Posted on 06/25/2006 6:41:38 AM PDT by baseball_fan
WASHINGTON - 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 demagogues love to ridicule: old Europe.
Two years ago, the European Union admitted 10 new members. Like Mexico, all of these nations were poor, some of them fairly backward and most recently ravaged by war and dictatorship.
The leaders of the European Union wisely created policies for fostering regional economic and political integration that make the North American Free Trade Agreement "look timid and halfhearted by comparison," according to Bernd Westphal, consul general of Germany.
Europe realized it had to prevent a "giant sucking sound" of businesses and jobs relocating from the 15 wealthier nations to the 10 poorer ones. It also had to foster prosperity and the spread of a middle class and prevent an influx of poor workers to the richer nations.
So for starters, it gave the new states billions in subsidies to help construct schools, roads, telecommunications and housing, thus making these nations more attractive for business investment. It was expensive, but the result has been 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 law, health and safety -- and more.
Worker migration is regulated. Immigrants will be carefully integrated so as to cause the least disruption to the developed economies, with the goal of having open borders down the road.
(Excerpt) Read more at dfw.com ...
immigration, trade, competitiveness, security, employment, national identity all seem to be inter-related. the public debate appears to be just beginnning rather than being signed off on with a relatively quick immigration bill. getting this right has enormous implications.
Our laws will have to mesh and we're outnumbered.
We've got all the money and all the guns. We'll win.
Well here it comes folks...http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1645455/posts
The jackasses in DC think they'll "solve" the immigration "problem" by surrendering our borders and Constitution.....
Mexico has a population around 110,000,000. Canada has a population of 35,000,000 or so (round numbers). We have a population of 295,000,000 (Source for all three: http://www.cia.gov )
How do you figure we are outnumbered?
I'm sorry. What is the inflation and unemployment rate across Europe? Wasn't there a riot in France over Socialistic job security recently? This "reporter" has Cranial-Rectal Inversion.
This is great: And the only thing we will have to give up is our severeignty. Our identity as a nation.
Canada + Mexico = 2
USA = 1
You people are talking about physical altercations (war) I'm talking about the fact that our government makes deals with those countries then makes laws to force us into compliance. With an American union, our constitution won't mean squat.
Platitudes and cliches don't make an economy work. This saying is all peaches and cream until you realize the other "boats" are in sad shape with inept captains and crew.
It's time for a 51st state or Mexico to join the European Union.
"Two years ago, the European Union admitted 10 new members. Like Mexico, all of these nations were poor, some of them fairly backward and most recently ravaged by war and dictatorship."
The difference is that 10 new members are poor mostly because of historical events like WW2 and next almost a half century of communism. Anyway Slovenia and Czech Republic have already GDP per capita higher than Portugal and almost as high as Greece. Hungary is not far behind and the rest need a decade at worst to join "the first world" club. Maybe I am wrong, but in case of Mexico the problem seems to be a little deeper.
"Immigrants will be carefully integrated so as to cause the least disruption to the developed economies"
In Eu ? In EU internal immigrants may do whatever they want.
http://www.unitednorthamerica.org
already been discussed but there it is Canada directed.
Perhaps Mexico should be part of the USA ala puerto rico.
The problem is the animalistic corruption of mexican society will take generations to erase.
If the "NAU" is as successful as the EU, we will all be up the creek, having permanently squandered the American birthright of individual liberty for a bucket of socialist dross.
Facts are such inconvenient things for globalists. Which is why they tend to ignore them.
People with a pessimistic loser's attitude never can calculate properly.
The EU is a bad model to follow. It is becoming the Soviet Union without the concentration camps. Imagine the relatively dynamic countries of North America moving to a centrally planned economy with social legislation by mostly unlected "experts" (special intrest groups). The proposed North American Union would soon become as poor and corrupt as Mexico with the worst nanny-statism of the Canadian Liberals. The socialists see this as an opportunity to get over 300 million people that they can mold together in a giant social experiment.
The jackasses in DC think they'll "solve" the immigration "problem" by surrendering our borders and Constitution.....
If that isn't treason then I have no idea what the word means.
Boy is that ever true. I have yet to clash with a protectionist who can do simple division.
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