While the current Immigration Bill in congress waivers between life and death, the biggest gorilla in the room is being ignored. And that gorilla is the Mexican government. Where is that government in all this? I’ve heard virtually nothing from any of the sponsors of the Bill, spokespersons for either side, or even the obligatory pundits that are rolled out every time the 24 hour news shows want to have a round table discussion. In the mean time, the Mexican government is printing how-to guides for border crosser’s, handing out survival kits, and hand-held satellite devices to help illegal immigrants make a successful journey into the United States.
Not only are they doing these things, but they are also behind movements like the current move towards amnesty, issuing drivers licenses, and opening the borders even more. It’s one thing for a government to look out for its citizens who are abroad, but to actively lobby for their citizens who illegally entered another country is unforgivable.
The reason for this indefensible attitude by the Mexican government is obvious. Their system of government is about as Right wing as it gets. The government in Mexico is owned lock stock and barrel by the wealthy. And because of the way they operate their economic system, there is no middle class in Mexico. This leaves a population made up mainly of poor people. And poor people don’t wait around for handouts like the GOP’s claim they do.
Human beings have a natural instinct called survival. It’s no surprise these poor people in Mexico look for a way out of their misery. I don’t believe we should hold these people up as criminals because the real criminals are in Mexico City enjoying decadent life styles. The corruption among government officials in Mexico is so rampant, that many American business men just assume they’ll have to factor in pay offs in any budget involving doing business in that country. With people like that in charge, I suppose no one should be surprised by these revelations.
The problem is that we have 12 to 14 million Mexican citizens who are here now, and rounding them all up is just not realistic. And it is a known fact that the American people want something done about it. But what?
Here is an idea; How about we go ahead and grant amnesty to the existing illegal immigrants, but only in the form of temporary work visas. Then, as these people file paper work to get their temporary work visas, the U.S. government would bill the Mexican government for the cost of any government services the applicants received during their time in the United States. For the number of illegal immigrants who do not apply, we issue a hefty fine against the Mexican government and file a suit with the world court to force them to pay. Now I know we would see little, if any of this money, but it would definitely bring the to the fore front of international opinion, the fact that the Mexican government is acting in a criminal fashion.
*************************
Devin Barber, Politics Correspondent
Devin’s column, “Left Of The Right” published twice weekly or more to Gather Essentials: Politics is a Blue Collar Democrats take on current political news.
Devin was raised by proud Roosevelt Democrats. Being the son of parents counted among the throng of Americans displaced by the Great Depression has given Devin a deep rooted passion for causes dealing with the poor and the working class.
You can find all of Devin’s columns at http://gather.com/leftoftheright
You can keep up with Devin’s postings and his Gather activity by joining his Gather network. Just click here: http://kiwina58.gather.com and then select the orange “Connect” button on the left-hand side of the page.You can find Devin and other Political Correspondents, plus celebrity content and plenty of other politics experts at Politics.gather.com.
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Comments: 46
Immigration, May 30, was reasonable. You all could put that title in the search box and scroll to it, but here's the jist. Mexico, for 30 years, has been invading us with their poor people and extracting immense amounts of our wealth, and re-inserting it into their coffers.
Right now, in remittances, they're ripping us for $30 Billion/year and another
$35 Billion/yr in "human services (ie. us paying their poverty bill). Throughout all of
history, hundreds of wars have been fought from this same cause. One country
trying to pillage another. The Mexicans have been successful because of traitors
like the employers who hire illegal aliens, and politicians who are in cahoots with
them (worst one - George Bush), or other pro open borders interest groups .
We should fully regard this invasion and occupaation of our country with 12-20
million illegal, uninvited, tresspassers as nothing less than war against us.
What we need is James K. Polk and the American people of the 1840's who kicked the Mexicans' butts in the Mexican War. I'd suggest retrieving the troops from Iraq and sending them to the Mexican border, and down into Mexico City like
was done in 1847. I'd surround the city with 100,000 troops and let no one in or
out (patrolling the air as well). I'd also set up complete air and naval blockades of
both Mexican coasts. Lastly, I'd seize the rich Mexican oil fields on the southeast
Mexican Gulf coast and their gold and silver mines along the Mexican/US border as
repayment for the trillions of dollars they've stolen from us in the biggest international burglary in world history - if the Vikings could see how much Mexico has plundered us for, they'd be envious. Nothing short of this is going to stop
Carlos Slim Helu (2nd richest person in the world) and the other Mexican billionaires
who pay a top tax rate of 10% - with no safety net for the poor, shipping them to us is the only way they can support their deranged level of greed.
As for world opinion, it's time for us to start defending ourselves, rather than
conforming to other countries' gab who don't really care about us.
