Create jobs in Mexico

The American response to Mexican immigration is not only inadequate, but also offensive and xenophobic.

Building a fence is not going to stop Mexicans from coming to this country. The U.S. would be better served by encouraging government and private industry to seriously invest in Mexico and to create mechanisms to ensure that the Mexican people (rather than corrupt politicians) actually benefit from this foreign investment.

Put simply, Mexicans come to the U.S. in large part for jobs and to improve their economic status. If the U.S. truly wants to stop unlawful immigration, then it should create jobs with reasonable and competitive compensation schemes in Mexico so that the lure of economic freedom may be found in the Mexican citizens’ backyard, rather than across the border.

Such economic assistance seems a small price to pay, especially when we consider the billions of dollars spent on rebuilding Iraq, a country thousands of miles away and whose people largely reject the American presence.

Surely we can find the courage to help out a worthy neighbor and ally, especially when doing so would in the end serve our own interests as well.

Guadalupe Lopez
Kansas City

Comments

[Stifled Freedom]

Corporate American is working hard to export jobs everday. Just give them time.

I can see how a big fence is offensive and an environmental problem.

In every other criminal issue, and illegal immigration is criminal, the govt always wants to go after the demand. The demand here is US employers, but of course the US govt doesn't want to disturb them.

IF you want to fix this problem, crackdown on the US employers here who hire them. When the jobs dry up, the illegals will go home on thier own....and the fence wont be in their way on the way home.

[Chris40]

In order to implement what the letter is asking for we would have to invade Mexico and take over the government.

How is the US supposed to "create jobs in Mexico"? How is the US government supposed to "create jobs" in the US...

I guess I'm just offensive and xenophobic because I haven't created enough jobs in Mexico this week.

I remember reading somewhere about the Lord helping those who help themselves. Maybe Mexicans should take that to heart, rather than whining that it's all the fault of the United States.

[jack]

Prairie: It is BILLIONS, not millions. The second largest line item in Mexico's GDP is illegals in the US sending money home. Humans are Mexico's biggest export commodity.

With NAFTA, we have shipped all kinds of factory jobs to Mexico. How many U.S. citizens should we put out of work to make things better in Mexico?

[Rogue]

Listen LIA, you have to learn, "it is always America's fault". Just ask the Rev. Winky Wright.

[Lost_In_Ambivalence]

I don't understand why this is our problem. Sure it would be great if Mexico would step up to the plate and modernize their economy. But, to put this on the backs of Americans is just plain stupid.

[PrairieVoice]

You are totally right. Mexico has to change. It's a country with great people but a corrupt government whos only anti-poverty program is to tell its people "Want a job? Move to the USA". The Mexican government gets millions of income without having to build a single road, school, or power plant. I don't know why this isn't part of the NAFTA treaty. This really needs to be our #1 issue in the election.