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Question: Why won’t Bush & Fox’s illegal-immigrant plan work?
The Orange County Weekly ^
| 01.23.04
| Gustavo Arellano
Posted on 01/23/2004 7:01:23 PM PST by Beck_isright
Answer: Because Mexicans Never Return to Mexico
Question: Why wont Bush & Foxs illegal-immigrant plan work?
by Gustavo Arellano
For years, the only phone in my mothers hometown of El Cargadero, nestled high in the mountains of the desiccated central Mexican state of Zacatecas, was in the house of Salvador Barrios. Whenever someone received a call, Salvador had to jog up and down El Cargaderos hilly streets and let the person know that someone wanted to talk to them. It didnt matter if it was night or day, heat or rain: Salvador ran. But thanks to the thousands of dollars that my mothers fellow expatriate cargaderenses wired to their birthplace over the decades, the Mexican government finally installed telephones in El Cargadero two years agoand Salvadors aching legs finally get a rest.
President Bush cites this modernization of El Cargadero and countless other Mexican ranchos as justification for his half-assed revamping of American immigration policy. Bush is calling for the abolishment of the U.S.-Mexico borderbut only for Mexicans who register with American companies willing to employee them for a maximum of six years. There is no call for amnesty in Bushs proposal. Instead, all participants would only attain the minimal rights guaranteed to American workers, such as minimum wage, safety-regulations and sick leave. As a churro on a stick, Bush also suggests the establishment of a lucrative pension fund that workers can only cash in on when they return to Mexico.
Bush presented his program by arguing that Mexican immigrants come to this country only to earn enough cash that can be lived off in Mexico, a view seconded by President Vicente Fox of Mexico. "[Mexicans] are not going to become American citizens, nor do they want U.S. citizenship," Fox told the Associated Press on Jan. 9. "They want to have their rights respected, to get good pay for their work and to be able to visit their families in Mexico."
But El Cargaderos reality betrays Fox and Bushs vision. Despite the ranchos assumption of suburban infrastructure while retaining its pastoral charm, it is dead. Only the elderly, the young, and the drunk remain. Anyone able to migrate did years ago, with more than 1,000 of us residing in Anaheim alone. And while the capital investments in El Cargadero are spectacularthere are even lawns and sprinklers in some yards nowadaysthese are monuments to immigrant entrepreneurship experienced only weeks at a time. The rest of the year, the hard labor of a generation stands deserted, a staid museum display rather than a living, breathing community. Even Salvador Barrios house is largely empty: all his children migrated when they turned 18.
My ancestral villages depressing case isnt exclusive at all. Modern Mexico has come to this: hamlets eagerly embracing the 21st century but with the majority of its children toiling away in el Norte. Theyve been leaving now for a good century, transforming Latinos into the largest American ethnic group. With Mexicos economy continuing to stagnate, this phenomenon wont let up anytime soon.
Immigrants send back money to Mexico by the billionsan estimated $14 billion in 2003and visit come vacation time, residing in now-lavish houses funded by years of sweat. But thats all Mexico is to them now, a vacation spot. They invariably trek back to the States after realizing life in Mexico is inferior. They imbibe from the damned American cup of successthe higher wages, better living conditions and modern-day comfortsand find it attractive. They have children, who then assimilate to the point where Mexico means nothing other than food and music and where grandma lives.
Bushs plan ignores this relevant fact, however, since its implementation would be a victory for the American and Mexican governments. Bushs big business buddies can now legally fill employment shortages that Americans would easily assume if it wasnt for the insulting pay. These Mexicans never have a chance of becoming citizens, thereby absolving the United States of any true responsibility toward them. Fox, in turn, doesnt have to improve his own country and allows his paisanos to leave, ensuring that the restless Mexican nation doesnt heed its centurial call to revolution. The billions sent back maintain Mexicos economyand the Mexican government doesnt even have to worry about taking care of this money spout.
The losers, of course, are the Mexican immigrantsarent they always? "Dear and beloved Mexico/If I die far away from you/May they say that Im sleeping/And that they return me to you," the immortal charro Jorge Negrete sang in "México, Lindo y Querido." All Mexican immigrantslegal and illegalmaintain the illusion of returning one day to Mexico. But they rarely return permanently, and without any possibility for amnesty, illegal immigrants will continue to live in the shadows. All they will have is an empty house in Mexico, a house that keeps their nostalgia but little else.
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aliens; amnesty; crime; illegalalien; immigrantlist; immigration; immigrationplan
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No comment. It's all been said in this article and on FR.
