"Mexicans do not (emigrate because they) want to, but because they need to," Lutzow said. He added that he wanted Mexicans to take planes to other countries to broaden their education rather than illegally cross the border to work low-wage jobs.
Derbez suggested the United States should invest in Mexico, aid in job creation and build an economy so strong that Mexico could give its northern neighbor $24 million a year.


He added the United States is lagging in the effort to help Mexico economically, claiming the federal budget for investments and aid to Mexico had decreased.
Debate shows where Mexico stands on immigration, economics

A three-party Mexican debate held Wednesday gave audience members a taste of our southern neighbor's take on binational hot topics.


Representatives from Mexico's three major political parties -- the National Action Party (PAN), the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), and the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) -- took part. Representing their respective parties in the debate were Luis Ernesto Derbez, international relations chairman for PAN; Congressman and PRD member Moises Dagdug Lutzow; and Celso Delgado, international relations chairman for the PRI.


Hosted by the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce's Mexico Business Center, the debate ended the politicians' California tour that stopped in San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles and Orange County. They touched on political issues currently affecting Mexico: employment, immigration, natural resource management and the role of almost-president Lopez Obrador.


Panelists asking questions included Tania Luvano of Mi San Diego TV43, John McNeece of the Mexico Business Center's board and Sandra Dibble of The San Diego Union-Tribune.


Delgado, representing the nation's left-of-center ideology, called for an opening of the economy to include traditionally marginalized communities, especially the nation's native Indians.


Political tensions were also present between the three, who displayed their belief without fear of political correctness.


"Mexico is coming out of a system of authoritarianism, the will of only one man," said Lutzow, referring to former president Fox.


Mexicans in the United States provide approximately $24 million in remittances, or 20 percent of the national income, a sign of how many Mexicans are dependant on emigration for the survival of their families back home.


"Mexicans do not (emigrate because they) want to, but because they need to," Lutzow said. He added that he wanted Mexicans to take planes to other countries to broaden their education rather than illegally cross the border to work low-wage jobs.


Derbez suggested the United States should invest in Mexico, aid in job creation and build an economy so strong that Mexico could give its northern neighbor $24 million a year.


He added the United States is lagging in the effort to help Mexico economically, claiming the federal budget for investments and aid to Mexico had decreased.


"The question is more for you than for us," he said, drawing gasps from audience members.


Derbez was once again critical of the U.S. government's arrangement with the All-American Canal, the largest irrigation canal in the world that diverts water from the Colorado River to nine cities in Southern California and runs along the Mexican border in some parts.


"They are not willing to negotiate," he said, noting that tensions were making it difficult to manage resources.


Viviana Ibañez, manager of binational affairs and events for the Mexico Business Centerlater, commented on the debate format of the event, and how it differed from the center's usual speakers or panels.


"I think that people like that it's a debate, not a lecture," she said.


Ibañez added the mix on the panel had various backgrounds: Derbez worked as an economist for many years, Lutzow is an elected official, and Delgado has served as a government-appointed ambassador to Egypt, Algeria, Argentina and Cuba.


Although the topics did not concern business directly, Ibañez said the political slant of the topics were relevant to the work of the center and the chamber as a whole.

"I think that at the end of the day, if it's about immigration, it has a direct impact on our economy," she said. "It definitely has to do with what we do."


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