[AGL] Flood of immigrants

[Gerry]

Connie,
Your naiveté is surprising. No crisis? Where have you been? There is a flood of immigrants headed north and finding many obstacles along the way. To recap all the news stories reporting this is not something I have the time to do. I would think that most concerned citizens are aware of the situation. Very surprised that you are not.

400 would be immigrants died in the desert last year trying to make it into the country. At present in the small town of Columbus, NM near the border there are hundreds of hungry immigrants who made it across, barely. Drives to collect food for them reach up here to Silver City where volunteers are trucking food and donations from local residents. My neighbor Baghdad Mary is involved. She says they (immigrants) are everywhere. 

I had a young man knock on my door recently, a wetback. "Agua, por favor," he asked. After drinking nearly a gallon we had a chat. I couldn't offer him any work since I too am poor and do my own work. But I sent him to a neighbor who gave him a few days work. Wish I could afford a helper...On the way to SC I see an ever increasing number of Border Patrol vehicles, the migras.

In Arizona the local populace is up in arms over the stream of humanity moving through the state, millions of them apparently. In AZ there are lots of police and migras and they stay busy 24/7 trying to catch and deport as many as they can catch. I hate to drive over there anymore, literally bristling with law enforcement vehicles.

NAFTA was in part about selling surplus US corn and wheat to Mexico. Mexico lives off corn tortillas which are subsidized by the government so that the poorest of the poor can afford them. The US corn which has taken over markets is cheaper than the locally produced corn. Why? Huge government subsidies to the corn growers in the midwest. There used to be a tariff but it was removed in the name of "free trade" (NAFTA). So now the corn tortillas are now made with US grown corn and the Mexican corn growers (that's what most of the farmers down there grow) are out of business. Can you imagine what would happen in the midwest if, say, Brazilian corn came in at a lower price and outfits such as ADM started buying it for resale instead of the locally grown product? And your Kellogg's Corn Flakes were suddenly from Brazil? There would be blood on the streets in Illinois.

The "currency crisis" in Mexico preceded NAFTA. It resulted in a revaluation of the peso, downward. The US loaned Mexico a few billion and obtained special oil concessions in return. Once again, I don't have time to educate you on all the nuances of the NAFTA sham. Now that the ENRON chiefs are out of the headlines perhaps you can find time to inform yourself.

Saw the season's first Phenopepla yesterday, 2 of them in the yard. Also Lawrences Goldfinches. Lots of birds moving through at present. Nearly as many as immigrants...
G 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Connie Clark 
  To: survivors' reminiscences about Austin Ghetto Daze in the 60s 
  Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2006 6:40 AM
  Subject: RE: [AGL] Flood of immigrants


  Jon and Gerry,
  Thanks for your coments regarding the flood of immigrants.  I wouldn't dare to challenge the prestigious Economic Policy Institute, but who declared the issue of immigration a 'crisis'.  I have my doubts that it actually is a crisis.  The only thing that I noticed different happening of late, is that there were mass demonstrations by the latinos calling for better treatment of hard working undocumented workers.  The street scenes, especially the flying of the Mexican flag insensed the impressionable mostly anglo masses.  Now everybody is calling for something to be done about them. (sort of the 'issue or distraction of the week'.)  The contention that the only reason we have a flood of immigrants here is because we didn't give their countries aid is specious.  I feel sure the surge of immigrants coming to work in America for American wages was well underway prior to NAFTA.

  I don't recall a whole lot about the NAFTA debate back in the nineties, but the part about treating Mexico to some kind of financial assistance doesn't ring a bell.  What was the rejected alternative, pump money into their corrupt system of politicians?  Anyway, currently 10s of millions of dollars are being wired into Mexico and other Central American countries every week.  Doesn't that count as financial assistance? I believe so.

  You opened the debate, and I responded with what admittedly limited knowledge or impressions that I have of NAFTA.  So far, including the submitted EPI article, I have  found nothing that makes me think that NAFTA or the concept of free trade was or is conclusively a huge error.  I am certainly willing to learn more.

  Connie

  Jon Ford <jonmfordster at hotmail.com> wrote:
    This is the truth of the matter (as I currently understand it). NAFTA was 
    shoved through congress by Wm. Jefferson Clinton, Democrat, the Free Trader.
    G

    Fueling Illegal Immigration to US
    Wednesday, 31 May 2006
    Opinion: Between The Lines

    BETWEEN THE LINES
    Syndicated Radio Newsmagazine

    NAFTA Played Critical Role in Fueling Illegal Immigration to U.S.
    Interview with Jeff Faux, founder of the Economic Policy Institute,
    Conducted by Melinda Tuhus.


    Sad but true, Gerry!

    Jon







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