Michael--

I agree completely with your point that the Mexican economy needs reform. I remember reading--in the Wall St Journal-- that the richest man in the world--name escapes me now--Carlos Slim?--made his money "the old fashioned way-- by monopoly".

And we can learnedly discuss what Mexico ought to do. However if the US tries to put our ideas into practice, we will hear a lot about national sovereignty--especially after our current "leader", the Chickenhawk in Chief, has not exactly been diligent about observing it.

Like it or not, our only leverage is in the US--only here can we influence the issue--through our response. The US reputation, thanks to Mr. Bush, has sunk low enough without our being accused of manipulating foreign economies.

So the question becomes: exactly what do you think the process for citizenship for illegals should be? Are you willing to jettison "touchback"?, for instance, and to not count the act of illegal immigration itself as a crime disqualifying the applicant for citizenship?