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tinybear · May 17, 2005, 06:31 am

Mexico's Fox Regrets Comment About Blacks

By MARK STEVENSON
MEXICO CITY (AP) - After a scolding from north of the border, President Vicente Fox said he regretted any hurt feelings over a comment he made about blacks in the United States. But many Mexicans insist Americans overreacted.

In a speech Friday, Fox praised the dedication of Mexicans working in the United States, saying they're willing to take jobs that ``even blacks'' won't do.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher called the remark ``very insensitive and inappropriate'' and said the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City had raised the issue with the Mexican government.

African American leaders, including the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, called on Fox to apologize.

At first the Mexican president refused, saying his remark had been misinterpreted. But on Monday, after a weekend of mounting criticism, he seemed eager to make amends.

http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/ns/news/...20050316BPT103

But here's my question: What sort of jobs is he talking about? You know, those which 'even blacks would not do'?

mr.perfecto · May 17, 2005, 08:58 am

There aren't any. If Mr. Fox had wanted to be more precise, he would have said those jobs which "even blacks won't do at those rates." Its the same old American story. Market conditions force up the price of labor and the aristocrats import people from outside the country to cut costs.

RickSp · May 17, 2005, 09:27 am

It is funny how disconnected most Americans are from the contribution that folks coming across the border make to the economy. They work in agriculture, as day labor in construction, in maintenance, as domestics, in a myriad of jobs.

And if wages rose, for farm workers for example, Americans would probably not get many more jobs. It would be a real boon to Peruvian agriculture workers as more South American fruit would become more competitive and start appearing in US stores.

G. Adams · May 17, 2005, 04:57 pm

Quote:

Quote by: mr.perfecto

There aren't any. If Mr. Fox had wanted to be more precise, he would have said those jobs which "even blacks won't do at those rates." Its the same old American story. Market conditions force up the price of labor and the aristocrats import people from outside the country to cut costs.

It's called capitalism. Deal with it.

tman_ndsu08 · May 17, 2005, 10:04 pm

Quote:

Quote by: mr.perfecto

Market conditions force up the price of labor and the aristocrats import people from outside the country to cut costs.

...and they are happy to take the jobs since this "meager" amount would be many times more than what they could get in their home country.

rmnunez · May 22, 2005, 03:15 am

I got criticised for my terminology too.

Blacks in Spanish are "negros". Mexicans (like their president) know blacks in the US suffer discrimination in employment opportunity and attendant increased poverty. As the poorest there, blacks would be the ones doing the worse jobs, but as Fox noted, they won't work for peon's wages. This is true, blacks there have benefits, entitlements and resources available to them the Mexicans lack. This means that sooner than taking the sort of jobs Mexicans do, blacks will take welfare or whatever other help the government has for them.

In Mexico we don't have an active and vociferous "afro-Mexican" community advocating political terminology in racial denominators, hence public figures have not developed the sensitivity to PC language relating to people of African descent.

mr.perfecto · May 22, 2005, 04:14 am

Quote:

Quote by: G. Adams

It's called capitalism. Deal with it.

So, what happens when there are no more people to import?

G. Adams · May 22, 2005, 08:15 am

Quote:

Quote by: mr.perfecto

So, what happens when there are no more people to import?

That situation will never happen. As people leave a country, for the sake of example say Guatamala, the supply of labour will rise, driving up costs of labour, meaning those who work their will be paid better, and there will be no need to leave anymore.

rmnunez · May 23, 2005, 03:27 am

If there were no more people to import (because the border was sealed or they stopped trying to seek a better living in the US) then the cost of labour would go up as fewer would compete for the same number of jobs. This would make the cost of labour rise in the US.

A few days ago I heard someone in a seminar discussing remittances, they said that globally remittances from foreign workers are estimated at $120 bil., that the Mexicans send home around $20 bil and that Mexican GDP was $60 bil. last year.

tinybear · May 23, 2005, 03:30 am

Does that explain why the Mexican government is not very keen on curbing illegal immigration by Mexicans into the US?

rmnunez · May 23, 2005, 03:58 am

I don't think so. I think the Mexican government is not "keen" on curbing illegal migration to the US because they really can't cope with the labour demands. Since Mexico doesn't have enough money to provide social services to care for all those in need of work who can't find a job or provide employment for them, they are pleased some of these people choose to make their way north. The problem is exacerbated by a healthy fertility rate which has added nearly 5 million people to the labour pool since president Fox took office.

