Very good article! I agree with all that is going on with the protests. I am in full support of all the rallies and marching today. This is for a good cause. I only hope that this will really affect the American Govt and will "open thier eyes" sort of speak.

Commenting on an article titled The High Cost of Cheap Labor by Richard Lamm, the owner of the Alternative Medicine Forum Yahoo group, Frank, points to some things that do not normally get much attention. Here is his view on "illegal immigration". Few people have an idea, I think, that the USA's own official policy on how to treat "developing" countries, has something to do with the abundance of cheap labor that is now coming home to bite ...

Sepp

All countries, in order to protect themselves, must set a policy of immigration and protect themselves, from others coming into it, in an illegal manner.

This is true for all countries not just the United States. So, basically he is correct above, but he left out the main moving force that has brought about the problem and who benefits. The problem of illegal immigration has a long history here, and there are many aspects to it.

The US has supported and encouraged a system throughout Latin America, where a small wealthy elite have everything and the large "popular" classes are poor with few opportunities in education or jobs. The only requirement is that the small elite do as they are told, when it comes to business or policy. A small middle class evolved but it is now losing ground due mainly to US policies. The USA verbally promoted democracy, but in their actions they usually did the opposite and supported policies of a repressive "ruling class of elites" against any social progress or justice.

So in essence American policy was one of the prime forces to make and keep that system in place, to protect the "vital interests" of american corporations. For a long time, the US has pretty much told most of the countries in Latin America what to do, and how to do it. And they did it. Most of the time. The US replaced democracies quite frequently, with their own strong men, dictatorial candidates whenever a democracy of people emerged who didn't believe that the foriegn corporations and the local rich guy should own everything, All of the land, all of the money, all of the opportunities, etc., and all that was left was very low wages for long and hard work. And then, for many, it probably wasn't even enough to live on for a family. The USA played the major role in that system.

Secondly, politicians in the USA say one thing and really do another and the people do not catch on many times. Some politicians usually take the moral highground on many issues but in reality they set policy to do things that the people wouldn't like if they knew the truth. As to immigration, the people who have supported Big Business have been the ones who have allowed and encouraged the large influx of immigrants, both illegal and legal to enter into the USA. The reasons are obvious. To oversupply cheap labor to the marketplace so as to drive down wages and increase profits. These are the same politicians who usually make the loudest noises publicly when making charges against those unamerican foriegners taking jobs from "real americans". Yup, that's the guy who usually helped bring it about. In the past those waves of immigrants, those "your tired, your poor, your huddled masses" were not encouraged to come here to bring them life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It was to fill sweat shops with people who would work for starvation wages no matter what revised history they taught you in school. This time around they were just a little more sophisticated.

In american politics, don't follow the distracting verbal bullshit, follow the actions and especially the money. Most people in the US have been so programed with propaganda and bullshit that they routinely vote against their own self interests most of their lives. They get dazzled by side issues like, sexuality, morality, religion, false patriotism, greed, hate, envy, etc. etc.,. Many politicians play to all of the baser instincts and many fall for it every time. Whether solving a murder, or who did what, in most situations, you have to determine who will benefit. That person or group is usually the prime mover, and usually not the ones who will lose, even thogh today they get the blame in a controlled press. Politicians in the USA are very slick, they routinely convince people of exactly the opposite of the reality on the ground. Most of the population who are decrying the immigrant situation, are also the same people who violently oppose unions which simply band together to promote worker interest. Let me make understanding politics easy for those who watch American Idol. If you own an international business like a major oil , (I'm not talking about puny minor stock holders) chemical, pharmacuetical company, etc (or a president) then vote for Big Business. If you don't own one of those things, then vote for candidates who are against Big Business and are for helping the "people" and... also stop listening to their bullshit.

As for the social costs involved concerning illegal immigrants, that has become standard operating procedure in the USA. Every US taxpayer subsidizes Wallmart, Exxon-Mobil, and most big business in a big way. The best business plan today for Big Business is to pass on most of the costs involved of doing business to the taxpayer, while keeping the profit part for themselves. This is being done, in one manner or another in most areas of the economy. The people just aren't aware of it. They only see the things that are designed to distract them.

Also, I think that the immigration issue to be brought up at this time is mainly another distracting issue, to fan to a heat, so as to take your eyes off the ball, of what else is going on here right now. That issue of illegal immigration has been around for about 60 years now, so why exactly do they bring it to the boiling point right now. Well, divide and conqure for one. If we all get to fighting against each other who will be watching the government in these crucial times. Also just for the distraction value, they will flood the media, just to take the eye and heat off the government now. Nothing makes the major news media unless someone powerful, somewhere wanted it to be so for their own reasons and certainly not just to keep you informed. If you think that "things happen" spontaneously you are very naive. There are more issues involved also. If you think that any issue is complicated and hard to understand, rest assured that you are up to your neck in bullshit from vested interests.

So, the immigration issue isn't so clear cut. It should be and would be, if the USA hadn't had their fingers in everyones pie for a very long time, which brought about this situation, to basically benefit Big Business interests. We already have our plate full here in this group so, the immigration issues wil have to wait for now.

Frank

Fact of the matter is, you become a citizen when you are legally here, paying taxes and for the benefits just as American Citizens do. If they want to be citizens, fight for their country as our ancestors have. Go into our Military to earn your Freedom. Mexicans or any immigrants have no rights what so ever until then. Learn our language, pay taxes and stop looking for a free handout from the Americans that barely survive now.