To: *immigrant_list; A Navy Vet; Lion Den Dan; Free the USA; Libertarianize the GOP; madfly; B4Ranch; ..
Ping...
2
posted on
01/23/2004 7:01:57 PM PST
by
Beck_isright
("Those who stand for nothing fall for anything."-Alexander Hamilton)
To: Beck_isright
Neos are not Republican nor Conservative.
Bush is in for a rude awakening... I am willing to deal with four years of Kerry if it gets the message across to the GOP.
To: StatesEnemy
" Bush is in for a rude awakening... I am willing to deal with four years of Kerry if it gets the message across to the GOP."
WOW! Now that's the strongest statement I've read on FR to date. Just WOW.
4
posted on
01/23/2004 7:08:58 PM PST
by
Beck_isright
("Those who stand for nothing fall for anything."-Alexander Hamilton)
To: Beck_isright
Read your tagline...
To: StatesEnemy
The earliest this country can have a decent President is January 2009. I still don't know what the best option is to preserve our sovereignty between now and then.
6
posted on
01/23/2004 7:12:20 PM PST
by
dagnabbit
(Tell Bush: No Amnesty, No Mexico Merger, No Global Labor Pool. Vote Tancredo in the Primary)
To: Beck_isright
Explain to me how forcing companies having to pay an increas in minimum wage to all workers including REGISTERED illegal aliens, increases the number of illegal aliens a company hires??? How is it bad to know who is already in the country??? What incentive does a company have to higher a non English speaker if they have to pay them minimum wage??
Why are the "true conservatives" without a clue??? WHY CAN'T YOU GENIUS TRUE CONSERVATIVE GIVE A COGENT ARGUMENT??
7
posted on
01/23/2004 7:13:17 PM PST
by
Porterville
(Traitors against God, country, family, and benefactors lament their sins in the deepest part of hell)
To: StatesEnemy
I read it daily. And thank you. I agree with your sentiments. I'm just shocked to finally see someone say it. I'm sitting out '04 thus far, except for local races.
8
posted on
01/23/2004 7:13:40 PM PST
by
Beck_isright
("Those who stand for nothing fall for anything."-Alexander Hamilton)
To: dagnabbit
"The earliest this country can have a decent President is January 2009. I still don't know what the best option is to preserve our sovereignty between now and then."
Prayer.
9
posted on
01/23/2004 7:14:17 PM PST
by
Beck_isright
("Those who stand for nothing fall for anything."-Alexander Hamilton)
To: StatesEnemy
![](http://maddox.xmission.com/cluetrain3.gif)
Here maybe a cartoon can clear it up for you, make sure you don't draw outside the lines with your crayons, and don't eat the paste.
10
posted on
01/23/2004 7:15:17 PM PST
by
Porterville
(Traitors against God, country, family, and benefactors lament their sins in the deepest part of hell)
To: Porterville
"Explain to me how forcing companies having to pay an increas in minimum wage to all workers including REGISTERED illegal aliens, increases the number of illegal aliens a company hires???"
They will not hire "REGISTERED illegal aliens". You're smoking crack if you think they will.
"How is it bad to know who is already in the country???"
How are we going to find 10-20 million illegals, when we already don't prosecute 30-40 million non-filing U.S. citizens who are delinquent on their taxes?
"What incentive does a company have to higher a non English speaker if they have to pay them minimum wage??"
Who's going to enforce this? The 2000 INS officers? Yeah, right.
"Why are the "true conservatives" without a clue??? WHY CAN'T YOU GENIUS TRUE CONSERVATIVE GIVE A COGENT ARGUMENT??"
Washington, Hamilton, Jefferson, Franklin, Monroe, etc. have given a "cogent argument". So have us "GENIUS TRUE CONSERVATIVE"(sic) types.
The rule of law apparently no longer applies to laws passed before WJC.
11
posted on
01/23/2004 7:18:01 PM PST
by
Beck_isright
("Those who stand for nothing fall for anything."-Alexander Hamilton)
To: Porterville
Stop playing dumb!
It's funny how the Hyper-Capitalists laud the free market except when it comes to the market pressure on wages.
Ya know that ol' adage - "Jobs Americans won't do"
Nooo... Jobs that are not paying what the market demands... And for all you scum sucking neocons that will reply with "Mexicans will do it" just remember, the TRUE COST of those workers (healthcare, subsidized housing, foodstamps) is bore by the American Taxpayer.
To: Beck_isright
You really can't see it can you??? You think that if illegal aliens are required to register so they can be here legally they won't?? But, in the same breathe you will state the Bush program will increase the number of aliens in the country to take advantage of the guest worker program. You want it both ways??? Man, what is it?? It is one or the other. Come on, spit it out, give me which one it is...
