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Editorial
A Marshall Plan for Mexico
The controversial debate which is being held in the United States
on illegal immigration and border security should go beyond the 12
million undocumented immigrants living in this country, and the many
more who would come in the future. The debate should also go beyond
fears of criminal activities in the Mexican border, such as drug trafficking
and possible terrorist acts.
The point is that Mexico, as we know our Southern neighbor today,
will never stop sending immigrants to the United States unless it
gets levels of progress similar to the ones of developed nations.
As an evidence of it we can take the 1986 amnesty. Twenty years ago
2.7 million illegal immigrants benefited from the Immigration Reform
and Control Act. But there are five times more illegal immigrants
today than in 1986, most of them from Mexico.
Obviously, Mexican leaders are responsible for the development and
well being of Mexico, not the United States. However there are close
ties, a very good political relation and special interests between
the two countries. Therefore, in cases like this, neighbors should
help each other.
World War II left Europe in ashes and debris. Two years after the
end of the war, the United States began the reconstruction of Europe
by implementing the Marshall Plan. Between 1947 and 1952, the United
States sent $13 billion to 16 countries affected by the war. That
amount of money was equal to $130 billion of our times. The goals
were to avoid Europe bankruptcy, which would have had a negative impact
in the American economy; to stop the Soviet bloc intentions to spray
Communism through European countries; and to build solid democracies.
A decade later, Europe had recovered from the war devastation and
was once again part of the developed world.
The question now is whether a Marshall Plan would apply to Mexico,
a neighbor country that is sending thousands of poor, illegal immigrants
per month to American soil. All we have to do is to think about a
developed Mexico, with a strong, well educated consumer base whose
purchasing power would be high enough to stay in Mexico and buy American
products. Both Mexico and the United States have much to gain with
such a scenario.
To get such an ideal Mexico, Americans should put aside their stereotypes
and prejudices on Mexicans, including the idea that Mexicans are not
eager to work for their own development. Mexicans should overcome
their historic resentment against the United States, should also reconsider
their romantic, sometimes useless view of their national sovereignty
and become very committed to achieve respectful levels of transparency
in public affairs.
In 2005, the United States was the leading donor among 30 countries
helping other nations to achieve development, with donations totaling
$27.5 billion. It was an increase of 35.6% compared to American donations
in 2004. In the future, part of that money can go to a Mexican Marshall
Plan. But in fact, such a plan can be implemented with little cash
if the U.S. government grants special incentives to American companies
willing to invest in Mexico with the committment of creating new jobs
and well being for both Mexico and the United States. Mexico and the
United States should open a trusted fund to be managed by economists
of both countries. U.S. and Mexicans companies' taxes and license
fees must go to the fund, which would be used to create small and
mid-size companies in Mexico, also involved in the plan. Income taxes
from companies' employees should also go the fund. The fund can be
also used to build roads and factories, and to enhance communications
and other elements of Mexico's infracstructure. Still Mexico should
make strong investments in education and in a culture of transparency.
Mexico is a country with an extraordinary touristic industry, oil,
agriculture, cattle, more than 100 million consumers, hard working
people and $25 billion a year in family remittances from the United
States. There is no reason for a rich country to live in poverty.
Corruption has been enemy number one of Mexico, and Mexican officials
should understand that nobody will be treated as an equal if he/she
does not behave as an equal. So Mexico's first war of this new century
should be carry out against corruption, as corruption produces drug
trafficking, kidnapings and political failure.
In a good will spirit, the United States and Mexico can travel together
this generous journey into Mexican development. Mexican nationals
and U.S. citizens will be able to take great advantage of this historic
journey with no more waves of illegal immigrants. Is it an easy journey?
Of course, it is not. But the Unites States and Mexico have the right
to dream about a different, better North America.
CONTACTO
Magazine is a Latin American monthly publication established on July
1, 1994 in Los Angeles, California.
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