What is ironic is the very same people who are causing this problem in Mexico are the ones causing it here as well. The super wealthy and their "the rules don't apply to me" attitude. We can accomplish the same thing as you propose, and without the amnesty, by cracking down hard on the big employers of illegals and by enforcing our own laws.
I applaud both your article and idea.
Namaste, Wayne
I don't think I have agreed with you on anything but your proposed solution is certainly worth investigating.
Just build the damn fence first!
For Mexico, this illegal immigration is not a negative issue. Do you think the American government would have a problem if our poor and indigent left OUR country illegally to seek work elsewhere? It is most likely that our politicos and policy makers would cheer (even if it had to be behind closed doors), that some of the drains on our system were leaving.
As for the Mexican government acting in an illegal fashion; perhaps they do not have a law that states that a Mexican citizen can only cross over into the United States with proper American credentials. After all, our laws are not necessarily their laws.
Besides, we can't even stop offering jobs to the illegals that come here. We entice the poor, starving and struggling to cross our borders and chase after the carrots we dangle.
As for suing Mexico for compensation, I thought America no longer believed in, honored, or was part of the World Courts. Aren't we a totally stand alone nation that rules the world and does whatever we feel like? If we don't like how Mexico is running its country, don't we just get WarMaker Bush to take care of it?
And I think it shows how internet sites like this one are changing things. Without sites like this, no one would be hearing anything like this article. In doing research for this article I found numerous articles about the Mexican governments activities regarding illegal immmigration on the internet. But virtually nothing on the network or cable news web sites, mmmmm. Makes you think doesn't it.
century style. They are using our own good nature and politeness to make a polyglot boarding house out of us for the rest of the world, which they now use
to colonize us and make our stolen wealth their #1 or #2 source of income.
To illustrate it on a smaller scale. You leave your front door open while you
inattentively sleep in a back bedroom. Your neighbors enter across the BORDER of
your home, illegally and uninvited, and proceed to remove as much of your living room's wealth (TV, DVD, Stereo, etc.) as they can. When you find out, you fight
back with the police. In this case we fight back with the military because that is the only thing that's going to get these greed freaks on a path to stop burglarizing us.
Of course that is all fantasy. The current bottom line in so-called "free world" politics is that there be the LEAST restriction to the needs of the global business class and that national sovereignty is to be surrendered to the WTO, NAFTA and the SPP and any other combination of initials that represents the interest of said class.
Again, there will be no solution to our nations bleeding ulcer of $$$ until the sobs that are of the business class or consider themselves beholden to it are thrown out and replaced by a populist goverment serving the needs of the people first!
won't change unless they're forced to. There's possibility there for the Congress if
enough people would start making enough fuss. So far most of the fussin has been
coming from the illegal aliens.
As for Bush and his backscratchers, he doesn't have to face re-election and we're
seeing the consequences of that as he's telling everybody to go you know what.
We have to wait until after the 2008 election. Congress is supposed to be the ones to declare war, but we've got a president who does whatever he feels like
doing, and a Congress that's too wimpy to stop him.
There are plenty of Democrats who are willing to sell us out as well.
Allow the illegal immigrants amnesty, close more U.S. factories and move them to China or Mexico, outsource more American jobs. Force more Americans out of jobs or into lower paying jobs thus destroying the American middle class.
After all of this there will only be two classes, the rich and the poor. The poor will then feel dependant upon the Government, and will buy into anything the Government proposes. Our Government wants its citizens to feel dependant upon it, no matter who is President or which party controls the House and the Senate.
If and when this happens, our country will cease to exist as a Democracy.
June 12, 2007
By ALICIA COLON
New York Sun
......"Whatever sympathy one might have had for illegal aliens who have risked life and limb to get to a country where the streets are lined with gold has been effectively annihilated by protesters who claim those streets as their own. But most native-born and legalized Hispanics are far removed from the left-wing Marxists who wave Mexican flags at pro-immigration demonstrations. In fact, they've formed their own organization, You Don't Speak for Me (dontspeakforme.org).
Some political leaders are determined to grant legality to those living in the shadows, but not one of the shadow-dwellers I know personally has asked for that exposure.
Now that a grassroots project has halted the ill-conceived new immigration legislation, it's time for political leaders to get back to the business of securing this nation from those who want to divide it. Listen to the words of a Republican president and former New York State governor, Theodore Roosevelt, who spoke at a luncheon given by Vincent Astor's wife in 1916: "Let us say to the immigrant not that we hope he will learn English, but that he has got to learn it. Let the immigrant who does not learn it go back. He has got to consider the interest of the United States or he should not stay here. He must be made to see that his opportunities in this country depend upon his knowing English and observing American standards."
