Torn in two on the immigration issue.

[BoneDaddy]

1. As a secular humanist I feel compassion for the vast number of immigrants who suffer every single day just simply trying to survive. They are driven by base needs to provide for themselves and their families.
2. I want to be able to help them. With such vast wealth to the north of Mexico it is understandable why they would want to come here, but where is Mexico and Vincente Fox's responsibility?
3. As a third generation person of Irish descent, I identify with a culture's escape from poverty and death and the desire to better their lives but can our infrastructure support an already failing health care system and the host of other problems we are having?
4. The use of immigrants to work at almost slave wages undercuts Labor, which I support and want to uphold. It also makes mega agri-business and other corporations tons of money off the backs of these struggling people.
5. Is this a wedge issue to distract us from ALL the other more pressing issues such as the war, Bush's failing numbers, NSA spying, outing of CIA agent, Iran or take your pick?

So what do we do? What is the most compassionate response without adding to our growing list of problems in this country.

I think that the answer somehow lies in the long term assistance of boosting Mexico's economy so they can survive there, but I do not even know where to begin.

[Missy M]

1. I feel the same way.....

just cross over the border around Tiajuana and it breaks your heart.

[luckyleftyme2]

2. you need to live there

this is a hands off speech to let the "status quo" who use illegal immigrant workers to line their pockets. in other words low wages no benefits and in most cases under the table pay.
in "bush's' case he's seen it all his life. it's a way of life in his circle.
it's a no brainer,and will die before it gets to the floor.

[Acadia Blue]

3. Mexico is a corrupt oligarchy! The problem is the Mexican government.

Bush wants the same corrupt system here so his rich greed pigs friends can have a 2 class system here. Why doesn't anyone see what is going on. Bush is creating a "labor surplus" to depress the wages of Americans. I honestly believe that DLC Dems and the RePIGs want the same thing: a big stinking latin American type economy to enrich themselves and enslave the rest of us.

[Boomer]

4. Well that would solve the immigration problem

If we end up as destitute as Mexico, then there won't be any incentive for anyone to come here, legal or illegal.

[FreakinDJ]

7. Only a few see the corporate greed causes this

Gephardt was the one who wanted Human rights conditions and Workers Rights conditions attached to out trade treaties and policies.

That is the only long term solution that will work

[C_U_L8R]

5. That's exactly what a wedge issue is designed to do

and the more time we spend on it.. the less attention that is on Iraq
amd Wiretaps and Plame and all the really bad nasty stuff.

That doesn't mean it's not a real issue.... but there certainly is a
lot of unnecessary brouhaha designed to obscure and distract...
just like Republicans always do.

[FreakinDJ]

6. America squandered what we had

At one time America was viewed world wide as the bastion of liberty and freedom as well as the richest country in the world.

We had the chance through our trade treaties to enact Human Rights conditions and Workers Rights conditions to improve the lives of people world over. In allowing the Republican controlled congress to do the bidding of corporate greed we have lost our ability to enact the changes.

Now they all wish to come here, their sick, the tired the poor. Daily we become more like them

[lumberjack_jeff]

8. Agreed

Well-executed and targeted aid to latin America is a necessary part of any strategy.

Is immigration a big deal? I'd say that the chronic loss of wages in our economy is THE big deal. For the first time in our history, there's a likelihood that our kids standard of living will be less than ours. Excess labor (or insufficient jobs, depending on how you look at it) is a major part of that. Both outsourcing and unrestricted immigration play a role.

Our immigration policy should be driven by primarily one statistic, the workforce participation rate. Until it reaches the level of 2000, immigration from all sources should be curtailed.

Regarding aid to Mexico specifically, you begin by determining what factors are preventing mexicans from thriving in their own society/economy.

[Nimrod2005]

9. We can acquire Mexico, kind of like we have Puerto Rico and

the US Virgin Islands and now Iraq...

[union_maid]

10. Nicely put

They call this issue "bipartisan" but it's really more that there are contradictions regardless of your philosophy. They're just different contradictions.