There’s an old adage: If you want to know the truth, just follow the money trail. In a shocking turn of events, Mexican senators have indicated that they would like some face time with state lawmakers who have enacted tough illegal immigration laws. They contend that they have information that would convince Americans that immigrants coming into our country illegally from Mexico intend to stay out of trouble and contribute to our economy.
Is that supposed to make us feel good? Are we supposed to abandon our efforts to enforce our laws because a bunch of Mexican politicians say illegal immigrants have good intentions? Good intentions or not, the law is the law. That’s like saying we should abandon our drinking and driving laws because a report was prepared showing that most drinkers have good intentions.
According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Mexican senators plan to meet with lawmakers from Arizona, Georgia, Utah, Alabama and South Carolina to present them with their findings. The question is, “Why?”
If you want to know the answer, you just have to follow the money trail. There is no doubt that SB 1070 has proved to be controversial. More than that, it has showed the federal government and the Mexican government that we are serious about protecting our borders. It proves that we are tired of footing the bill for free health care and education for those who come here illegally. Now other states have taken up the fight.
It also threatens the Mexican economy. No one knows for sure how much money Mexican illegals in the U.S. send back to their native country, but most experts agree that it is in the billions of dollars. Some estimates show that Mexico is the recipient of nearly $17 billion in remittances worldwide. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to conclude the majority of these remittances originate from America.
Imagine what would happen to Mexico’s economy if that number dropped sharply. It would devastate their people and leave their country in worse shape than it already is. I contend that this is the reason that the Mexican government is initiating this public relations stunt. They need the money their natives make in America and send back to their country of origin.
Instead, these senators from Mexico should be showing us reports on what they are doing to develop their country and improve their economy that does not rely on Western Union. Show us what you are doing to stem the flow of illegals, narcotics and human trafficking into our country.
It would be nice if we could rely on their reports that illegals in this country have a desire to stay out of trouble and contribute to our economy. How would they know? Do they survey those being smuggled across the border? If so, stop them at the border. Have they surveyed the nearly 9 to 11 million who are already here illegally? If so, provide our government with their identities and whereabouts.
It’s a nice thought, but we cannot afford to abandon our efforts to protect our own citizens because of a report. Let’s face it, this is a farce. If you don’t believe me, just follow the money trail.
• Michael “Winey” Weinstein can be heard Saturday afternoon on The Mike & Winey Show on 92.3 KTAR from 3-5 PM. (www.mike&winey.com)
chatmandu002 posted at 12:02 pm on Thu, Nov 3, 2011.
We can understand that the Mexican officials want the US to take a bunch of their citizens off of their hands and save them lots of money by letting the US provide these Mexican citizens with free medical, food, housing, education and jobs. And I am sure they want the Mexican citizens that do come to the US, send half of their pay checks back to Mexico and help support the families of those that left for America. A win-win situation for Mexico and a lose-lose situation for the US.
Build the wall, build it now.
Enforce all the laws all the time.
Slabside posted at 12:58 pm on Thu, Nov 3, 2011.
In the late 1970's I worked for a company that employed several Mexicans. They freely admitted that they had wives and kids in Mexico and Arizona (dual families). They sent money home to Mexico every paycheck.
Yes chatmandu002, we need to build the fence.
Arizona Willie posted at 12:59 pm on Thu, Nov 3, 2011.
Except for the laws against robbing banks ... but only for me because I mean well and I'm a hard working dude.
The invader lovers claim it is too hard and takes too long to come here legally -- so the law should be ignored -- for hispanics .... other nationalities ... not so much.
And I claim it is too hard and takes too long to work and make a million dollars.
So I should be allowed to rob banks.
It will be good for business because I will spend all the money and stores will see a boom in business. They will have to hire some more clerks to handle the business.
Good for everybody.
I get money
Unemployed get jobs
Businesses make more profits.
HOW CAN YOU LOSE WITH A DEAL LIKE THAT?