I'm readily recognized as Hispanic but I speak perfect English because I am an American and proud of it. Those who are just passing through shouldn't expect the same privileges."
Entire article through link.......
http://www.nysun.com/article/56381?page_no=1
"Oklahoma no longer "OK" for Illegal Aliens
House Bill 1804 was passed by overwhelming majorities in both the House and Senate of the Oklahoma Legislature. The measure's sponsor, State Representative Randy Terrill, says the bill has four main topical areas: it deals with identity theft; it terminates public assistance benefits to illegals; it empowers state and local police to enforce federal immigration laws; and it punishes employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens.
Oklahoma is no longer "O.K." for illegal aliens, Terrill observes. "When you put everything together in context," he contends, "the bottom line is illegal aliens will not come here if there are no jobs waiting for them, they will not stay here if there is no government subsidy, and they certainly won't stay here if they know that if they ever encounter our state and local law enforcement officers, they will be physically detained until they're deported. And that's exactly what House Bill 1804 does."
www.patriotscorner.com
This is first and foremost a problem with Mexico, but the Mexican government hasn't done a darn thing- I agree with your points. In Mexico you are either extremely well off or you are so poor you aren't sure if you can feed your family. There are no in betweens.
Personally, I would take the risk to come here illegally if it was the only option I saw to put food in my mouth. It's survival.
I'd like to remind you that it is Republicans who build the highways our jobs and factories are leaving this country on. And it was GW's idea to offer amnesty to illegal immigrants, not the Democrats. Illegal immigrants are good for business and when it's good for business, then it's good for Republicans.
The reason I see this as a Left/Right issue is because it's Right wing attitudes that has brought Mexico to where it is today. Like I stated in my last comment "Bargain basement tax rates for the wealthy, little or no safety net for the poor and indigent, and dependence on a stronger foreign country for our national security." Everything the Repub's dream of except for the part about national security. American Righties like to preserve that for themselves. Only their idea of national security seems to be more a matter of protecting oil and the freedom to exploit any resource for profit, free from restrictions.
The fact is that these governments find it cheaper to export their poverty than build their economies by building schools, hospitals, power plants, sewage treatment facilities and work towards the goal of having security of their population from armed thugs. Infra-structure and the physical safety of their citizens and their property is needed to keep the population from leaving.
The fact that these governments don't care about their citizens shouldn't be Americas' problem.
If we give amnesty to every illegal in this country we still haven't addresed the proplem of the millions of more that are on their way.
> immigrants, but only in the form of temporary work
> visas. Then, as these people file paper work to get
> their temporary work visas, the U.S. government
> would bill the Mexican government for the cost of
> any government services the applicants received
> during their time in the United States.
Damn good idea. The Mexican government is a problem.
I am so curious that the US has been accused of meddling
everywhere in the western hemisphere, so how come
Mexico is so hostile to the US and we have to take all this
abuse from a screwed up place like Mexico anyway?
around the world. Someone has to be the cop and enforce some
kind of order, even if imperfect, otherwise disorder takes over.
The fact that it should not be our problem doesn't change the fact
that it is.
Great comments, but I disagree with Dave M. GW cut the budget of the border patrol early in his administration forcing the lay off of 6,000 officers virtually unlocking the gate. And remember, other than this bizarre, out of character push by GW for an immigration bill, if it weren't for the Democrats, there wouldn't even be a bill right now. For six years the Republicans did nothing, and that is exactly what they'd be doing now if they were still in the majority. Clinton called for immigration legislation on a regular basis, but I'm sure you haven't forgotten, the Republicans held both houses for six of his 8 years. So don't give me that everybodies to blame jazz, because it just won't fly.
Here's an even better idea than before; Demand the Mexican government take domestic actions to stop their citizens from crossing our border. If they fail to do so, we tack some serious tarrif on Mexican imports and perhaps invoke other economic sanctions. And you know who that will hurt, yep, the American corporations who have moved all those factories down there so they can pay the locals next to nothing leaving American workers holding the bag.
With the history of US interventionism in Latin American, one has to surmise that either we are not so effective at interventionism or Mexico is the way we like it to be and we are in some way subsidizing the government to maintain the status quo.
I would like to see the US intervene in Mexico in a big way. Think of what we could have done for both countries, US and Mexico if we put as many resources into regime change in Mexico as we did in Iraq. There is a rich country to our south that needs developing for all of our sakes. Maybe the US ought to develop some military expertise in policing instead of just blowing things up.
Former President Vicente Fox was an ardent free- trader, as is
Calderon today. Former agriculture minister, Javier Usabiaga said
that a farmer who cannot survive in the 21st century is simply "going
to have to find another job." To compete in the international
economy, Mexico deliberately keeps wages lower and has one of the
greatest gaps in wealth distribution in the world. Generally NAFTA
has been positive for Mexico, poverty rates have fallen, and real
income salaries have risen, although not fast enough to prevent the
mass immigration we all complain about.
