Mexico Is Gonna Sue Us.

[MaggieL]

Originally Posted by Kitsune

Could have fooled me. The sudden demand for new laws that comes from the American public seems to be based entirely on a newly fueled passion for a problem that has existed for years but only recently hyped up by distraction-oriented politics..

Well, that's your feeling. :-)

If you think this is a new issue, consider the possibility that it's only new to you.

Perceptions on many matters is heavily colored by what elements of the culture you interact with, and if you spend a lot of time with people and media where anything negative about hispanics is silenced with the cry of "RACISM!", it might take a while for concern about the issue to filter through the self-censorship.

Also, not every concern that isn't on your personal political agenda qualifies as a "distraction".

[Kitsune]

Originally Posted by MaggieL

Perceptions on many matters is heavily colored by what elements of the culture you interact with, and if you spend a lot of time with people and media where anything negative about hispanics is silenced with the cry of "RACISM!", it might take a while for concern about the issue to filter through the self-censorship.

Or, it could be that I don't watch sensationlist 24-hour news programs or listen to AM radio talk shows enough to be as informed as the guy that had "deport these mexican invaders NOW!" lettered on the back of his pickup truck.

Originally Posted by MaggieL

Also, not every concern that isn't on your personal political agenda qualifies as a "distraction".

Of course they aren't. This now highly emotional topic would never have been suddenly introduced to the American public as the #1 priority on the congressional agenda to take our attention away from middle eastern security issues or plummeting presidential approval ratings in order to give some republic party members some distance from their failings of their head man. It is important that we pay attention to this now. Not in 1998, not in 2000, and not even in 2001 when border security was a major issue following terrorist attacks. Illegal immigration is a priority in 2006, just because!

[MaggieL]

Originally Posted by Kitsune

Or, it could be that I don't watch sensationlist 24-hour news programs or listen to AM radio talk shows enough to be as informed as the guy that had "deport these mexican invaders NOW!" lettered on the back of his pickup truck.

Maybe. But who's dealing in stereotypes now? Would that be "racist" if you werent talking about white people? Surely it's as much a caricature as "the Frito Bandito"

Do you beleive you have fairly described the people who care about this issue and have for quite some time? Was it on your radar before it got Congressional attention and the illegals (and the US citizens who have found steady employment by NGOs serving them, themselves a not-inconsiderable political force) began demonstrating? Or were you (and they) content to let it languish until it looked like something might actually happen to jeopardize the status quo?

[Stormieweather]

Actually, according to a long-haul trucker friend who travels to the 49 contiguous states and Canada, the border between Canada and the US was tightened drastically following the 9/11 attacks. Whereas he was formerly able to quickly and easily pass both ways, the crossing is much tighter now. After 9/11, there was some speculation (now believed to be false) that some of the bombers slipped into the US from Canada because the border is so unguarded.

My trucker friend had to obtain a special ID card which involved a full background check so that he didn't spend hours at the border coming back into the US (the program is called F.A.S.T. - Free And Secure Trade). For a while there, before he got his card, it was ridiculous as he would sometimes cross back and forth several times a day. I listened to long cell phone rants about it .

The possibility even exists that passports or special ID cards will be required of everyone as of 2008 in order to visit either country. http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jh...s/domesticNews



Stormie

[MaggieL]

Originally Posted by Kitsune

I don't think this was sparked by racism, mind you, but it is undoubtedly an element today.

Originally Posted by Kitsune

That's funny -- I don't remember mentioning anything about anyone's race..

Short memory? :-)

[Kitsune]

Originally Posted by MaggieL

Short memory? :-)

Small misinterpretation on my part.

I don't think this is based on racism, but I do hear a lot of comments suggesting it.

I'm still waiting for someone to actually suggest expansion of the INS beyond the mere 2,000 agents they have.

[xoxoxoBruce]

I've crossed the Canadian border many, many times. Never a problem going in, always a problem coming back.
I want all the illegal Nigerians out of MA so I guess I'm racist.

The illegal immigration issue has grated on a lot of people for a very long time. So it's not surprising when it finally comes to the spotlight, so many people are eager to jump in with their long ignored opinion.

[MaggieL]

Oh...by the way...the high-end Mohican sports car? Where was it registered? Can we assume your friend had the registration papers for it? Five hours to check the ownership of a US- or Canadian-registered vehicle certainly seems excessive; one has to wonder if there aren't some unusual circumstances involved.

Just a "feeling"...

Originally Posted by MaggieL

Oh...by the way...the high-end Mohican sports car? Where was it registered? Can we assume your friend had the registration papers for it? Five hours to check the ownership of a US- or Canadian-registered vehicle certainly seems excessive; one has to wonder if there aren't some unusual circumstances involved.

Just a "feeling"...

Well. you can't get NOTHIN by me, I FEEL there is a mild hint of sarcasm in your question. :p My friend retired from the US army with the rank of Sargent, is a Microsoft certified programmer and always keeps his car plates and registration (in the US) up to date. The US officials claimed the delay was due to "computer" problems. While he waited, he counted the number of white folks with high end automobiles who were waved right on through. He stopped counting at around 200 or so.

[MaggieL]

Originally Posted by marichiko

While he waited, he counted the number of white folks with high end automobiles who were waved right on through. He stopped counting at around 200 or so.

Sounds like he should have filed a complaint. Of course, I would have given him a hard time just for being an MCSE/MCSP or whatever. Come to think of it. I do still hold a MSFT certification myself. I'm a Product Specialist in Windows V3.1. :-)

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by MaggieL

Five hours to check the ownership of a US- or Canadian-registered vehicle certainly seems excessive;

Only if they were actually doing something for those five hours.

[Kitsune]

Now we're cracking down. (but it was on the US side headed into Mexico? Wha?)

[glatt]

We get more than Canadians coming across the border from the North.

About a month ago, US Customs caught 2 illegal aliens from Guyana as they were smuggled in by a Trinidadian truck driver in his trailer.

But a high dose of Gamma radiation was able to see them through the sides of his trailer. I wonder what their odds of getting cancer will be?

[MaggieL]

Originally Posted by Kitsune

Now we're cracking down. (but it was on the US side headed into Mexico? Wha?)

Handy safety tip:

If you try to run over an armed cop with your SUV, he may shoot you.

[MaggieL]

Handy safety tip #2:

If you hide in cargo, you may be X-rayed.