Did you understand how NAFTA, by subjecting Mexican farmers to unfair competition from SUBSIDIZED American agricultural products has produced a mass exodus of poor campesinos from the countryside? Obviously not!

Did you understand that these displaced people have NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE but to migrate to slums in Mexican cities or risk their lives crossing the desert and the border to the US or STARVE? Obviously not!

Did you understand that NAFTA has benefitted a minority of Mexicans (the Oligarchy tied to US business interests. By the way, this includes a fella by the name of Carlos Slim whose fortune is larger than Bill Gates’, yes you heard it right). Obviously not!

I could go on but it’s getting a bit tiresome. My final word is to suggest that you stay away from playing the same old scratched record (such as being expected to speak Spanish just because you are hispanic) and wake up to the fact that you need to update your information (there’s plenty more); your arguments, although true, are no longer relevant to the present situation.

Okay, I read the articles. I have to admit that I feel bad for the individuals who live in a country where they feel that they cannot make a living. I really do. That being said, that doesn’t mean that it is right for me to force American citizens to do without the benefits of living here so that foreign nationals don’t have to.

If there isn’t enough money to farm back home, then unfortunately, they have to look at different ways to make money. Legally. Just as I understand that some people here are desperate for money, yet I don’t condone them robbing a bank or a liquor store to feed their family. There are better ways.

Obviously, I don’t really think annexing Mexico is a viable solution. In fact, I think it is JUST as viable as allowing 20 million foreign nationals to come in and drain THIS country of resources (which is what many on the left are advocating).

See, my problem is pretty simple. I go to Home Depot and there are a group of young men loitering in front, trying to get work. There are people IN THIS COUNTRY LEGALLY (citizens) who are trying to get those same jobs, but at a salary that will allow them to survive. They each have the same goal, so which one deserves to work? The one who might be a local, with established roots, who will pay taxes? Or the person who wants to be paid in cash to avoid taxes (even though they are receiving benefits from the taxes I pay), with no roots here (which means they might leave as soon as they get their money, regardless of whether the job has been done), who will send as much money as they can to a foreign country (where it will ultimately end up in the hands of that same corrupt government)?

I’m not talking about the degradation of society that many conservatives are concerned with, I’m not talking about the fact that our hospitals are being forced to close at a record pace because they are over-burdened with non-paying customers, I’m not even talking about the fact that because I AM hispanic, the natural assumption is that I speak spanish (even though I work in a professional setting where it is expected that english be spoken, for the protection of those who do business with me), and that because of this I am going to side “against Americans” (which I have been asked to do SEVERAL TIMES) in favor of them since we are “brothers”.

Let me crystal clear: I have no problem whatsoever with providing financial support to Mexican nationals or nationals from any other country in the world, AFTER and AS LONG AS all Americans are fully cared for FIRST. Personally, anything less is at best disingenuine, at worst seditious.

Comment by Wil — October 24, 2007 @ 2:04 pm

Wil, I’m not going to go into your primitive perceptions about economic systems. I know it would be a waste of time. I will agree with you that the government of Mexico is corrupt and that the people of Mexico need to get rid of it.
If you have the time, go to these two articles and maybe you’ll begin to understand a situation and a country you obviously know nothing about:

Chiapas economist: NAFTA displaced Mexican campesinos

http://www.globalexchange.org/countries/americas/mexico/3459.html

Displaced Mexican corn farmers are streaming into Missouri…

http://www.weatherblogg.com/node/1766?PHPSESSID=a4751a470c1bdb096efe7d789622c83b

Actually, foreyes…,

I’m not saying there aren’t people on both sides abusing the system. What I am saying is that the racists (and yes, many do own large homes, hotels, etc.) of the Socialist Party (DNC) are doing so while trying to convince America that they are doing so with the best of intentions.

The capitalists who are exploiting cheap labor are only able to do this as long as they know that they can. Once we secure the borders, we can then look at workplace enforcement. Although the Unions have worked hard to kill that prospect, (and who do the unions support….? Oh yeah, that’s right–Socialist Democrat party) the simple fact is, we have to draw a line somewhere, and we should be looking, if we really want to help our people, for ways to help the citizens.

For the record, once all American citizens have received whatever social benefits America is willing to support, at a level that is befitting this country, I firmly support using any surplus to help foreign countries. US FIRST!

Or, if that’s too harsh, how’s about we just look to the “world community” to see what to do with foreign invaders? Since we all know that most of this debate is about Mexico, what do THEY do when someone sneaks into THEIR southern border? I’m pretty sure they don’t immediately set them up with services that all Mexicans don’t have access to.

I have a third option, but given the current status of the testicular fortitude of “the people”, it would be ridiculed outright: Why don’t we just annex Mexico to the United States outright, get rid of their corrupt government, and everybody wins. Sound ridiculous? So why is it less ridiculous to allow them to come over one family at a time? At least my way, there is enough land for everybody, instead of expecting these people to live four families deep in a two-bedroom shack.

