Myths and Lies of Illegal Immigration

[riverrock]

The Irish encountered the same attitude as this back in the 1800's and look at the contribution they made to America since.

The Latin influence is just the next stage of American immigration. Whats the big deal? You're boys still living in a great country and are all doing well - so why begrudge others the exact same opportunities your ancestors needed when they came to American with nothing but their clothes?

 

[LoneTree]

Illegal immigration has always been a problem in America.
Ask the Indians.

 

[Ish]

Economy - overview:

Mexico has a free market economy that recently entered the trillion dollar class. It contains a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector. Recent administrations have expanded competition in seaports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity generation, natural gas distribution, and airports. Per capita income is one-fourth that of the US; income distribution remains highly unequal. Trade with the US and Canada has tripled since the implementation of NAFTA in 1994. Mexico has 12 free trade agreements with over 40 countries including, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, the European Free Trade Area, and Japan, putting more than 90% of trade under free trade agreements. The government is cognizant of the need to upgrade infrastructure, modernize the tax system and labor laws, and provide incentives to invest in the energy sector, but progress is slow.
GDP:

purchasing power parity - $1.006 trillion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:

4.1% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $9,600 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4%
industry: 27.2%
services: 68.9% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):

19.4% of GDP (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:

40% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 35.6% (2002)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:

53.1 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.4% (2004 est.)
Labor force:

34.73 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 18%, industry 24%, services 58% (2003)
Unemployment rate:

3.2% plus underemployment of perhaps 25% (2004 est.)
Budget:

revenues: $160 billion
expenditures: $158 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
Public debt:

23.5% of GDP (2004 est.)