I think that Mexican should stay in Mexico. I think what they do in Mexico is not the samething that we do in America. The police in Mexico let teenagers like myself get rapped and and become sex slaves. In Mexico they let criminals from America into Mexico and the police in America cant even go and get them. When a police or somebody does try to go get the criminals then the police go to jail. Thats fucking bull-shit and they need to stay in Mexico. Thank you and thats what I believe to be the truth.

I see that rasicim is alive and well here ! imigration is yes a problem and it has been since the begging of america! I am an american and to just educate you a bit maybe when the civil war was going on maybe the mexicans should have fought in more numbers with the south ! yes i said with the south mexicnas enlisted in the southern army and where not just a private but where officers captins and col. and I wounder if the south won how the mexican would have been treated ? better or worst? then again if those 3500 mexicans did not some how stop the french from resuppling the south when they them selfs where out number for the north to be able to have enough time to build one of the greatest armies in the world we may we have been under southern rule and not to say that that is bad but for alot of americans it would be ! so ask yourslef this when you speak am I greatful for what part the mexican role played in the civil war or not ? in all the battels in the civil war they fought in, ,batlle at gains mill, second bull run, antieam , fredericksburg, thewilderness, and appomattox. also the thirty who enlisted to join Trevan T. Tells artillery company and Cahrels L. Pyrons company both in John R. Baylors Second Texas Mouted Rifle company all of these units where incorporated into Gen. Henry Hopkins Sibleys Confederate Army. so stop and understand that mexicans have always been in America and have help make the way it is today legal orr illeagl ! but you who spit out stay inmexico have no idead about AMERICAN HISTORY or you would be less harsh and maybe be a better american !

we are america is true because america is made of immagrints. We are alll immagrints. I agree with your article. Epecially because i`m a mexican born in the united states. But now i`m living in mexico because my parents decided to return to their homeland.It seems like we left just in time because when we used to live in the us there was no such thing as the minutemen and immagrint protest. It makes me sad when I see the news and I watch all of our paisanos beeing treated that way. Congratulations for your article I`m glad that you think that way.

Mexicans that are illegal in the USA bore me! They don't represent their culture....they don't become legal in the usa...nor do they join the servide in the usa to fight the war in Irag. they don't pay taxes and they have so many kids so they aren't deported back to mexico. They speak spanish instead of english. My grnadparents came from Denmark and learned how to speak the english language. American was not going to speak Deutch they speak english. I am not going to speak spanish either...english is the language. I could go on and on.......they need to go thru the system to become LEGAL AMERICANS!

America... America my dear gringo stars in canada and ends right in the bottom, all that way along. America is just another thing you've stolen. And if the United States wants all mexicans out from all the territory that she also stole from us, then you AMERICAN should start taking away all your fucking troops from ALL OVER THE WORLD, and from Iraq too. America is a beautiful continent, United States is the place in the world where liberty is just a statue. I as an american born in Mexico challenge you to ask your president what does liberty mean.

... America para los americanos, Estados Unidos para el resto del mundo.

Mexican men are scary. There is a ton of domestic violence with the Mexican population. Alot of alchoholics. My bro is a police officer, this is all he deals with.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6470955.stm

Illegal mexicans should leave. They do our country no good. If you get legalized come to represent AMERICA not mexico. No one cares about your stupid flag so stop waving it around with pride. If you like mexico so much and complain about America just leave its as simple as that.

I love U.S. I am Mexican and married to a US Citizen. I am happy to live here. I am getting my bachelors degree in Liberal Arts nex december. I believe that there a lot of opportunities in EVERYWHERE as long as yu study hard and follor the rules in weherever you are. I have NEVER been discriminated by Americans. In fact, I consider myself a well educated woman than average American. I respect this country. Abd for the Illegal, I try to understand you, but, I think you do not have any rights living here. You might as well going back to Mexico. I t is not right that you live here and dont pay any taxes, while the American society foot the bill for everything. Thats not fair.....

In the article at the top the author talks about the way "illegal immigration used to be," that the illegal was looked upon differently, that is true I remember that the feeling was that there aren't that many illegal's, crime statistics for that category weren't even made public because the problem's were so minor I would presume. . .

It's materially different now, the US is being overrun at an increasingly faster rate that at anytime in our country's history, and the cost's of paying to educate their children, pay medical and emergency medical, food stamps, etc., and homeowner's are feeling it.
It was one thing in the 1970's, but in 2007 these people have to understand that their LARGE number's have a different ball game their needs are encroaching upon our own.

As Americans, we 'all' need to be worrying about the bill trying to be passed about giving illegal's social security, (not sure how this can even be considered when social security is already in a heap of trouble let alone these folks have never paid into it); about the hatred that the illegal mexicans have for America and the problems in the southwest United States. What type of trouble did they get in for burning the American flag? If they hate America so much, they should leave or be sent back!
If you are living in the UNITED STATES, why is it not mandatory that you learn to speak the english language, which is our language and has been for a very long time?? Why are so many of our congressional representatives against English as our official language?
Bill

im english and like when i watch american movies theres always like mexicans in them and i was kind of like, thats a little strange to be honest. id always thought that it was the same in that country to what it is in our country with the indians and some other europeans coming into our country but it isnt. you kind of have a nice bond between you to countries with some people ruining the system! respect x