News media will stop including a half dozen old stories about Mexico's violence with each news item about the violence. It will be recognized that the media, politicians and blog-sites created a climate of fear for the sake of readership, viewers, listeners and followers.
The blog-sites will continue, but most of these are simply hate mongers and people in need of attention.
More and more people are waking up to the fact that America's murder rate was almost double that of Mexico's murder rate and we have no violence organized crime war. Cities along the border were finally able to have their true crime stats published in a USA Today report. The lack of crime near the border might even embarrass a few reporters.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
We miss the migrants
By the end of the year we will see reports that immigration from Mexico is flat. By that, I mean that the number of Mexicans entering the United States without authorization will be equal to or less than the number leaving.
Every group will jump up to take credit, however the most likely causes are the availability of jobs and better education in Mexico (some factories are sending people door-to-door in search of workers) and the increased danger to migrants as they journey to northern Mexico. The kidnappings and murders of migrant workers is national news and discourages people from making the agonizing decision to leave home in search of better paying jobs.
By the end of the year we will see reports that blame the lack of migrant workers for the increase in food costs. Farmers are already having a wonderful year as produce prices rise. However, many farmers may need to increase wages in the hope of attracting farm workers. The challenge to farmers will be to compete with world-wide competition.
Of course, no farmer needs to worry. The anti-immigration crowd will gladly pay an extra dollar or two for a pound of peaches or carrots. Given a choice between saving twenty dollars at the supermarket by purchasing only American grown fruits and vegetables and buying imported produce, the millions that demanded strict immigration control will gladly pay.
Hopefully, more citizens will be shopping, eating at restaurants and make up for the loss of 10 to 20 million people that were paying sales tax and keeping businesses profitable.
Now most of this is written with tongue in cheek, but this paragraph is seriously written. For years we have heard from politicians that taxes are high, emergency rooms are crowded, school classrooms are over-crowded and that the illegal immigrant is the cause. We’ve read and heard claims that there were as many as 20-million of these people sucking the lifeblood out of the American taxpayer. Now that every credible source estimates that there are now 6 to 9 million illegal immigrants remaining, when should we expect a tax reduction? If 20 million caused these huge taxes and problems and more than half are gone, where is my tax relief? Are the classrooms less crowded? Certainly, the hospitals require less government money now that half of their ‘problem’ is gone! So, give us the money.
Every law that is passed to reduce immigration because of the cost to the taxpayers should have a built in mechanism to trigger tax reductions as fewer immigrants are part of the community. It makes sense and I want my money back!
Every group will jump up to take credit, however the most likely causes are the availability of jobs and better education in Mexico (some factories are sending people door-to-door in search of workers) and the increased danger to migrants as they journey to northern Mexico. The kidnappings and murders of migrant workers is national news and discourages people from making the agonizing decision to leave home in search of better paying jobs.
By the end of the year we will see reports that blame the lack of migrant workers for the increase in food costs. Farmers are already having a wonderful year as produce prices rise. However, many farmers may need to increase wages in the hope of attracting farm workers. The challenge to farmers will be to compete with world-wide competition.
Of course, no farmer needs to worry. The anti-immigration crowd will gladly pay an extra dollar or two for a pound of peaches or carrots. Given a choice between saving twenty dollars at the supermarket by purchasing only American grown fruits and vegetables and buying imported produce, the millions that demanded strict immigration control will gladly pay.
Hopefully, more citizens will be shopping, eating at restaurants and make up for the loss of 10 to 20 million people that were paying sales tax and keeping businesses profitable.
Now most of this is written with tongue in cheek, but this paragraph is seriously written. For years we have heard from politicians that taxes are high, emergency rooms are crowded, school classrooms are over-crowded and that the illegal immigrant is the cause. We’ve read and heard claims that there were as many as 20-million of these people sucking the lifeblood out of the American taxpayer. Now that every credible source estimates that there are now 6 to 9 million illegal immigrants remaining, when should we expect a tax reduction? If 20 million caused these huge taxes and problems and more than half are gone, where is my tax relief? Are the classrooms less crowded? Certainly, the hospitals require less government money now that half of their ‘problem’ is gone! So, give us the money.
Every law that is passed to reduce immigration because of the cost to the taxpayers should have a built in mechanism to trigger tax reductions as fewer immigrants are part of the community. It makes sense and I want my money back!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
News Story
Yesterday and estimated 20,000 children died in the world from preventable causes.
The road less traveled . . .
It has been one-year since any murder took place in Ciudad Acuña. Long before that murder and before the Zeta arrived in Acuña, the U.S. media destroyed the entire tourist industry in Acuña.
If the media needs to focus on a daily story we wish they would report every day, the real story of our time. “Yesterday, an estimated 20,000 children died worldwide from preventable diseases.” Think what a constant focus on that daily fact could accomplish!
Tomorrow the media will report about violence in Mexico and include a rehash of an earlier story so that we are all convinced that Mexico is losing the war on drugs, when in fact they are winning! Tomorrow there will be no mention of the 20,000 children around the world that die EVERY day from preventable causes.
