William,

I was thinking and I decided to add to my statement since I want you to publish it
on your web page as you see fit but in its entirety, you may print my name, I stand
behind my convictions and always sign my opinions, I struggle to make sense of this
ever crazy world and right or wrong we need honest discussion, "we the people" is
the last thing on a politicians mind and they have opinions that change with the
weather. Perhaps your efforts can spawn a desperately needed political movement for
people frustrated with the inadequacies of our 2 party system. My completed article
follows.

What seems to be the problem is the continuing failure of the American government to
protect its own citizens, the Republicans and Democrats both are refusing to secure
the border for what? Both parties are in a struggle to win the hearts and minds and
VOTES of a rapidly growing Hispanic community. My government failed to protect me on
the morning of Sept 11 2001, I emphasize government because both parties are guilty
of putting their check-writers before the will and needs of their people. Liberals
can permit the mass murder of children in Waco Texas, send Elian Gonzalez back to a
Cuban hellhole. (unless you have been there please believe me) Republican see fit to
spend like President Johnson and trample our civil liberties. My family came to the
USA from Mexico, legally, and we have given much to this country. My grandfather was
a Captain in the Merchant Marines and my Uncle was a highly decorated soldier in the
Korean War. My father served in the Air Force during the same
conflict. After 911, I decided, as you have regarding the border, that the
government has become unwilling or incapable of protecting our lives. After the 1st
attempt on the World Trade Center you would think it would have been considered a
target and why those planes weren't´t shot from the sky will remain an (honestly)
unanswered question. If I was going to sneak into America in an attempt to commit a
terrorist act the Mexican border would be the easiest way. If the migrant labor
force is truly needed, that's fine, legal entry is good for all involved, taxes are
paid and fair wages are earned by all, a virtually open border fuels corruption on
both sides of the border, I have been living here in Mexico for several years now,
after 911 I wanted to leave New York City and I could not afford anything due to
the skyrocketing price of real estate. I was attracted to the cheap homes in Mexico
and I thought I might try a new life there. I quickly learned Mexico

is one of the most bribe-fueled corrupt class-controlled illusions of democracy
that the western world has to offer. The corruption reaches all levels as I learned
when one of the police officers that came to my house here in Mexico and asked for
a bribe after I was robbed. Not what I was expecting, I figured the bribe pitch
would follow the typical,"Where did they break in, who do you think could have done
it? What did they steal?� line of questioning. This example aside,(I wont go into
the locations of the numerous drug trafficking airports or the fact that Bill
Clinton had anti-drug summit to talk about the drug war at the house of a known
drug trafficker, what irony.) I was told by the mother of a young man who was
studying to enter a government subsidized school that, "Regardless of how he does
on the entrance exam we don’t know anyone in the office?�,"nor do we have the money
to bribe them". Being stopped for a fabricated minor traffic violation or having a
conversati!
on with
your girlfriend in your own vehicle (completely clothed, thank you) can result in
fines, the police simply threaten to put your girl in the police car and drive her
home with the lights and sirens on. They use the "catholic guilt culture" to the
extreme in this case. What Mexican family wouldn't’t pay 500 pesos not to have
their daughter brought home in a squad car? (or what boyfriend wouldn't’t pay the
500 pesos to have them leave you alone. When you fill up your car at Pemex you may
pay for 10 liters and get 7 or 8 cause the pumps been rigged to dispense less than
you pay for, once I even got some watery sludge and had to pay to have my filter
changed and my injectors cleaned. Isolated incidents? NO. Corruption in this most
Catholic of societies is as commonplace as seagulls over trash barges. It exists
from the bottom to the top although the upper class here reaps the benefit of
selectively enforced laws weather they be criminal, environmental or labor. Those
who unders!
tand
there is no way up leave, as it is the best option to circumnavigate the blockades
of class-ism and racism pervasive here. This option needs to be eliminated, the
option of paying a coyote 2000 dollars to exit this nightmare needs to end. Why?
Because the political establishment in

Mexico

has no real interest in reforming this society based on nepotism and class and skin
color as long as the desperate have the option to flee instead of opting to fight
for their rights. The upper and middle class have no interest of giving up their
servants for 5 dollars a day or paying a living wage to the underclass of millions,
much less educating them or providing health care when the option of having the

united states

do it for them exists. In addition, the economic support
Mexico
receives with the illegal income sent back to

Mexico

is enormous. We are in effect, by allowing those disillusioned with their country
to enter ours, giving the entrenched powers of the elite in

Mexico

a free ticket to excess while others continue to subsist on "Cup o Noodles" and
tortillas. When Capitalism is a private club in which only the privileged and
connected are allowed entry do not be surprised when shifts to Socialism in

Latin America

become more common. Permitting the poor to leave
Mexico
only propagates the corrupt status quo, eliminate this option for the future of
Mexico is at stake
.I would like to comment on President Fox's statement regarding what jobs Blacks or
Mexicans will or will not do, take a look at your country Mr. President Fox and
question what jobs you were willing to do or not do. Minutemen, you will be helping
Mexico in the long run, there will be some who may try to peg you as racists and I
cannot be in each and every individual heart to judge that, the illegals are
breaking the law, and as they are returned tell them to ask their own politicians,
why can´t you offer me a future in the land of my birth.

Luis Fernandez de la Reguera