What Mexico needs is substantial foreign investment in capital intensive activity to promote domestic growth which will draw in potential immigrants. This would be preferable to the US as well since the changes to the labour supply there would be more gradual and the improvement in the Mexican labour situation would result in greater demand for the things they produce for the Mexican market.

May 17, 2005, 06:31 am	#1 (permalink) (top)
tinybear Volcanic Erupter Location: Hong Kong (for now) Posts: 7,008	Mexican President Criticized For Inappropriate Comment Mexico's Fox Regrets Comment About Blacks By MARK STEVENSON MEXICO CITY (AP) - After a scolding from north of the border, President Vicente Fox said he regretted any hurt feelings over a comment he made about blacks in the United States. But many Mexicans insist Americans overreacted. In a speech Friday, Fox praised the dedication of Mexicans working in the United States, saying they're willing to take jobs that ``even blacks'' won't do. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher called the remark ``very insensitive and inappropriate'' and said the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City had raised the issue with the Mexican government. African American leaders, including the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, called on Fox to apologize. At first the Mexican president refused, saying his remark had been misinterpreted. But on Monday, after a weekend of mounting criticism, he seemed eager to make amends. http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/ns/news/...20050316BPT103 But here's my question: What sort of jobs is he talking about? You know, those which 'even blacks would not do'?

May 17, 2005, 09:27 am	#3 (permalink) (top)
RickSp Volcanic Erupter Posts: 9,491	It is funny how disconnected most Americans are from the contribution that folks coming across the border make to the economy. They work in agriculture, as day labor in construction, in maintenance, as domestics, in a myriad of jobs. And if wages rose, for farm workers for example, Americans would probably not get many more jobs. It would be a real boon to Peruvian agriculture workers as more South American fruit would become more competitive and start appearing in US stores. Rick "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." Sinclair Lewis

May 22, 2005, 03:15 am	#6 (permalink) (top)
rmnunez Volcanic Erupter Location: Mexico City Posts: 4,772	I got criticised for my terminology too. Blacks in Spanish are "negros". Mexicans (like their president) know blacks in the US suffer discrimination in employment opportunity and attendant increased poverty. As the poorest there, blacks would be the ones doing the worse jobs, but as Fox noted, they won't work for peon's wages. This is true, blacks there have benefits, entitlements and resources available to them the Mexicans lack. This means that sooner than taking the sort of jobs Mexicans do, blacks will take welfare or whatever other help the government has for them. In Mexico we don't have an active and vociferous "afro-Mexican" community advocating political terminology in racial denominators, hence public figures have not developed the sensitivity to PC language relating to people of African descent. Last edited by rmnunez; May 22, 2005 at 03:17 am.

May 17, 2005, 08:58 am	#2 (permalink) (top)
mr.perfecto Igneous Magma Posts: 632	There aren't any. If Mr. Fox had wanted to be more precise, he would have said those jobs which "even blacks won't do at those rates." Its the same old American story. Market conditions force up the price of labor and the aristocrats import people from outside the country to cut costs.

May 23, 2005, 03:27 am	#9 (permalink) (top)
rmnunez Volcanic Erupter Location: Mexico City Posts: 4,772	If there were no more people to import (because the border was sealed or they stopped trying to seek a better living in the US) then the cost of labour would go up as fewer would compete for the same number of jobs. This would make the cost of labour rise in the US. A few days ago I heard someone in a seminar discussing remittances, they said that globally remittances from foreign workers are estimated at $120 bil., that the Mexicans send home around $20 bil and that Mexican GDP was $60 bil. last year.

May 23, 2005, 03:30 am	#10 (permalink) (top)
tinybear Volcanic Erupter Location: Hong Kong (for now) Posts: 7,008	Does that explain why the Mexican government is not very keen on curbing illegal immigration by Mexicans into the US?

May 23, 2005, 03:58 am	#11 (permalink) (top)
rmnunez Volcanic Erupter Location: Mexico City Posts: 4,772	I don't think so. I think the Mexican government is not "keen" on curbing illegal migration to the US because they really can't cope with the labour demands. Since Mexico doesn't have enough money to provide social services to care for all those in need of work who can't find a job or provide employment for them, they are pleased some of these people choose to make their way north. The problem is exacerbated by a healthy fertility rate which has added nearly 5 million people to the labour pool since president Fox took office. What Mexico needs is substantial foreign investment in capital intensive activity to promote domestic growth which will draw in potential immigrants. This would be preferable to the US as well since the changes to the labour supply there would be more gradual and the improvement in the Mexican labour situation would result in greater demand for the things they produce for the Mexican market.