Immigration-Reform

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Unregulated Immigration Stifles a Living Wage and Stresses Community Resources.

This is a difficult issue with serious personal human impacts and any solution is bound to have problems. The intent here is not to oppose immigration, but to oppose chaotic, unregulated immigration and promote egalitarian reforms in countries with large numbers of out-migrating workers.

Key Points:

The idea that the U.S. can round up and deport 12 million undocumented workers and their families is foolhardy, but the U.S. should have control of its borders.
Undocumented immigrant workers boost corporate profits by creating a labor surplus and exerting downward pressure on wages.
Large numbers of undocumented workers probably weaken unions and worker rights.
Undocumented workers probably file fewer Worker Compensation claims, compared to U.S. citizen workers, and are less likely to complain about OSHA violations.
Immigration to the U.S. is not the solution to Third-World poverty. Out-migration from poorer countries is a political "pressure release valve" that reduces the voter strength of those seeking egalitarian reforms and delays creation of a middle class.
"Guest Worker" programs may create a separate and unequal labor class with no political influence at home or in their host countries. Immigrant labor should be invited and enjoy all the rights of citizens, including the right to vote.

Contrary to a popular urban myth, there are no jobs that Americans won't do. They may not do those jobs for what the company wants to pay, but if the supply of jobs is closely matched to the supply of available workers, employers will be forced to pay a living wage. That's the way the market works. To drive wages lower, however, requires a surplus of workers and that is what the current lax U.S. immigration policies are all about. This process is a factor in a widening income gap.

The proposed McCain-Kennedy bill in the Senate is not a significant deviation from the old policies. Businesses will continue to benefit from flooding the labor market with surplus "guest workers." These guest workers, fearing deportation, will generally be more docile and less apt to organize than workers who are U.S. citizens.

Cheap labor will continue to flow north and American citizens at the low end of the economy will get pounded twice. The working class communities that would most benefit from raising the minimum wage to a living wage will be the same communities that absorb the guest workers into their school systems. They are the same communities that will see other services strained, like housing, water and sewer, and health care. This, of course, is not new. It's part of a well-worn business strategy to privatize the profits and socialize the costs of doing business. To the extent that taxpayers foot the bill to hold down wages, they subsidize company profits.

The idea that the government is going to round up all the illegal immigrants and send them back to Mexico is stupid. The McCain-Kennedy bill, as weak as it is, is probably the only reasonable "solution" in that it provides an orderly process for achieving full citizenship and makes it look like the government is actually in charge of its boarders. Yes, we are a nation of immigrants and the nation has benefited from the energy and sweat of newcomers eager to build a better life. We want that to continue.

Wouldn't other nations benefit from more open immigration policies?

Proposal for Mexico: Reciprocal Dual Citizenship

Mexicans working in the U.S. legally or otherwise send billions of dollars back to Mexico. Many Americans would like to retire in Mexico where it's warm and the cost of living is lower than in the United States. As the members of my generation, known by the pejorative term "Baby Boomers", proceed into what for most will be a hopelessly under-funded retirement, they will need to find an affordable place to live. Why not Mexico? How about Mazatlan?

Viva Mexico

Let's propose that the United States negotiate a deal with Mexico to allow American expatriots to acquire the full benefits of Mexican citizenship, just as the McCain-Kennedy bill would put Mexicans on the path to U.S. citizenship. Such a policy would mean that the American-Mexicans would vote in Mexican elections and likely raise the expectations for better public education, infrastructure, environmental standards, democratic institutions, and rule of law - all necessary elements of a modern and prosperous nation. Retirement funds from 401K accounts, the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation and Social Security would pour into the Mexican economy. Retired American workers and professionals could assist Mexicans in building a more modern economy.

Mexico is a big nation with a rich cultural history and variety of climate and ecological zones. Whether you like the high plains, the desert, tropical lowlands, mountains, or the coast, Mexico has a lot to offer.

La familia vive en la casa. La casa es blanca. La familia no es rica. La familia no es pobre. La familia es feliz.

Retire in Mexico

Buena suerte con todo!