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  1. #1
    77
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    fighting immigrants is not the solution

    "Impact in Mexico
    For the past two decades, Mexico's neoliberal policies followed the "free market" model (dictated by the IMF and World Bank) by largely ending subsidies for grain production, especially corn. Under NAFTA, protective tariffs on corn are scheduled to end in 2008. Even before tariffs are eliminated, corn prices fell by 48% between January 1994 and August 1996 as imports from the United States increased dramatically, undercutting the national market and forcing many small and medium sized producers to look for other sources of income.

    Many campesino producers grow corn both for self-consumption and for local markets, offering a source of income for products that campesino families are unable to produce themselves, for example, school supplies, tools, cookware, medicines, etc. By undercutting prices in local markets, campesinos are forced to look elsewhere for a source of income, while continuing to produce for self-consumption. (According to Arturo Leon, Mexican lands dedicated to corn production have actually increased in the past two decades, while corn imports from the US are also increasing at staggering rates. Demographic factors cannot account for both increases, and presumably the vast majority of increased campesino production is for auto-consumption and is, to some extent, replacing more expensive nutritional sources such as animal protein.) In the context of neoliberal capitalism, migration to large cities, border maquiladoras or, increasingly, the United States often offers the only available alternative. Displaced rural dwellers from central and southern Mexico are converted into the maquiladora workforce, a process known as proletarianization.

    The decision to migrate is generally a family decision and often this means splitting up the family unit for extended periods of time. Maquiladoras often prefer young female workers, for their reputed hand dexterity and because they are generally seen as less demanding than male workers. For families contemplating migration as a survival strategy, this means that young women are often sent to the border region to search for work in maquiladoras, while young men often come to the United States as undocumented workers.

    In Ciudad Juarez, Mexico's most important maquiladora center, more than 60% of the maquiladora workforce is women, and most of them are migrant workers. In 2001, 41.1% of population of Ciudad Juarez was immigrants, and the percentage grows every year (INEGI 2001).

    Explosive population growth means two things. First, in combination with meager (and decreasing) tax receipts from the dominant maquiladora sector, city services are severely overburdened. Many migrant workers live in barrios with unpaved roads and without water, sewer or electricity. Newly arrived migrants are often forced to live in cardboard shacks located long distances from the maquiladora industrial parks. It is not uncommon for maquiladora workers to travel two hours or more on uncertain public transportation to reach their workplace.

    Second, constant migration means a huge unemployed reserve workforce that forces down wages. Turnover rates in the maquiladora sector are extremely high as workers constantly search for better and safer working conditions.

    Increasingly, as maquiladoras fail to provide enough jobs, the United States becomes the destination of choice for migrant workers. Undocumented immigration has always been a fact of life along the border, but dramatic increases beginning in the 1980s and extending through 2004 have no historic precedent. Today there may be as many as 12 million undocumented workers in the United States, with more than half from Mexico and another quarter from the rest of Latin America. Entire sectors of the US economy would either have to raise wages and improve working conditions, or close up shop if it weren't for undocumented workers. Perhaps 90% of the fruits and vegetables in the US are harvested by undocumented workers. More than half the workers in the meat-packing industry are undocumented. The hotel and restaurant industry depends on undocumented workers. Next time you go out to eat, visit the kitchen and you are likely to find undocumented workers. The seasonal construction industry depends increasingly on undocumented workers. As much as 10% of the entire US workforce is undocumented.

    Undocumented workers provide significant subsidies to the US economy. Most are in the late teens to early 30s, and they arrive in the US as fully formed adult workers. Society is not responsible for their education or upbringing. Many workers have to purchase false social security cards in order to get employment, and they pay weekly into the social security trust fund without any hope of future benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has determined that undocumented workers "account for a major portion" of the $374 billion (as of July 2002) that have been paid into the social security system under names or social security numbers that don't match SSA records, and which payees therefore can never draw upon. Because of their relatively low wages, undocumented workers pay a relatively higher proportion of sales taxes in relation to income level.

    Some experts claim that undocumented workers take jobs from native workers and lower wages for all workers. However, a recent study by the United Nations indicates that undocumented workers generate as many jobs as they occupy due to their increased consumption. And studies in Chicago indicate that wages are lowered only in neighborhoods dominated by immigrant workers.

    Despite their obvious contributions to the US economy - or perhaps because of the very nature of those contributions - undocumented workers do not enjoy legal or political rights in this country, a travesty that could be remedied with an amnesty program.

    Immigration is not an easy choice for most undocumented workers. Most leave their families behind to make a dangerous and uncertain journey of thousands of miles. They cross a heavily militarized border, often walking through desert areas for days at a time. One migrant worker dies every day trying to cross the border. They enter an unfamiliar country as "illegals," they don't speak the predominant language, and they are under constant threat of deporation. Undocumented workers don't come to the United States "por gusto." They come because neoliberal policies offer absolutely no alternatives in their home countries. And with no end in site, the neoliberal model will most likely continue to generate a massive exodus from the Mexican countryside that negatively impacts family structures and community foundations."

    http://www.mexicosolidarity.org/Alte...Neoliberalism/

  2. #2
    77
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    "illegal" immigration is a SYMPTOM of neo-liberal globalization, poor Mexican people should not be the victims and focus of the rage of American working and middle-class people. they are people just like you and me and many have had it much harder than any of us could probably even imagine. we are all victims - it is important we focus our energies on the root of our collective miseries - the corporate, international banker, financial oligarchs who view the world as a huge plantation. we are all victims - it is time to unite and not fight our Central and South American neighbors who are struggling even harder than we are.

    Thanks.

