Loved your first point, we probably won't fight back, After 911, One of Bush's first public statements was to read off a list of all nationalities that had lost a person in the trade centres, this was in order to impress upon the world that this wasn't an attack on America, but rather an attack on the world, he listed Greece, The UK, Spain, etc., every country but...Canada who also lost over 20 nationals. How did we respond, we held the largest candlelight vigil outside of the US, over 1 million Canadians gathered outside of Parliament Hill in Ottawa in order to express our collective sorrow. How did Bush respond? He still hasn't. How did other American's respond? They insisted until proven otherwise that the terrorists entered North America through Canada, when proven otherwise they didn't respond. In August of 2003 the largest recorded power failure occured in the North east US and Southern Ontario in Canada. The governor of Ohio or Pennsylvania or one of the Northern States accused Canada's backwater power system of creating the fault. When it was later proven that the fault was isolated to an area in Cleveland where some branches fell across some lines and an oscillation of power created the fault, there was no mention that Canada's loss of power was the fault of an American incident. Forever we have been the dumping ground for everything that goes wrong in the US. Our medicare is too socialist, our pharmaceutical companies are not held up to the same standards as the US and therefore Americans shouldn't receive our drugs. We are flooding the market with cheap subsidized softwood lumber (despite NAFTA and the WTA saying otherwise), terrorists get to the states through Canada, our power is backwater, Canada should redirect the MacKenzie river in order to feed water to the South Western US,...Canadian misinformation runs rampant in the US and rather the trying to change it people make comments such as: The northern border is a sive (sieve). :wink: . Don't get me wrong Lambert, I realize your comment was made in Jest, it was just that earlier comments made me feel I should rationalize my response. The second part of your comment makes me shudder, I don't blame you for your commets and hope in the end that everything has turned out OK.
I will be the first to stand up for Canada. True, terrorists could come across the Northern border. But so far that has not been a problem at all. Maybe its too cold for terrorists, or maybe they just want some reasonably priced medicines on their way to Jihad. By my count, we let all of the 9/11 hijackers into the country legally. They didnt have to swim across the Rio Grande or snowshoe their way across the Maine border. I think the terrorism correlation is just a weak way to try to sell imigration problems to the people of the US. A terrorist would not see the proposed wall on the Mexican border, shrug their shoulders, turn around and head back towards Mecca.
I think the issue of border control is more of a top priority and a big deal to those who live in states bordering Mexico. I am not saying this is not an issue in other parts to the country, but it is a major topic in places like Texas, Nevada, Arizona, and California. I, myself, do not really have an issue with people coming to the US looking for a better life. However, I do have a problem with drug smugglers running across the border. I do not think the millions of people who cross the border are all drug smuggler, I do not think that one bit. However, that is another issue of border security we to address, and I do not 700 mile fence is not going to solve this problem. I highly doubt Mexicans are stupid to sit there and stare at a fence saying, "What are we going to do now Caldron?" The US/Mexico border is hundred of thousands of miles. Neither that 700 miles nor the National Guard is going to fix the problems on the border in the long run. The cause and the problem is an economical issue that resides in Mexico. I mean that is the main reason why problem flood from Mexico to the US. If Washington, DC were serious about fixing immigration, they would not be spending big bucks on enforcement, yet they would focus their attention to the economy of Mexico, and special attention to the towns and villages that borders the US. I think it is a major problem when large amounts of your own citizen, your own people leave everything they have behind, and with no money and little food try to cross these hot, dry, extreme degree temperatures desert, just for a better life. In addition, this issue to be dealt with on both sides of the border. This is just my opinion
I appreciate your comments...... However, I disagree with some of it. The main comment that I disagree with is where you say our government should not spend big bucks on enforcement, but should spend it on the economy of Mexico. Our country has passed laws that everyone is suppose to abide by. We have laws for a reason. Just because someone in Mexico wants a better life, doesn't mean that they get a free pass to ignore our laws. The economy of Mexico is problem that Mexico needs to deal with in my opinion. We have problems here in the states that need attention. To me, that should be the priority when it comes to money allocation/resources. We have homeless folks, illiterate folks, working poor, etc. I don't want my tax dollers going to "improve" Mexico when we have our own internal problems. There are folks in New Orleans, Mississippi, etc. that have just been hit by hurricanes and they need help BAD. The insurance companies have left them high & dry.....that's just not right. Mexico's economy is what it is not because they are stupid/uneducated, but because they think and do differently than many other country's when it comes to business decisions. That's not a US problem in my opinion. But I do understand where you are coming from with your arguments. Michelle
I'm going to go the opposite direction from most of everyone on this thread and say I'm all for the BIG FENCE. All I have read so far is Mexicans crossing illegally and how Mexico should do more to keep their people there. OK....cool. Now, what about the rest of all the Central and South American 3rd world countries? It's not just Mexico my friends. Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua Gualemala are just a few of many countries that use Mexico to get here. Most of the illegal aliens here on Long Island are not even Mexican, most are from other central american countries. So, as far as I am concerned, Its not just about Mexico and the US, it's about All of Central and South America and the US. So....its not just about Mexico making it better to keep its citizens, now your talking about 2 continents full of 3rd world counties that need to make life better for thier ppl. how are you going to do that??? Id like to hear that answer if anyone has it. I think a fence would make ppl think twice before taking that risk. I have heard first hand how dangerous it is to cross the border, dealing w/ coyotes etc. Now put a big fence in the mix???? that might be what stops many. My mother and father came here in 1968 from South America. They did it legally. Since then, they have worked really hard and have made a better life for themselves. Never broken the law and have been outstanding citizens. No shortcuts. It should be the same for everyone that wants to come here!!!
I agree with ya 110% Venom!!! An no...it's not just Mexicans coming over, it's alot of central/south America. I witnessed it firsthand when I lived in Los angeles. Whenever I would drive south to san diego, I would see people walking up the highway with bags. A couple of times I pulled over to give them a ride so they wouldn't get run over........yep......not all from Mexico. I've heard stories of what they went through to get here and they are heartrenching. But...as you say, they should come over like your folks did....LEGALLY. Michelle
Another good point Michelle. I think the whole NAFTA deal was more than enough picking of my pocket to help out Mexican businesses. Maybe it's me, but I dont want any more of my money going to "helping" Mexican businesses. I applaud people like venom's parents who come here legally to make a better life for themselves. Thats what part of the American dream is all about. But, for the people in other countries who can't get here legally because they dont have the money, or its too difficult......tough shit. Not everyone on the bench gets to play.
History has been made! An illegal immigrant has been found guilty by a jury. http://www.saveourstate.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=18149 Michelle
Where we live there are apple groves,veg. farms and dairy farms full of hard working immigrants. They do deserve a better life ,but, what they get that we can't is free health care ,foodstamps,heating assistance and not one dime goes to taxes to help pay for it. I think America needs it's immigrants but w/out them paying into the taxes it puts a huge burdin on the local government and the local citizens are the ones that suffers. I believe that in order to get a job you should get a tax number just like anyone who lives here. I don't think that trying to fix the Mexican gov. is going to help or happen !!
Mexican president calls fence an "embarassment". OK....so why not work on your OWN economy, which is an EMBARASSMENT!!!! http://www.kswo.com/Global/story.asp?S=5597616 Michelle
