Immigration, Part 3

2007-6-24 16:51:00

The Question:

Why is there such a problem with illegal immigration on the southern border with Mexico but not on the Northern border with Canada? How does this answer lead us to the long-term solution?

Most of you seem to realize that the major difference in the two countries lies in the huge gap in their situation as far as a freedom, security and economics goes.

Canadians seem to feel as secure in these three areas living in Canada as they would living in the United States. Thus we do not have a big rush for them to come here. Instead, we have some Canadians moving here and some Americans moving there of their own free will. It is a fairly even exchange.

On the other hand, Mexico has tremendous problems with freedom, security and economics. This creates great impetus for the people to move to the United States any way they can get there.

We can't place the major part of the blame on the common people for the problem. If you or I were in the same situation we would also attempt to do whatever is necessary to provide for and protect our families. As usual, the major blame goes on the ruling classes, the powers-that-be in the government and the various power brokers in and out of the country.

Larry strikes at the heart of the problem:

"Criminal activity and institutionalized corruption is the order of the day in Mexico. Violence can be very high in parts of Mexico as drug lords attempt to protect their "turf." The police are well known for the corruption, and often are believed (probably correctly) to work hand in hand with criminal gangs.

"In the last ten years or so in Mexico the crime of kidnapping for ransom has skyrocketed. We're not just talking about kidnapping rich people, but middle class people - anyone who can conceivably come up with anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to several thousands of dollars. People are prevented from carrying weapons to protect themselves (only the police, the criminals, and very rich people who can afford bodyguards have any real protection).

"Very clearly one huge difference is in the amount of cultural violence, illegal gangs, corrupt police, inefficient government, and political corruption that explains the failure of the Mexican government, and why so many Mexicans are driven by desperation to try to find work in the U.S."

John C made this comment:

"...we can start applying pressure to the Mexican government to reform their society..."

JA:

"Because in freedom there is equality as in equal opportunity and they have that in Canada while in Mexico they use freedom as a commodity as in kidnapping."

Bryan:

"I would think it might be best to first stop and come up with how 'we' (collectively) are going to implement [a plan] to encourage, etc. Congress (and others) to enforce the laws we have."

JJ:

So we have identified the major problems. A question is what are we going to do to help Mexico become more like Canada and the U.S.A.? But a more immediate question that we will tackle first is how do we as a nation protect ourselves from Mexico importing its problems to us? If we become like Mexico instead of Mexico becoming like us then there will be no place of refuge for any of the poor and/or enterprising. All will lose and the whole of the Western Hemisphere could become fertile ground for a takeover from foreign powers.

Another point missed by many is that the illegal crossing of Mexicans is a secondary reason that this is such a big issue. The prime reason goes back to 911 and the fear that terrorists could cross the border and wreak more havoc. The possibility of a nuclear bomb going off in a major city is nerve racking indeed.

U.S. citizens have little concern that future terrorism could come from Mexicans crossing the border, but an increasing number of possible Moslem extremists could be coming across. This concern creates more fallout than normal toward illegal crossing with Mexico as well as a growing concern with the borders of Canada.

The first question to settle in this dispute is this: Does the United States have the moral authority to dictate who shall be allowed across its borders and conditions for admittance?

Before answering this, another question must be asked:

Why is it that the United States is the only country in most of the world where this question is even asked?

Why is the question not asked of Mexico, Canada and other countries? Just as the United States is richer than Mexico, Mexico is richer than its southern neighbors. Its citizens make about twice the amount as the Guatemalans on its border and over four times as much as those from Honduras. Just as the United States is concerned about an influx from the South so is Mexico. What is little known is that Mexico has stricter immigration laws than the United State.

An illegal alien in Mexico can be fined and sentenced to up to two years in prison. When illegals are rounded up they are put in prisons that make detention in the U.S. look like paradise.

Often one will find dozens of male and female illegals together in one small room with no food, medical attention or any access to human rights privileges.

And how do they treat legal U.S. visitors who may want to stay there and work? If the U.S. citizen takes a job that could be done by a Mexican he can be sent to prison. It's all right to retire there and spend our money, but not to make money.

That said, why then is the United States picked on, as if it were a big bully, for even considering it has the moral authority to decide who shall be allowed across its borders and conditions for admittance? It is very hypocritical for the rest of the world to point fingers of accusation at us when none of their own tolerance for illegals comes close to matching the U.S.

England, one of the more tolerant nations, has only 570,000 illegals. We have 25-35 times that number.

Nations like Australia and New Zealand have the ideal situation. They are surrounded by thousands of miles of ocean which helps to minimize the problem there.

Now let is get back to our question:

"Does the United States have the moral authority to dictate who shall be allowed across its borders and conditions for admittance?"

The answer is yes, of course. If other nations have such moral authority then of course the U.S. does also. It is indeed a principle in nature that every life, whether it be a cell, an animal, human or state has the responsibility to look out for its own survival.

Next we will move on to other questions such as:

What do you think?

I also have a personal question. Maybe Larry or some other savvy member can answer this.

Does anyone know what percentage of the time illegals are paid under the table or are most paid legally so the employer can take the wages off taxes? Are employers allowed to pay illegals below the minimum wage?

  

Global Warming Enlightenment:

There are in the U.S. today 13.2 million acres of old growth (trees, which often release more CO2 than they take in) of which 8 million acres are totally protected in national parks and wilderness areas. These trees can never be cut. If we took these 8 million acres of protected old growth and imagined it to form a band five miles wide, it would extend from the Pacific Coast all across the country to the Atlantic Ocean.

Environmental Overkill, By Dixy Lee Ray, Page 125