Reply #39: In rereading what I wrote before I kind of regret saying some of it. [View All]

[joemurphy]

It's sounds too strident and too know-it-all. Anyway, I'm sorry you're out of work. Being unemployed is not fun. Aside from the economics of it, there's the psychological aspect of feeling down and kind of worthless and unwanted. Anyway, I hope you find something soon. Keep looking and maintain your sense of self-worth.

I agree with a lot of what you say here. Mexico IS a problem. Personally, I think we need a Marshall Plan or something like it for Mexico. Having an economic basket case for a next-door-neighbor is the root of the problem. Until the problem of chronic Mexican poverty is resolved, I just don't see any answer to our immigration problem.

Frankly, I think we've ignored Latin American poverty too long. We've propped up tinhorn right-wing dictators in the name of fighting communism and, in doing so, have countenanced the resultant human problems that give rise to immigration.

I don't advocate no border security. We need to discourage immigration and securing our borders is important. All we need is one Al-Qaeda type to sneak across the border and the resulting frenzy might just lead to machine gun turrets along the Rio Grande. I'd not like that to happen.

But for those Mexicans that are here, I advocate pragmatic and not dogmatic responses to their situations. I don't like them being exploited and subjected to what I see as just idiotic hassling -- like not giving them driver's licenses etc. Building walls or hiring more border patrolmen is just a band aid to me and it really doesn't address or solve the real problems. The answer to me is addressing Mexican poverty somehow. How we do that is sort of beyond my level of competence. Whatever that answer is, I know that it won't be implemented for a very long time.

Good luck again on the job search. Hang in there.