Posted on 05/05/2006 1:54:20 PM PDT by hedgetrimmer
Immigration issues are always ripe for demagoguery, particularly in an election year. But the solution to the very real problems along the U.S.-Mexican border can be found, ironically, in that other part of the world that American demagogues love to ridicule: old Europe.
Two years ago, the European Union admitted 10 new nations into their backyard. Like Mexico, all of these nations were poor, some of them fairly backward, corrupt and recently ravaged by war and communist dictatorship.
But the leaders of the European Union wisely created policies for fostering regional economic and political integration that make efforts like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) look timid and halfhearted by comparison.
Europe realized it had to prevent a "giant sucking sound" of businesses and jobs relocating from the 15 wealthier nations to the 10 poorer nations. It also had to foster prosperity and the spread of a middle class in these emerging economies, and prevent an influx of poor workers to the richer nations.
So for starters it gave the new states massive subsidies – billions of dollars – to help construct schools, roads, telecommunications and housing, making these nations more attractive for business investment. The idea was to raise up the emerging economies rather than drag down the advanced economies. It is expensive, but the result has turned out to be a larger economic union in which a rising tide floats all boats.
In return, the 10 poorer nations had to agree to raise their standards on the environment, labor laws, health and safety and more. The incentive of admission to the European club was used as the carrot to the poorer nations for acceptance of human rights and political democracy. There won't be any border maquiladoras in the European Union.
The flow of worker migration still is regulated. Immigrants will be carefully integrated so as to cause the least amount of disruption to the developed economies, with the goal of having open borders within a decade or two.
This bold yet carefully planned EU approach suggests the direction that policy between the U.S. and Mexico should go. Increasingly the demands of the global economy will push the North American regional integration out of the realm of a shadow economy and flawed free trade agreement. But what might such an American-Mexican union look like?
It would start with massive subsidies from the U.S. to Mexico, a Tex-Mex Marshall Plan, with the goal of decreasing disparities on the Mexican side of the border and fostering a climate riper for investment. This would create more jobs in Mexico and foster a middle class, homeownership and better schools, roads and healthcare. Fewer Mexicans would then desire to emigrate north, instead staying home, creating more consumers to buy U.S. products.
But Europe's union is not just an economic one; it also includes continent-wide political institutions for all 25 nations. As American-Mexican economic integration unfolds, regional political structures also make sense to allow better coordination and supervision of the regulatory regime and common goals. Canada, not wishing to be left out, would ask for inclusion.
And here's an even more intriguing possibility. We always assume that opening the border means hordes of Mexicans streaming north, but under this scenario, more Americans also would begin emigrating to Mexico. With the cost of living spiraling along the coasts and in cities, many Americans would find not only the cheaper prices but also the warm climate and palm trees of Mexico a more attractive alternative than relocating to the frigid tundras of South Dakota or Kansas.
Call it the Mexican safety valve, with American workers migrating to Mexico in search of jobs, homeownership, even to start businesses. In other words, they would chase the American dream in Mexico. Already we see the beginnings of this, with American expatriate communities springing up around cities such as Guadalajara.
The Census Bureau predicts that by 2050 the number of Latinos and Asians will triple in the U.S. and whites will make up only 50% of the nation's population. For many people, these changes are alarming, but economic disparities guarantee that poor Mexicans will continue seeking entry into El Norte, legally or illegally.
Given these demographic realities, gradual integration of the American and Mexican economies is the only sensible solution. Of course, U.S. politicians are reluctant to talk about this levelheaded approach, preferring to stick to bumper-sticker slogans and avoid the reality of border issues.
In the meantime, the U.S. is missing out on huge economic opportunities while the European Union has grown to the largest trading bloc in the world, poised for the 21st century. Old Europe is looking spry on its feet, while the U.S. is looking clumsy and stuck to the flypaper of old ideas.
That's Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico, perhaps?
Santa Monica = "Moscow by the Sea"
Just the ones to embrace the exportation of our middle class standard of living.
Sounds like a Liberal pushing One World again. I don't want it.
And every day will have blue skies, and children can have ice cream whenever they want. What a vision of sweetness and light.
What he is talking about is the plan already. Up until now, it has been alleged to be the plan by people who have beem dismissed as tin-foil hat wearers. Writing like this seems to be designed to break the news to everybody.
Even though he doesn't exactly say it, I get the feeling that what he means is, it's going to happen whether you like it or not, so you might as well get used to it.
Like the lines from the Monty Python song, "I Like Chinese":
"There's nine hundred million of them in the world today,
You'd better learn to like them, that's what I say."
Socialism alert.
This would be like giving the Soprano Family money to improve conditions in New Jersey. Mexico has the dumbest upper class South of Philadelphia.
It is my impression that they do not wish to see the lot of those below them improved. We enable this retrograde view by allowing them to download their poor people and their social problems to us. We are the safety valve.
This would be like giving the Soprano Family money to improve conditions in New Jersey. Mexico has the dumbest upper class South of Savannah.
It is my impression that they do not wish to see the lot of those below them improved. We enable this retrograde view by allowing them to download their poor people and their social problems to us. We are the safety valve.
Very informative post. I will investigate myself. Not only is Mr. Hill's article reprehensible, but to find out the USTDA is giving out money to Mexico when we are running a huge deficit, and not properly funding our borders, something needs to be done.
Latinos are not a race. They are brown, black and white. Asians are not uniformly one race either. They include Indians, Chinese, Korean, and Pacific Islanders.
The modes-operandi of the EU invaders is the same as the illegals oozing over our borders. The "newcomers" breed like rabbits, while the "natives" moderate their issue. That way, the patient "newcomers" take over, and the "natives" are eventually put on reservations. History does repeat itself.
I still wonder why V. Fox is coming to Washinton State to conflab with our illegal governor.
Doh!
Hill can go jump off a cliff.
The Eurabian immigration program, the Euro-Med Dialogue, is a disaster. Their problem is not one that can be fixed. This time we won't be able to save them.
Say, 'hello' Eurabia.
Gee, what a suprise. Someone writing from the People's Republic of Santa Monica advocating world government.
I second the motion for Hill to jump off a cliff.
Only one teensy problem. Boats aren't rising in the Europeon Union.
Chente Fax is also coming to Utah.
Supposedly, he's going to meet with our governor.
But he really has to pass out Payroll Checks to Chris Cannon and Orrin Hatch.
You know what I love about this kind of article:
They always come across as: Gee, all this discussion about illegal immigration and the answer is so simple. How come I'm so smart and everyone else is so dumb.
And then they go on to propose some utter nonsense.
Like we're supposed to respond: Gee, you are so smart, how come we're all so dumb. Of course _________________ is the solution to illegal immigration. Why didn't I think of that.
World government is one. Another is, just let eveyone in but charge them a couple thousand bucks so the coyote fees go to the govt instead of the coyotes. That one's popular with some Libertarians.
I don't want it either. I don't usually find myself thanking the communists for much, but I can say Thank You to Fidel, Ugo, and that creep in Bolivia for stirring up the campesinos because THEY don't want it either.
After the Mixcan elections in July, Mixco will be part of the rabid, howling, marxist nightmare that wants nothing to do with any free trade agreement as well.
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