Weary Immigants

None of us can doubt the economic mess the United States is currently experiencing. The banking industry, the housing industry, and the monumental national debt of some $9 trillion are major contributors that will likely lead to a recession. If our economy continues its tailspin, we will spread our misfortune throughout the world. Call it the Great American Export, a global recess from economic prosperity.

Another alarming drain on America’s well being is the affect of immigration, the illegal part of it in particular. Up to 12-million un-American workers and their offspring are stressing our social services, creating challenges for local and state budgets. One concern is the loss of tax revenues as these undocumented wage earners may work “under the table”. With approximately15% of the Mexican workforce employed in the U.S. an estimated $40 billion was sent home to Mexico in 2006 alone.

Taking note that the number of outsourced job by American companies jobs to countries such as India, China, Southeast Asia, Ireland, Poland, Russia and South Africa, Mexico is currently a prime source for jeans and shoes. Consider also that nearly 60% of all Mexican immigrants in America have not finished high school, many of which lack the skills necessary to effectively communicate in English.

In spite of this, it is shocking that that India has outsourced approximately 5,000 jobs to Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay. In the next few years they will add another 5,000 software jobs to none other than Mexico, primarily in Guadalajara! Even more incredulous is that, as India continues to outsource jobs that have been outsourced to them, some of those will be in less developed locations here, in the United States!

Since we already have trade agreements with many Central and South American countries, it brings to question why we haven’t taken advantage of the opportunities to improve our relations by exporting jobs to nations south of our border. Even though American corporations consider the education, political and security issues before sending our jobs overseas, our stance with Latin American countries would enhance our perceived interest for their economic development.

An immediate benefit to expanding labor partnership would be reducing the number of Mexicans crossing the border to seek better wages than what can be earned in their own country. There would be fewer people risking their lives and being separated from their families. Leaving their hometowns for our land of golden opportunities may be a positive means to better their lives, but the regrets of abandoning their heritage and the security of family relations must be enormous. Sweat and tears surely accompany the hardships along their journeys.

There is more to illegal immigration than a disregard for our laws; it is a means for their survival. My attitude against amnesty borders on racism, which I claim with embarrassment since I also view myself as a humanitarian and try to imagine the fear, heartbreak, and challenges they encounter daily. I can’t rule out the possibility that I would resort to the same actions under similar circumstances. I certainly wish them no ill will but the drain on American resources is tremendous.

It is unlikely Washington will take any steps to address the immigration issue anytime soon although every politician will offer one of two similar directions – amnesty or not – but they will be less creative than what the situation calls upon.

After over 600 years of European influence, we must accept that Latin America and Hispanic cultures are integral to the cultures in the Western Hemisphere. Many of us resent the choices of English and Espanol for language options everywhere we look and listen, but as globalization continues to develop, America has to absorb and embrace other counties’ interests to regain the respect of the world community.

The billions of dollars that undocumented illegal immigrants burden our economy would be better directed as foreign aid, working with the Mexican government to resolve the troubling issues of our two nations. The rewards would be immeasurable.

If our government figures would get off their political soap boxes, perhaps our great nation can rise above the current controversies of illegal workers and embrace the inherent value of immigration that built the very foundation of our diverse society and we can act upon the Statue of Liberty’s welcoming words, “Give me your tired your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free… the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

PARCEL POST 2008 @ www.parcelpost08.blogspot.com A New Year. A New Blog.