Dale Whiting posted at 2:54 pm on Thu, Nov 3, 2011.
"Follow the money to Mexico," you say. How about following not only money but also assault rifles? We buy goods from Mexico like drugs and marijuana, selling them guns. And we subsidize corn grown in Iowa and sell in in Mexico City, lowering the price of corn there such that Mexican farmers must come here to find work.
It's a whole lot more complex that Whiney would make it. But then Neo-cons do tend to over-symplify things. "Let's build a fense." Another idiotic over-simplified remedy for one and only one thing, Jobs!
samkat posted at 5:46 pm on Thu, Nov 3, 2011.
Dale: You sure like to use the term neo-con freely. Can you write an argument without overusing the nuisance phrase? By the way, it was a democrat who pushed NAFTA. Would you care to bash him while you are trying to pin everything on the conservatives? :-)
Dale Whiting posted at 6:53 pm on Thu, Nov 3, 2011.
samcat,
What makes you think I do not support NAFTA? Neo-cons do tend to over-symplify things leading them to jump to unwarrented conclusions. Perhaps you are a Neo-conservative! And what makes you think I used the term Neo-con or Neo-conservative in a pejorative context? I hear Neo-cons calling me a Liberal and laugh. Obviously they cannot tell the difference between a Liberal and a Moderate [old fashioned] Conservative. Have you read my piece on what makes one a true conservative?
Thought not!
Masterrogue666 posted at 8:36 pm on Thu, Nov 3, 2011.
@ Michael Weinstein: I could not agree more with your statement that SB1070 has cause them no end of trouble. Didn't they, like California, state that Arizona should be boycotted? Our reply, fine, we'll survive. It's seems that they won't be able to. Why else do they wish to "enlighten" us?
What's ironic is that I recently learn that residents of California are the SECOND LARGEST contributors (if you get rid of one rather large indiviual donation from Montana, I think) to the SB1070 defense fund. So much for boycotts.
I think they should be told that we prefer they boycott us....
Rational Human posted at 8:47 pm on Fri, Nov 4, 2011.
"immigrants coming into our country illegally from Mexico intend to stay out of trouble and contribute to our economy" I believe that is probably true for the vast majority of illegal aliens coming to America. They like all the rest of us just want the American dream. Who can blame anyone for wanting that? The problem is that the liberals have created such an entitlement/welfare nightmare in this country that anyone coming here can get hooked right into the free services machine the moment they arrive, legally or not. Build a wall and cut off all trade with Mexico. Put armed guards every 100 yards of the border. Make it so secure that nothing can cross the border. No drugs or people smuggled in and no weapons smuggled out. Make it a serious felony to aid and abet an illegal alien in any way. The ones here now will ask to be allowed to go home. Then, and only then, we can start talking about ways to continue some trade and allow some Mexicans to enter legally. Time to start being serious and do what needs to be done. The boost to our economy will be noticeable. More Americans will have jobs. The drain on our welfare system will go way down and we will have more money for our own needy.
Oh My Honor posted at 2:08 am on Fri, Jan 6, 2012.
WHAT IS THE COST TO EVERY AMERICAN CITIZEN FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION?
RIGHT ON!!! MICHAEL WEINSTEIN.
Money turning over in the community it is made in is what drives local ecomonys. Go to your local WESTERN UNION on a friday night and look at the line of people sending money to Mexico.
This economy is in a recession. Unemployment is up reguardless what is reported. Those who have given up or no longer quilify for unemployment and not included in the figures reported. Illegals are here for the money whether from employment or social programs.
What are the costs for police, fire, free medical, education, courts, social programs, border protetcion, ect.
In this article it is reported 9 - 11 million illegals live in this country. What would the budget be for city of that size?
Don't be confused by the name calling or distraction of pointing out other progams that are failures. Address the illegal immigration head on and you will have made a great a stride in solving the financial woes of our country.
More articles like this are needed to wake up the public to how illegal immigration effects their pocketbook.