The Way I See It
By Joseph C. Phillips

A Fox in Hot Water

Mexican president Vicente Fox is treading in a bit of hot water following remarks he made during an appearance before the Texas-Mexico Frozen Food Counsel. Responding to recent reforms in American immigration policy, Fox remarked “there is no doubt that Mexican men and women full of dignity, will power and a capacity for work are doing the work that not even blacks want to do in the United States.”

Predictably, Fox was besieged by the racial police who demanded he apologize for offending black sensibilities. The Reverend Jesse Jackson said that the remarks had the “effect of being inciting and divisive”. Deputy race sheriff, Reverend Al Sharpton claimed the words were offensive and only served to confirm “the stereotype that blacks are the lowest peons in the workforce of this country.” (Oddly enough I do not recall similar outrage by either reverend when Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic Party, engaged in similar stereotyping. But I digress.)

Given the cultural difference, I suppose Fox can be given a bit of latitude. Besides, to emphasize race is to miss the point. Jackson, Sharpton and Americans of all colors should be far more offended by the fact that President Fox feels he has a right to micro manage American immigration policy.

Moreover, what he said is not so far from the truth. To be certain, there is no lack of desire on the part of black Americans to engage in honest work. There is, however, a resistance by Americans of all colors to accept work at below market wages. There is also a desire on the part of many in the business community to contain labor costs. The American consumer is complicit in this Faustian deal because we demand low prices for our goods and services. Fox was merely pointing out – albeit clumsily, that illegal migration lies at the intersection of cheap labor, low prices, big business interests and political power. It is one of the simple truths of the immigration issue.

There is also another truth, one that has apparently escaped President Fox's notice -- not surprising given his penchant for excessively meddling in American immigration policy. There is a reason Mexican citizens are willing to risk dehydration, exposure and even death at the hands of unscrupulous traffickers in human cargo to come to America: The Mexican economy – rife with corruption -- does not provide enough jobs or an adequate standard of living for enough of its citizens. Rather than comment on American policy, Fox might be wise to remove the plank from his own eye so that he can see clearly enough to take the speck from ours.

Of course, so long as he continues foisting the poor and disaffected onto America 's shoulders he is relieved of the burdensome task of dealing with the growing Mexican underclass. Illegal immigration acts as a kind of safety valve that keeps the Mexican pot from boiling over. There is an additional benefit to the Mexican economy in the manner of American dollars sent back to Mexico . Remittance sent back to Mexico from illegals working in the United States is Mexico 's second largest revenue stream after the state owned oil industry.

A more essential truth that both President Fox and President George Bush should recognize is that there is a revolution underway. Americans of all colors are uninterested in amnesty programs; they want secure borders and immigration policy that is fair to legal immigrants and, more importantly, fair to American taxpayers. The minutemen who last month patrolled the Arizona border were just the beginning. Similar movements are gaining momentum here in California and across the country.

If President Fox thought he felt heat from Sharpton and Jackson -- as the fellas on the corner say: “He ain't seen nothing yet!”

Send me your ways of seeing it at Josephcp@netlistings.com