Thread: New deal for Mexican haulers is danger for U.S.

Editorial: New deal for Mexican haulers is danger for U.S.

Thursday, September 27, 2007


Some pundits discount objections to Mexican semi-trucks on American highways as little more thinly veiled racism. But there are legitimate reasons to believe that allowing this access is a prime example of globalization gone too far.

Following through on promises initiated by the Clinton administration, the U.S Transportation Department is starting to allow long-haul trucks based south of the border to travel wherever they wish on U.S. soil.

The Bush administration asserts that this will benefit U.S. consumers by lowering the prices we pay to import Mexican products, while allowing U.S. manufacturers to more cheaply export to Mexico. Starting with a mere trickle, Mexican trucking will become a major presence here in coming years if the Bush administration has its way.

This should not mean that we must accept the lowest common denominator in terms of a broad set of laws and regulatory protections. Mexico's treaty rights to sell us inexpensive lettuce doesn't mean we should have to pay our farm workers Mexican wages - nor should we have to treat Mexican trucking companies on an even par with our own.

Unlike Canadian truckers, which have long operated under environmental, labor and safety laws much like ours, Mexico has, until recently, shown scant interest in controlling pollution, protecting workers or providing a legal framework in which injured parties can recover fair damages in court.

In theory, treaty arrangements should ensure that Mexican companies comply in every way with our standards. But anyone familiar with Mexico knows there is a wide gulf between laws on the books and how firms there actually operate.

The grand opening photo, several years ago, of the first truck to cross the then-newly revamped Tecate port of entry depicted a Baja California truck with the front bumper hanging catawampus and the license plate secured with baling twine. A common sight on the highway that parallels the border is bits of Mexican trucks, including brake parts. Flaming chunks of carbon sometimes fly from exhaust pipes and ignite roadside brush fires.

If they are to be allowed at all on our roads, Mexican trucks must be on strictest probation, gaining our trust in small increments as they prove themselves.

There also are many reasons to fear the additional opportunities that these trucks will give drug smugglers. By now, most people are aware of last week's massive Southwest drug seizures, the result of a six-month investigation of just one Mexican crime family's network north of the border. Seized were $45.2 million cash, 27,229 pounds of marijuana, 9,512 pounds of cocaine, 705 pounds of methamphetamine, 227 pounds of pure (ice) methamphetamine, 11 pounds of heroin, $6.1 million in property, 100 weapons and 94 vehicles.

A Fox News story detailed the findings of investigators as follows: "...the Mexico-based organization contracted the transportation of drugs to the United States by land, air and sea. Metric ton shipments were transported out of Colombia and Venezuela, through Central America to Mexico, by tractor-trailer, non-commercial vehicles, and aircraft ... Once in Mexico, the narcotics were transported into the United States through various border entries in the Southwest."

After arriving in the United States, the drug shipments would be broken down further in Los Angeles and San Diego for further distribution to numerous destinations through the U.S., including Washington and Oregon.

This was only one drug family - not even among the largest - and they used, in part, semi-trucks to move their product.

For all these reasons and more, American courts must look long and hard at allowing more Mexican trucks a direct pipeline to our heartland.

A treaty negotiated by economic elites must not be permitted to undermine our nation's fundamental values and laws, nor endanger lives and property on our highways.

www.wallowacountychieftan.info

globalization gone too far.

WAY TO FAR>>>AND THE PRODUCTS THEY BRING US ARE NOT CHEAPER ,THEY ARE JUST CHEAP AND SOME KILL US
WE MUST END IT

WAY TO FAR>>>AND THE PRODUCTS THEY BRING US ARE NOT CHEAPER ,THEY ARE JUST CHEAP AND SOME KILL US
WE MUST END IT

AND AMONGST THOSE CHEAP PRODUCTS WILL BE ILLEGAL SCAB LABOR AND DRUGS. AND EVEN WORSE COULD BE TERRORISTS. NOT TO MENTION JOB LOSSES FOR AMERICAN DRIVERS. THIS IS ALL AROUND DANGEROUS FOR USA. IT MUST BE STOPPED.

The Bush administration asserts that this will benefit U.S. consumers by lowering the prices we pay to import Mexican products...

This is bull. The price of consumer goods will never come down unless the market is simply flooded with these goods and the demand is not great. Otherwise, the retailers will just keep pocketing bigger profits by not passing down the savings..just like the greedy bastards do all of the time.

During the housing boom, when did the price of an average new home drop due to the illegal alien employment who labored in place of American workers?--NEVER!!

Ronnie was wrong, not everything trickles down.