I don't get it. What is difficult about immigration policy? To me it's obvious. We cannot expect that
foreigners will have the best interests of the United States of America in their hearts. If our borders leak like
a sieve, anyone who hates us can come in and do damage, as we've seen. Congress makes laws as to who may come in
and how. The Executive Branch is supposed to administer those laws. Our current administration is not enforcing
these laws. Perhaps we need to make it easier for them to protect our country from threats within and without?
So, what's stopping them? I hear that it has to do with the agricultural industry or that all potential cabinet
nominees must have an illegal immigrant domestic or mistress in their past, and that enforcing the laws might cut
off the flow of cheap labor and cheap shots at cabinet nominees. Also, politicians are afraid of being called
racist, because Mexicans might not vote for them in future elections. Not that Mexicans can vote legally in US
elections, mind.
What's happening in Mexico? A poorly run country full of corruption props up its unstable situation through
billions of dollars a year sent home from ex-patriots illegally in the USA. We also have some Mexican nationalist
types who are trying to take back the property "stolen" by Gringos from the Spanish, French and Mexicans through
land deals and conflicts over the years. Shall we wait until they take Arizona and other states through illegal
immigration? I have another suggestion. Let's give them Arizona back. Let's give them even more. Let's give
them the whole of the United States of America, including our Constitution.
Our Constitution allows for other states to join the original country. There is no reason that Sudan or any
other country couldn't vote to join the U.S., just as Delaware and Georgia did over 200 years ago. So, why
couldn't Durango or Jalisco or all of Mexico's states vote to join the USA? This would cure so many problems on
both sides of the border.
Our current southern border runs approximately 1,952 miles. Wouldn't it be easier to defend the border with
Guatemala and Belize, a mere 957 miles? (Thanks to the CIA Factbook, a fascinating read.) The
Mexicans already defend that border zealously. So, if the Mexican states joined our country, there no longer would
be objections to actually enforcing the borders.
If the Mexican states joined us, we would be a bigger, richer, more populous country. Think of 101 million more
people as part of the USA, 89% of them fairly conservative Catholics. What would that mean for the fortunes of
the political parties and the undergirding philosophical movements over the next century? Think of that work force
put to use in our more efficient, capitalistic way. Think of turning that many hard-working people loose. It
would allow more freedom of movement for both sets of citizens. We could also clean up several problems that occur
because we have two separate countries currently.
There would be problems to work out. The minimum wage would have to be scrapped or modified. We would probably
need to go bilingual officially. There might be some wrangling there. Of course, it wouldn't hurt more Americans
to be bilingual. A language forms one's outlook, and multiple languages allow more flexibility in solving
problems.
So, what are the drawbacks? Other than Mexican pride in having their own country, I can't think of any. It
might temporarily depress wages or make it easier to move jobs across the dissolved border. But when economies or
cultures clash, the most efficient wins. Yes, they would blend, but the USA's culture would dominate in the long
run.
Here's what George Bush should propose: We're going to enforce and enhance our laws on immigration. Anyone in
the United States illegally will henceforth be considered a spy and sentenced to death. However, we will allow the
Mexican states to join us before the shootings commence. Citizens of Mexican states who become part of the United
States will be legally in the country.
We could make the same offer to the Canadian provinces. Sure, most Canadians would hate the idea. But let's
take steps to make our northern border more secure, too. Plus, it's the only way to stop them from American
bashing. Speaking of extending the idea, maybe the Netherlands would like to join us rather than France and
Germany's EU? The possibilities are endless.
F. B. Knight is Curmudgeon-in-Residence at the Attila the Hun School of Management. He can be reached for questions
at
fbk@attilathehunschool.net.
