Letters to the Editor
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A Stronger Mexico
It is necessary to discuss immigration reform not only for our southern neighbors, but for the benefit of the disenfranchised around the world seeking to come to our country. That Bush is not hearkening to the rallying cry of his base to criminalize illegal immigration is certainly a relief, and yes, we must give credit where credit is due.
We must ask, though, how much better would this country be if Mexico were a place were Mexicans could make a decent living? We have all bought into the idea that illegal immigrants are here "doing work Americans won't do." No. They are here working for worse wages than the American "way of life" requires, but better wages than they can get at home.
The savings provided to those businesses who employ illegal low-wage workers are NOT passed on to us, the consumers. The price of the services performed (let's say landscaping, to be cliche) remains the same. The money NOT paid to the employee is not reduced from your bill. It is kept by the owner of the company.
If we truly want to improve life for immigrants, we should start at home -- the home they would most probably prefer to stay in if it were possible to do so. What is most in need of examination is U.S. policy toward Mexico, and what we can do to improve it. The immigration debate, as it regards Mexico specifically, is in some ways a smokescreen for the corporatists who benefit from keeping Mexico a third-world country.