Why Mexicans are Willing to Dodge Bullets at the Border

Americans who have lost their jobs due to downsizing, outsourcing, take-overs, and budget-cuts don’t feel “warm and fuzzy” about foreigners taking their jobs. It’s expensive to live in America and when you’re unemployed and trying to make ends meet, it seems more expensive than ever. So many Americans are feeling their wallets squeezed these days, that I am surprised that they don’t have a clearer understanding of why foreigners are taking American jobs. Let’s face it, whether you’re an American living in Chicago or a Mexican living in Mexico City, you and your family still need the basic necessities of food, shelter, clothing, and medical care. What I don’t understand is why the U.S. is willing to spend so much money to build a border fence that is destined to fail.

“It took $39 million to build the first nine miles, and the fence has yet to be finished.” Washington Post, “Fence Meets Wall of Skepticism” author John Pomfret

My question is, “what’s to stop them from digging UNDER the fence to gain entry to the U.S.”? A $10 shovel and a few hours of digging time and “ARIBA! I’d be kissing the ground in San Diego”!!! With all of the talk about high tech in the U.S. you would think that Washington think-tankers could have come up with something easier, cheaper, and more high tech than a fence! I think they need to start a program called “no politician left behind”.  Maybe their first class should be “Fence 101”, where they could show them videos about how animals tunnel underground? Yeah, I think they could learn a lot from watching the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet. In any event, I understand why Mexicans would be willing to do anything to get in to the U.S. They are trying to live and take care of their families, just like we are. Would we do anything different if we were them?

The average minimum wage in Mexico (for some bizarre region, the government sets three separate minimum wages, each corresponding to a particular region—and we wonder why it’s so inept!) is $49.06 per day in pesos. That translates into a measly $4.51 in American dollars A DAY. Most Mexicans can make four times more than that in the United States by picking up loose change after a matinee—really, is that such a mystery? And millions of Mexicans would to even earn minimum wage in Mexico. There’s a reason why Mexicans continue to pour into the United States—and it ain’t for Lou Dobbs’ love. - “Please give me a good reason Mexicans refry their beans”