Posted on 07/13/2006 5:12:54 AM PDT by conservativecorner
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has quietly introduced a bill to create a "North American Investment Fund" that would tap U.S. and Canadian taxpayers for the development of public works projects in Mexico.
Despite assurances this week from White House press secretary Tony Snow that President Bush opposes the idea of a European Union superstate for North America, the effort, by one of the president's loyal supporters in the Senate, is sure to spark new questions about negotiations between the leaders of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico on issues ranging from security to the economy.
"Currently, a significant development gap exists between Mexico and the United States and Canada," Cornyn said. "I believe it is in our best interests to find creative ways to bridge this development gap."
Cornyn introduced the bill just before the July 4 holiday – admitting in his introductory comments that Congress is not likely to adopt his plan quickly. In fact, Cornyn previously attempted to create the new international fund in legislation he introduced in 1994. It soon thereafter died in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where the latest version is headed.
(Excerpt) Read more at worldnetdaily.com ...
What's this guy smokin'?!?!?
I wonder if such a tax on wire transfers to Mexico would violate the wonderful NAFTA treaty (the gift that keeps on giving).
I think this represents a good step in the right direction... these projects will help create jobs in Mexico and will be capitalized and give good return on investment for those who put money into it... I fail to see the downside since it will give jobs to people in Mexico so they don't need to come to the U.S. for economic reasons
It's GDP is #12 in the world (just over $1 trillion) and it's population is #13 in the world (just over 100 million).
It's per capita GDP is $10,000 and the world average is $9,500.
(Source: CIA World Factbook)
Brazil ($8400), Iran ($8300), and Ukraine ($7600) are all significantly poorer than Mexico. The Phillipines are half as wealthy at $5100. Does Mr. Cornyn suggest we fix them, too?
Will he next suggest that we fix the economies of Egypt ($3900), Syria ($3900), and North Korea ($1400), because that's where our enemies are being bred? Moron.
I think all the corruptions in Mexico has to be cleaned up first before we would consider investing anything there.
Several US Companies already had experiences in operating plants there. Why not talk to them first? My company had two plants there in the 80's and the 90's. We gave them up due to poor quality and corruptions.
Further the taxpayers should not be funding such projects. That should be up to the private sector to do so. If there is an attractive project, the private investers will fund it.
Get real, Senator!
The CFR report identifies several "common challenges" facing the three North American countries, including "Shared challenge of uneven economic development," which it explains this way:
A fast lane to development is crucial for Mexico to contribute to the security of the entire region. Mexico’s development has failed to prevent deep disparities between different regions of the country, and particularly between remote regions and those better connected to international markets. Northern states have grown ten times faster than those in the center and south of the country. Lack of economic opportunity encourages unauthorized migration and has been found to be associated with corruption, drug trafficking, violence, and human suffering.
Improvements in human capital and physical infrastructure in Mexico, particularly in the center and south of the country, would knit these regions more firmly into the North American economy and are in the economic and security interest of all three countries.
Translated, that means the U.S. needs to send money to Mexico.
I suppose that there are people here who don't like foreign aid. However, I keep thinking that Florida would do well to have its own development and repatriation plan for Haiti. It is all well and good to spend $200b on Iraq, but it would be in our interest to help make Haiti safe for Haitians so they don't all want to come here.
Can we make America safe for Americans first, please?
I think our founding fathers, if they could see this lot, would be sharpening the points on their pitch forks.
Did you notice the article said that Cornyn presented legislation like this in 1994...this is his first term in the Senate...that would be a trick.
Is this somehow tied into the illegal Security and Prosperity Partnership? It seems as if Washington is acting as if we're already one country.
Another example of a Pol talking out of both sides of their face. We're being hood winked. All of you folks out there, with your blind loyalty, need to revise your thinking.
Em...er, ehhh, um....well (liberal discourse deep thought indicator signal: the sound of cranial gears meshing)
I say we build this wall of cement blocks and provide grants to Mexican muralists so that they can create works of art,epic-scale Lennist-Marxists depictions of cultural and political struggles on the south side of the wall. Then we'll need to build an airstrip so that all the culturarati can fly down to gape at this unique flowering of indigenous culture.
We don't owe them any damn money. Go home already and apply like everyone else on the PLANET. CLOSE THE FREAKIN' BORDER!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.