News-Record.com

"Spectacular country, from desert to tropical forest, mountains to beaches .. "

.. lands exploited since Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, ongoing to this day. Ironic how a land so rich in resources has to encourage its people to move North .. to paraphrase the movie: Something about Banana Republic Mentality.

OK, so Mexico is not a Banana Republic - but the concept is the same: "Foreign Investors + Absolutist Government", "Sour-Grape Embargoes", Highly Unequal Distribution of Wealth, enforced by Police and Army Repression of Worker ..

Compare "President Miguel Alemán Valdés's (1946-52) full-scale import-substitution program [which] raised import controls on consumer goods but relaxed them on capital goods .. progressively {undervalueing] the peso to reduce the costs of imported capital goods and expand productive capacity, and it spent heavily on infrastructure ... " with China today.

Contrast President Valdés with "President Luis Echeverría Álvarez (1970-76) ... [macroeconomic policies and] leftist rhetoric and actions - such as abetting illegal land seizures by peasants - eroded investor confidence and alienated the private sector [leading to] capital flight [and devaluation of the peso].

...

http://www.amazon.com/Noblest-Triumph-Property-Prosperity-Through/dp/0312223374/ref=sr_1_3/002-3308464-2246432?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194346605&sr=1-3

Since it seems that Mr. Mountjoy finds Mexico such a delightful place to live, superior in so many ways to this country, perhaps, he should relocate there, making more room here for those who come here and do not appreciate their home country.

Vaya con Dios, Jose.

I do not understand how you can stand living here one more day.
Do you think you could list more than ten reasons why you still live in The United States?

`

Well, the Christian love is just abundant on this thread---From Oak Ridge Runner to the Ghost of White Oak, love abounds! Oh to be as open, loving, and caring as those two would be to touch the face of God......

Only thing lacking is Little Dan, the resident narcissist--I'm sure his comments would be right along the same line of thinking, but at least he would try to "justify" his racist rants.

`

James,
Good points, but you are WAY over the heads of White Oak and ORR!
My opinion is that we should do everything in our power to bolster the economies of Central America and Mexico as part of Homeland Security. We already have exploited their natural resources and tourism, so why not encourage clean water and air standards to keep the ball rolling?
Back on thread. Mr. Mountjoy, your letter is heartfelt and warm. Your family is the manifestation of the American dream.

`

Frankly I don't care where Mr. Mountjoy chooses to live, whom he chooses to marry or what he puts on his car.

Oxymoron said:
From Oak Ridge Runner to the Ghost of White Oak, love abounds! Oh to be as open, loving, and caring as those two would be to touch the face of God......
I say: Thanks

I must dissagree with your last statement.
"Your family is the manifestation of the American dream." It's not my American dream. But you already knew that, didn't you?

White Oak,
Your "dreams" died with David Duke's failed run, and the retirement of Jesse Helms. Most would call those great events, but you?

I was just in Cancun a few months ago & it's amazing the number of people there that don't speak English. If they come to our continent they need to learn to speak the language.

10. Mexico officially abolished the shameful practice of slavery in 1829, 36 years before the United States did.

Yes but they started slavery 100 years earlier than we did.

Rufus,
This "REACTION":

"Yes but they started slavery 100 years earlier than we did."

Sounds like someone else talking...has neocon secretly hacked into your screen name? Are you okay? Should we communicate in code..?

The falcon, has returned to the falconer....

Dr. Mountjoy,

That was a great letter. Sorry you had to suffer the ingnorance of others, but I trust it's not your first encounter. By the way, I still recall and occasionally use some of the information you tought me in Anthropology 101, and that was (gulp) nearly 25 years ago.

Regards,
H. G.

Question for the "Love it or leave it" crowd: In your black and white, all or nothing view of the world, is it not possible to appreciate attributes from other cultures? I have travelled to many countries, and hope to do so for many years to come. In every one, I found appealing features, yet I choose to live here. Is that a difficult concept for you to comprehend?

Correction: "tought" was a type two letter above. S/B "taught".

TLC,

Nah, It just seemed like a silly point in his letter (to judge a country by being 36 years better than us in dropping slavery) so I was being equally serious (if this were 1866 then it might be a valid comparison). How they treat their folks today is vastly more important.

I'm happy the man loves his wife & children but otherwise I'm really in the Dan camp on this though since Joe lives here & has fathered 2 children here I'd probably be happier with him if he called those children American.

Rufus,

Your last sentence beat me to the punch.

I'm curious as to what other countries (besides the US) are represented on the license plates at the DMV.

Anyone know of a link?

Rhetorical question (because I wouldn't expect to get honest answers): Would the discussion be different if the flag and Dr. Mountjoy's wife were from Italy or Germany -- Especially the part about the American dream?