The road less traveled . . .
It has been one-year since any murder took place in Ciudad Acuña. Long before that murder and before the Zeta arrived in Acuña, the U.S. media destroyed the entire tourist industry in Acuña.
If the media needs to focus on a daily story we wish they would report every day, the real story of our time. “Yesterday, an estimated 20,000 children died worldwide from preventable diseases.” Think what a constant focus on that daily fact could accomplish!
Tomorrow the media will report about violence in Mexico and include a rehash of an earlier story so that we are all convinced that Mexico is losing the war on drugs, when in fact they are winning! Tomorrow there will be no mention of the 20,000 children around the world that die EVERY day from preventable causes.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Teacher's Union is the Start - Social Security Change
After the proposed bill to change collective bargaining rights passes in Wisconsin and as the law goes through the process of court challenges, similar bills will appear across the nation. Unions will continue to be demonized, along with illegal aliens, as the causes of unemployment, wages that are too low and wages that are too high.
On a national level there will arise a coordinated effort to change Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Mandatory individual retirement savings accounts and the partial privatization of Social Security will again be on the table. The changing demographics of an aging America cannot be changed by building a wall or arresting illegal aliens. In fact, those acts will only hasten the need for more young people in the work force contributing to Social Security. We will not raise taxes enough (if at all) to prop up Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. The only avenue left it to change how we finance and how we pay-out benefits.
The typical plan that will be proposed will have between 3 and 5 percent of their wages taken by the government and place into a diversified portfolio of investments. The workers will probably have some limited choices of investment vehicles, but the money will be divided between bonds and stocks. Workers would own their accounts, similar to an IRA ownership.
The elephant in the room with any government planned retirement is that another agency to manage the retirement accounts will require funding. The Social Security Administration will continue to be needed to manage those receiving Social Security Benefits.
When the Republicans retake the Senate and the White House and as the country continues to move towards conservative ideas it is likely that the Social Security will dramatically change. For two decades the media and many politicians have explained that Social Security will run out of money and some change is needed. When our Social Security System was created the retirement age was pegged at 65 and the average life expectancy of Americans was 60.
The changes are needed and will pass. This does not spell doom and gloom for our elderly. Soon, the elderly will become the largest block of voters in American and they will have a large voice in determining how future tax dollars are spent.
On a national level there will arise a coordinated effort to change Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Mandatory individual retirement savings accounts and the partial privatization of Social Security will again be on the table. The changing demographics of an aging America cannot be changed by building a wall or arresting illegal aliens. In fact, those acts will only hasten the need for more young people in the work force contributing to Social Security. We will not raise taxes enough (if at all) to prop up Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. The only avenue left it to change how we finance and how we pay-out benefits.
The typical plan that will be proposed will have between 3 and 5 percent of their wages taken by the government and place into a diversified portfolio of investments. The workers will probably have some limited choices of investment vehicles, but the money will be divided between bonds and stocks. Workers would own their accounts, similar to an IRA ownership.
The elephant in the room with any government planned retirement is that another agency to manage the retirement accounts will require funding. The Social Security Administration will continue to be needed to manage those receiving Social Security Benefits.
When the Republicans retake the Senate and the White House and as the country continues to move towards conservative ideas it is likely that the Social Security will dramatically change. For two decades the media and many politicians have explained that Social Security will run out of money and some change is needed. When our Social Security System was created the retirement age was pegged at 65 and the average life expectancy of Americans was 60.
The changes are needed and will pass. This does not spell doom and gloom for our elderly. Soon, the elderly will become the largest block of voters in American and they will have a large voice in determining how future tax dollars are spent.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Media Will Spin this Story in Favor of Cartels . . . again
(AP) — President Felipe Calderon's allies held back a resurgence by Mexico's old ruling party, according to results Monday from state elections marred by drug gang violence so severe a large majority of citizens stayed home in two of the most dangerous border states.
There will NOT be stories or many editorials that report that the defeat of the opponents to the president demonstrate that the people want the cartels crushed and are not trading their safety in exchange for what is right. The U.S. media seem determined to hurt Mexico's fight against the cartels as they overlook the fact that our law enforcement efforts should be focused like a laser on drug smugglers instead of a shotgun approach where we grab as many illegal immigrants as possible. Our media report Mexican victories as defeats.
Please make a few notes as you read past the headlines and you will quickly see that almost every headline should reflect victories by the Mexican Army. Then, send a note to the editor.
Also, it would be nice if the media would ask a hard question when politicians say that x number of Mexican citizens have been murder victims. Here is the hard question: How many of these CITIZENS would more accurately be described as cartel members, murderers, assassins and thugs?
It is estimated that 90 to 95 percent of the dead are cartel members or fighting in the drug war. Few are innocent citizens.
