Illegal immigration. About the only agreement in the vitriolic debate is that illegal immigration one of America's thorniest hot-button issues and will play a pivotal role in the 2008 presidential election. But right now, politicians are tap-dancing around the topic with few solutions. So the big question remains: is there a logical and humane solution that benefits the United States and Mexico?
Most estimates say 10-12 million illegal Mexican immigrants live and work in the United States. That enrages some Americans who feel their tax dollars are supporting illegals, while other Americans champion anyone's right - legal or not --to find jobs and build better lives for their families.
And that's where renowned journalist and author Larry Blasko dives head-first into this raging controversy. "You have one side shouting 'Deport Them!' and the other side shouting 'Love Them!'"Â says Blasko. "But the reality is hand-wringing and finger-pointing solve nothing. A logical solution could be implemented by now with all the energy both sides have expended screaming for extreme measures."Â
In his new book, "Opening the Borders: Solving the Mexico/U.S. Immigration Problem For Our Sake and Mexico's"Â Blasko outlines the early, rocky relationship between the U.S. and Mexico. He quickly brings readers up to speed and then hones in on the immigration issue as it stands today. With a dash of humor and a conversational tone, Blasko reminds us that America is a nation founded by immigrants. He also points out the obvious: the first question we need to ask is 'why are millions of Mexicans compelled to risk their lives to sneak into the U.S. in the first place?'
By illustrating the impact that illegal Mexican immigrants have on the U.S. economy, Blasko makes a solid case for hammering out an agreement between U.S. and Mexican leaders that would benefit both nations. He points to a recent speech by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg detailing the crucial role immigrant workers play in that city's economy. "Listen, when the mayor of New York City tells you that illegal immigrants are the backbone of service jobs-you better pay attention,"Â says Blasko.
Opening the Borders takes a close look at the oft-repeated claim that illegal immigrants are stealing jobs from law abiding Americans. "Let's be realistic for just a minute,"Â says Blasko. "Sure, you can say that these low-paying jobs have been proliferated by illegal immigrants, but ask yourself, are there really millions of Americans lining up for these jobs?"Â
Blasko takes that thought one step further by asking what would happen if all 10-12 million illegal immigrants were suddenly deported. "What happens if overnight there's no labor force to fill those jobs?"Â asks Blasko. "We need to consider the detrimental effect that would have on the price of everything from fruits and vegetables to home repair services."Â
Opening the Borders carefully dissects both sides of the argument when it comes to taxes and social security. And this leads to the crux of Blasko's solution, a "compact of free association"Â agreement that would align Mexican and U.S. tax and social security systems and recognize the reality of labor and defense needs for both nations.
Blasko also points out a vital difference between Mexicans and other immigrants. "We need to realize that as wonderful as our country is, not all the Mexicans who come here seeking work want to remain here permanently,"Â says Blasko. "Many of them just want to honestly earn enough money to live well and retire in the country they find wonderful and love-Mexico."Â
For a review copy of Opening the Borders: Solving the Mexico/U.S. Immigration Problem For Our Sake and Mexico's, by Larry Blasko (Level 4 Press 2007; 211 pp. Hardcover $24.95) or to interview the author, contact Rachel Damien at 727-443-7115, ext. 206 or email rachel@event-management.com. Please include your name, publication, and mailing address with your request.
Hardcover: 211 pages
Publisher: Level 4 Press
Available at: www.level4press.com
Larry Blasko served for more than three decades with The Associated Press, the world's oldest and largest news-gathering organization, as writer, editor, columnist and executive. He is the author of two other books, "ABCs of Computing, a Plain-English Guide,"Â and Vamp! a humorous vampire novel. - Rachel Damien
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
Comments
#1 911 Immigration Security
#2 Easiest Solution to U.S. Immigration Problems
BASIC CAUSE AND EASY SOLUTION TO U.S. IMMIGRATION PROBLEM
The BASIC CAUSE of U.S. Immigration problems is INJUSTICE both here in the United States and in the country of origin of the immigrants.
The U.S. injustice is in the form of giving aid and comfort to the very same enemies of the immigrants, the corrupt officials and governments in their countries. The greatest beneficiaries of U.S. aids to foreign countries are the corrupt officials in the governments of the immigrants. Their countries can not generate employment opportunities for their peoples because their public funds are not spent for public improvements but used to personally enrich and empower their greedy leaders.
The INJUSTICE in the homelands of the immigrants are their own justice systems. Justice in their countries is a lucrative monopoly of their public officials and governments. The decision of justice in their countries are always in favor of their government officials that make their government officials look like saints and make their peoples look more like mere servants and slaves of their powerful public officials and the rich wealthy business associates of such officials in the private sector.
There is a BASIC AND EASY SOLUTION to this Immigration Problem: To start with, the U.S. Congress and the President should set up a model Justice System with provisions similar to the Grand Jury and Trial Jury systems of the US Federal Jury Systems. The model jury system should likewise provide a peace corp volunteers of American lawyers.
Before giving out U.S. aid to foreign countries, it must attach a condition that the recipient country should first set up the U.S. Model Jury Systems in said country. Such countries must ask peace corp US lawyer volunteers to help them set up their grand jury and trial jury systems.
The purpose of setting up the U.S. Federal Jury system in beneficiary countries of U.S. aid is to make their own people the peaceful sentinels over their own public officials and thereby easily send their corrupt officials to jail.
After the peace corp US lawyer volunteers certify that the country needing U.S. financial aid has already set up its jury system in operating condition, only then shall the U.S. send funds to aid financially such countries.
If most, if not all, corrupt powerful officials in beneficiary countries are ably sent to jail by their peoples, such countries will become progressive countries economically and shall be able to create job opportunities for their peoples. There would be no more need then for the peoples in those countries to come to the U.S. to find employment here. I suppose they would rather stay with their love ones back home with their local jobs than come to the U.S. to work. This will naturally stop the tide of illegal immigration into the U.S. Not only democracies in such countries will greatly improve, they will also become great markets for U.S. goods and services.
Let us take the example of Canada who has a jury system of justice. There are a lot less corrupt officials in that country and it is indeed a progressive country. It has great employment opportunities for its people. Very few of its people ever think of coming to the U.S.
Compare Canada with Mexico where the latter has a government monopolized justice system. What is needed in Mexico is a justice system similar to the U.S. Federal jury systems that will enable ordinary citizens of Mexico to get rid of their corrupt officials and send them to jail, too, like we do here in the U.S.
Mexico is a rich country with beautiful and intelligent people but what makes its people poor are its corrupt officials.
I request the reader of this comment to copy or forward it to their respective representatives in the U.S. Congress and the to the President and ask them to act on the herein suggested immigration solution. If adopted as a U.S. foreign policy, there will be no need to build a very expensive wall at the border between Mexico and the United States.