My take is that this is part of a longer-term anti-immigration policy, now more able to be achieved because of rapidly advancing practical technology of foolproof identity cards. The US/Mexican border cannot be successfuly guarded, so why not re-establish America's de facto border at Mexico's relatively narrow border with Guatemala? This is also closely associated with likely world protectionism as oil/gas supplies become increasingly insufficient for economic development of much more than is already happening within NAFTA, China, South-East Asia and possibly India (which will no doubt increasingly allocate Middle East oil largely between themselves). The Europe Union will be left to crumble within its own borders (with South America, Russia, Central Europe, Africa being largely ignored as basket cases except for useful resources).
In short, it's part of a much bigger scenario of a new world order quite the opposite of that of Bush I's idea. Domestic/jobs friction between Latinos and American blacks along the west coast will grow immensely, of course, but will be largely ignored by the east coast (much as Northern Ireland is largely ignored by most Brits) and I don't see much political fallout because the election turn-outs are shrinking all the time and those who bother to vote (probably down to 30% in ten years' time) will not be greatly affected. Politicians will have to 'play' to the problem in the same way that they make gestures to fundamentalism and homosexuality issues. Neither Democrats or Republicans will want to make a big issue out of Mexican immigration (not that I think it will grow very large as available low level jobs dry up) because serious politicians will have their eyes on much more important issues such as energy supplies and satellite-directed technology from now onwards.
KH
At 20:35 07/01/2004 -0500, you wrote:
What does everyone think:
Is Bush's amnesty program for illegal immigrant workers
really a way to fill jobs here in the US that no
American wants, and to provide the immigrant workers
with rights and a more decent life?
Or is it another way to reduce American labor costs
by increasing competition from persons who are
willing to work under worse conditions and for less?
Trade union busting? Or civic union enhancing?
Could Bush actualy be doing something constructive?
What do you think?
\brad mccormick
--
Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works.... (Matt 5:16)
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thes 5:21)
<![%THINK;[SGML+APL]]> Brad McCormick, Ed.D. / [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Keith Hudson, Bath, England, <www.evolutionary-economics.org>
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