 million people<\/strong>.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>Even in industries like dairy, where immigrant labor is concentrated, illegal immigrants comprise a <span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>portion<\/strong><\/span>, not the entirety, of the workforce.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Counterpoint:<\/strong><\/span> Removing 2% of a workforce would create disruptions but <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>not total economic collapse<\/strong>.<\/span> Other states with higher illegal immigrant populations (California, Texas, Florida) have never \u201ccollapsed\u201d when federal immigration enforcement increased.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>2. Historical Precedent: Enforcement and Adaptation<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>2017\u20132019 ICE Enforcement Surge:<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\nDuring early Trump-era crackdowns, Wisconsin experienced <span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>increased deportations<\/strong>,<\/span> yet:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The state\u2019s <span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>GDP continued to grow<\/strong>,<\/span> rising from $335 billion in 2017 to $360 billion in 2019.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Unemployment dropped<\/strong><\/span> from 3.4% in 2017 to 3.0% in 2019.<\/li>\n<li><em>Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, BLS<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Takeaway:<\/strong> <\/span>Even with aggressive federal immigration enforcement, Wisconsin\u2019s economy <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>grew<\/strong><\/span>, indicating businesses adapt by:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Increasing wages to attract legal workers.<\/li>\n<li>Investing in automation.<\/li>\n<li>Streamlining production.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>3. Dairy Industry Concerns \u2014 Legitimate but Limited<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Wisconsin\u2019s dairy sector is heavily dependent on immigrant labor. A 2015 study by the UW-Madison Center for Dairy Profitability estimated that <span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>half of all dairy workers were immigrants, with many likely undocumented.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Risk of disruption:<\/strong><\/span> Rapid deportations would absolutely hurt some farms. Labor shortages could cause higher milk prices and production slowdowns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>However:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The state\u2019s dairy industry represents about <span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>$45 billion<\/strong><\/span> of Wisconsin\u2019s $400+ billion economy \u2014 roughly <span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>11% of total GDP<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Even a severe disruption in dairy would not eliminate the other 89% of the economy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Historical analogy:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In the 1940s, during World War II, Wisconsin farms lost thousands of young men to military service. The industry adapted by hiring women, retirees, and utilizing temporary migrant programs, such as the Bracero Program.<\/li>\n<li>The industry survived then and could adapt now.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>4. The Cost of Illegal Immigration<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Governor Evers focused only on <span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>economic output, not public cost:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A 2023 Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) report estimated illegal immigration costs Wisconsin taxpayers <strong><span style=\"color: #000080;\">$1.2 billion annuall<\/span>y<\/strong> through:\n<ul>\n<li>Public schooling<\/li>\n<li>Emergency medical care<\/li>\n<li>Law enforcement<\/li>\n<li>Social services are indirectly accessed through mixed-status families<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Removing a portion of illegal immigrants could <span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>reduce these costs<\/strong>,<\/span> partially offsetting any economic labor loss.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Bottom line:<\/strong> <\/span>The governor\u2019s framing ignores the<span style=\"color: #000080;\"> <strong>taxpayer burden<\/strong> <\/span>while overstating the production benefits.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>5. Broader Economic Dynamics<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Wage Suppression Effect:<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\nStudies, including research from Harvard economist George Borjas, have shown illegal immigration <span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>suppresses wages for low-skilled American workers<\/strong>,<\/span> particularly in agriculture and food processing.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Increased enforcement could <span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>raise wages<\/strong>,<\/span> encouraging more legal residents to fill these roles over time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Automation Trends:<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>Dairy and meatpacking industries are already exploring robotics to reduce dependence on manual labor.<\/li>\n<li>A labor shortage might <span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>accelerate modernization<\/strong><\/span>, improving long-term productivity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Alternative Perspectives<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While Evers\u2019 claim is overstated, there are valid concerns:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Short-Term Disruptions:<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>Rapid deportations could hurt small family farms already struggling with low milk prices and debt.<\/li>\n<li>Businesses would need <span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>time and transition policies<\/strong> <\/span>to adapt.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Legal Immigration Pathways:<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>A guest worker program could meet labor needs while ensuring workers are here <span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>legally and documented<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>This approach balances enforcement with economic stability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Summary &amp; Action Plan<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Summary:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Illegal immigrants make up <span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>2% of Wisconsin\u2019s workforce<\/strong>,<\/span> concentrated in specific industries like dairy.<\/li>\n<li>Historical data show Wisconsin\u2019s economy can <span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>withstand enforcement actions<\/strong> <\/span>and even grow despite them.<\/li>\n<li>Governor Evers\u2019 claim that the economy would \u201cbe gone\u201d is <span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>hyperbolic<\/strong><\/span> and unsupported by facts.<\/li>\n<li>While some industries would face short-term challenges, long-term adaptation, wage adjustments, and legal labor reforms could offset these effects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Action Plan:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Fact-check public statements<\/strong> <\/span>by comparing them with verified labor and GDP data.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Push for legal guest worker reform<\/strong><\/span> to ensure labor needs are met without encouraging illegal immigration.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Promote modernization<\/strong> <\/span>in agriculture to reduce overreliance on vulnerable labor sources.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Encourage balanced public discourse<\/strong><\/span> that acknowledges both the economic contributions and costs of illegal immigration.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gov. Tony Evers says if President Trump deports a lot of illegals from Wisconsin, then his state&#8217;s economy &#8220;will be gone.&#8221;pic.twitter.com\/1Ex9oCLYXq \u2014 Thomas Sowell Quotes (@ThomasSowell) September 3, 2025 Direct Answer: Governor Tony Evers\u2019 statement that Wisconsin\u2019s economy \u201cwill be gone\u201d if the Trump Administration continues deporting illegal immigrants is both exaggerated and unsupported by&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[84],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4438","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-political-dishonesty"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4438","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4438"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4438\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4438"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4438"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4438"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}