I was just reading articles on Russia and Ukraine and messes all over Latin America, and with as big of a mess as we make with foreign policy it shouldn’t be that complicated.
Our first border on this continent – Canada. For whatever reason nobody seems to have any problem with this border, everything is hunky-dory.
Now the southern border, everyone admits we have an enormous problem or a make believe enormous problem- either way let’s fix that one first. Most Mexicans who want to leave México and live in the United States have already done it. The Dreamers, many of whom came to the country when they were 2 and don’t even speak Spanish- that’s just stupid to deport these people. If English is your first language what the hell are you gonna do in México, unless you get lucky and get a job and a mostly English resort in Cancun or Puerta Vallarta.
Political scientists say there are three true authoritarian regimes in Latin America – Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua; and also you have Nayib Bukele as the self proclaimed “coolest dictator in El Salvador”, which he says jokingly but I think the timing is poor – but at any rate, 1/4 of refugees at the Mexican border come from these countries. If they speak English, have family here, or have enough money to support themselves or a corporate sponsor, let these people in, that’s legit political asylum.
Now for the most part the trains of migrants on the southern border are Spanish speaking, would probably feel more comfortable in México if it weren’t for the rampant poverty, but if nothing else, Shark Tank México teaches México is not as third world as many people think. They have oil. The have coast to coast land. They have a top ten economy on the globe – instead of trying to fix Honduras and El Salvador and Guatemala why don’t we focus on being a little more friendly and a little more helpful of our neighbors and only other continental member – México.
Granted México has its own problems – corruption, poverty, crime – but instead of spending billions on helping REAL third world countries, America would be at its strongest with a strong and healthy México, and the investments are much closer to home, directly affect Americans with family in México, and create the one thing the world hasn’t seen yet- not a country of power that “rules the world” through its military industrial complex, but an entire continent super-power – unwavering in its loyalty, accepting of most diverse peoples, and a unified front of unmatched proportions.
True, México hasn’t had much of a military in a couple of centuries, but what better way to start rooting out corruption and taking on cartels than by the strength of the Mexican Defense within its own borders. Not to mention it solves a lot of infrastructure and unemployment problems for young Mexicans- and if you fix the problem young, it’s much easier and effective.
We wouldn’t have to worry so much about our giant porous southern border with a few years of strong trade deals with our closest neighbor. Investment in education, clean water and defense can be achieved mostly through friendly trade deals with our most important partner and very little subsidy.
In one American administration we can achieve enough in México for them to take over on their own and then all we have to worry about is the tiny Guatemalan border. They have the manpower, we have the drones, MS-13 would never have a harder time getting fresh violent recruits to America.
I admit, I’ve favored some “build-a-wall” tough border policies, but I’ve also lived in México to know the good people of México are not our enemies. They have enormous potential to share growth in our economies with robust manufacturing, they have foreign oil but not near as foreign as say Iraqi oil, great produce and chicken and beef suppliers – a nations basic need is a strong food supply and frankly México has more land to dedicate to feeding our continent than we do, there’s no reason they should benefit for supplying us food by removing the 10% on American electronics so they can catch up technologically at least a little bit at a fair price. If you think a $1000 computer is expensive in America, add a 10% tariff and pay for it in pesos (our current trade agreement) so generations of Mexican school children can grow up with the same opportunity to learn technology as American counterparts.
Some Americans have this false belief all Mexicans want to pack up and head north. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Mexicans are a proud people with a lot of local tradition and love their home. The ones fleeing for economic opportunities are desperate. If we spent as much as we did hurting our relationship with México as we did actually helping México, I think you’d quickly find some surprising results. Mexican income equality gaps closing just a little means enormous more exports for American companies. A robust Mexican economy gives an Honduran or Guatemalan a place to migrate safely where they can blend with local culture much easier using a shared language. And a strong, friendly México makes the entire North American continent a very dangerous target for any testy agitators.
Have a happy new year America, I feel we still have some hardships on the horizon but I’ve sensed some reduced hostility among compatriots, and it all starts there.
I love y’all-
Joseph Smith
Cj Contractor Services 