The Tulsa Beacon reports, the percentage of illegal crossing had now risen to 45 percent from 8 percent in 1992 reported Edward Alden, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. What this has brought along with individuals wanting a better life is drug smuggling, organized crime and filth. Not only has the federal government not helped Arizona, it has ignored requests for help from some of the major Indian tribes that share their borders with Mexico.
The Tohono O’odham Nation’s reservation stretches for 150 mile along the Mexican border. I personally visited the site and was told that the tribe regularly picks up tons of trash left behind by illegals, as well as finding lost persons who have died in the Sonora Desert.
The Bush administration would not pay for tribal policing, trash collection or help stem the influx. The Obama administration, desperate for political help this November from the Mexican community, too has done nothing to stop illegal immigration. The Bloomberg story concluded by saying after a prominent rancher was killed by unknown assailants as he patrolled his property, Arizonans felt things had gotten far out of control.
The story’s author Peter Coy said, “For years, the United States has behaved hypocritically on immigration. Legal immigration of low-skilled workers is far below the amount demanded by American businesses.” Only 5,000 green cards are issued yearly when the “demand many times exceeds 400,000 immigrants on permanent or temporary visas.” “One obvious but imperfect way to relieve the pressure is to increase the number of low-skilled immigrants who are admitted yearly,” said the author.
Most observers agree since Mexican workers are not replacing less-educated native-born Americans. Our less educated native-born are also many times unmotivated to work. You will not see them repairing a roof or working on a street. That work is left to the Mexicans. These are the voters Obama covers for and who he caters to. It doesn’t matter about their unemployment or incarceration rates. Their votes are all that is really desired.
The Business Week article went on to say, “Investing in employees to upgrade their skills and put them on a path to promotions and higher pay is good for employers as well as workers.” Like this is not happening? People in their 60s every day participate in continuing education classes and learn new skills. All it takes is a desire to step out and take a chance.
In the article, John Schmidt of the Center for Economic and Policy Research is quoted as saying, “It’s not the border that’s broken, it’s our low-wage labor market.” Rutgers University economist argued, “When employers say they need 400,000 visas a year, they’re saying ‘We need indentured servants.’” Really, the problem of illegal immigration does not lie on the Arizona side of the border or with a desire for low wage employees. It is far easier to “scoff” at Arizona for wanting to address the problem than to talk about the source. Mexico is a beautiful country with abundant natural resources and a population of hardworking people.
It’s too bad those of Spanish ancestry leading Mexico don’t look like the native population or have their interest in mind. If they did we wouldn’t have illegal immigration regardless of what Professor Appelbaum thinks.
As the World Bank wrote in their May 21, 2007 report “Diagnoses of Mexican Economic Problems,” there are 11 reasons why Mexico doesn’t work economically. First is the competitive environment or lack of it. There are special interest groups that act as bottlenecks and limit economic competition. These “untouchable” interest groups impede any economic growth.
Another area is in education where “teachers unions are more concerned with protecting their own privileges than truly reforming education.”
Mexico’s labor law is “rigid and counterproductive.” The law “discourages employment and encourages employers to come up with ingenious tricks to save money.”
What Mexico lacks in innovation and commerce it makes up for with corruption. “Corruption is a part of Mexican society.”. Corruption is part of the way government works. It influences investment, commerce and transportation and Mexican tax law.
Until Mexican bureaucracy changes, the only hope for many citizens will be illegal immigration to the United States. Mexican elite “encourage never-ending emigration to the United States” so that they do not have to address their problems.
Mexico’s problems will not be solved in Arizona. They will be solved by the U.S. government insisting that Mexico City finally act in their people’s best interest.
Corruption in Mexico will not cause discrimination against US citizens. SB1070, however, has the potential to do just that.
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