Homestead mailing list

[Robert Walton <waltonrp AT gmail.com>]

>
> > Since you have lived in
> Central America, I'll ask you this question.  If the US spent billions
> on countries in Central America, say Guatemala and Nicaragua  and
> Honduras, (not the more touristy Belize, Panama and Costa Rica) the way
> we pour money into Bangladesh, Indonesia and Israel, do you think
> conditions there would improve and that that would slow down the
> emigration from those countries?

>
No. The rich people would get most of the money. El Salvador was
mostly controlled by 14 families in the past. Now there are 8 conglomerates
largely controlled by descendants of those families controlling it. In
Central America the divide between the rich and the poor is a big one.

There are probably business related things that the United States can do to
help it's neighbors.  Economic things that would help create jobs, but those
things ultimately will benefit the rich.

We are not going to change the world.

>

> Do you, Rob, think
> we need a wall to protect our borders, both northern and southern, just
> southern, or neither?  I think you support border walls if I recall.
>
> >

I can't think that a wall is really practical.  Where there is a will, there
is a way. For instance, immigrants used to take the route north by land from
Central America. Now that the US incents Guatemala and Honduras to stop and
turn people back, the route is via boat. Bypass Guatemala.

The Central American countries rely on remittances sent home as a big part
of the economy.

There are two sorts of illegal immigrants. Those that want to come here to
live and raise families and become Americans and those that want to come
here to work until they get enough money to do what they want at home (a
business, a home, land, money to live on).

You separate out those people while they are in their home country. The
workers need to show that they have skills and jobs when they get here. You
create a VISA for them with a closed end.

The people that want to become Americans, need to show that they have the
ability to work, maybe family to sponsor them financially, some
understanding of the English language and American customs. You give them a
VISA that lets them emigrate and can lead to citizenship. If they don't
become productive citizens in a certain time, you send them home.

You establish dynamic quotas, depending on the job market here and on the
numbers that this country can absorb. I have some people there that I'd
sponsor immediately. I'd be financially responsible for them until they have
time to get on their feet.

 >



>
>
>  If Jose is illegal and uninsured and needs a heart transplant, should
> he be on the same waiting list as someone who HAS mortgaged everything
> to pay for the surgery?
>

No, people here illegally (in a scenario that we have offered a practical
legal way to come here) need to be sent home. Non citizens are not our
problem.

Unfortunately, politicians have turned ideas like a wall into a strong
political movement. People will not support anyone that wants to reform
immigration since those people seem weak. They'd rather have some tough
talking politician talk about how they can keep people out of the country.

We live in a country of people that think that they are underprivlged if
they don't have a dish washer and TV in every room. Funny that a lot of
these people's great-grandparents were immigrants who were not very welcome
here when they came over.

Rob - Va