[A CA Guy]

The instability of our neighbor to the south could be why politicians from both parties haven't locked down the border.

They survive by trickle down economics.

Their people come up here to work and enough money trickles down there to prevent total anarchy and rule by drug lords.

Don't know that for a fact, but it is a possible theory.

[one more state]

The instability of our neighbor to the south could be why politicians from both parties haven't locked down the border.

This is exactly why the border should be locked down. Mexico could end up with a mass exodus like in the Congo. Mexican immigration may not be economic at all. The government would never go public saying that illegals are moving north because they fear for their life.

[Ditter]

I think you are correct. We are the only reason Mexico has not fallen to communism already. I think we should take Mexico over by military force and straighten it out before that happens. We won't, but we should, for our own good.

[Caipirabob]

The instability of our neighbor to the south could be why politicians from both parties haven't locked down the border.

The most powerful opposing party to Scumbago Fox consists mostly of communist. Mexico would turn as red as hot sauce if they were to make gains in any election. This is one of the reasons that the administration is so keen to keep scumbago in power.

Better to let them fall, IMHO. It's not like it'd be much different between our nations, we'd still be hosting most of their poor.

[BunnySlippers]

I have never thought of Mexico as anything but a Third World country at best. I have traveled extensivelky down there BUT not to the tourist destinations.

While the people are wonderful and the culture charming, the infrastructure is awful. I have yet to go to a bathroom in a small or medium town that is acceptable. I have seen some bathrooms that defy description ... or at least in a public forum.

Just today I was arranging some of the large copper pieces I bought in Santa Clara del Cobre. I remember the colorful homes, the bromeliads dripping from the trees, the brass band that played in the zocolo on battered and dentedd old trumpets and tubas ... the men all wearing rags.

And the young men, all dirty, in better rags working in the copper shops using foot powered wheels to fashion the copper.

Mexico is arcane, beautiful but the people are suffering because the government is horribly broken.

[roaddog727]

"Their people come up here to work and enough money trickles down there to prevent total anarchy and rule by drug lords."

30-40% of the following country's GDP is based on transfers from "immigrants" to the US:

Mexico
Honduras
Guatemala
El Salvador
Panama
Columbia.

I'm missing a few to be sure.