2008: On the Record

       
                                                 a hotel in  Puerto Vallarta

What I was saying in early summer- 2008- the other time I ran for Congress.  There's been no progress in 2 yrs., and none on the way.  My ideas should win by default.

From my previous web site, stein for congress, you can still google it

... What really motivates a little guy like me to get the nerve to take on the Congressman?  Of course I'm fed up like you about gasoline prices, and wasteful spending.  And I'm concerned about expensive and inadequate health insurance for small businesses. But nobody jumps into something like I have unless there is some other motivating factor, because I've really put mine and my family's neck on the chopping block.

For me it was a promise I made to a friend whose back in Mexico now. I've visited twice, and I'm going back a third time soon.  I'm determined to speak out about the bad situation down there. (I strongly support securing the border  by the way, and I can't say that enough).

Everybody knows it's bad in Mexico, but  Americans have not seen the huge chunk (of the country) which is beautiful, has a perfect climate, and is rich in natural resources and good- hardworking people. It's wasted! There are no foreign visitors where I was, and certainly no businessmen looking for opportunities, and for good reason.  There is an unbelievable amount of litter, the sanitation is terrible, and gov't corruption and the drug chaos ruin whatever else is left to like.  Not much different then most other Latin American countries, but for one difference. It's the only country to our south we share a 1500 mile border with.

..  Maybe there’s an opportunity for many undocumented aliens (illegal's) to return home, keep others from coming here illegally in the first place, and for us to reward those who stay in America.   It won't cost the U.S. taxpayer one nickel. And I repeat, I'm for vigorously securing the border. I've got a lot to say on this issue, and I'm positive, I'm one of the best qualified people to talk about this immigration mess.  No matter what you may think of my wild card idea, it's worth a listen. Whose solutions aren't long shots? 

Smooth talking politicians, on this one issue, immigration, get unnaturally tongue tied. I've listened to them all. Our Congressman, until he has to debate this issue, will continue to say he "would be the first to vote against an amnesty bill should it be presented to the House".  I'd hope he’d have a more nuanced approach then that, because what will he do with the estimated 12 to 20 million already here. That's the issue- Republicans especially-, get tongue tied over.  The Democrats have their klutzy ideas too.

  Read my web site (if you're on it just scroll down) and see my approach and why it's worth.....

June 8th

Oil up $11 a barrel last Friday.  If this isn’t an energy bubble (it's not) and oil is going still higher, then we might be facing a national calamity.  How are we going to pay to heat our homes this winter?  That's if you're still employed and have a paycheck.  Rome is burning and Mr. LoBiondo spent Election Day last week in Washington voting on resolutions for Men's National Health Week and designating Arbor Day in some mid-western state.  Mr. Kurkowski's web site tells you to call his office for his positions.

On a different front, one more casualty of this worsening economy will be the off and on again immigration debate...  If the economy doesn't get better, we Americans naturally will be much more focused on taking care of ourselves.  I'm suggesting to my friends in the Hispanic community not to count on a blanket amnesty if and when there are large Democratic gains in the November elections. 

However, maybe there is a path to earning support for amnesty.  Everyone agrees that raising the living standard in Mexico would stop much off the illegal crossing of our border, and help keep families in Mexico intact. But this is unlikely given the ruthlessness of the drug lords in Mexico, and the systemic corruption in the government.

From what I've heard reported, the president of Mexico, Felipe Calderon, is making an honest attempt at reform.  But when the system is as broken, and as dangerous as it is, it is virtually impossible, I think, to fix solely from within. The fact that the United States is sealing itself off from Mexico, behind a 15 foot wall won’t help Mexico either.  As an afterthought we’ve proposed sending about a billion dollars worth of law enforcement equipment to the Mexican government. (Merida Initiative).   See what the conservative blogs are saying about that.

What if?  What if our undocumented aliens, plus the huge block of Americans citizens with Mexican ancestry did not send any money back home (remittances), for many months, and the families back home, in kind of civil disobedience supported this type of boycott.  They would be gladly accepting this sacrifice in a unified declaration that the violent Drug Lords (and government corruption) are completely unacceptable, and they demand a better future now.  Maybe these thugs would flee like the proverbial rats on the sinking ship that they are, and go elsewhere, or just retire with their treasure?  It is after all what we hope the citizens of Iraq do to the insurgents. Turn them in. And it is in fact what they are beginning to do.

If American tourists followed up that boycott, with a boycott of their own, I think Felipe Calderon while publicly complaining will privately see this as an opportunity to go after governmental corruption, as well as ruthlessly pursue the drug trafficker’s.  Now I'm not talking about a boycott of Mexican made goods, and tourists from other countries will make up for the lost Americans not goint to Cancun etc. What I'm suggesting is an uplifting, grassroots, non-government sponsored effort by citizens of two neighboring countries sharing a 1500 mile border.

It doesn't have to be a pipe dream.  You know before there was an earth-day, someone thought up that idea and was probably laughed at. If Spanish talk radio got behind this, and this modest third party candidacy served as a lightning rod, it is possible.  If all of talk radio, and television news shows got behind it, it would definitely happen, and then we might even be seeing peaceful protests in the streets here and in Mexico.  Bye, bye drug gangsters. Maybe?  But who has a better idea?  People might say the drug cartels won't go quietly, well there have been 6000 killings on the Mexican side of the border this year fighting the problem the traditional way.

If it my plan worked, a peaceful boycott and then amnesty,  Mexico- the beneficiary of all this- would be a great place for American companies to be involved with things like infrastructure, agricultural projects etc. The Mexican people would be free to reach their potential. When there's a sanitary, clean and safe country there could easily be a many fold increase in tourism (now you could blog about bad experiences south of the border all day, and maybe we will if this web site ever gets running correctly).

When the desperation to reach here doesn’t exist anymore, then there could be an orderly program for work permits.  When we reach this point I believe Americans will be united in granting a path to citizenship to those who choose to remain here, after many, many, voluntarily re-patriot themselves back home (We're not afraid to say it, back in Mexico)..

Added 8/1/08

People say to me a boycott is unrealistic, and insensitive, because families in Mexico won’t be able to put food on their tables.  My reply is that relying on remittances is risky and a short term solution.  An Associated Press report 8/1/08 says as much. Remittances down.  Stepped up immigration raids and a U.S. economic slowdown are blamed.  I'll add this: when the border fence is completed, the money will slow dramatically.

Millions of Mexicans have no source of income from U.S. now, and didn't before.  I'm talking about a boycott of just a few months anyway.  If it doesn't work, call it off, but I think differently, and just the threat of a boycott might do some good.

And most importantly I'd say the cost of freedom is not cheap, (and I appreciate it is very easy for me to say).  The United States has been fighting a war on terrorism for 7 hard years.  We fought a Civil War, two world wars, a Korean War, a Vietnam War, on and on. 

The argument that it's to much sacrifice for Mexican citizens seems hollow to me.  Why don't we ask them directly if they would trade a short term sacrifice, for long term reform, and the prosperity that would follow?  I hope to do that personally in the near future.  Anyway, I have no sway or power.  But I can be a starting point..