Comments on: What is Barack Obama’s Position on Mexico? http://mexico.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/06/10/what-is-barack-obama%e2%80%99s-position-on-mexico/ The official Web log for Great Decisions 2007 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:37:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.0 by: mike coe http://mexico.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/06/10/what-is-barack-obama%e2%80%99s-position-on-mexico/#comment-662 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:26:24 +0000 http://mexico.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/06/10/what-is-barack-obama%e2%80%99s-position-on-mexico/#comment-662 Naturally immigration from Mexico to the US will continue unabated as long as Mexico's economy fails to generate enough employment for their domestic labor force. I also believe that migration has increased as the two economies have grown more connected as a result of NAFTA. Naturally immigration from Mexico to the US will continue unabated as long as Mexico’s economy fails to generate enough employment for their domestic labor force. I also believe that migration has increased as the two economies have grown more connected as a result of NAFTA.

]]> by: Mexico » Blog Archive » McCain’s Surprising Visit to Mexico http://mexico.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/06/10/what-is-barack-obama%e2%80%99s-position-on-mexico/#comment-637 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 23:44:12 +0000 http://mexico.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/06/10/what-is-barack-obama%e2%80%99s-position-on-mexico/#comment-637 [...] Overall, McCain’s visit to Mexico was surprising. However, it was a good surprise, as the trip suggests that Mexico is more important in his platform than previously announced. Although Barack Obama has addressed the issue of Mexico before, he has not suggested that Mexico is in his itinerary. Although a visit to Mexico can only bring limited votes—which is what matters in an election—there is nothing wrong with paying a visit to one the most important allies of the United States in the Americas. [...] […] Overall, McCain’s visit to Mexico was surprising. However, it was a good surprise, as the trip suggests that Mexico is more important in his platform than previously announced. Although Barack Obama has addressed the issue of Mexico before, he has not suggested that Mexico is in his itinerary. Although a visit to Mexico can only bring limited votes—which is what matters in an election—there is nothing wrong with paying a visit to one the most important allies of the United States in the Americas. […]

]]> by: A. Stranger, Brooklyn http://mexico.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/06/10/what-is-barack-obama%e2%80%99s-position-on-mexico/#comment-635 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:14:13 +0000 http://mexico.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/06/10/what-is-barack-obama%e2%80%99s-position-on-mexico/#comment-635 Thanks for your reply alex quiroz flores. You are a nice fellow, it seems. I think it will be difficult to push through any very dramatic changes to the ways labor markets operate between the two countries, for the simple reason that those who are most harmed by them at the moment (those who are actually forced to take undue risks crossing the border, and those few sectors of unskilled US labor with whom most illegal migrants compete), lack any notable political and organizational resources. On the other hand, of course, a number of people benefit from the informal arrangement, many of whom do not lack for political power or influence, although one rarely hears from them. Security is separate issue of course; creating better security between and and around the NAFTA countries is a duanting, thankless task though, such are the size of the borders; had so many resources not been poured into foreign misadventures in the middle east the US might've been better placed to fund a rational upgrade of security in hemispheric borders. Thanks for your reply alex quiroz flores. You are a nice fellow, it seems. I think it will be difficult to push through any very dramatic changes to the ways labor markets operate between the two countries, for the simple reason that those who are most harmed by them at the moment (those who are actually forced to take undue risks crossing the border, and those few sectors of unskilled US labor with whom most illegal migrants compete), lack any notable political and organizational resources. On the other hand, of course, a number of people benefit from the informal arrangement, many of whom do not lack for political power or influence, although one rarely hears from them.

Security is separate issue of course; creating better security between and and around the NAFTA countries is a duanting, thankless task though, such are the size of the borders; had so many resources not been poured into foreign misadventures in the middle east the US might’ve been better placed to fund a rational upgrade of security in hemispheric borders.

]]> by: alejandro quiroz flores http://mexico.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/06/10/what-is-barack-obama%e2%80%99s-position-on-mexico/#comment-634 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:34:10 +0000 http://mexico.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/06/10/what-is-barack-obama%e2%80%99s-position-on-mexico/#comment-634 Mr./Mrs. Stranger, thanks for your comment. You also present a good question. As you said, the macroeconomic performance of the country is not bad. However, countries like to report averages and not variances, so we are lacking data on a number of things. Maybe by looking more carefully at the numbers we will see that things are actually worse. That's precisely when we can incorporate new measures of growth. More realistic indicators of development would provide a good first step towards domestic and international policies that contribute to the growth of the region. I know. Mr./Mrs. Stranger,

thanks for your comment. You also present a good question. As you said, the macroeconomic performance of the country is not bad. However, countries like to report averages and not variances, so we are lacking data on a number of things. Maybe by looking more carefully at the numbers we will see that things are actually worse. That’s precisely when we can incorporate new measures of growth. More realistic indicators of development would provide a good first step towards domestic and international policies that contribute to the growth of the region.

I know.

]]> by: A. Stranger http://mexico.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/06/10/what-is-barack-obama%e2%80%99s-position-on-mexico/#comment-632 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:32:18 +0000 http://mexico.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/06/10/what-is-barack-obama%e2%80%99s-position-on-mexico/#comment-632 An excellent, incisive series of comments on this site. A few comments and questions... what do you think a realistic, progressive US policy would look like towards Mexico? Mexico's economy, by several indicators, has grown in the last few years, but immigration has not slowed, as far as we know. So, it seems we need a definition of development that goes beyond simply an aspiration for continuous growth. What are the chances/opportunities for developing such a policy under NAFTA? An excellent, incisive series of comments on this site.
A few comments and questions…
what do you think a realistic, progressive US policy would look like towards Mexico?
Mexico’s economy, by several indicators, has grown in the last few years, but immigration has not slowed, as far as we know. So, it seems we need a definition of development that goes beyond simply an aspiration for continuous growth. What are the chances/opportunities for developing such a policy under NAFTA?

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