Fix Mexico - Getting at the root cause of our immigration problem

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

You want to solve the illegal-immigration problem? Well, here's the answer: Make Mexico rich.

[...]

"Make Mexico rich" is also easier said than done. But it isn't any less true simply because it's hard. A Mexico with a per capita income somewhere even close to America's would stop sending its poorest workers abroad, largely because those workers wouldn't want to leave.

The Mexican economy, which does better than you might think, creates about a half-million jobs a year. That's not too shabby. The problem is that about a million young people enter the work force every year. A big chunk of that surplus labor heads north, as do many of the workers who yearn to make more than the Mexican minimum wage of $4.50 (U.S.) per day.

So, how do you make the Mexicans rich? One method, preferred by many in the Mexican government, is to export your poor laborers to America, where they can then send billions of dollars back to Mexico...

[...]

Another route might be foreign aid. But foreign aid, it turns out, is next to useless...

[...]

There is a third route: trade. Free trade has been proven, time and again, as a reliable path to economic development. It pushes both the public and private sectors toward greater accountability and transparency. It lifts people out of poverty, and while it can force unsettling changes on a society those changes prove to be worthwhile in a very short time.

[...]

For all the talk about coming up with "comprehensive" immigration reform, the root causes of the supply are left out of the debate about immigrant supply and demand. If we're going to be "comprehensive," why not tie a fixed but significant level of legal Mexican immigration to greater free-market and anti-corruption reforms at home. Mexico's government feels increasingly free to lecture us about our domestic and economic priorities; it seems only fitting for us to take a more active interest in theirs as well.

http://www.nationalreview.com/goldberg/gol...00604120721.asp

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

For all the talk about coming up with "comprehensive" immigration reform, the root causes of the supply are left out of the debate about immigrant supply and demand. If we're going to be "comprehensive," why not tie a fixed but significant level of legal Mexican immigration to greater free-market and anti-corruption reforms at home. Mexico's government feels increasingly free to lecture us about our domestic and economic priorities; it seems only fitting for us to take a more active interest in theirs as well.

http://www.nationalreview.com/goldberg/gol...00604120721.asp

BRAVO!

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I'll be sending lottery tickets to Mexico. Gotta start somewhere.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Mexicos problems are much the same problems that plague a lot of Central and South America. That whole region needs 'fixing', not just Mexico IMO.

Europe has much the same problems with migrants flooding in from African nations and parts of Eastern Europe. Could we actually be suggesting that many of the worlds poorest regions would benefit from ending western exploitation and a general redistribution of wealth from the worlds richest nations?

Edited April 25, 2006 by Fishdude

[Anonymous 0]

Europe has much the same problems with migrants flooding in from African nations and parts of Eastern Europe.

Are you serious???? Name just one European country that has 10 million illegal immigrants within its borders. Can't do it?? Then how about 5 million?? Still can't find one can you?? That's because EU countries protect the rights of their citizens by enforcing non-citizen labor and property ownership laws.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Europe has much the same problems with migrants flooding in from African nations and parts of Eastern Europe.

Are you serious???? Name just one European country that has 10 million illegal immigrants within its borders. Can't do it?? Then how about 5 million?? Still can't find one can you?? That's because EU countries protect the rights of their citizens by enforcing non-citizen labor and property ownership laws.

Yes I am serious. Europe has problems with illegal immigration from Africa and Eastern Europe, just as America does with Mexican migrants. I don't believe I specified numbers - was I supposed to?

Where do you think all the people from Balkan regions migrated to during the war? Where do you think people from Iraq moved during (both) Iraq wars? Where do you think refugees from Rwanda and Somalia ended up during the problems in their respective countries? They sure as hell didn't stay where they were.

Illegal immigration is a national issue in almost every major European country you care to name. If you disagree, fair enough but that's my opinion, from living in and travelling around various European countries.

Edited April 25, 2006 by Fishdude

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

From today's news:

British Home Secretary won't resign over foreign prisoner blunders

[Jasman0717 9]

They have oil fields, they should be getting very rich now with the price of oil at 70 bucks a barrel!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

They have oil fields, they should be getting very rich now with the price of oil at 70 bucks a barrel!

Rest assured, somebody down there is getting very rich!

[iceyspots 0]

Isn't Mexico part of NAFTA ?

[cbd2cai 0]

Isn't Mexico part of NAFTA ?

i think so . . . .why else are they proposing to build a super transportation corridor from the border thru Texas headed for Canada???? you wouldnt believe how crowded our main north-south interstate (I35) has gotten in the past few years!!!

Isn't Mexico part of NAFTA ?

i think so . . . .why else are they proposing to build a super transportation corridor from the border thru Texas headed for Canada???? you wouldnt believe how crowded our main north-south interstate (I35) has gotten in the past few years!!!

here we go, i found a link:

Texas Superhighway

Edited April 26, 2006 by cbarrosmostafa

[tom&tata 2]

Yes I am serious. Europe has problems with illegal immigration from Africa and Eastern Europe, just as America does with Mexican migrants. I don't believe I specified numbers - was I supposed to?

Where do you think all the people from Balkan regions migrated to during the war? Where do you think people from Iraq moved during (both) Iraq wars? Where do you think refugees from Rwanda and Somalia ended up during the problems in their respective countries? They sure as hell didn't stay where they were.

Illegal immigration is a national issue in almost every major European country you care to name. If you disagree, fair enough but that's my opinion, from living in and travelling around various European countries.

Agree. I saw refugees from Somalia, Afghanistan in the Netherlands (I should know, I lived there for 2 years). Probably the number will be a lot less than 5 million, since it was a considerably smaller country than the US.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Yes I am serious. Europe has problems with illegal immigration from Africa and Eastern Europe, just as America does with Mexican migrants. I don't believe I specified numbers - was I supposed to?

Where do you think all the people from Balkan regions migrated to during the war? Where do you think people from Iraq moved during (both) Iraq wars? Where do you think refugees from Rwanda and Somalia ended up during the problems in their respective countries? They sure as hell didn't stay where they were.

Illegal immigration is a national issue in almost every major European country you care to name. If you disagree, fair enough but that's my opinion, from living in and travelling around various European countries.

Agree. I saw refugees from Somalia, Afghanistan in the Netherlands (I should know, I lived there for 2 years). Probably the number will be a lot less than 5 million, since it was a considerably smaller country than the US.

In Europe I think the problem is more to do with percentage per population, as opposed to sheer numbers.

Much of the rioting in France recently, and in Britain a few years ago was related to dense pockets of immigrants who weren't assimilating to the local culture.

That's not necessarily with regards to illegal immigration, but Britain for example has had a significant problem with its asylum system, not only with people filing dubious claims - but the way the system deals with the people while they're claims are being considered. They are housed in B&B hotels (at public expense) at various sea-side towns around the country.

Needless to say that creates a lot of resentment, because people see immigrants getting a 'free pass' at their expense.

Then there was that rather 'regrettable' incident where asylees being held at a 'detention' facility, where their cases were to be looked at got impatient, burned the place down and fled into the countryside.

[*Robert* 2]

They have oil fields, they should be getting very rich now with the price of oil at 70 bucks a barrel!

Very good point Jim...