[LowCountryJoe]

Here's another worthwhile read that may shed some light on this issue.

[Old_Mil]

Regarding your "other worthwhile read", the entire article begins with a false premise when it states: "The U.S.–Mexico border region is experiencing unparalleled trade and exchange as cross-border flows of goods and people continue to reach new highs."

The reality of cross border trade with almost all of our third world "trading" partners today is the unbalanced importation of both labor and product. To characterize it as "trade and exchange" is to ignore the very real - and very large - current accounts deficit that looms over our future.