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Another issue in the immigration debate I've yet to hear concerns overpopulation and cyclical poverty, where families born into poverty raise their children into a system of poverty that's basically inescapable.
The world is headed towards an energy crunch. It may seem that for now, there is plenty of oil left. But exactly how long it will last at the current rate of use, maybe 40 to 50 years? It came out last year that oil had peaked, that we have used half the planet's oil in 100 years. Rising corn prices due to future ethanol use is already impacting Mexicans though the rise of tortilla prices.
I understand that criticism of another religion always sounds in bad taste and discriminatory. But despite millions of people in Latin American countries facing cyclical poverty, the Papacy has been adamant on two points: no abortion and no contraception.
Argue about abortion as you like, but a ban on contraception in the face of cyclical poverty makes no sense. There's no reason a married couple shouldn't be able to have sex without the risk of pregnancy. 4 million abortions are self-performed in Latin America every year.
Sure, Latin America is free to have whatever religion they want. But I don't think it's the responsibility of the United States to take care of millions of people that these countries have not been able to save from poverty.
If the 12-18 million illegal workers are eventually given citizenship, and the guest worker program is a step towards citizenship, the message to the rest of Latin America will be to come on in. Eventually, they will be made citizens.
Scott Tyner
Hattiesburg, MS
