You want a better immigration proposal?
The strength of any nation lies in its ability to encourage greatness in its people and its neighbors. The entrepreneurial opportunities open to its citizens are only limited by what those citizens are willing to tolerate from their government. Currently the citizens of our southern neighbors, Mexico and Central America, find it intolerable and tend to seek out a better life here in the U.S.
With the constant strain of so many undocumented workers in the U.S., it is not surprising that many people seek to blame someone close at hand. Every Mexican, Central American, or Asian job applicant is seen as suspect with regard to immigration status. The fact that many manual labor positions are taken by illegal immigrants at less than minimum wage and under the table, angers many Americans. i.e.: the newly arrived legal immigrants or a member of another race becomes the target of frustrations and anger about lost jobs, slipping incomes, over-stressed public services, and the falling standard of living. The answers to Mexico’s ills, which have become tangled with our own, are not easily developed or implemented.
Many people believe that building a dam is a good answer to the flow of illegal’s across our southern border, and that trade agreements (NAFTA & CAFTA) will actually improve the living standard (minimum wage,…) of the Mexican poor. That legislating morality (Prop. 187,…) will make “those people” go back home. The dam will only cause pressure and frustration to build up on the other side, leading to breaks and calling for more and more little dutch boys (border patrol). NAFTA has failed, CAFTA can do no better. The agreements and legislation will only serve to frustrate more people on both sides of the issue.
The time has come for alternatives that will work in the 21st century and beyond.
The problem, in my mind, is the enormous international debt and the lack of opportunity in Mexico.
I have been working on an alternative trade proposal that I believe has the potential to solve our illegal immigration problems. This may sound a little odd, but please stick with me.
The proposal, which I call New Hong Kong (N.H.K.), would give Mexico a fresh start economically, the ability to grow strong and independent of us, and become a competitive force in the world market. Also, at the same time diverting the waves of illegal immigrant’s crossing over into the U.S. This is a private sector solution that would reduce some of the burden on the federal and state governments, thus saving taxes.
1. N.H.K. is a land lease agreement in exchange for debt elimination for the construction of a free market city, similar to Hong Kong pre 1997. This would be between Mexico and an “Organization” consisting of banks: who hold loans out to Mexico, investors; both individuals and groups, and international corporations looking for investment potential and growth opportunities. The immediate benefit would be the shifting of Mexico’s international debt to the Organization, leaving Mexico debt free. This would raise the value of the Paso in relation to the dollar. This increases the buying power for both domestic and imported goods for anyone holding Paso’s in Mexico.
2. The government of N.H.K. must be independent of any existing government to make it a truly international city. This will also protect the seventy of Mexico, and the U.S. Therefore, it will be necessary for all existing governments, i.e. the U.S. and the World Bank, to sell their notes to the “Organization”.
3. N.H.K. is a city not yet built. The construction of this free market city will employ thousands, and then millions, of workers, involve the transportation and consumption of huge quantities of steel, concrete, glass, textiles, lumber, and food. Initially these commodities will come from the mines, factories and farms of Mexico, raising demand for resources and lowering the unemployment rate across Mexico, and diverting Mexico’s exports away from U.S. markets. All of these will have to be imported to N.H.K., first over land; involving the roads and rail lines, which will need to be upgraded, requiring workers, and further lowering unemployment. As the demand for workers increases, so will the wages of those workers. In addition, the logistics of building a city from scratch could employ thousands of out-of-work white collar workers here in the U.S. Capital for the construction of N.H.K. could be attained in the various stock markets around the world making it an investors dream come true.
4. The new availability of jobs in Mexico and N.H.K. will help dissuade Mexican and Central American immigrants and refugees from seeking employment in the U.S. With the assistance of the I.N.S., illegal immigrants in the U.S. would be sent to N.H.K., instead of just across the border, until their status is determined. This will take them out of the U.S. workplace and create openings for those now unemployed in the U.S. Preferential job placement in N.H.K. and immigration status to the U.S. could be offered to those now in the U.S. who would be willing to relocate to N.H.K.
5. With an open border between Mexico and N.H.K., money earned in N.H.K. will find its way to the relatives of these workers. This will also encourage tourism into Mexico and Central America, using N.H.K. as a travel hub. This will also give those who work in N.H.K. easer access to family without the stress of having to re-cross the boarder.
The greatest obstacle to a proposal of this kind is that it leaves the politicians on the outside for the most part. They would have to put the interests of others ahead of their own. This is uncharted territory for most of them.
As we seek to find solutions that eludes our leaders, I would ask that we not blame those looking to improve their own situation, i.e. the hard working immigrant who is just looking to better his or her life by coming to America
Our leaders need to end their posturing and do better for the people who put them in office.
I hope you will consider this and pass it along to others. Remember, those in office do not have all the answers. After all this is a nation “of the people, by the people and for the people”
thanks for your time.
Bill Baker
newhongkong@verizon.net