Thread: Mexican diplomat is asking for a North American Union

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/politi ... 02838.html

Mexican diplomat urges a partnership

Web Posted: 10/31/2006 10:24 PM CST

Hernán Rozemberg
Express-News Immigration Writer

U.S.-Mexico relations could remain paralyzed unless leaders of the two nations and Canada formalize a North American partnership — akin to the European Union — before the U.S. baby boomer retirement wave hits in the next eight years, a ranking Mexican diplomat said here Tuesday.
Enrique Berruga, Mexico's ambassador to the United Nations, shared his perspectives on the current and future U.S.-Mexico relationship at a panel discussion at the University of Texas at San Antonio Downtown Campus.


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It was organized by the UTSA Mexico Center and the San Antonio campus of Mexico's National Autonomous University.

Noting that both countries depend on each other economically, Berruga urged leaders to see the big picture and put petty politics aside for the region's benefit.

Instead of putting up fences or walls, U.S. policy would be better served by investing more in Mexico so the country can do a better job of standing on its own, keeping its work force employed instead of watching it flee north, he said.

"We will be together forever and we need to make the best out of it," Berruga said.

Other panelists sounded similar themes, focusing in detail on economic and political aspects of the relationship.

Economist Mauricio González chipped away at what he called the myth of the negative impact of illegal immigration on the United States.

Believers of the myth, he noted, are correct on one point — undocumented immigrants do bring down national wages, but only by 2 percent at most.

But other accusations, that immigrants abuse public social services and further hurt the economy by not paying taxes, for example, are not true, said González, echoing numerous recent and past reports and studies.

He works for the San Antonio-based North American Development Bank — created as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement, signed in the Alamo City in 1992.

Economic cooperation between the two countries must go beyond the status quo, he insisted.

"NAFTA was a very important first step, but we need to start thinking outside the NAFTA box," González said.

Panelist Robert Rivard, editor of the Express-News and a former Newsweek correspondent in Latin America, spoke of the lingering impact of 9-6 — that is, Sept. 6, 2001, five days before the terrorist attacks, when the U.S. and Mexican governments were on the brink of a far-reaching immigration deal that has since become a pile of dusty paper.

There wasn't much he could do about it, but outgoing Mexican President Vicente Fox was reduced to more talk than action, proving unable to secure a treaty on immigration or move his domestic agenda through the Mexican congress.

Rivard held out a bit more hope for Felipe Calderón, who takes over the presidency Dec. 1.

Calderón is a more "seasoned politician" who should be better equipped to work with opposition parties, said Rivard, who spent two days with the candidate during the campaign.

"People of peace can't build walls between each other," Rivard said of the move to build nearly 700 miles of double-layer, high-tech fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border, signed into law by President Bush last week.

"It's a wall meant to corral Republican voters, not to keep out Mexican workers," he added.

"People of peace can't build walls between each other," Rivard said

What peace? Trying to destroy our country does not create any peace.

Panelist Robert Rivard, editor of the Express-News and a former Newsweek correspondent in Latin America, spoke of the lingering impact of 9-6 — that is, Sept. 6, 2001, five days before the terrorist attacks, when the U.S. and Mexican governments were on the brink of a far-reaching immigration deal that has since become a pile of dusty paper

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Sounds as though this what the Administration was working on when September 11 interupted them.

In your dreams MEXICO!

A depressed THIRD WOLRD, POVERTY RIDDEN nation of a parasite hoping to cling to the United States for it's salvation.

Says a lot about Mexico if you ask me!

PEACE?? YOU, Mexico...are creating more problems than you care to acknowledge in OUR COUNTRY, THE UNITED STATES!

YOU ARE AN ENEMY ...as far as I am concerned!

Kum-bai-ah reconquista Kum-bai-ah

"People of peace can't build walls between each other," Rivard said

Tell THAT to the Central American countries that boarder Mexico to the south!!

What a scum bag of a national government...almost as bad as OURS! I feel sorry for the poor people of Mexico. God knows they are just trying to have a decent life.

However, POOR Americans are at the TOP of my priority. I don't think they should be working for depressed wages just so a SHAM of a government in Mexico can reap $40 billion in U.S. dollars sent home by illegal aliens.

It is AMAZING that there are people whom actually have the audacity to condemn Americans for DEMANDING secure boarders and enforcement of OUR laws.

They really have forgotten what we are like once we are really riled up! Do not take our compassion as weakness...it will be a grave mistake.

Mexico has already destroyed it's country now it wants to destroy ours.

I don't ever hear these people crying about being abused by THEIR GOVERNMENT????

They would rather come here and cry for "rights...they do not have!"
GO HOME AND CRY TO YOUR OWN DAMN GOVERNMENT! FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS OVER THERE! THEY ARE THE ONES ABUSING YOU...ALONG WITH LA RAZA...NOT THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES! We are being abused by our government, big business and ignorant illegal aliens! We would just like you to GET OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!

I can't believe I read this right after I had a bite to eat.

Pass the barf bag, PINE!!