Hunger, Poverty and Illegal immigration in pictures (weapons, country, Mexican)

[FormerCaliforniaGirl]

Originally Posted by contachster

Wrong. At least here in New Jersey. Most of the undocumented Mexican immigrants here come from the two poorest states of Mexico: Oaxaca & Guerrero. I became friends with an immigrant from the Costa Chica region of Oaxaca where thousands are now in New Jersey cities. We began dating and I accompanied her on a trip to her town in 1998. The people are hard working corn farmers who barely survive from selling their corn to the Mexican government. They send family members to work in the US to buy healthier food, to put a concrete floor in their home or to buy medicine for sick relatives. The reason they come here is because they are poor and ignored by the Mexican government. Whether that should be the United State's problem is another story. To suggest that the poorest of Mexico are not coming to the US is not a true statement.

[1AngryTaxPayer]

From what I've seen the 3 poorest states in Mexico are Chiapas, Oaxaca and Guerrero. Anyone agree? I've only been through heading to other destinations and that was a few years back.

[jay_jay26]

Originally Posted by Greatday

They are rich in creativeness.

Oh yeah, and why they have to make remakes of Argentinian TV shows all the time?!!

[blueseas123]

Originally Posted by macmeal

Most "foreign" people I've known--many legal, as well as otherwise--seem to praise the great FREEDOM of America, where you are free to work as hard as you want. In many older societies, things are more "set in stone".. Even in prosperous countries such as Europe, there is far less opportunity to "move around" in a career. In the US, a person with great drive and the willingness to work long hours and "deny" himself, really DOES have a shot at becoming a millionaire. But for those who are LAZY, the US is a harsh place--we don't have the safety net that socialist nations have.

This is something I've heard again and again. I know several FORMER illegals who invested in trashy "rental" units, fixed them up, and are now RICH. Back home, they couldn't do this. But I've also known some immigrants who are happy with "just enough money to get by". In America, you have that choice. It is a "touchy" subject, but some of this has to do with culture. Some cultures emphasize higher education and "getting ahead" far more than others. Here, they can do that. Other cutures emphasize just "buying a lot of 'stuff' "...and you can do that, too. In America, the choice is yours..at least, that's the 'theory"......

Macmeal your posts are ALWAYS right on target. Though you will see this with many other Latino nationalities,when I think back at my experiences with Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in particular , I always find that many times they are happy with what they have. I have met very very few snobby Mexican people, with the exception of rich Mexicans from Mexico City. However, this mentality is a double edged sword. If you are always happy with what you have, you become quite complacent. You work hard enough to acheive what your parents did and then stop. You make yourself second best in life because afterall, you dont need the best, you are happy with what you have, right? This completely flies in the face of American culture. American culture is entirely about optimizing: I want the best home, car, school, doctor, the biggest profit etc. which is why this country is very successful. However, it's also why Americans are eternally unhappy. When you are a optimizer, nothing is ever enough. Optimizing is what created the credit crisis as well. Depression and anxiety disorders are rampant in America due to this culture of "keeping up with the Joneses". I sincerely hope that America keeps its egalitarian spirit, but the last time I went to California I must admit that I was very frightened by the de facto racial caste system I saw there. It honestly did resemble a third world Latin American country in many ways, seeing the whites run everything and the mestizos and Amerindians do all the "servant work." I REALLY hope America doesnt become that. I didnt know if that's just how it was in that area of California, but either way, it freaked me out.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by blueseas123

Macmeal your posts are ALWAYS right on target. Though you will see this with many other Latino nationalities,when I think back at my experiences with Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in particular , I always find that many times they are happy with what they have. I have met very very few snobby Mexican people, with the exception of rich Mexicans from Mexico City. However, this mentality is a double edged sword. If you are always happy with what you have, you become quite complacent. You work hard enough to acheive what your parents did and then stop. You make yourself second best in life because afterall, you dont need the best, you are happy with what you have, right? This completely flies in the face of American culture. American culture is entirely about optimizing: I want the best home, car, school, doctor, the biggest profit etc. which is why this country is very successful. However, it's also why Americans are eternally unhappy. When you are a optimizer, nothing is ever enough. Optimizing is what created the credit crisis as well. Depression and anxiety disorders are rampant in America due to this culture of "keeping up with the Joneses". I sincerely hope that America keeps its egalitarian spirit, but the last time I went to California I must admit that I was very frightened by the de facto racial caste system I saw there. It honestly did resemble a third world Latin American country in many ways, seeing the whites run everything and the mestizos and Amerindians do all the "servant work." I REALLY hope America doesnt become that. I didnt know if that's just how it was in that area of California, but either way, it freaked me out.

Spot on post and you are a Latina yourself so if it upsets you things must be bad.

Although that is one big reason I am much more comfortable living here in the Phx area..............working folks (of any race/ethnicity) still have a chance at the American Dream

[contachster]

Originally Posted by Travelling fella

I read your story Starwalker, and I found it disturbing, your conditions sound similar to those of the would be emigrant

I wish you a merry christmas though, full of blessings and smiles think of it as a moment to be with the family, to enjoy your kids and your husband and be together.

Hmmmm I ignored this fact about the freighters, how much does the average American operator earn?

I'm shocked now, I don't have words honestly I just can say God bless you and might he help you and bless you and your family. Have a beautiful christmas

Wait a minute Traveling fella....I am confused....
You said that you read her story and it sounds like one of a typical Mexican emigrant. She posted stories about people down and out and living in abject poverty. Then on another one of your posts you say the typical Mexican emigrant is not the poorest of Mexico. That they are citizens that do well for themselves in Mexico. So which one is it? I have noticed that you do this in other threads also, that is , that something you state as an irrefutable fact will in subsequent posts strangely morph into something that you say you have never witnessed to be true. You were not that extreme this time but essentially you did the same thing.

[BentBow]

That last picture of the tile setter!

See that "green board" sheetrock? Your getting sub-par work!!! That stuff has been outlawed for over 10 years now!! That is a mold factory!!!

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by brinkarlalinea

I am a Mexican immigrant from el estado de mexico and all I can tell you is you are wrong. Everything you mentioned is wrong. All of us who live in poverty here struggle to get money together to come to el norte for a better life. I saw your profile picture: you are a rich northern Mexican I bet right? Dont say that poor Mexicans are not coming to the US because go to the border towns in Mexico and go see for yourself who is waiting to come across. It is not people with laptop computers at there sides and desiner clothes and gourmet food in there lunchboxes my friend and fellow country man MR trvelingfella. Wake up and realize that there is a Mexico south of you were we are working our fingers to the bone just to eat and pay rent and by clothes. Are you sure you live in Mexico? I will invite you to come to my town the next time I go and you will hear from the mouths of the people who are working poor about how many have sent sons and daughters to the USA so they can survive.

It is high time for those Mexican illegal aliens to demand their rights from the rich people SoB-----------or, are your kind nothing but a bunch of cowards?

[mimimomx3]

There is incredible disparity of income in Mexico. We're not doing the poor any favors by allowing them to live here. In essence, we are letting the mega Mexican rich 'off the hook' by letting them dump their poor here. We should force them back with the hope that the misery and inequities will force them to pick up weapons and force change in their country, at gunpoint if neccessary.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

There is incredible disparity of income in Mexico. We're not doing the poor any favors by allowing them to live here. In essence, we are letting the mega Mexican rich 'off the hook' by letting them dump their poor here. We should force them back with the hope that the misery and inequities will force them to pick up weapons and force change in their country, at gunpoint if neccessary.

Bingo!