Does the Mexican government have any responsibility for its own
problems?
With both corn and oil at or near record high prices, Mexico should
be doing rather well. Corn production should be increasing, as it is
in the US. But we should note that the second largest revenue stream
into Mexico, after oil exports, is money sent home by legal and
illegal immigrants. I suspect they are in no hurry to change that
situation.
of it is landing right in our laps. This column is healthy no doubt but it would be much healthier if we took all this energy and propelled it in the direction of our
illustrious legislators. Please don't say "they don't care/they won't listen".
Whenever enough people start tugging at them, yes, they do respond - we have
to make it happen. Example: remember Terry Schiavo ? At first legislators acted
indifferent. Then after getting snowed with calls, emails, etc., they were all jumping
up to take the credit for being Terry Schiavo's defender.
So post here, but also write (snail mail is best) to your Senators and Congressmen. And don't just ask for some little sanctions. Mexico's billionaires
can afford those. This problem calls for military action - sounds like Bruce has the
right idea.
when they see the current Mexican invasion fiasco ? They went through all the
trouble of fighting the biggest war in world history, and got nuked, and still never got past our borders.
Now, these Latin-American (mostly Mexican) parasites just come prancing across the border, and are taking over one town after another pillaging our
wealth, while "our" stupid government hands over more money (our taxes) to the
thieves. If you really want to know about the Mexican invasion of us, all its ugly
history, (like the $50 Billion idiot bailout we paid to the bankrupt Zedillo regime in 1995), read Pat Buchanan's masterpiece book, State of Emergency. It's fascinating.
----Against amnesty
----For border security/enforcement
---For enforcement of our current laws
Saturday, June 16 at 11AM in Washington, DC-----as well as state capitols throughout the country!!!
Please click on the link below for more details!!!! Look on the left for info regarding the march in your city/state!!
www.lframerica.com/march2.html
US citizens need to start calling, faxing, emailing their outrage right NOW----before we lose our country. Imagine what type of country we will be leaving our children and grandchildren!!!
Go to this site to Register, then go to "send Free faxes" www.numbersusa.com
Please call all of these senators (below) at the toll free number below every day!!!! Say NO AMNESTY!!!!! Enforce our current immigration laws!!!!! Say NO to the immigration bill----no matter what amendments have been made!!!!!
(800)862-5530 Toll Free number for Senators
Special focus list
* Alexander (R-TN)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bunning
Chambliss
* Cochran (R-MS)
* Coleman (R-MN)
* Collins (R-ME)
* Cornyn (R-TX)
* Craig (R-ID)
DeMint
* Domenici (R-NM)
Isakson
Ensign
Gregg (R-NH)
Hatch (R-UT)
Inhofe
Hutchison (R-TX)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lott (R-MS)
* McConnell (R-KY)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Sessions
* Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Stevens (R-AK)
Thune
Vitter
* Warner (R-VA)
My bottom line is SECURE the border, cut off the flow. Then, while remaining the humane people we are, and I don't care if you call it amnesty or rumplestillskin, we mythodically, systematically escort the ones that are already here BACK HOME!!!
They need to secure our borders and go after employers that hire illegal labor. These employers ae just as illegal as the labor they hire and should be locked up in prison. If we want to help these countries in the long run we need to put pressure on them to fix instead of exporting their poverty.
Maybe say fix it or expect less US aid this will help compensate for having their citzens get hurt in some shop that OSHA would shut down or when they fall off some raggedy ladder or get half a hand cut off on a meat slicer that no American would operate and end up in the ER as a medi- aid claim.
Lest anyone think I do not care about family cohesion, even from foreign illegal immigrants, I just think this is an issue that will work itself out, and it is not a reason to throw open the borders and declare amnesty.
This needs to stop, and most of all our government needs to start listening to the people without us having to deluge them over special issues like this!
I think back the FCC that did not get one citizen contact in favor of its media consolidation change back when Michael Powell headed that agency, and yet it passed anyway - soon to the recinded by Congress thank God.
What is up with out government ... and more to the point, what is up with the American people that we take no interest in these things, or do not demand our government listen to us?
reps in DC won't listen to them is wrong. We people get active, poiticians get
wooried about being re-elected. That's a healthy thing. Most people I know don't
even know who their congressmen are.
There's some evil people out there. Corporate Mexico, Corporate America and the Bush administration, and many people in our own Congress. But one thing remains sure - "the only thing necessary for evil men to succeed, is that good men do nothing".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AzQDk7vz4g