The Dangerous Neglect of Latin America
by Stephen Schlesinger
The new president will be facing multiple crises when he takes office in January 2009. One of those crises – and it could turn out to be a major one -- will happen in Latin America – and very soon.
The region admittedly has not been a subject of any discussion during the campaign. As in the eight years of the Bush presidency, it has been a much neglected subject even for the candidates. Yet the Americas are crucial to the US future – especially in today’s economic calamitous downturn. Just look at the statistics – from 1996 to 2000, total US merchandise trade with the Hemisphere grew by 139 percent compared to 96 percent for Asia and 95 percent for Europe. The US oil supply depends critically on Latin sources – it gets 30 percent of its imports from the region as opposed to 20 percent from the Middle East. And the area is where most of the illegal narcotics come from. Finally, Latinos now constitute 15 percent of the US population, nearly 50 percent of recent US population growth.
Yet Washington has spent most of its time and effort and aid on assisting Columbia’s fight against its FARC insurgency or tightening the US embargo on Cuba and little on helping the rest of the region to develop its economic and social structures to reduce out-migration and create a more stable Latin middle-class. In addition, the Bush Administration’s hostility to the more militant governments in Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador has harmed relations to the extent that the first two of those governments have kicked out the US ambassadors and Ecuador is now about to shut down a US anti-drug operation.
The new administration will have to begin to reorient American power toward a fresh posture of dealing with Latin leaders -- whether we like them or not -- to devising a comprehensive plan to raise living standards throughout the Hemisphere -- and steering away from the old ways of militarizing our approach to the region or refusing to recognize officials we disagree with. There is a lot to build on – especially the spread of free elections in Latin nations. Just in the last three years, 21 new leaders have been elected in the Americas. But if we continue to uphold the status-quo, we may soon face a ring of fiery anti-American states – which could lead to further damage in our economy, a reduction in oil supplies, an exacerbation of our drug problems and the worsening immigration inflow.
Do people of the Hispanic heritage really want the so-called comprehensive immigration reform? Do Hispanics who came to America legally, want to adopt a massive AMNESTY that would swamp this nation with millions of more foreign nationals who would take their jobs.
People of other nationalities who came into America, by honest means need to think about the consequences of their future as well as citizens and permanent residents. Some in the neighborhood of 12 to 30 million illegal aliens have arrived in America, with their extended families. Your job, your families future and putting food on your table, will just as much an impact on you American dream as anybody else.
All legal Hispanics should demand that their Democrat leaders sponsor the federal SAVE ACT (H.R.4088). This will stop predator employers from exploiting any more cheap labor, as it will be mandatory for them to verify their hires on a Federal government data base.
The pro-illegal immigration special interest groups, are using propaganda and just straight lies, to distort the costs and mis-management of the SAVE ACT. But who ever steps into the Oval office is going to pass a gigantic AMNESTY, which will cost all taxpayers billions of dollars to support those illegal immigrants already occupying our nation.
For a disturbing report on how much our government, is already skimming of workers pay check read this (www.eagleforum.org/sources) This might change your mind about any future AMNESTY. Our political parties are not considering the future for all Americans, but to pander to power-brokers in their corporate offices.
The pestilence will not stop growing till we rigidly enforce immigration laws. the middle class already overburdened with war appropriation funds, is still forced to pay for the education, free health-care and Federal, state welfare handouts for illegal criminals. Be observant and watch for VOTER FRAUD, as illegal aliens will commit perjury.
SIGN UP FOR THE SAVE ACT(H.R.4088) enforcement 'ONLY' law at www.numbersusa.com.
SIGN JUDICIAL WATCH, A LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS PETITION, TO RESCIND ALL 'SANCTUARY CITIES & STATES. www.sanctuarybusters.org/?source. www.numbersusa.com to Petition the SAVE ACT. For immigration facts not propaganda or lies,
PASS THIS ON COPY, PASTE & DISTRIBUTE FREELY
Posted by: Brittanicus | October 08, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Do people of the Hispanic heritage really want the so-called comprehensive immigration reform? Do Hispanics who came to America legally, want to adopt a massive AMNESTY that would swamp this nation with millions of more foreign nationals who would take their jobs.
People of other nationalities who came into America, by honest means need to think about the consequences of their future as well as citizens and permanent residents. Some in the neighborhood of 12 to 30 million illegal aliens have arrived in America, with their extended families. Your job, your families future and putting food on your table, will just as much an impact on you American dream as anybody else.
All legal Hispanics should demand that their Democrat leaders sponsor the federal SAVE ACT (H.R.4088). This will stop predator employers from exploiting any more cheap labor, as it will be mandatory for them to verify their hires on a Federal government data base.
The pro-illegal immigration special interest groups, are using propaganda and just straight lies, to distort the costs and mis-management of the SAVE ACT. But who ever steps into the Oval office is going to pass a gigantic AMNESTY, which will cost all taxpayers billions of dollars to support those illegal immigrants already occupying our nation.
For a disturbing report on how much our government, is already skimming of workers pay check read this (www.eagleforum.org/sources) This might change your mind about any future AMNESTY. Our political parties are not considering the future for all Americans, but to pander to power-brokers in their corporate offices.
The pestilence will not stop growing till we rigidly enforce immigration laws. the middle class already overburdened with war appropriation funds, is still forced to pay for the education, free health-care and Federal, state welfare handouts for illegal criminals. Be observant and watch for VOTER FRAUD, as illegal aliens will commit perjury.
SIGN UP FOR THE SAVE ACT(H.R.4088) enforcement 'ONLY' law at www.numbersusa.com.
SIGN JUDICIAL WATCH, A LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS PETITION, TO RESCIND ALL 'SANCTUARY CITIES & STATES. www.sanctuarybusters.org/?source. www.numbersusa.com to Petition the SAVE ACT. For immigration facts not propaganda or lies,
PASS THIS ON COPY, PASTE & DISTRIBUTE FREELY
Posted by: Brittanicus | October 08, 2008 at 12:03 PM