13
posted on
01/23/2004 7:23:21 PM PST
by
Porterville
(Traitors against God, country, family, and benefactors lament their sins in the deepest part of hell)
To: StatesEnemy
Ya know that ol' adage - "Jobs Americans won't do" Nooo... Jobs that are not paying what the market demands... And for all you scum sucking neocons that will reply with "Mexicans will do it" just remember, the TRUE COST of those workers (healthcare, subsidized housing, foodstamps) is bore by the American Taxpayer.What is the INCENTIVE if the INCENTIVE is effectively TAKEN AWAY??? IT IS SO SIMPLE!!!
14
posted on
01/23/2004 7:24:54 PM PST
by
Porterville
(Traitors against God, country, family, and benefactors lament their sins in the deepest part of hell)
To: dagnabbit
Are you attending your county precinct meeting?
Will you sign up to attend your state convention as a delegate?
Will you debate and vote on the party platform at those events?
Do you actively work from inside the party to bring it back to relevance, or do you only complain from outside?
We could retrieve our party from it's liberal drift very quickly, if enough hard line constitutional conservatives would only turn out at all party functions.
Sadly too many of us seem to be much better at outrage AFTER the fact, than at preventing it ahead of time with personal involvement.
The election starts at the precinct level, almost immediately!
There is still time, barely, to get involved in THIS election.
15
posted on
01/23/2004 7:26:17 PM PST
by
Richard-SIA
(Nuke the U.N!)
To: Porterville
"You think that if illegal aliens are required to register so they can be here legally they won't??"
DUH. They would also be required to PAY TAXES. Thus they have no reason to register. You are totally clueless. There are 2000 INS enforcement offciers nationwide. That's one officer for every 1000 illegals. Yeah, like that law will ever be enforced.
"But, in the same breathe you will state the Bush program will increase the number of aliens in the country to take advantage of the guest worker program."
It's already happening. They are starting to surge across because they want the "blue card" so they can take legal jobs, but the existing illegals will not be prosecuted for their jobs which pay them in cash. So please, smoke some more Rovian tobacco. It must be good stuff to smoke because you see flying blue bunnies and God knows what else.
16
posted on
01/23/2004 7:26:43 PM PST
by
Beck_isright
("Those who stand for nothing fall for anything."-Alexander Hamilton)
To: Porterville
What makes you think that employers will hire the ones that sign up for Bush's amnesty "program" instead of hiring the ones that will work cheaper even though they are still illegal?
17
posted on
01/23/2004 7:26:51 PM PST
by
sweetliberty
(Even the smallest person can change the course of the future. - (LOTR))
To: Porterville
What are babbling about??
You think Mexican illegals aren't gonna show up at the emergency room? At the local jail?
You don't think their American born bambinos are gonna tax every civil service we have?
Pullease. The Corporatista class (which have no loyalty to America BTW) have been playing fast and loose with labor since time began. It's time they actually bear the TRUE COST of that raw material, instead of passing the "processing costs" on to the rest of us.
To: Porterville
There is no chance illegal immigrants will have any more inclination to obey new immigration laws Bush proposes than they have to obey the existing immigration laws.
As is the case with gun control laws, criminals DO NOT OBEY THE LAW and are not deterred by new and stricter laws. The federal government will not enforce the law...the present one...or any future ones.. when it comes to illegal aliens.
It doesn't take a "genius" to figure that out.
The only message coming from the Bush proposal is the government has thrown up its hands and will not strictly enforce the immigration laws of this country.
There are many of us who have made very cogent arguments about how the cowardice of politicians toward border control is destroying America.
You cannot insult conservatives to blindly agree to a bargain with the devil.
Lawlessness begets lawlessness and undermines all respect for the law. The foreign invasion of America is taking away all incentive for anyone to obey the law.
Why bother?
The government is giving away our country to trespassers. It is better to be a foreign trespasser and get free health care and education than to foolishly play by the rules. Why should I buy health insurance or pay my hospital bill? Illegal aliens don't and are guaranteed care!
To: StatesEnemy
You left out the previously "Extinct" diseases that are being brought back to the U.S. by those "poor immigrants only seeking a better life".
And U.S. taxpayer funded health care!
Polio and Leprosy to name a couple.
There are many more as well, but the media and CDC appear to be keeping that very quite.
I am surprised that it does not get mentioned even here.
20
posted on
01/23/2004 7:32:25 PM PST
by
Richard-SIA
(Nuke the U.N!)
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