Another issue, the dollar has been slowly slipping against the Euro. The European countries are working together thus creating a greater economic system then we have. If we don't change our way of doing things and change our way of seeing the situation of the dollar will keep falling and if that keeps happen things will cost more. I think in the long run if we don't create the same system within North America we will end in a lot worse situation economically then we are right now.
It's early in the morning and I might of spelled some stuff wrong. Also I've got to run so any response or flames won't get responded to to the next day or whenever or never.
The EU was formed from developed countries with a common history and no peasant class.
Mexico isn't Germany or Italy for that matter.
It is a hugely corrupt, economically strangled country with terrible law enforcement, huge drug cartels, a vast underclass of illiterates, and so many other factors that make a comparison between the EU and NAU false.
We open ourselves to the NAU, and I predict we will be overwhelmed within a decade.
It isn't about people, it is about the structure of the countries involved. The structures are not the same will not assimilate.
Establishing a trading block is one thing, diluting our culture and laws with an open border is another. I understand what you are saying, the dollar has fallen against the Euro and this will lower our standard of living. Depressing wages with cheap, imported labor has the same net effect in living standards except there are more collateral issues to deal with. Sound fiscal policy would do far more for the dollar then creating a slave labor class.
If you think these trucks are only coming 100 miles into the country, I don't think you've done your homework. That 16 lane super-highway proposed from the Mexican border to Kansas City is more than 100 miles long, I believe. Also, they don't need a freeway several football fields wide to just accommodate just 100 trucking companies. They're building a superport in Mexico that's going to suck all the Pacific shipping into Mexico instead of our own West Coast ports. Also, there will be thousands of places for those trucks to stop and unload their drugs, contraband and Illegals before they get to Kansas City. The trucks and their contents will not be inspected until they reach Kansas City (if they haven't emptied out the contents well before then.
"One is to let the Mexican trucks from only 100 controlled companies into the country"
FYI, they are "cherry picking" the companies that are allowed in.
FYI, the current reg's permit a 20 mile "free Trade" zone that foreign trucks may operate in. BUT, there are loopholes in that and, the "effective" area is actually 100 miles.
FYI, I DO NOT support this action, by any stretch of the imagination. Just presenting some facts. However the reg's, current and proposed, only allow for one way trips. That is...they may bring freight to deliver here, and pick up a load that delivers in Mexico, they may not "operate" here. Same rules apply to Canadians, and to Americans operating on foreign soil. Problem is the Canadians have shown, and I would imagine we do it as well, they can violate this reg. without any worry of being caught, at all. Why would the Mexicans be any different?
In case some of you haven't noticed, the U.S. is now officially a "consumer" Nation. We consume MORE than we produce. This puts us in a very, very, bad spot.
We need to bring back more manufacturing into our Country. We need to take another look at "free trade" that is not "free". The rules are so lopsided against us, it's sickening.
:O)
P