Entitlements, Neighbors, Mindsets and Weaning

Cross posted from CommonSenseAmerica

One of the main problems our lack of enforcement at our borders has produced is the `entitlement mindset' of our neighbor to the south. Mexico has no reason to build their own economy when they can use the United States as their wet-nurse. Just try to cut off the milk supply and you'll see that the babes will begin to scream.

From USA Today

MEXICO CITY — The border-security plan President Bush announced Monday as part of his immigration agenda has made him few friends here.

Alfredo Martinez, 56, a tomato seller at an open-air market, shook his head when asked about Bush's plan to send 6,000 National Guard troops to help police the 2,000-mile-long U.S.-Mexico border.

His 22-year-old son crossed the border illegally last year and now sends money home every month from his job in a New York City deli. "I don't think he'll be able to come back and visit for a while," Martinez said. "It's a shame. There should be a way to recognize the work we do up north, a way to see us as laborers and not delinquents."

This is typical of the `entitlement mindset' that has set in. This man freely admits that his son illegally crossed our border and then questions the ramifications his family may suffer. They knew the risks, they knew the law, they knew the penalty, but after years of our failure to enforce our laws, they now feel `entitled' to break those laws.

His complaint was echoed by many Tuesday on the streets of Mexico's capital city.

"I don't understand why the United States must take such a repressive attitude toward us," said Agustin Melgar, 45, who works in the same open-air market as Martinez near Chapultepec Park in the city center. "It's insulting. We all know there's a mutual demand: The gringos need our cheap labor, and we want better pay."

So it is insulting to those who have spit on our laws if we feel we are `entitled' to protect our borders. No matter how you try to spin this issue, the only `repressive attitude' going on here is that of the Mexican government trying to repress America's sovereignty.

Ruben Aguilar, a spokesman for Mexican President Vicente Fox, said Monday that a security-first policy at the border would not solve the problems created by illegal immigration. Fox has said he prefers a plan that would offer some form of legal status for all undocumented Mexicans now in the USA.

That Vicente Fox would publicly state he believes another country is responsible to take care of his citizens is disgraceful. Clearly, his own lack of vision and love for his countrymen has been exposed by his unwillingness to tackle the problems in his own nation. His greed and laziness as he continues to depend on `the easy way out' by encouraging his citizens to fend for themselves in a foreign country is a despicable testament to his failed leadership.

But this seems to be the attitude of many in the government of Mexico.

Rafael Fernandez de Castro, an international relations expert at the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico, characterized the Mexican government's response as muted. "The government here does not want to portray this as a big setback for Mexico," he said. "But it clearly is. Mexico has been given the stick, while the U.S. Congress gets the carrot."

The government began to change its message on Tuesday. Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez warned that the United States might face lawsuits if the increased troop presence on the border resulted in human rights abuses. "If we see the National Guard starting to directly participate in detaining people … we would immediately start filing lawsuits through our consulates," he told Radio Red, a Mexico City radio station.

Could this be why our President assured President Fox that this would be a temporary deployment and that the National Guard would be administrative only and would not be making arrests? Since when is Vicente Fox in charge of our border? I don't remember seeing his name on my ballot in 2004. But it seems that even our own government has fallen into the `entitlement' trap believing that we owe something to those who have broken our laws of immigration.

"We realize that the discussion over how to manage the border has now turned into a win-lose game between the Republicans and Democrats," said Humberto Garza, an expert on Mexican foreign relations at the College of Mexico. "But it's an insult to Mexicans. This discussion clearly lacks foresight. It ignores the fact that no matter how tight you make the border, people will still find a way to cross."

This has pretty much been the message we've repeatedly received from Mexico. They basically tell America `screw you because we're coming in no matter what you or your laws say'. Mexico's government has essentially stated they are now `entitled' to America.

The question still remains whether our government will protect the sovereignty of this nation and the American people or if they will continue to play wet-nurse to our neighbors. It's time to wean that child, no babe is left to suckle for decades.

**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email the coalition and let us know at what level you would like to participate.

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