There is a solution for the illegal immigration in the United States that no one in the media has mentioned. Start a world wide anti-poverty program. It could consist of a second Marshall Plan or the rich countries abolishing agricultural subsidies or a combination of both. If people had decent jobs at home, they would not attempt to cross the deserts in southwest United States nor put up with exploitation when they get here. The European Union has the same situation.
There are two billion people living in poverty. This is no accident. The international system of free trade is not fair trade. The combination of international financial incentives for the privileged and national government subsidies creates an enormous advantage for first-world industrial agri-businesses to sell products at artificially low prices. In international agricultural markets the playing field is not level. Third-world farmers cannot compete without fair trade.
In this country, the agricultural subsidies mainly assist corporations and better off farmers. The USA government policy is not an effort to protect or maintain the family farm. Subsidies curtailment would negatively affect the bottom line of only a few corporations but it would enormously help poor countries to export their products to the USA, the European Union and Japan.
The World Trade Organization recognizes this fundamental imbalance and is attempting to redress the unfair trade problem in its extension of the Doha Round of negotiations.
There are two European based organizations seeking establish a second Marshall Plan for the world’s poor: Global Marshall Plan Initiative and Club of Budapest. Considering the mismanagement of current foreign aid programs, it is best to start all over with a new organization. Rabbi Michael Lerner, in The Left Hand of God; Taking Back Our Country From the Religious Right (pages 342-348) speaks of “an international body of internationally recognized spiritual leaders, academics, health care workers, educators, and community organizers to supervise the expenditures.â€
This approach will take resources that are far better invested than more border patrol agents, a fence on the US-Mexico border, national identity cards and other ideas bandied about now.
Ed O'Rourke is an environmental accountant in Houston.
713-664-4343
eorourke@pdq.net
source: National Catholic Reporter
