Note the date of the election above.
This is about the upcoming Mexican national election.
The US is in a divisive state while considering a much-needed overhaul of
immigration laws; border control, immigration and enforcement. Let's look at
the other side of the equation, where much if the immigration comes from . .
. México.
As said before, we have the magnet and the push. Looking at the push,
we should recognize that it is very difficult for a country like México to
live right up against the major world's economy and one of the highest
living standards. On the other hand, how can the leaders of México hold
their heads up when studies show that 30% to 40% of Mexicans would go
north (to the US) if they could legally do so. And 20% would go even if
they had to do so illegally. In other words, an astounding percentage of
the citizenry of México would abandon their home country if given the
chance . . . and increasing numbers are doing just this.
The majority of Mexicans going north are not unemployed; they are
under employed. More entire families are making the dangerous trip,
which is abandonment of their home country, not just supporting their
families at home. The latest trend is for an increasing number of young
females (single or divorced) making the dangerous trip. To give you an
idea of want they face, it is common for these migrants to load up on
birth control pills because they know that the "pay" required is not only
money. We are seeing a mass desertion of a country by a significant
portion of its population. Rather than call them "heroes" for sending
remittances home as President Fox has, we should call them what they are:
refugees.
Basic security is also becoming a bigger push for migration.
Concerning the security issue (which is the lack of a functional
legal/enforcement system), only one candidate (from the PAN) even briefly
mentioned this early in his campaign. Almost totally missing from all now.
Yet, México does not have to look north for a better legal system. Look at
Chile, who is now generally acknowledged as having one of the best legal
systems in the Americas. Legal reform has been off the discussion in
México since the first few months of the present administration.
Let's look at the choices offered to the voters of México on 2 July:
We have three main parties vying for the election. The PAN (center
right), now holding the presidency. The PRD (center left), who holds the
mayor post in the capitol, México (City). Finally is the PRI (center, all
things for all people), the party that held rule for 71 years prior to the
last presidential election. Some call them the party of dinosaurs.
No party holds a clear majority in the national congress, and
stalemate is the result. As of this writing, the polls indicate that the
PAN and the PRD are in a statistical dead heat two months before the
election. The PRI is holding fast to a distant third place.
All parties are promising "job creation". But what kind of jobs? More
$65.00 per week jobs? Let's face it, the Mexican power structure is still
fixed on playing to the cheap labor market with no thought of building a
viable internal market. No thought that México is completely out of the
running in the low skilled, low paid cheap labor market with the
competition across the Pacific Ocean. And many of those countries are
actively developing strong internal markets, but not México.
The PRD promises more welfare for the poor. But to make a population
dependent on welfare is the surest way to destroy competitiveness ever
invented. Take a look at the hundreds of villages that have lost all of
their young males that have gone north and send back "remittances".
Without the dole (regardless of where it comes from), those left would
starve.
The PAN promises more of the same to promote economic growth, but 40%
of the population still earns less than $2.00 per day.
The PRI wants to return to the old "perfect dictatorship" rule of the
past.
Real energy reform is off the books for all three parties.
One of México's great strengths is in the high family values of our
culture. But has anyone recognized what strains are on those family values
when so many breadwinners are permanently separated from their families?
Wartime spawns broken families. In this case, the war is economic, but the
strain on the families is the same.
Think of these things on 2 July.
México is ripe for change. But what kind of change will come if these
basic problems are not addressed?
Mexican voters should demand from the candidates real answers to
these questions. The future of México depends on it.
President Fox, when asked when México could raise the national
standard of living to decent levels replied, "Generations". I have news
for you; México can't wait that long.
Good luck México!
________________________________
Richard N. Baldwin T., a HispanicVista.com (http://www.hispanicvista.com/)
contributing columnist, lives in Tlalnepantla, Edo de México. E-mail at:
R1041643422@aol.com
By
Richard N. Baldwin T. /HispanicVista.com