In Mexico, Daschle, Gephardt give strongest support yet to more open borders, immigration reform

Associated Press ^ | 11/17/2001 | Associated Press

[JD86]

i've met a lot of illegal canadians, south africans, aussies, irish, english, etc here in socal. Okay, and didn't they have to have a visa to get in? Why should Mexicans not have to have a visa?

[Amerigomag]

It's not a joke. California and Mexican politicians have been campaigning across the boarders for the past five years. Fresno has regular campaign rallies, including local media coverage, for Mexican politicians.

[ken21]

i don't have a visa.

but if you drive, mexican insurance is necessary for your own good.

[JD86]

americans cross frequently to shop and do business.

You still have not answered my question about visas. Do you have to get a visa to go see your dentist? And if so, how much hassle is it? Do you just stop at the border and say I am going to see my dentist, and they stamp something for you? I honestly want to know.

[ken21]

why treat the mexicans any differently than you treat the canadians, south africans, brits, aussies, irish....?

[ken21]

most do learn english. it costs money not to learn english.

[JD86]

okay, we posted at the same time. so you live in California, routinely cross the border to Mexico and back again, and don't need a visa.....so what is your complaint? I must be missing something in your argument.

[ken21]

i just answered your question...no, i don't have a visa to cross the border to go to my dentist or to purchase medicine.

many san diegans go to tj to drink and they don't have visas, either.

if you're going to spend any length of time in mexico, then one is necessary.

[JD86]

why treat the mexicans any differently than you treat the canadians, south africans, brits, aussies, irish....?

I agree. I don't think they should be treated any differently. And I don't see anyone suggesting an amnesty for anyone other than Mexicans. What other way do you think Mexicans are treated differently? You already said you don't have to get a visa to travel back and forth.

[ken21]

for the third time, why treat mexicans any differently than you treat white, english speaking peoples?

no one complains about the many south africans, for example, that i've met in socal.

[JD86]

no one complains about the many south africans, for example, that i've met in socal.

Are they here illegally?

[sarcasm]

why treat the mexicans any differently than you treat the canadians, south africans, brits, aussies, irish....?

How many millions of Canadians, South Africans..... are in the United States illegally and bleeding the taxpayers dry?

[mdittmar]

"I think that it ought to be our goal that we have a free pass border at some point in the future," Daschle said.

Hey Dashole,we've already got that!

[ken21]

that's just pure racism.

i don't know one illegal mexican who does not work and pay taxes.

[Amerigomag]

I don't think the issue is one of ethnicity or country of origin. The issue is economics.

If Canadians or Dalmations were streaming across our boarders consuming our public institutions and our tax dollars without a significan, counterbalancing economic contribution they would also be the subject of public scrutiny.

[JD86]

why treat mexicans any differently than you treat white, english speaking peoples?

You are trying to make it a race issue. To me it is a legal matter. Most of the people in the US were immigrants at some point, and most of them came here legally. They waited their turn, immigrated legally, learned the language, became citizens. That has not been the pattern of most Mexicans....most just drifted north of the border and stayed...and now they want amnesty for the laws they broke. If they are being treated differently it is because they behaved differently.

[sarcasm]

Not racism - just the truth which you choose to ignore. Do the minimal taxes which Mexican illegals pay cover the costs incurred?

[JD86]

i don't know one illegal mexican who does not work and pay taxes.

You made the point for me...they are here illegally....and you don't seem to think that is a problem. I do.

[Amerigomag]

I assume you're not a US citizen. Here in the US the working poor essentialy don't pay federal taxes and in California they don't pay state taxes.

[JD86]

that's just pure racism. i don't know one illegal mexican who does not work and pay taxes.

I know lots of illegals who work for cash and do not pay taxes....and if you were being candid, you do too. As for it being racism, you are the one raising the race issue. Several posters have asked you legitimate questions and you cannot see past your heritage to answer them...so I will ask you again. Why do you think the Mexicans should be treated differently? Why do you think they should be allowed to freely cross the border?