I Support Amnesty (America, Zen)

[Ciscokid]

Can anyone explain to me why Mexico is so poor? I mean it's not as if they ever go to war. Why can't they compete in the global economy?

What can the US do to help them get there?

[alwayswondering]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

But what do you do about the economy going into a recession when you remove so many workers and consumers?

Conversely, what do you do about the economy that cannot support the infrastructure (schools, hospitals, etc.) needs that will result from a 12 million person population boom?

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by Ciscokid

Can anyone explain to me why Mexico is so poor? I mean it's not as if they ever go to war. Why can't they compete in the global economy?

What can the US do to help them get there?

From what I hear, Mexico is so poor for several reasons. One is corruption. Another is a paternalistic culture that does not favor capital formation and investment. Some of the poorest cultures in the world are former colonies of Spain -- and Spain was late to develop capitalism. Until recently, it was one of the poorest nations of Europe.

[kadzbiz]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

The Federal Government gets a windfall from illegals who pay income and social security taxes ..... But what do you do about the economy going into a recession when you remove so many workers and consumers?

Good point.

Originally Posted by Ciscokid

Can anyone explain to me why Mexico is so poor? I mean it's not as if they ever go to war. Why can't they compete in the global economy? What can the US do to help them get there?

I recall hearing about how this happened, but can't think now. Regarding your last question, I do believe that on at least one occasion Mexico's debt has been wiped, along with other countries. Whether it has solved any problem, I don't know.

[jonny]

Originally Posted by nutshell

And what's the drain on resources because of speeders?

Off the top of my head - higher gas prices because of lower gas mileage, police spending time pulling people over instead of doing other important things, and costs associated with accidents caused by speeders. I'm sure if I researched it I could find a lot more.

[alwayswondering]

Originally Posted by Ciscokid

Can anyone explain to me why Mexico is so poor? I mean it's not as if they ever go to war. Why can't they compete in the global economy?

What can the US do to help them get there?

Part of the problem is corruption in both business and government - money and benefits don't trickle down to the poor.

NAFTA, ideally, was supposed to help stop the wage gap between the US and Mexico. However, when US employers do business in Mexico, they pay the "prevailing" wage, which is next to nothing. The official minimum wage for a full-time (8 hours a day) Mexican worker is between $4.50US and $4.80US per day. Essentially the average Mexican spends their entire day working for a wage that would buy a McExtra Value Meal here in the US.

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by alwayswondering

Conversely, what do you do about the economy that cannot support the infrastructure (schools, hospitals, etc.) needs that will result from a 12 million person population boom?

Which economy is that? Are you suggesting that the US doesn't have the infrastructure to support 11 to 12 million illegals?

[alwayswondering]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Which economy is that? Are you suggesting that the US doesn't have the infrastructure to support 11 to 12 million illegals?

They wouldn't be illegal anymore, would they?

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by Ciscokid

What can the US do to help them get there?

We probably can do somethings, but most of it is up to the Mexicans to clean up their own act.