Many American businesses have relocated to Mexico

[Erika]

in the last 5 years. What is the difference between this action and our companies employing illegals at lesser wages with no benefits?

We need to do away with the borders other than terrorist checks and get labor to unite and fight for decent wages regardless whether we are Mexican or American.

The corporatists are playing one end against the other to complete for low paying jobs and killing the middle class.

[saltpoint]

1. "...and get labor to unite and fight for decent wages regardless

whether we are Mexican or American."

I second that motion, Erika. Excellent point. :thumbsup:

[Erika]

3. It's time. We are now one world

whether we like it or not. Somehow, we must preserve the middle class.

[saltpoint]

7. Agreed, and create it where it doesn't exist now. This is a truly

historic opportunity for the big bad superpower nation to be altruistic and get it right.

And sadly, I take a look at who's in that administration, and I wish a few more blue voters wold have made it to the polls in 2000 and 2004.

[mike_c]

2. bingo...

Ding ding ding! And who do you think benefits when one class of workers is pitted against another? The first step toward winning a war is identifying who the enemy really is. It isn't poor brown people trying to feed their families.

[Erika]

5. As one worker to another, the GOP House plan is disgusting

Make immigrants felons and those who assist them felons? As much as I dislike organized religion, I respect the Catholic Church for saying they will help all the needy, regardless of nation of origin.

[havocmom]

4. More than just cheap wages

Little matters of environmental protection laws, worker protection laws, stuff like that come into play. Some of the female workers at some maquiladoras are required to take birth control pills to keep their jobs.

It's about a LOT more than wages

[Erika]

6. What is maquiladoras?

They have no reproductive freedom? Thanks for educating me.

How can we tolerate American firms who move their plants to Mexico when, in reality, they are doing so profit motive and degradation of workers and the environment?

I wish Lou Dobbs would do an expose on them and name them.

[havocmom]

9. Maquiladoras are US factories in Mexico, usually close to border

Yep, some of them want to make sure the workers stay at work, no kids or no more kids. Some of the women at some factories also deal with sexual abuse at work. One more reason the bosses want to control their wombs?

There have been a few women who have just disappeared. Many female workers take long bus rides from their home villages to the new factory complexes. There was an instance a year or so ago where one young woman was raped and killed by the bus driver. They are extremely vulnerable. There are some horrible conditions.

[Erika]

10. Women and kids are always the first victims n/t

[DBoon]

8. Anglos vs. Mexicans is just one chapter in a long book

Prior chapters being:

- Native born vs. Irish
- Nothern European vs. "inferior" southern and eastern european
- African American vs. Europeans

African Americans were used as strike breakers in the 19th Century. They were willing to take the jobs regardless of the pay and conditions.

American employers split up ethnic groups in factories and mines, putting workers next to each other who did not speak the same language or had "old world" hostilities.


It's about time we figured out that what we have in common is more important than what divides us.

[Erika]

11. We need to stick together with our commonality.

The working class needs to stop the exploitation. I would hope Lou Dobbs would look at this truth.

[Erika]

12. Delete Dupe