Posted on 06/23/2007 8:25:11 AM PDT by FremontLives
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A congressman is pushing a not-so-quick fix in the debate over illegal immigrants from Mexico: free contraceptives.
"A slower rate of growth of Mexico's population would improve the economy of Mexico. It would also reduce the environmental pressure on Mexico's ecosystem. But a slower rate of growth would also reduce the long-term illegal immigration pressure on America's borders," reasoned Rep. Mark Kirk, who also supports stronger border security in the short-term.
In reality, fertility rates have plunged in Mexico since 1980, when an average couple would have five or more children. Now, the country's fertility rate has dropped to 2.5 children, compared to 2.1 for the United States, according to United Nations data.
Kirk, an Illinois Republican, made the argument on Thursday during a heated debate in the House of Representatives over whether the U.S. government should be allowed to donate condoms and other contraceptives to family planning agencies abroad that also engage in abortion.
The proposal was narrowly approved by the House, over the protests of anti-abortion lawmakers who prefer sex abstinence education. The measure faces a veto threat from the White House.
Kirk, who attended college in Mexico and holds a master's degree from the London School of Economics, may have offered an idea that might appeal to some fiscal conservatives.
Shipping condoms to the poor in Mexico could be cheaper than the multibillion-dollar fence being constructed along the U.S.-Mexico border.
You can’t make this stuff up.
If you need an idiot, look to Washington, it’s where they reside.
I know. I kept checking the page for some indication of “From the Onion” or something. I think we have another Trent Lott in training.
Educated above his intelligence. Why is it that the "Peter Principle" comes to mind when so many of our elected servants open their pie holes?
Just makes you proud of all the money & time contributed for the cause, doesn't it.
Why don’t we just ship the condoms back with the drug smugglers and the mules? No need to have them dead hauling back to Mexico when they return for more drugs and illegals.
Mexican men I seriously doubt would even use them. It’s kind of a macho thing, a proverb in Mexico says that TREATMENT OF A WOMAN SHOULD BE LIKE A SHOTFUN, KEPT IN YOUR HOUSE AND ALWAYS LOADED,, pregnant.
Seems like the libs think condoms can do everything.
“...fertility rates in Mexico...have plunged...”
Who cares about that, the ones living in the US are more than making up for them!
We’d be told by multiculturalist purists that we have no business dictating foreigners’ sex habits, but on the other hand, a Mexican govt. minister has said the US is ‘integrating’ with Mexico and there’s nothing we can do to stop it. And considering that the first thing they do when they get here is to have that anchor baby, I’d say the condom deal is so much wishful thinking.
Geeeez , like that will go over well in a largely Catholic population.
Yeah, um, here’s the thing... Mexicans are mostly Catholic, they don’t believe in contraception.
So Mr. Kirk’s argument is... illogical. (Sorry for the bad pun.)
Why don’t we take Bob Barker’s advice and spay and neuter them?
Why don’t we take Bob Barker’s advice and spay and neuter them? Oh, he said pet, not pests.
Hey, I’m all for free condoms and abortion in Mexico. Raise their standard of living and ours in one fell swoop.
Rep. Kirk
Just say NO to Illegal Alien Amnesty!! Keep calling!! Its NOT OVER!!
U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121
U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121
White House comments: (202) 456-1111
Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep
Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
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.