The host this morning on Dallas' News and Talk station, KRLD-AM (1080), Jay McFarland, was talking rather compassionately about the illegal alien problem Americans have been wrestling with.
McFarland made the case that the majority of those who are sneaking into the U.S. aren't criminals in Mexico, their reason for coming here isn't to smuggle drugs into this country or to get a free ride on our health care, schools and the like. But they are coming here with the hopes that they will have a better opportunity to survive.
He said he knows this first hand since he speaks fluent Spanish and has interviewed many of those who have sneaked across the border.
And he said, what I would have guessed on my own, that they come here willing to make a full contribution to the U.S. workforce in return for being allowed entry.
For many years, I was a real estate consultant for George P. Mitchell. I've written about him many times because I watched him make a profound contribution to my life and the lives of countless others. Mr. Mitchell continues today at 92-years old and after the loss of his wife, Cynthia, last year. Mr. Mitchell and his wife, gave away millions of dollars, and he continues to do so, to make life better for others.
I recall that he told me thirty years ago that the United States' biggest threat was not Russia, China, Iran or other countries and cultures, but was Mexico. The litany of reasons, which I had never considered before, made my skin crawl. There was no question he was correct.
Mr. Mitchell had just endowed a "think tank" to determine a workable plan that, by helping the Mexican people and their government, would significantly reduce these threats and allow us in the U.S. and those in Mexico to become more likely to work together in concert rather than to continue independently.
I've often wondered if Mr. Mitchell's team's research provided answers that the U.S. chose to ignore.
Move the years forward by twenty. Patty and I were having a new home built in South Shore Harbour, a planned community that is on the mainland near Galveston, but also adjacent to the Manned Spacecraft Center at NASA. Right away we noticed that the foundation, framing, masonary and roofing crews were all but 100% Mexican laborers. And it didn't take long to see how hard and diligently they worked, how much pride they took in their workmanship, and how many hours they spent each day -- even weekends -- doing their jobs.
I wondered what their pay scale was. Were they being paid equal to or better than U.S. workers who provide like labor? Were their families with them in the U.S., or were they still in Mexico where the fellows roofing our house would send the majority of their pay checks each week?
I've concluded that radio talk show host Jay McFarland is correct. The U.S. needs to make total protection of its borders a top priority and contemporaneously make its imigration laws, as they pretain to the two countries that share her borders, realistic so that there is no need for violation.
The latest idea being pushed is one that we amend the Constitution so that those born in the U.S. who are the offsprings of illegal aliens, are not U.S. citizens. That is an outrageous idea.
BILL CHERRY, REALTORS
DALLAS - PARK CITIES
Our 45th Year
214 503-8563
I suspect you are a bit of a lone voice crying in the wilderness where you live.
I personally feel that the "powers that be" are purposely looking in the wrong direction...a distraction.
If employers followed the laws on the books, as intended...a lot of this problem wouldn't exsist.
It's all about undeclared cheap labor and a better bottom line.
When I had my business here in NH, I had to jump through hoops when I hired. Forms to fill out ,documents to show, birth certificates, social security....the whole ball of wax.
So if my little company could comply and supply (even though annoying) Why can't (or don't) the Border employers?
Sure would solve illegal workers!
Of course, Miss Joanie. I've commented many times that American Business simply refuses to operate without slave labor. This is the first time the slaves have come here on their own free will.
Contrary to what we learned in school, all of Congress is financed and therefore elected by business. Congress can only give lip service to the nearly 80% of the citizens who want this problem fixed, less they lose their war chest contributions.