  3. #3
    Senior Member Judy's Avatar
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    77--You are absolutely right about the plight of the Central American and South American families and that it is the consequence of an American Government Policy which Americans oppose. Until we get that problem resolved internally, we still can not allow these people into our country or to remain the country. They have to find their own way to build their lives in their countries. Unless they do, nothing will change for them or the millions still in their own nations. If they keep this migration up to the United States, then we will be too disempowered to stop the very Globalism that is taking us all, all the nations, to a permanent Third World Status.

    And the Americans are the only ones that can stop it world wide.

    DON'T SPEND, SAVE!!
    A Nation Without Borders Is Not A Nation - Ronald Reagan
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    we already know why mexicans are coming to the united states. It is the responsibility of the mexican government to provide jobs for their own people.
    It seems to me that the people who are doing well $$$$$ in the united states by the invasion are the Middle and upper middle class. they can afford to be okay with it.,after all thier maids, gardeners, nannies, and waiters and car wash guys are in a clearly subordinate position.
    landlords are doing great with the invasion .If half a million mexicans hadnt come to portland in the 90's we might have affordbale rent.
    I am sorry but they are taking jobs from the working poor- filling up the schools-collecting food stamps.
    I live around them and have talked to them. they are not here for a sense of community . they are here for the money. they are not good citizens.
    I think americans have been more then kind to the mexicans. Docile to the extreme, in fact. I am sorry, but non-citizens should not be able to have drivers liscenses or foodstamps.

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    yes illegal aliens do depress the wage market

    did anyone watch the show about Las vegas last night on pbs?
    the most amazing item from it was The African american Hotel maid, who was working a union job, cleaning hotel rooms,,,and and ,,get this her wages were high enough to buy a house and a new car. she was happy with her position in las vegas.
    flash back to Portland Oregon- a service sector-low wage town with few union jobs.
    the mexican maid< Delores, who lives in washington county subsidized housing , makes $ 7.00 an hour,working illegally at a hotel in the best zip code in our state.
    this is what illegals do to the job market. In 1996, before we were hit full force by the invasion, wages were up to 16.00 an hour( for private homes) . now, Maid Brigade hires mexicans to fill the low wage jobs.I kid you not, I went to test drive a car at Ron Tomkin dealership- all the car prep guys were mexican men.
    in oregon, virtually all the entry level jobs are taken by illegal mexicans.
    where does that leave the over 50 crowd? the disabled? the high school kids.
    I wish warm ,fuzzy liberals would quit telling me how the mexicans are really doing us a favor. I once was a liberal until I saw that it was based largely on cowardice and profound sububurban denial.

  6. #6
    Senior Member Judy's Avatar
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    thelmahopkins--this is such great information and shows clearly what illegal employers and traitors in the White House, the US Congress and the US Supreme Court have done to the American People.

    It is criminal, it is unforgivable, and it has to be reversed NOW.

    All Americans are at risk, not just lower income Americans.

    Technicians, engineers, specialists, medical personnel, doctors, nurses, business people...from every country in the world are pouring in either illegally with our representatives turning a blind eye or under new expanded immigration visa programs that are sucking the life and breath out of the American Economy and our way of life.
    A Nation Without Borders Is Not A Nation - Ronald Reagan
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  7. #7
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    double standards for american citizens and illegals

    ACCORDING to 77's article, it is okay to break the law if you are a poor mexican/ latino by this I mean .the 10 million who have come here in violation of our laws , because of poverty.
    well wouldn't it be logical and fair for poor american citizens to use the same reasoning to justify theft to better thier lives?
    Let's say - a poor american says take this $7.00 an hour job and steals food for thieir family;
    result? arrest and fine and criminal record.
    or they get tired of the bus and jack a rich person's lexus suv;
    result: felony / prison etc
    or they get tired of being homeless and living in a crowded , cold apartment with no heat/ so they go to a rich house. kick the owners out

    and then what happens? swat team - killed by police.
    now ,you may say these are extreme examples-
    I am using them to show the double standard that you often hear from the pro-illegal invasion folks.
    It suprises me that there is such tolerance and understanding for the poverty of latino countries,but not to the many here who are poor.
    now , there are many in the illegal community who are breaking the law- you can't expect people who broke the law to come here,from a corrupt country to have much respect for the property rights or lives of others.
    but it isnt okay to talk about it- it is racist.
    If those who are liberal and well off , do not show the same understanding and compassion to the working poor who are getting the brunt of this invasion -well there will be a price to pay, silencing everyone by calling them racist will only increase rage.
    rebecca

  8. #8
    Senior Member Judy's Avatar
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    rebecca--you are exactly correct and America, all of America, has to wake up and realize what is happening to their fellow Citizens and their Country.

    It's time to be Americans once again.

    A Nation Without Borders Is Not A Nation - Ronald Reagan
    Save America, Deport Congress! - Judy

    Support our FIGHT AGAINST illegal immigration & Amnesty by joining our E-mail Alerts at https://eepurl.com/cktGTn

  9. #9
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    thanks Judy!

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    And, I second that. Rebecca--do NOT let these bleeding hearts influence your decision to fight the good fight. I frankly don't CARE about their plight as long as it INFLUENCES the plight of MILLIONS of AMERICANS who are without jobs. That may sound harsh but there it is.

    To hear Vicente Fox talking the other day, Mexico is BOOMING. So, why are his citizens BREAKING OUR LAWS to come work here. AND, not pay taxes. AND, not spend their money here but send it back to Mexico to enrich Vicente and his corrupt government. And, it says a WHOLE lot about the character of the people who come here illegally. If they can break one law, they can break ANY law. AND, THEY DO. At a rate MUCH HIGHER than American citizens. The prisons are FULL of them.

    Don't expect to get a pity party here, 77. Won't happen. Sorry.
    "POWER TENDS TO CORRUPT AND ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY." Sir John Dalberg-Acton

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