Do You Hear That Sucking Sound?

[bluecuracao]

That doesn't make any sense, Bruce. If you assume that they are lying about how much they send to Mexico, then how can you use it as an indicator for anything?

Curious--why do you bet that the subjects of the photos are here illegally?

[Tonchi]

Originally Posted by 9th Engineer

Once you start including honestly legalized Mexicans in the group the argument breaks down totally since it's pretty damn hard to say we need to stop citizens from spending their money in foreign countries.

What you may or may not know is that periodically there is a rush to the border from down south. It usually follows rumors that some amnesty law will be passed up here so that everybody can have a free green card and not have to hide anymore. Has happened twice that I can remember since I have been in Fresno (which huge numbers of these folks head for). During the last surge, the Mexican government hurried to pass a law which gave Mexicans permanent citizenship, regardless of any other country they felt obligated to become citizens of, provided they were not required to renounce all other ties by said country's laws. You see, they were desperately trying to be sure that anybody who got amnesty and stayed in El Norte would know they were still Mexicans and not our new citizens, their ties were still in Mexico. Nothing could have made it plainer that it is the deliberate policy of Mexico to encourage their citizens to tap the USA for their economic advantage. All the outrage and bombast about how WE are treating all those poor disadvantaged Mexicans who are just doing jobs that Americans refuse to do (for half minimum wage and no benefits or security). The Mexican government WANTS them all to come here. So long as they send the money back "home".

Don't misunderstand me. I love the Mexican people and their culture, they are some of the finest people in the world. But their government is a cancer on their culture, and it is killing them.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by bluecuracao

That doesn't make any sense, Bruce. If you assume that they are lying about how much they send to Mexico, then how can you use it as an indicator for anything?

Curious--why do you bet that the subjects of the photos are here illegally?

I didn't say they were lying. I said they could be lying (or inflating) the numbers, so we can't take the actual numbers as real data. It's a macho thing, like the number of "conquests", ya know?

I think most, if not all, are illegals because the artist/photographer is a Mexican promoting the wonderful service Mexicans are doing for the citizens of NYC. Plus most of the Mexicans in NYC are illegals from what I've been reading. A much greater percentage than the other Hispanic groups there.

[Aliantha]

Bruce, my situation was more personal. My ex partner who happens to be the father my my children also, is Samoan. During the time we were together, he sent thousands of dollars back to the island for his mother. We're no longer together, but apparently all up, he's sent over more than $40 000 which is about 4 times what he has paid in maintenance for his children.

You tell me what's wrong with that picture.

[Griff]

Originally Posted by Elspode

So...how much of our money can we send somewhere else before we have a financial collapse? And will the US be such an attractive place to look for work if that happens?

If we have a government deficit spending to the tune of what? 3 gazillion dollars a year and we don't want our currency completely devalued, wouldn't it be a good thing to send the extra dollars away and fight inflation with cheap labor as well? *shrug* just sayin'

[xoxoxoBruce]

Aliantha, I don't think I have to tell you.

Griff, next time I go to Times Square I'll ask the lad if he's cheaper than the other boys. Considering the sums they say they're sending, I don't think any of the 11 are working for cheap....more like prevailing wage. I suppose the cheap may come from ducking employers contribution.

[bluecuracao]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

I didn't say they were lying. I said they could be lying (or inflating) the numbers, so we can't take the actual numbers as real data. It's a macho thing, like the number of "conquests", ya know?

I think most, if not all, are illegals because the artist/photographer is a Mexican promoting the wonderful service Mexicans are doing for the citizens of NYC. Plus most of the Mexicans in NYC are illegals from what I've been reading. A much greater percentage than the other Hispanic groups there.

I guess I took the work in a different way, being familiar with the art world and many Mexican artists. I really enjoyed looking at the photos, and felt that the artist communicated her intent successfully--showing certain people of her culture in their everyday situations, while they make contributions to U.S. culture and their families in their home towns. Given the paranoia that's taken over recently, it makes me doubt that most of the people portrayed have illegal status.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Shit..I just realized I never linked the story, just the artist. Doh
I'll have to find it, she explained the project in the article.

Here, http://www.kunsthaus.org.mx/Dulce/menuDulce_ing.htm

[Griff]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Shit..I just realized I never linked the story, just the artist. Doh
I'll have to find it, she explained the project in the article.

Here, http://www.kunsthaus.org.mx/Dulce/menuDulce_ing.htm

Apparently we don't need to know anything to talk about something.

[Ibby]

have we ever?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Or the story of why she undertook the project, is secondary to the point I was trying to make with the side light information she inadvertently provided.

Yeah...that's my story and I'm sticking with it.

[bluecuracao]

Eh? That is the same site you linked to before, just a different page...or was that what you meant to do?

[xoxoxoBruce]

The first link would take some searching to find the story so I linked to the one that had it. Most people, if they even risk going to a link(at work), don't want to start clicking around too much.

[bluecuracao]

Especially on an artist's web site...you never know what you'll find.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Ain't that the naked truth.