There will NOT be stories or many editorials that report that the defeat of the opponents to the president demonstrate that the people want the cartels crushed and are not trading their safety in exchange for what is right. The U.S. media seem determined to hurt Mexico's fight against the cartels as they overlook the fact that our law enforcement efforts should be focused like a laser on drug smugglers instead of a shotgun approach where we grab as many illegal immigrants as possible. Our media report Mexican victories as defeats.
Please make a few notes as you read past the headlines and you will quickly see that almost every headline should reflect victories by the Mexican Army. Then, send a note to the editor.
Also, it would be nice if the media would ask a hard question when politicians say that x number of Mexican citizens have been murder victims. Here is the hard question: How many of these CITIZENS would more accurately be described as cartel members, murderers, assassins and thugs?
It is estimated that 90 to 95 percent of the dead are cartel members or fighting in the drug war. Few are innocent citizens.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Treat 'them' as We Would Treat Jesus
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the disciples of his coming death and resurrection. (During His life He does this on at three occasions, and they do not understand). He then tries to explain that the duty of a leader and a believer is to serve the ‘least’ of these.
Jesus puts a young child in the center of the group and says, “Anyone who welcomes one of these children in my name, welcomes me.” In the time of Jesus, children were completely powerless. The child in this story represents a person without power; a person easily controlled, abused or neglected. Jesus is talking about the powerless, the marginalized and those dependent upon others for their very survival.
Jesus tells us to welcome this person as we would welcome Him. How would I welcome Jesus? I would be respectful. I would be humble. I would take great care to offer Him the best that I have to give. I would seek knowledge.
We must give, talk, and feed the powerless with the same respect and humility that we would give, talk and feed Jesus. It is not enough to help the marginalized. We must welcome them the way we would welcome Jesus. We must do so with the same speed with which we would come to Jesus. If Jesus returned to earth today, we would rush to that place and welcome Him. We know where the powerless are and we must rush to them with the same speed with which we would rush to Jesus.
Jesus puts a young child in the center of the group and says, “Anyone who welcomes one of these children in my name, welcomes me.” In the time of Jesus, children were completely powerless. The child in this story represents a person without power; a person easily controlled, abused or neglected. Jesus is talking about the powerless, the marginalized and those dependent upon others for their very survival.
Jesus tells us to welcome this person as we would welcome Him. How would I welcome Jesus? I would be respectful. I would be humble. I would take great care to offer Him the best that I have to give. I would seek knowledge.
We must give, talk, and feed the powerless with the same respect and humility that we would give, talk and feed Jesus. It is not enough to help the marginalized. We must welcome them the way we would welcome Jesus. We must do so with the same speed with which we would come to Jesus. If Jesus returned to earth today, we would rush to that place and welcome Him. We know where the powerless are and we must rush to them with the same speed with which we would rush to Jesus.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Amid one of Mexico's worst economic downturns . . .
AP Associated Press Writer – Tue. Sep 8, 10:48 p.m. ET
"The president said the government will turn more attention to the poor amid one of Mexico's worst economic downturns since the 1930s".
On the border some people are being hired at the factories, other factories remain closed. The people remain optimistic and hopeful. The peso that used to worth a dime is now worth 7 cents. This is an improvement over February, but prices continue to rise and the only thing the people understand is that the peso buys less every time they read new reports about the economy in the United States.
There continues to be very few (often none) tourists in the border-cities. The other main source of employment are the factories. A year ago, people talked about the absolute need for a just wage. Today they just hope for any wage.
A year ago, when we returned to a family living in a card-board house we sometimes saw that some of the food we delivered the previous week was still on a shelf. Today, the shelf is bare.
Mexico's President just proposed the cutting of three cabinet posts, a tax reduction on certain foods and a tax increase on alcohol and tobacco. His proposals would result in huge government savings. (Cabinet posts have huge staffs.) However, the proposals must be approved by the Mexican Congress.
In the meantime, the average mother and father do not know where to turn. Nor do the hundreds of thousands of teens that graduate last year.
"The president said the government will turn more attention to the poor amid one of Mexico's worst economic downturns since the 1930s".
On the border some people are being hired at the factories, other factories remain closed. The people remain optimistic and hopeful. The peso that used to worth a dime is now worth 7 cents. This is an improvement over February, but prices continue to rise and the only thing the people understand is that the peso buys less every time they read new reports about the economy in the United States.
There continues to be very few (often none) tourists in the border-cities. The other main source of employment are the factories. A year ago, people talked about the absolute need for a just wage. Today they just hope for any wage.
A year ago, when we returned to a family living in a card-board house we sometimes saw that some of the food we delivered the previous week was still on a shelf. Today, the shelf is bare.
Mexico's President just proposed the cutting of three cabinet posts, a tax reduction on certain foods and a tax increase on alcohol and tobacco. His proposals would result in huge government savings. (Cabinet posts have huge staffs.) However, the proposals must be approved by the Mexican Congress.
In the meantime, the average mother and father do not know where to turn. Nor do the hundreds of thousands of teens that graduate last year.
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