Comment by O. Bigfoot — October 23, 2007 @ 11:59 pm

The people running our government currently are traitors to the American people!

Comment by republicans hate facts — October 23, 2007 @ 7:54 pm

The real terrorists are in the White House. But, of course, after years of fighting the idea, I’m quite convinced that 9/11 was an inside job.

Comment by Wil — October 24, 2007 @ 12:41 pm

Wil, you mean to tell us that “the racist on the left” are the ones who own the big houses with large lawn areas and farms, hotels, meatpacking plants, construction companies, shipbuilding companies, etc. where these evil government teat sucking scoundrels work? Wow, this country really is in trouble! Thanks for sharing that information. What would we do without you!

Comment by DrColes — October 24, 2007 @ 12:34 pm

Dr. I went to the webpage and read the rules by which we must all live. I did notice that there is one particular rule missing and I would suggest that it is added when the time comes for the rules to be updated since it is also in the Constitution like the other rules:

Believe in Pastor John Hagee’s Prophesies with all your heart. What do you think?

Nowhere does it say that there is a right to be here. There is no right afforded those who are not citizens, and for good reason. Before the racist Socialist Democrat party starts giving people who have no legal standing here benefits, they should consider worrying about those who played the game by the rules.

Many in my family, including my own mother, applied to come here, sacrificed and saved to be able to pay the fees, waited in line, learned the language, and demonstrated inarguably that they wanted to be citizens here. My mother worked at a sweatshop for very little money and NO GOVERNMENT HAND-OUTS while raising four children as a single mother. All of us were citizens, but we were taught at a very young age that we had to earn the rewards that came with that citizenship.

Now, the racists on the left who only want cheap hotel and lawncare workers, have decided that all of that work, all of that sacrifice, means nothing, and even more than that– they want to take the money and services that have been designated for America’s children, that we have earned, and give it to people who have no interest in doing more than sucking on the government teat for as long as possible.

Those who whine about the “Righties’” and their desire to preserve what’s left of America should take all of your faux-compassion and put it to reasonable use– go to those other countries and work from within to make those countries places where their citizens want to stay. Maybe you will finally learn and appreciate the sacrifice that others already intimately know.

Illegal aliens in America have NO rights. We are required by law to arrest and prosecute, deport them. (Title 8 U.S. Code)

No, matter your political party affiliation, and setting aside your thoughts on issues. We all need to remember what it is to be an American Citizen. We need to make sure our elected representatives obey their Oath of Office and keep their Oath of Allegiance.

See http://tinyurl.com/2znnvl Know whom you are voting for.

Comment by Daryll — October 23, 2007 @ 6:22 pm

Neither did Rosa Parks.

I thought the Dems were supposed to be for the working class???? If we want to have a debate on changing the numbers of immigrants we allow in the country every year, thats fine. Until then, these people have broken the law and more importantly, corporations have broken the law. Aggressively pusue the businesses, small and large, that employ illegals, fix our broken borders that are a security risk, finally, re-evaluate our immigration numbers.

If we start making exceptions to the word “illegal”, what’s stopping us to make condoning murder or rape?

Exactly WHO is the nasty troll talking about?

I have seen NO “liberal, open borders, anti-military, terrorist-coddling socialists” who participate in the discussions here.

Who EXACTLY does BigOFoot-in-mouth have in mind? Naturally, he will NEVER give us NAMES from this thread!

Should he FINALLY do so, we would find that this is just another one of his dirty, hate-filled LIES intended to distract from the topic of the thread, to call attention to himself, and to slime and dinigrate those who disagree with him.

He makes these ad hominem attacks without naming names, so he can’t ONCE AGAIN be shown up for the juvenille TROLL he really IS!

He even makes Tancredo, whose VILE activities he has tried to distract us from discussing, look like an honest, decent, God-fearing human being.

Now THAT is REALLY an AMAZING FEAT!

Comment by Max-1 — October 24, 2007 @ 3:15 am

Impersonating an Immigration Officer is a federal crime. Now, will you come clean or do we call the proper authorities?

P A P E R S
P L E A S E

Comment by Carson — October 24, 2007 @ 1:04 am

I’m sorry but, I just don’t see the relationship between your decision not to have children and illegal immigration.
Also, where did you get the idea that the US has an open border immigration policy? Haven’t you heard of the 700 mile long wall that has been proposed for the Mexican border? People risk their lives crossing that border illegally and are then exploited by businesses in the US while at the same time reducing the value of the work of those already here.
Don’t think for a moment that I’m in favor of illegal immigration; I’m just saying that in order to stop it, you must go to the root causes.
of what makes an illegal immigrant.
Maybe these links will help to illustrate my point:

Chiapas economist: NAFTA displaced Mexican campesinos

http://www.globalexchange.org/countries/americas/mexico/3459.html

Displaced Mexican corn farmers are streaming into Missouri…

http://www.weatherblogg.com/node/1766?PHPSESSID=a4751a470c1bdb096efe7d789622c83b