The Great Wall of Mexico - Is that the best solution for this problem? Really? serious discussion only please.

Question

Mexicans will keep coming as long as Mexico stays "poor" & families can't support themselves there. No wall, gate, fence, moat, etc. is going to keep them away from pursuing a better life. Instead of working against Mexico, & sealing ourselves off one of the few allies we have left, we should work w/ them to fix this. (It's not just our border!)

The only way to keep Mexicans in Mexico is to help stabilize Mexico enough to where they can find a job that pays enough to live. If we're helping countries get rid of corrupt gov'ts and "restoring democracy", why not our neighbor? You know, just like they claim to be doing in Iraq. How can we prosper as a country, when our neighbor is in such bad shape?

Anyway, we'd be better off in the long run, if we spent the fence money investing in businesses so they have reason to stay & work there. Nobody wants to pay for others' misfortunes, but eventually we'd all benefit. We didn't screw Iraq up either, yet we're there "rebuilding" & paying for it.

Answer 1

I appreciate your opinion. I do not think that giving money to Mexican or American businesses to have jobs in Mexico would solve the problem. There has to be a disincentive to crossing the border. There should ALSO be a comprehensive solution to poverty in Mexico. It needs to start IN MEXICO! They are the 10th richest nation in the world, so why are so many coming to the USA? Because of corrupt systems and government institutions in Mexico.

I want to lock down the border to make it safer for those that do come here legally. We need to protect the immigrants from being taken advantage by smugglers and worse. This is a REAL problem.

We should do more to pressure Mexico and give tax and other incentives to businesses to locate in the NAFTA region, instead of in China or Indonesia. Maybe if Barbies cost $15 instead of $7, and they were made in the Western Hemisphere, we would all sleep better.

All I know is we should not directly pay for it. We are ALREADY paying for welfare benefits, increased medical insurance costs, and higher property taxes, ALL so we can pay for those that choose to not pay or legally participate in our labor and tax system.

Time for sanity to prevail, SMART and fair legislation that makes it a privilege to immigrate to America, but a privilege that is not a 10 year waiting list.

Answer 2

I import products from all over the world, being in the business that I am, and have a bit of a different take on the Mexico wall thing than some.

First, my conclusion: it should be built higher and longer than is proposed.

Second, my explanation: The Mexican government actively supports immigration to the U.S., legal or not, especially if those immigrants happen to be- shall we say- less than model citizens. I know this first hand. Turn it around and you'll discover that the Mexican government does not allow immigration to their country unless you meet very specific criteria. This is something we must have, and not allow illegal immigration because it is, well, illegal. In all fairness and also in the name of protecting our country we should, at the very least, do what Australia does when considering immigrants... if you don't know it is best to look it up rather than me telling it to you.

My analogy: Regarding the way people live and how they are paid in another country and comparing it to the U.S. is absurd. The following analogy can be applied to almost any "third-world" country, whether it be Mexico or China or Iraq or Kurdistan- just change the name of the country. Consider the cost of living in Indonesia. We have all seen the horror stories of people making toys or clothing or sneakers for "The West" that the factory workers couldn't afford to buy themselves. I can tell you, again firsthand, that if one considers the cost of living there that these "deplorable" wages are actually a comfortable living there even though they couldn't raise a cockroach here. Why not, then, simply pay them more and raise their standard of living? Because then you would develop an even more dangerous problem by creating further separation of rich and poor. We are not making them poor, because they aren't, in their eyes nor in the eyes of their government.

We are not greedy because we don't pay them enough for their goods since it is them that decide what to charge. I have never twisted the arm of any factory and forced them to sell at a loss or to not pay their workers enough. Instead, I have parameters in place to insure fair worker treatment, just like the vast majority of business that do business outside of the country. U.S. owned business in Mexico- or wherever- are not destroying lives, they are protecting them through providing opportunities the citizens would not otherwise have, in their own countries.

In closing, there simply isn't any solid reason to come to the U.S. unannounced. Follow the rules and you are welcome to enjoy our country.

By the way, if you think from my answer that I am a superrich capitalist pig, you would be wrong. My total take home pay including benefits was $48,000 last year...just enough for me to be able to buy my first new car this year... with most of the parts MADE IN MEXICO!

Welp, thats all for now.

Answer 3

No, I don't think that the Wall is the answer. I am gratified that you pointed out that it is not just our border, but theirs, as well.

Mexico should be working just as hard as we are to stem the unfiltered tide of illegals that are flooding into this country. And let's not forget that they are just that: illegal. Why both countries continue to act like these people are not criminals is beyond me. As long as everyone continues to turn their back on this, it will always be a problem. Both governments need to get hard-nosed, and actually apprehend and prosecute these people. This will send the message that the US does not treat criminals lightly, no matter how "harmless" the criminals think their crime is.

Answer 4

The money comes from our children's schools and ruins our children's education, with illegal immigration. Health care and other services similarly suffer.

The fence isn't perfect - for one thing it isn't long enough. It needs to be combined with interior enforcement including against employers and dismantling of the employment AND benefit magnets in this country.

The fence was what was achievable this year, however. If you can achieve more, faster, be my guest.

Also, while I do consider Mexico a friendly country, it seems to me that the benefits are decidedly one sided. If we give and give and give and let our own children's education be ruined to educate Mexico's poor, is that a healthy friendship?

If they require it, are they really a friend?

Answer 5

Just because a wall or fence is not a complete solution does not mean it will not be effective. Build it and keep working on other aspects of the complete solution.

Answer 6

Military Force Is The Only Answer To Solve The Border Situation

Answer 7

Assume for one moment that the Earth is round, like a basketball. Now look at where China would be. Now look at where America would be. No ask yourself, should I be able to see that from all the way on th other side of the world? Think about it. }{

Answer 8

There is nothing wrong with all you say. But why don't they just do it the legal right way?? Why don't they at least try to learn english if they want to move to an english country instead of demanding translators and wanting us to learn spanish? Nobody says keep them all out--we just say they need to follow the law. If they don't, it shows that they never will follow or respect any other law we have.

Answer 9

Of course it's the best idea!!
Not a single Mexican is going to be honest enough to do it the legal and right way, so we have to put up walls of defense and protection to keep them from flowing in by the masses and taking over our country and turning it into a third world country as well!

Answer 10

i don't think so.

we should buy or sieze the top 100 miles or so
and give the able inhabitants the chance to earn citizenship through
military service.