Most of the ideas I come up with to solve the world’s ills are a) pretty stupid, b) pretty funny and c) just ideas that come blurting out of my mouth without thinking because I’m frustrated. That can be said about most everybody, if y’all would be honest about it.
But a few of my ideas are actually worth talking about further. I’ll give the simplistic version, and then let’s see if we can improve on it, or prove that it won’t work. Here goes:
We’ll start with immigration. Many folks are upset about people “pouring in over our southern border”, which is of course code for “I hate Mexicans”. But immigration, even to those of us who don’t hate people from Mexico, is indeed a problem. Building a fence acrose the border…in the 21st Century, mind you…is about the silliest and dumbest thing I could think of. Yet that was the Bush Administration solution. (If a decision was stupid, you can bet it was probably made by the Bush Adminstration).
The way I see it, Mexico’s government doesn’t seem to be too willing to help, which causes problems if only one side is working on the problem. So my idea starts simple enough.
Make it so as of (insert date here, make it soon, sometime in next few months), NO American travel will be allowed into Mexico. NO tourists to Cancun, or Cabo, or whereever else tourists go in Mexico. Also, NO Americans are allowed to cross into Mexico on the ground in California, or Texas, or Nevada, until Mexico’s government starts to match our effort to keep out illegals. Basically, let’s not let Americans spend one dollar in Mexico until their government gets off it’s arse. Can you imagine the damage to Mexico’s economy if there was no tourism allowed? How many Americans go to Mexico over Spring Break alone?
There, that’s the simple version. There’s obviously much more involved here, and it’s already been discussed among me and friends. One buddy, for instance, said “travel agencies would be crippled and pissed”, to which I say, “good, now they can help become part of the solution, too”.
So, blast away if you want, or better yet be constructive and either add to this idea or break it apart with intelligent commentary. But let’s start talking about doing SOMETHING other than “building a fence”. What do you think?
9 responses so far ↓
1
Billy Dennis
// Aug 9, 2009 at 8:39 pm
As the economy in Mexico worsens, so does illegal immigration from Mexico. Don’t assume that the Mexican government will have better luck stopping people from leaving the country than we have had stopping them from getting in. A better solution will be a treaty giving the residents of each country the ability to cross the border and hold jobs and own property and to gain citizenship EQUALLY. Soon, Mexico will have a decent economy.
2
BJ Stone
// Aug 9, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Economies ebb and flo (see: United States of America). Like you said, soon they WILL have a decent economy. In the meantime, the problem is just as much theirs as it is ours. I don’t mind the idea you have Billy, expound upon it. How would one gain citizenship? Would it be as easy for European and Asian immigrants to gain citizenship? Could we not expedite the treaty by the embargo on tourism into the country, or would we be the hold up on said treaty?
3
Billy Dennis
// Aug 10, 2009 at 12:29 am
I believe national sovereignty is important. But I also believe that the ability of people to cross borders ads to freedom on a global scale. Obviously, there must be a middle ground. I’d like to see Mexico make it at least as easy to become a Mexican citizen as it is for those Mexicans who wish to become American citizens. I’d favor true free trade between the U.S. Mexico and Canada, and not the managed pseudo free trade we have now. Economic embargoes don’t work, and why would we want to do that to a friendly neighbor?
4
BJ Stone
// Aug 10, 2009 at 6:27 am
Free trade doesn’t have a great track record either, however. Unregulated capitalism, which I know you support, doesn’t work (as evidenced by everything that has happened to the working man in this country since the Reagan years) because humans have a little problem with greed.
5
vonster
// Aug 10, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Have you guys seen Mexico’s rules regarding immigrants? Talk about draconian.
6
Billy Dennis
// Aug 11, 2009 at 10:05 am
Vonster is right. They are stringent. I know many folks who would like to retire to a place like Mexico where their limited retirement benefits would last longer, but hesitate because while Mexico would like the money, don’t want to have out the same rights that we do Mexican citizens.
7
BJ Stone
// Aug 13, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Well, then, even another reason to implement my plan.
“We’re banning American tourist travel into Mexico until you A) do something to help at your northern border and B) change your rules on allowing citizenship.”
I’m tellin’ ya, it would make them jump if you took away the tourist dollars.
8
vonster
// Aug 17, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Sorry but you sound like O’Reilly, Beej.
9
Anon E. Mouse
// Nov 6, 2009 at 10:13 pm
RE: Keeping anyone from crossing the Mexico/US border in Nevada.
That must be one hell of a tunnel.
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